$4.8m slated for US aquaculture projects

The US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries has announced that it is recommending a total of 88 projects for $25 million under the 2014-2015 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program including $4.8 million for 16 aquaculture projects from all regions of the country.

The projects cover finfish, shellfish and macroalgae aquaculture and address themes of increasing the supply, quality and diversification of domestic seafood and maximizing fishing opportunities and jobs.  

Among the aquaculture projects endorsed was the University of Connecticut’s project to develop novel antifouling coating for the aquaculture industry for $336,025 and Manomet Inc project to restore the softshell clam industry in Maine through aquaculture for $287,775.  The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University project to protect the aquaculture industry in Chesapeake Bay requested $353,766.  $400,000 was earmarked for development of commercial scale sustainable feed for aquaculture by Fresh Island Fish from Hawaii.  A project to develop a greenwater alternative for larval sablefish by the University of Illinois for $389,049 was recommended as was the Texas A & M University project to use seafood processing by-products to produce novel ingredients for aquafeeds for $288,845.  

At this point in the grant process, the application approval and obligation of funds is not final. Divisions of NOAA and the Department of Commerce must still give final approval for the projects, and successful applications will receive funding in the near future.

For the full list of recommended projects and more information on the grant program see http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/homepage_stories/25_sk_fy1415.html.