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MARCH 8, 2024

NOAA Updates

Seafood Expo North America is a leading trade event for all sectors of the seafood industry. The Expo will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from March 10-12, 2024. Visit us at Booth #181. Engage With Us at Seafood Expo North America 2024!

Dolphinfish Management Strategy Evaluation in the U.S. Atlantic: NOAA Fisheries is designing a new management approach for dolphinfish, also known as mahi mahi. We are working with fishing communities to maximize the benefits of this fishery management approach across multiple user groups and regions.

NOAA Fisheries Gathers Experts to Combat Forced Labor in the Seafood Sector: On February 28, NOAA Fisheries brought together more than 100 officials representing government agencies, labor and environmental advocacy organizations, and the seafood industry. The summit marked the conclusion of a 15-month initiative to address forced labor.

Events

March 15 at 12pm eastern: The Maine Aquaculture Hub at the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center is hosting a webinar with Toni Small on Best Movement Practices for Your Farm.

March 22 at 4pm eastern: The National Seaweed Hub Webinar Series is featuring Dr. Jinzeng Yang from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Yang will present on “Bioactive compounds from seaweeds for preventing metabolic diseases and their nutritional benefits”.

June 3 and 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island: Roger Williams University and partners are hosting an International Aquaculture Conference that will focus on the application of biotechnology in aquaculture.

Job and Funding Opportunities

• Apply by April 1: California Sea Grant and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is accepting applications to their aquaculture extension specialist position.
• Apply by April 3: The application period is open for Sea Grant’s 2024 National Aquaculture Initiative: Enhancing Production of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Aquaculture Species. This opportunity is open to: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity; or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. 
• Apply by April 15: The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting proposals to their Special Research Grants Program for Aquaculture Research.

Tools for All

• In January, more than 600 industry professionals, scientists, managers, and students gathered in Providence, Rhode Island, for the 2024 Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Expo and Milford Aquaculture Seminar. Learn more about key takeaways and field trips here.
• NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation awarded $5 million to Restore America’s Estuaries through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. This project will restore oyster reef habitat in Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, and Texas.
• NOAA’s habitat restoration work in the Great Lakes strengthens healthy fisheries and ecosystems, benefits local economies, and supports resilient communities. Learn about their impacts in this new article from the Office of Habitat Conservation.

About NOAA's Community of Practice for Aquaculture Literacy

U.S. aquaculture provides safe, sustainable seafood and creates jobs and business opportunities in coastal communities. Through a collaboration between NOAA Fisheries, the National Sea Grant Office, and NOAA's Office of Education, the Community of Practice for Aquaculture Literacy (CoPAL) works to enhance public understanding of sustainable aquaculture and seafood. CoPAL hosts events, shares resources, and coordinates partnerships across education, aquaculture industry, and research communities.

Learn more about CoPAL