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Building Aquaculture Together
The Building Aquaculture Together project strengthens the United States aquaculture workforce by connecting minority-serving institutions with Sea Grant programs across New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
The US aquaculture industry trails the rest of the world in seafood production. As a result, the nation depends on imported seafood to meet consumer demands. The federal government is prioritizing improvements to aquaculture production, but industry growth is slowed by the lack of a skilled workforce.
Introducing college students to aquaculture career paths is key for workforce recruitment and retention, making support for higher education programs essential. Minority-serving institutions—federally designated based on the percentage of enrolled students from minority and low-income populations—represent about a quarter of US colleges and universities. These schools offer affordable, geographically accessible pathways to aquaculture careers for underrepresented and rural students. Partnering with industry and local Sea Grant programs can spur innovation and growth at minority-serving institutions looking to build or expand aquaculture programs.
Project Objectives
- Establish and strengthen relationships between minority-serving institutions and Sea Grant programs through a collaborative workgroup and professional development activities
- Understand the priorities of minority-serving institutions related to aquaculture education and research
- Provide a dedicated funding opportunity to support aquaculture-related activities for minority-serving institutions
Project Partners
Building Aquaculture Together is an initiative between Maryland Sea Grant, Morgan State University, Minorities in Aquaculture, and New Hampshire Sea Grant. In 2026, project partners were awarded a $1 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to advance the development of a skilled aquaculture workforce in the United States.
This is an ongoing project. Check back for more information about the collaborative workgroup, funding opportunity for minority-serving institutions, and other project updates.
Have questions about Building Aquaculture Together? Contact aquaculture projects coordinator Annie Schatz at kschatz@umd.edu.
Program Announcements
News and Blogs
Featured Fellow
Nina Santos
Nina Santos is a Ph.D. student at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. For her dissertation, she is focused on small shrimp-like crustaceans called mysids – an understudied yet important part of many estuarine and coastal food webs.
Featured Research Project
Geochronology Study of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Deposition and Ecosystem Response in the Chesapeake & Maryland Coastal Bays
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent contaminants linked to adverse health outcomes in humans and wildlife. In Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Bays, PFAS accumulation in sediments and biota, as well as their ecological impacts, remain poorly understood. This project will reconstruct multidecadal PFAS deposition histories using sediment cores, apply microbial community profiling to assess benthic ecosystem responses, and translate findings into practical guidance for aquaculture and environmental management.
