EDUCATION
Building knowledge How U.S. Sea Grants are increasing industry literacy across the country By Treena Hein
A
s everyone in the aquaculture sector well knows, promoting public awareness and building aquaculture literacy is a critical effort, one to which everyone in the industry should contribute. As with any sector of food production, relying on the science to defend itself while activists aim to control the public narrative is not a wise path forward. But while everyone in aquaculture should be involved in public education, there are many programs under the NOAA National Sea Grant 16
AQUACULTURE NORTH AMERICA
Network that are laser-focused on this goal. These programs are regional, yes, but through many types and levels of collaboration, along with individual state initiatives, they all contribute to boosting national public awareness on the whole. “The cross-cutting work that each Sea Grant program performs touches every aspect of the industry and works to educate people about those aspects,” explains Devin Fitzgerald, who leads aquaculture public awareness efforts for California Sea Grant and its West Coast project group states, California, Oregon, Hawaii
and Alaska. “Sea Grant programs help create and facilitate curriculum like 'Aquaculture in the Classroom,' disseminate research to industry professionals, support the monitoring methods used by aquaculturists and fishers, inform policymakers about aquaculture and more.” Indeed, as Emily Riewestahl, aquaculture communications specialist at Florida Sea Grant, explains, the strength of the National Sea Grant Network is that while the regional programs around the country share common goals, this same regional structure allows the flexibility needed
Emily Riewestahl listens as Robert Clark, hatchery manager of North Carolina State University's Pamlico Aquaculture Field Laboratory, explains the striped bass egg incubation system and hatching process. PHOTO: BRIAN YURASITS, NEW HAMPSHIRE SEA GRANT
July/August 2026