Our Work

Do you have a concern or idea regarding Rhode Island’s seafood?⁠

If you are a member of the Rhode Island seafood industry – a processor, harvester, grower, wholesaler, retailer, or other seafood business – funding is available for research projects to address issues you may be facing.⁠

The new Partnership for Research Excellence in Sustainable Seafood (PRESS) is a $1 million, four-year effort, established through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and run by the University of  Rhode Island

The program aims to identify issues of concern and to respond directly with grants funded through a rapid response mechanism. A coordinating committee most familiar with these issues includes academic institutions; state, federal and non-governmental agencies; and industry experts in fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood in Rhode Island.

The goal of the initiative is to provide a mechanism of funding allowing a nimble and rapid response to critical issues in the seafood sector through interdisciplinary collaborative research encompassing the seafood industry, academic institutions, state and federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

Proposals with the potential to positively impact the Rhode Island seafood system by identifying and addressing emerging and pressing issues affecting that system will be considered. The goal of the funding is to complement, build upon, or enhance (not duplicate) other sources of federal, state, or private funding.

Therefore, priority will be given to projects that provide a strong rationale of need and address urgent concerns facing the Rhode Island seafood system but are challenged to find funding elsewhere. Two types of funding requests will be considered:

**  Proposals can be submitted anytime and will be reviewed by topic-related experts to determine which projects will be funded.⁠

Enhancing Production of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Aquaculture Species

Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 will be available for research projects and programs that will develop and refine methods, protocols, techniques, and/or strategies to enhance the production of one or more life stages of aquaculture species (described below) with the overall goal of improving the efficiency, output, and profitability of commercial coastal, marine, or Great Lakes region aquaculture businesses.

Projects that focus on the following aquaculture categories and organisms in both marine and freshwater are eligible for this competition and include:

• Microalgae and macroalgae (seaweed) • Molluscs • Crustaceans • Ornamentals

• Baitfish • Finfish species for food production • Misc. invertebrates

Proposals are sought that will support broad, non-proprietary research to address issues and/or barriers to aquaculture production; make that information available to aquaculture businesses; and preferably include participation and involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel and industry stakeholders.

This opportunity is open to: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution; or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.