Strategic Plan | Staff | Students
ABOUT RHODE ISLAND SEA GRANT
Learn more about what Rhode Island Sea Grant has done for coastal communities and the state
Rhode Island Sea Grant is one of 34 programs in the National Sea Grant College Program working to enhance environmental stewardship and long-term economic development and responsible use of coastal and marine resources.
Located at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Rhode Island Sea Grant supports research, outreach, and education programs designed to foster the resiliency of local and regional communities and marine environments.
Rhode Island Sea Grant also partners with the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center for our extension program, and with the Roger Williams University (RWU) School of Law on our legal program, located at the Marine Affairs Institute at RWU.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM
Sea Grant is a network of 34 programs nationwide representing partnerships between universities and the federal government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Sea Grant directs federal resources to pressing problems in local communities by drawing on the experience of more than 3,000 scientists, engineers, public outreach experts, educators, and students from more than 300 institutions.
Sea Grant invests in high-priority research, addressing issues such as population growth and development in coastal communities; preparation and response to hurricanes, coastal storms, and tsunamis; understanding our interactions with the marine environment; fish and shellfish farming; seafood safety; and fisheries management. The results of this research are shared with the public through Sea Grant’s integrated outreach program, which brings together the collective expertise of on-the-ground extension agents, educators, and communications specialists.
The goal is to ensure that vital research results are shared with those who need it most and in ways that are timely, relevant and meaningful.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Rhode Island Sea Grant’s 2018-2022 strategic plan guides investment in the program’s funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the National Sea Grant Program.
This four-year strategic plan outlines what we’ve achieved so far and our goals for the following years in our core focus areas: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, Resilient Communities and Economies, and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development.
Our mission is to improve the understanding and management of Rhode Island’s coastal and marine ecosystems for the creation of vibrant, healthy, coastal communities and marine environments that are resilient in the face of change.
We work with stakeholders, academics, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies to apply sound scientific, policy, and legal research findings to ensure a collaborative effort and informed decision-making for managing the state’s coastal and marine resources.
Rhode Island Sea Grant’s research, extension, communications, and legal programs work together with partners to respond to needs as they arise and harness the power of science to improve resources management and quality of life in Rhode Island.
