NOAA ANNOUNCES 2006 AQUACULTURE GRANT RECEPIENTS

On September 18, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the 11 recipients of $3.6 million in competitive grants for sustainable marine aquaculture demonstration and research projects under the 2006 National Marine Aquaculture Initiative (NMAI). The initiative is managed by the NOAA Aquaculture Program and administered by NOAA Sea Grant. The 2006 NMAI funding supports projects to assess the commercial potential of marine aquaculture, the feasibility of stock enhancement, the environmental impacts of aquaculture in various environments, as well as research on key aquatic animal nutrition and health issues.

Since 1998, NOAA has funded a total of $15 million through the initiative to support research to boost the production of commercially and recreationally valuable marine shellfish and finfish species in the United States. Projects have responded to key scientific, engineering, environmental, and economic questions for aquaculture. For example, NMAI has funded studies of candidate species, health and nutrition, best management practices, ecosystems monitoring and management, engineered production systems, and legal and operational frameworks.

For more information go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter/aquaculture/nmai.htm