The NOAA-NAAEE Collaborative Aquaculture Literacy mini-grants awardees' collaborative projects reached four regions and forged partnerships between informal learning institutions, seafood farmers and organizations, and NOAA experts. Grant activities focused on the co-production and delivery of essential education and outreach resources to the target audiences served by understanding and discussing aquaculture topics related to their community.
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2021 Program Evaluation
Visit the evaluation page to dive into the data, stories, and real-world impact of this program!
Meet the eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grants Program Awardees!
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Kelp to the Kitchen: Bringing Seaweed and Chefs Together, Saco, ME
teamed up with the , , and to bring Kelp to the Kitchen for industry professionals. Their project educated chefs, food-industry personnel, seaweed producers, and the broader public on the culinary uses of domestically grown fresh seaweed. Through cooking demonstrations and workshops, the team has highlighted the sustainable nature of Atlantic Sea Farm鈥檚 expanding seaweed industry and elevated knowledge of seaweed aquaculture.
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Ocean Farmers, Long Beach, CA
The , in collaboration with and , provided a foundation for more diverse opportunities to educate broader audiences about marine aquaculture. Focusing on seaweed aquaculture, the project assessed how families learn about seaweed aquaculture through play-based activities for young children. This project has developed an experience for young children to imagine they are ocean farmers, learn about what ocean farming is and looks like, and has evaluated what the kids and their families learned as a result.
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Bringing aquaculturists and the public together through the sci-cafe experience, Brunswick, ME
, and their partners , , and , teamed up to increase aquaculture literacy and seafood consumption by strengthening the reach of the in coastal Maine communities. Partners brought aquaculturists into an informal science cafe setting to engage directly with the public about aquaculture鈥檚 role in Maine鈥檚 coastal economy. This increased knowledge transfer and experience with products and practitioners of the aquaculture industry has helped build stronger connections between the sector and the communities it serves.
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Abalone Aquaculture Education Pilot Project, Goleta, CA
In a local partnership between the , , and the , this project provided high school students and the general public with the knowledge and experiences necessary to understand the importance of sustainable aquaculture. Partners co-developed a high-school-level unit of instruction focused on abalone aquaculture. At the Sea Center, they provided informal learning experiences to staff and volunteers, and teamed up with the Sea Center鈥檚 exhibit design experts to update their white abalone exhibit. The revamp has helped visitors understand the important role aquaculture plays in white abalone restoration.
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Apalachicola Bay Aquaculture Demonstration Pilot Project, Apalachicola Bay, FL
and partnered with the and to engage a cohort of youth interested in, and prepared for, the aquaculture workforce. Ultimately, the project aimed to demonstrate the potential for greater community resilience through aquaculture. By educating local community members about career opportunities, and enhancing and communicating aquaculture education best practices, activities have increased public awareness and literacy for oyster aquaculture in the Apalachicola region.
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Martha鈥檚 Vineyard Oyster Aquaculture Literacy Program: The Magic of Martha鈥檚 Vineyard Oysters, Oak Bluffs, MA
, in close partnership with , , , and , created an oyster farming education program making the island鈥檚 oyster industry accessible to public audiences. Four unique learning experiences kickstarted an aquaculture literacy initiative on the island: educational tours of local oyster farms accompanied by Vineyard biologists, a four-month installation at the Martha鈥檚 Vineyard Museum with an accompanying STEM program at the island鈥檚 K鈥12 schools, opportunities at an annual oyster festival taking place in the fall, and hands-on oyster preparation and shucking events with notable local food experts.
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Offshore Optics: Taking a Closer Look at Offshore Aquaculture, Sarasota, FL
partnered with and to develop and install a new interactive exhibit at the aquarium that communicated information about sustainable offshore鈥攐r open ocean鈥攁quaculture. Visitors gained access to learning opportunities at the aquarium itself, and to a community-based educational outreach platform for understanding the importance of offshore aquaculture in Florida鈥檚 Gulf of Mexico waters. Improving aquaculture literacy about the complexities of sustainable offshore aquaculture has allowed the Sarasota, Florida community, its visitors, and their local government officials to better understand the environmental, social, and economic implications of the sector in their region.
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The Story of Yellow Perch: Understanding Ohio's Wild and Farmed Fisheries, Columbus, OH
used a common, recognizable species in Ohio and the Great Lakes region, the Yellow Perch, to share the story of aquaculture in their communities. In partnership with , , and the , the project developed educational displays and materials to increase visitors' understanding of the production systems, including outdoor ponds and indoor aquaponics and recirculating aquaculture systems, that help provide safe and sustainable fish products to local markets and restock fish ponds. Ultimately, the project has enhanced the public鈥檚 understanding of the role of aquaculture in food security in the region.
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SEE (Social, Economic, Ecological) Aquaculture-Enhancing Marine Aquaculture Awareness Through Outreach Education, Savannah, GA
offered communities in the southeast region opportunities to engage in educational programming explaining the importance of shellfish aquaculture in the 21st century. Through interactive and mobile exhibits at the , the project provided aquarium visitors with the basic knowledge and understanding necessary to participate in discussions about the social, economic, and ecological implications of shellfish aquaculture. By co-developing materials, partners have built lasting collaborations and the capacity to enhance marine aquaculture awareness through outreach education.
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Aquaculture ME! Supporting Cross-Sector Collaborations in Maine Aquaculture Education, Orono, ME
leveraged their existing initiative to expand the reach of their successful model that connects classroom teachers with aquaculture science and industry. Across Maine, aquaculture education offers a unique opportunity to build connections in coastal communities and create job pathways for younger generations. This project leveraged existing resources, forged genuine partnerships, and supported creative approaches to enhancing aquaculture literacy in Maine鈥檚 communities. Through activities with , , and , partners have built the capacity of educators to offer high-quality aquaculture programming in both formal classroom and informal educational settings.
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