First aid for flounders
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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, and made possible through federal
funding secured by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
“Sustainable seafood is good for our economy and the environment,” Reed said. “I am proud to have secured $1 million for this exciting new program that will benefit Rhode Island’s aquaculture industry, wild-caught fisheries, and the state’s sustainable seafood sector.
“From disease management to food safety to water quality, URI’s
new PRESS program will address an array of critical seafood issues and serve as
an important hub for research and development. This federal earmark will
help URI grow our blue economy, enhance food security, and promote ocean
conservation,” said the senator, a senior member of the Appropriations
Committee.
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.
Gomez-Chiarri, a professor of fisheries and aquaculture, will be
guided by the committee in connecting researchers with industry members to team
up to address emerging challenges and ongoing critical issues facing the
fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood sectors in Rhode Island.
Seafood consumption in the United States has been on the rise,
with demand expected to grow 60% by 2050. While the potential is great, this
increase in seafood production and consumption is also threatened by weaknesses
in processing and distribution chains. These challenges are further exacerbated
by unexpected or unexplained events such as harmful algal blooms, disease, or
area closures.
“As researchers at a land grant and sea grant institution, we are
often approached by industry hoping to develop solutions to challenges they
face,” Gomez-Chiarri said. “This initiative will allow us to quickly respond to
these challenges with effective research, education, and technology tools
created by teams of scientists and industry experts working together.”
The objectives of the project are to identify emerging issues
affecting seafood production; develop a research innovation and idea incubator
driven by stakeholder input; develop or enhance workforce training and
educational portals; and transfer technology to improve industry
sustainability. This project will provide a model for addressing future
challenges to seafood security in the U.S.
The effort is a collaboration of the University of Rhode Island
and local stakeholders in the seafood sectors, administered through Rhode
Island Sea Grant. For more information, please visit
https://web.uri.edu/cels/press/ or email PRESSProject@uri.edu.
