NYSG’s Aquaculture Specialist Emma Forbes. Credit: Emma Forbes/NYSG

Contact:

Emma Forbes, NYSG Aquaculture Specialist, E: ef375@cornell.edu, P: 914-285-4620


New York Sea Grant has hired its first Aquaculture Specialist to develop an extension program in support of the aquaculture industry

Elmsford, NY, March 8, 2021 - Aquaculture, the rearing of aquatic animals and plants, provides a significant source of dietary protein and mechanisms for sustaining natural fisheries, protecting waterways, and creating jobs and revenue for New York. The potential for growth of the managed cultivation of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants, even algae, in New York State is high, especially with one of the Northeast’s largest markets, New York City, just hours from all corners of the state. To help the aquaculture industry realize this potential, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has hired its first aquaculture specialist.

Currently, there are several shellfish aquaculture operations in Long Island, but a limited number of land-based and finfish operations. The expansion of the industry over the years has been slow, with challenges in information exchange and communication. Thus, the industry, consumers, researchers, and other stakeholders could benefit from an established and active network.

In September 2020, NYSG established and filled the position of Aquaculture Specialist to provide extension programming in support of the development, growth, and success of a sustainable aquaculture industry in New York. A needs assessment of the industry in early 2021 will guide programming. Various aquaculture-focused extension tools and products have been, and will be, developed, including the creation of a NYSG aquaculture webpage, updating of the New York State Aquaculture White Paper, and creation of a network of aquaculture industry professionals (producers, researchers, regulators, wholesalers, economists, etc.) to support statewide collaboration.

The creation of the new NYSG Aquaculture Specialist position will strengthen the aquaculture industry in New York, creating opportunities for business, research, and collaboration.

Project Partner:

• Funding: National Sea Grant Office


(l-r): On-water aquaculture; An indoor fish farming operation. Credit: Emma Forbes/NYSG

More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University in Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC and Elmsford and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly.