January 14, 2026 — A series of community-driven education projects supported by NOAA Fisheries is helping bridge the gap between seafood producers and the public, highlighting how domestic aquaculture supports working waterfronts, food security, and healthy coastal ecosystems.
Nine projects funded through the eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grants Program wrapped up in July 2025. The program is a collaboration between NOAA and the North American Association for Environmental Education, designed to strengthen public understanding of sustainable seafood and aquaculture through hands-on learning and local partnerships.
Across the country, the projects paired informal learning institutions with aquaculture businesses and NOAA experts to reach diverse audiences- from students and teachers to chefs and coastal residents. Through farm tours, classroom programming, podcasts, and culinary events, participants learned how seafood is grown, why ocean health matters, and how domestic aquaculture contributes to the U.S. seafood supply.