The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a major new award to bolster the American seafood industry through the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program within the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (NSF TIP), according to a Gulf of Maine Research Institute news release.

The NSF Seafood Engine in New England, led by the Portsmouth-based nonprofit NERACOOS, is a collaboration of seafood industry, tech sector, government, and research partners across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, including the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association. This innovation ecosystem aims to revitalize the seafood sector through cutting-edge technology.

"This award will position New England to lead the nation in meeting the goals outlined in the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness," said the Research Institute.

“NSF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America’s innovation infrastructure for decades to come," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “The NSF Seafood Engine will leverage cutting-edge resources including AI, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, robotics and more to strengthen the New England seafood supply chain, from harvesting to consumer delivery, supporting businesses up and down the coastline.”

The Seafood Engine will initially receive an award of $15 million over two years, with the potential to grow up to $160 million over ten years as it works to build an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster.

"This core funding from NSF creates an unprecedented opportunity to leverage additional resources from public, private, and philanthropic sources to expand the partnership and scale its outcomes," said the release. "The NSF Engine strives to enhance the competitiveness of fisheries and aquaculture, a pillar of New England's economy that accounts for 25% of the nation’s seafood value. The technological solutions can be rolled out nationwide, propelling the American seafood industry to a stronger position within the global market."

“Built on the ingenuity and steadfast determination at the heart of America’s oldest commercial enterprise, the Seafood Engine is ready to confront key challenges facing the industry with bold innovation,” said Jake Kritzer, Principal Investigator of the Seafood Engine and Executive Director of NERACOOS. 

At the outset, the Seafood Engine will:

• Support an exciting portfolio of R&D projects that bring together seafood harvesters, academic experts, and tech companies aimed at building ocean intelligence through state-of-the-art sensors deployed from fishing vessels and aquaculture farms.
• Form a consortium of regional seafood apprenticeship programs at the center of the Engine’s Workforce Development strategy through which new entrants can participate in R&D projects and operationalize their innovations.
• Provide funding to blue tech companies that have passed the R&D phase and need support to bring products to commercialization through the Translation of Innovation to Impact strategy.

Over time, new R&D, Workforce Development, and Translation activities will work to reshore American seafood processing capacity and strengthen the full supply chain.

"Together, these efforts will bring new opportunities to small and medium firms across the New England coastline and cut into the $20B seafood deficit facing American businesses," said the release.

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) will represent Maine on the Seafood Engine’s Leadership Team, "ensuring the initiative reflects the needs and opportunities of the state’s fishing and seafood sectors," according to the release.

Working with partners across New England, the organizations will help guide efforts to turn promising research and technology into practical tools and new economic opportunities for fishermen, seafood businesses, and coastal communities.

“This Engine has great potential to drive strong, positive impact for Maine's fishermen, our local food systems, and the greater American seafood economy,” said Ben Martens, Executive Director at MCFA. “Maine fishermen work hard to land high-quality, healthy protein — the work undertaken by the Seafood Engine will strengthen infrastructure, build and diversify markets, and open doors for the fishermen of this generation and the next.”

“Science has the most impact when it is developed alongside the people who will use it,” said Janet Duffy-Anderson, Chief Scientific Officer at GMRI. “We are connecting research, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the seafood industry to develop solutions that strengthen New England's blue economy.”

Government officials from across the Seafood Engine region of service welcomed the news from NSF:

“I’m thrilled that the National Science Foundation is making this historic investment in New England’s seafood sector—and that so many Maine communities will benefit," said Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. "By empowering researchers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders from across the seafood supply chain to develop new tools and strategies, this funding will help strengthen Maine’s seafood industry for generations to come. This is exactly the kind of smart federal investment that drives innovation, supports our coastal communities and working waterfronts, and ensures that New England continues to be a leader in the global seafood economy. I want to congratulate NERACOOS, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, the University of Maine, the Penobscot Nation, and everyone who had a hand in making this important initiative possible."

“Massachusetts' commercial fishing industry is powered by hardworking fishermen, family-owned businesses and coastal communities that have helped define our state for generations," said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. "This investment will strengthen those communities by supporting innovation, expanding our workforce and helping to ensure our seafood industry remains competitive for years to come. Congratulations to all of the partners who made this achievement possible.”

“New Hampshire may only have about 18 miles of coastline, but we benefit tremendously from the seafood industry and our coastal economy," said New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen. "I’m thankful the National Science Foundation recognized those benefits and also the immense potential of the maritime economy by selecting the Seafood Engine in New England as a new NSF Engine. This award will provide the resources to make the engine a success, strengthening fisheries and aquaculture throughout New England, creating good jobs, promoting innovation and boosting our competitiveness in the world."

“The seafood, fisheries, and aquaculture industries are vital components of the Ocean State’s economy and culture," said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee. "Today’s NSF Engines award strengthens Rhode Island’s partnership with our New England peers and reinforces our leadership in advancing and growing the U.S. seafood industry. Thank you to the NSF and our Seafood Engine partners – we look forward to achieving our goals together.”

In early summer 2024, the Seafood Engine submitted one of nearly 300 letters of intent  in response to the second NSF Engines funding opportunity. The preliminary proposal was selected as one of 71 to advance to the next round of competition. Following a merit review, the Seafood Engine was one of 29 teams to share a detailed presentation about their proposed NSF Engine. From this process, 15 finalists were selected to participate in two-day site visits with NSF staff and external experts. The Seafood Engine is one of 12 NSF Engines award winners selected from among these finalists.
 

The NSF Seafood Engine in New England, led by the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS), is working to revitalize a legacy industry by leveraging advanced technologies that reduce the national seafood deficit and strengthen every level of the seafood supply chain. Learn more at seafoodengine.org