Aquaculture literacy mini-grant awards

eeBLUE aquaculture literacy program supports aquaculture communications, outreach, and education projects around the country.

The eeBLUE aquaculture literacy mini-grants program is an exciting new pilot program that is supporting informal learning institutions, seafood farmers, and NOAA partners in co-developing innovative sustainable aquaculture experiences. Successful applicants received up to $15,000 to spend on developing aquaculture education, communications, and outreach programming. Funding for this pilot program was provided by NOAA Fisheries and the National Sea Grant Office, and awards are collaboratively managed by NOAA Office of Education and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) through the eeBLUE partnership.

These mini-grants are one part of an ongoing effort by NOAA’s Community of Practice for Aquaculture Literacy (CoPAL) to increase public understanding of the environmental, economic, and social aspects of aquaculture through exemplary collaborative programming. In addition to forging lasting partnerships, the collective knowledge, skills, and products created through funded mini-grant activities will be integrated into CoPAL’s best practices for aquaculture communications, outreach, and education. 

 
2021 eeBLUE aquaculture literacy awards
A group of people stand in front of a painted shipping crate. The crate says "The Cultured Abalone Farm."
Goleta, California

Abalone aquaculture education pilot project

Two students hold a bucket and dump its contents into an oyster cage.
Apalachicola Bay, Florida

Apalachicola Bay aquaculture demonstration pilot project

A teacher wearing a gray shirt that says “educator” lifts a large piece of brown seaweed from a tank.
Orono, Maine

Aquaculture ME! Supporting cross-sector collaboration in Maine aquaculture education

A group of teachers wearing masks stand around a raised garden bed that has small sprouts of vegetation.
Brunswick, Maine

Bringing aquaculturists and the public together through the sci-café experience

Buoys and a boat on the water at a kelp farm.
Saco, Maine

Kelp to the kitchen: Bringing seaweed and chefs together

A banner in an outside event tent reads “Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group 1976” with a photo of scallops, mussels, and clams. Underneath the banner is a table with a microscope set up for samples from three large glass jars of liquid containing microalgae: one orange, one green, and one brown.
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

Martha's Vineyard oyster aquaculture literacy program: The magic of Martha's Vineyard oysters

A person stands in front of a table with a plastic toy and scuba fins while conversing with a guest.
Long Beach, California

Ocean farmers: Learning together through play

An outdoor exhibit with photos of ocean life and text. Title: How can we feed the world?
Sarasota, Florida

Offshore optics: Taking a closer look at open-ocean aquaculture

Exploring US aquaculture.
Savannah, Georgia

SEE (social, economic, ecological) aquaculture: Enhancing marine aquaculture awareness through outreach education

Tabletop display materials will be used at outreach events such as here at the Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival in September 2022.
Columbus, Ohio

The story of the Yellow Perch: Understanding Ohio’s wild and farmed fisheries

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