The University of Maine is a lead partner in a new $15 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engine that will strengthen New England’s seafood industry through cutting-edge research, technology innovation and workforce development.
The NSF Seafood Engine in New England is led by the Portsmouth-based nonprofit Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems and will bring together leaders from the seafood industry, technology sector, government and research institutions across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island to build a more competitive, resilient and technologically advanced seafood economy.
As a partner in the NSF Seafood Engine, UMaine — the state’s Sea Grant and only institution to have achieved prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification for research productivity and performance — will contribute its world-class expertise in marine science, fisheries, aquaculture, engineering, workforce development and technology commercialization.
Working alongside regional partners, the state’s flagship will help develop innovative solutions that strengthen the seafood supply chain, support coastal communities and prepare the next generation of seafood and blue economy professionals in Maine and beyond.
UMaine oceanography professor Damian Brady and his team at the Darling Marine Center in Walpole will help develop, deploy and test more than a dozen new, low-cost water quality sensors to support scallop, oyster and kelp aquaculture farms across Maine’s coast. These sensors will provide temperature, salinity, oxygen, chlorophyll and acidity data in real time.
Aquaculture farms will use that information to select sites, grow and preserve products and identify warning signs of shellfish diseases and other threats. The work builds on previous efforts from Brady’s team creating a satellite data-based model that is helping oyster farmers select ideal sites for their operations.
“The ultimate challenge is Maine has 3,478 miles of tidal shoreline, and it’s almost impossible to do water quality testing along such an extensive coastline,” Brady said. “We need ways of partnering with people who are already in the water, and working together with that part of the industry to understand our water quality challenges.”
Through the NSF Seafood Engine, Brady’s team is partnering with Bluesonde in Portland, Maine, to develop and deploy the sensors. His team will also work with aquaculture farmers on data collection, empowering them to become citizen scientists. Students will be involved in deploying and testing the sensors, reflecting UMaine’s R1 learner-centered mission.
“We’re going to be deploying these near-shore systems for aquaculturists, but anyone who is utilizing marine resources, including fishermen, is going to benefit.” Brady said.
The NSF Seafood Engine will initially receive $15 million in total over two years, with the potential to grow to as much as $160 million in federal funding over 10 years as it builds an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster. This initial NSF investment creates an opportunity to leverage additional public, private and philanthropic support to expand the partnership and accelerate its impact.
The NSF Seafood Engine aims to enhance the competitiveness of fisheries and aquaculture, a sector that represents approximately 25% of the nation’s seafood value. In Maine, commercial fisheries generated $619.1 million in 2025, marking the 14th consecutive year that commercial fishery earnings exceeded $500 million.
Technologies developed through the NSF Seafood Engine have the potential to be deployed nationwide, helping strengthen America’s seafood industry and improving its position in the global marketplace.
“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 Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems.
At the outset, the NSF Seafood Engine will:
- Support research and development projects that bring together seafood harvesters, academic experts and technology companies to build ocean intelligence through advanced sensors deployed from fishing vessels and aquaculture farms.
- Form a consortium of regional seafood apprenticeship programs that will allow new entrants to participate in research projects and help bring innovations into practice.
- Provide funding to blue technology companies that have completed the research phase and are ready to commercialize new products.
Over time, expanded research, workforce development and technology commercialization activities will help reshore American processing of Maine seafood products such as lobster, oysters, mussels, salmon, scallops and other commercially important fisheries, strengthening the seafood supply chain.
Together, these efforts are expected to create new opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses throughout New England while helping reduce the nation’s $20 billion seafood trade deficit.
In early summer 2024, the NSF Seafood Engine in New England 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 NSF Seafood Engine in New England 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 NSF Seafood Engine in New England is one of 12 NSF Engines award winners selected from among these finalists.
Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu
