NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says it's providing $450,000 to expand aquaculture operations and production off the eastern states. The agency says it is looking to offset the nation’s $14 billion seafood trade deficit.
NOAA says it's wants to help develop environmentally sustainable ocean farming while looking to fund pilot projects for fish, shellfish, seaweed and other facets of the domestic aquaculture industry that it considers "newcomers."
The money will be distributed through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. NOAA also is making money available for aquaculture projects in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific.