SEA GRANT MARKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY AS NATION'S PREMIER COASTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM
WASHINGTON D.C. "Why, to promote the relationship between academic, state, federal and industrial institutions in fisheries, do we not do what wise men had done for the better cultivation of the land a century ago? Why not have 'Sea Grant Colleges?'" --- that was the challenge of Athelstan Spilhaus, then the dean of the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology, in a keynote address to the 1963 meeting of the American Fisheries Society.
Spilhaus' speech, imploring the creation of the maritime equivalent of the Land Grant College Program was the first step of what has become the Sea Grant College Program. In 1998 the National Sea Grant College Program celebrates 30 years of excellence in marine and coastal science research, education and outreach.
First authorized by Congressional legislation sponsored by Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island and Representative Paul Rogers of Florida in 1966, the Sea Grant network has grown to encompass more than 300 universities and other marine organizations that work within a core of 29 state Sea Grant college and institutional programs. Administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce, Sea Grant was reauthorized by Congress, with overwhelming bipartisan support, and President Clinton signed the reauthorization act on March 6.
"Sea Grant stands as one of the best examples in the country of a successful partnership between the federal government and the nation's best universities," states Dr. James Baker, Undersecretary of Commerce and NOAA Administrator. " The economic and environmental circumstances in our coastal regions that led to the enactment of the first Sea Grant Act over three decades ago, and its subsequent reauthorization, are even more compelling today. The Sea Grant Program has great potential to contribute to the many challenges and opportunities in coastal resource management and sustainable development in the years ahead."
"Everyone involved with marine issues at that time (in the mid 1960s) worried about the relationship between industry, government and the universities," says Spilhaus, now 86, and regarded as originator of the Sea Grant concept. "Land Grant Colleges had taken engineering, botany and academic subjects out of the colleges and put them to work on land. That proved so successful in bringing government, academia and the farmers together, why not have a Sea Grant program? I said something during my address that caught everyone's fancy - instead of land-based county agents, we would have county agents in hip boots carrying their knowledge to fishermen on the trawlers and fishing vessels."
Pell and Rogers took up Spilhaus's challenge and in February, 1968, the National Science Foundation awarded first "Sea Grant" research projects to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute Technology, and Louisiana's Nicholls State College bringing the Sea Grant concept to life. The first four universities designated as "Sea Grant Colleges were named four years later with official designation going to Oregon State University, The University of Rhode Island, Texas A&M University and the University of Washington. The most recent addition to the program's official full program roster came in 1997 when the joint programs of the University of Illinois and Purdue University achieved college status.
Since its modest beginning, Sea Grant has used the peer-review process to award thousands of research and outreach grants. It passed the $1 billion grant award mark in 1997 for research addressing such diverse issues as aquaculture, aquatic nuisance species, coastal economic development, habitat enhancement and hazards, marine science education, marine biotechnology, and seafood safety.
The impact of those projects has been significant. Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, in remarks at a March 11 ceremony in the U.S. capitol building formally marking the Sea Grant program's 30th anniversary, stated that Sea Grant "has made a difference in the lives of citizens who live near and depend on our marine and water resources by addressing bycatch issues, fisheries habitat, improving stock assessment model and so much more. But perhaps the most important role of the Sea Grant program has been in education. The program is helping to educate the next generation of leaders and resource managers. Through its research, education and marine extension programs, the Sea Grant Program continues to address a wide range of marine resource and environmental issues."
Pell, now retired after 35 years in the Senate, echoed Stevens remarks in a recent interview for Texas Shores, a magazine that looks at coastal and Gulf issues, when he said: "Sea Grant doesn't have as strong a presence in Washington as I would like, but it is healthy, and seems to be growing even in this political climate of government down-sizing. There's a simple explanation for that - the program works."
Notes NOAA's National Sea Grant Program Director Ronald Baird, "Sea Grant then, as now, is an organization with tremendous potential for contributing to the national interest by bringing the formidable resources of our finest universities to bear on critical coastal issues."
Delivering the results of scientific research to real people and solving real world problems has been the cornerstone of Sea Grant's efforts. Here are some of those accomplishments:
Aquaculture --- A burgeoning U.S. aquaculture industry can point to considerable investments by Sea Grant in basic and applied science - genetics, reproduction, the engineering of recirculation and filter systems, and rearing techniques as a significant factor in its growth. One example is the hybrid striped bass pond culture industry which has grown from a Sea Grant demonstration project to an industry producing 10 millions pounds of fish valued at $25 million annually.
Aquatic Nuisance Species --- From research to public education programs, Sea Grant has focused on finding solutions to the increasing threat of nonindigenous species. Since 1985 a new species has been introduced into an American ecosystem once every 12 weeks resulting in tremendous ecological and socio-economic damage in many regions of the nation.
Coastal Economic Development --- Sea Grant seeks to enhance the coastal economy in many ways: identifying opportunities for business development, minimizing economic losses from storms and natural disasters, and using high-tech science to develop new products from the sea. Sea Grant technology research was the key behind the development of a reverse-osmosis desalination pump that is used for food and chemical processing, mining activities and by all branches of the U.S. military to provide drinking water in the field.
Coastal Habitat Enhancement --- With more than half the U.S. population living or working within 50 miles of an ocean or Great Lake coastline, the pressures to protect, restore and enhance coastal habitat is steadily increasing. Sea Grant research has focused on wetland issues including wetland loss mitigation strategies which have both created and restored valuable fishery nursery areas and wetlands, while at the same time allowing coastal development valued in excess of $100 million. Sea Grant sewage outfall studies and toxic contaminant databases for aquatic ecosystems have allowed new approaches to solving these issues, and are saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in treatment and clean-up costs.
Coastal Hazards --- Coastal storms have created tremendous economic and environmental losses in coastal areas. Sea Grant efforts in promoting public safety through erosion studies, coastal building engineer work, safer SCUBA diving protocols and life-saving training for watermen has helped save both lives and property. Sea Grant engineering work has led to the development of software allowing builders to "plug-in" specifications of their structure to assess the building's risk from coastal storm winds and water and how to mitigate the identified risks. Sea Grant extension efforts have promoted the application of construction techniques such as hurricane clips, cross-braced pile construction, and changes in roof and window design that can save millions in repair and in annual insurance premiums.
Education --- Education at all levels, both formal and informal, is a focal point of Sea Grant efforts. Sea Grant has supported more than 12,000 graduate research assistants in work on marine and Great Lakes science issues. As a result these students have become a skilled workforce that is a major factor in the nation's marine sector, benefiting the environment and the economy.
In K-12 education Sea Grant has partnered with other agencies in a marine science program for teachers, "Operation Pathfinder." This program has trained 278 teachers, who in turn trained an additional 45,000 educational professionals in 30 states and seven U.S. territories. The result is the potential to bring marine and coastal science education to over 30 million students nationwide over a five-year period.
Marine Biotechnology --- Sea Grant-supported research has shown tremendous potential for using marine organisms to provide models for new pharmaceuticals, vaccines, household and industrial detergents, agricultural fertilizers and genetically-enhanced organisms for the aquaculture and seafood industries. The nation's first systematic research effort to develop new drugs from marine organisms was organized by Sea Grant, resulting in the discovery and description of more than 1,000 compounds. These compounds are being tested by both government agencies and commercial pharmaceutical companies as possible treatments for AIDS, inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, and prostate, lung and breast cancers.
Seafood Technology --- Sea Grant research and technology transfer has been helping the seafood industry improve processing technology and products and methods for insuring seafood safety. Sea Grant is finding new ways to reduce waste and bycatch in fishing gear; develop new markets for underused species; and insure the safety and quality of products through better storage, processing and packaging techniques.
Sea Grant researchers have used biotechnology tools to develop fast and highly specific techniques for detecting pathogens not only in shellfish but also in meat and milk. Sea Grant research has also led to the development of a new grading system for shrimp quality based on established freshness standards. The result will be a more consistent evaluation of both domestic and imported shrimp.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Sherman Sea Grant National Media Relations 202-662-7095 or [email protected]
3/26/98
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