U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Roger Wicker (R0MS), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced legislation recently that would reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.
The program, a partnership between NOAA and 34-university based programs in Coastal and Great Lakes states, as well as Puerto Rico and Guam, helps to protect coastal economies, support programs that improve coastal communities’ resilience and keep oceans and fisheries healthy and sustainable. In 2023, the Sea Grant program received $94 million in federal funding, which generated $828.3 million in economic benefit, the lawmakers said.
Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee, said the program has created 1,500 jobs and generated $190 million over the course of five years in her state.
“The Sea Grant College Program is a smart, cost-effective way to protect our coastal communities while supporting fishermen, shellfish growers, and maritime jobs,” she said. “Last year, Washington Sea Grant generated over $60 million in economic benefits to the State of Washington, nearly 20 times the federal investment. This bipartisan bill will help ensure that Sea Grant programs can continue to support coastal economies in communities across America.”
Across the country, the Sea Grant program helped create or support 22,251 jobs and 1,479 businesses in 2023. The program works with the seafood industry, and nearly 50,000 seafood industry personnel have adopted responsible fishery practices based on outreach efforts conducted by Sea Grant fellows.
“The Sea Grant Program has had a long history of delivering results for both the communities that they serve and the country as a whole. We are pleased to see that it continues to receive strong bipartisan Congressional backing,” Kate Litle, interim director of Washington Sea Grant, said.