The NSF Seafood Engine in New England wins $15M U.S. National Science Foundation award to strengthen fisheries and aquaculture


    Portsmouth, NH, July 14, 2026     – The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a major new award to bolster the American seafood industry through the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program within the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (NSF TIP). The NSF Seafood Engine in New England, led by the Portsmouth-based non-profit NERACOOS, is a collaboration of seafood industry, tech sector, government, and research partners across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. This innovation ecosystem aims to revitalize the seafood sector through cutting-edge technology. This award will position New England to lead the nation in meeting the goals outlined in the Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. 

    “NSF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America’s innovation infrastructure for decades to come,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “The NSF Seafood Engine will leverage cutting-edge resources including AI, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, robotics and more to strengthen the New England seafood supply chain, from harvesting to consumer delivery, supporting businesses up and down the coastline.”

    The Seafood Engine will initially receive an award of $15 million over two years, with the potential to grow up to $160 million over ten years as it works to build an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster. This core funding from NSF creates an unprecedented opportunity to leverage additional resources from public, private, and philanthropic sources to expand the partnership and scale its outcomes. The NSF Engine strives to enhance the competitiveness of fisheries and aquaculture, a pillar of New England’s economy that accounts for 25% of the nation’s seafood value. The technological solutions can be rolled out nationwide, propelling the American seafood industry to a stronger position within the global market.

    “New Hampshire may only have about 18 miles of coastline, but we benefit tremendously from the seafood industry and our coastal economy,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a featured speaker at the Engines of Growth event, at which the awards were announced. “I’m thankful the National Science Foundation recognized those benefits and also the immense potential of the maritime economy by selecting the Seafood Engine in New England as a new NSF Engine. This award will provide the resources to make the engine a success, strengthening fisheries and aquaculture throughout New England, creating good jobs, promoting innovation and boosting our competitiveness in the world.”  

    “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 NERACOOS.

    At the outset, the Seafood Engine will:

    • Support an exciting portfolio of R&D projects that bring together seafood harvesters, academic experts, and tech companies aimed at building ocean intelligence through state-of-the-art sensors deployed from fishing vessels and aquaculture farms.
    • Form a consortium of regional seafood apprenticeship programs at the center of the Engine’s Workforce Development strategy through which new entrants can participate in R&D projects and operationalize their innovations.
    • Provide funding to blue tech companies that have passed the R&D phase and need support to bring products to commercialization through the Translation of Innovation to Impact strategy.

    Over time, new R&D, Workforce Development, and Translation activities will work to reshore American seafood processing capacity and strengthen the full supply chain. Together, these efforts will bring new opportunities to small and medium firms across the New England coastline and cut into the $20B seafood deficit facing American businesses.

    Government officials from across the Seafood Engine region of service welcomed the news from NSF:

    “I’m thrilled that the National Science Foundation is making this historic investment in New England’s seafood sector—and that so many Maine communities will benefit. By empowering researchers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders from across the seafood supply chain to develop new tools and strategies, this funding will help strengthen Maine’s seafood industry for generations to come. This is exactly the kind of smart federal investment that drives innovation, supports our coastal communities and working waterfronts, and ensures that New England continues to be a leader in the global seafood economy. I want to congratulate NERACOOS, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, the University of Maine, the Penobscot Nation, and everyone who had a hand in making this important initiative possible.”
    – Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree 

    “Massachusetts’ commercial fishing industry is powered by hardworking fishermen, family-owned businesses and coastal communities that have helped define our state for generations. This investment will strengthen those communities by supporting innovation, expanding our workforce and helping to ensure our seafood industry remains competitive for years to come. Congratulations to all of the partners who made this achievement possible.”
    – Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey

    “Massachusetts’ fishermen are the engine of our waterfront communities, and they deserve the financial fuel that they need to keep going. This funding will help the Seafood Engine run at full speed—generating new solutions to the new challenges facing this historic industry. As a longstanding supporter of the National Science Foundation and ocean observation funding, I am excited to see this partnership and look forward to the many opportunities that the Seafood Engine will power in the future.”   
    – Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey

    “New Hampshire’s seafood industry is a cornerstone of our economy and our heritage, and this investment will help keep it strong for the future. The Seafood Engine will fuel innovation, support our fishermen and aquaculture businesses, strengthen our workforce, and create good-paying jobs while reinforcing New England’s leadership in an important industry. I look forward to seeing this partnership deliver results for the Granite State.”
    – New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte

    “The seafood, fisheries, and aquaculture industries are vital components of the Ocean State’s economy and culture. Today’s NSF Engines award strengthens Rhode Island’s partnership with our New England peers and reinforces our leadership in advancing and growing the U.S. seafood industry. Thank you to the NSF and our Seafood Engine partners – we look forward to achieving our goals together.”
    – Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee

    In early summer 2024, the Seafood Engine 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 Seafood Engine 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 Seafood Engine is one of 12 NSF Engines award winners selected from among these finalists.

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