Sales revenue for Connecticut aquaculture producers fell an average of 93 percent in February and March compared to the same period in 2019, and 70 percent of the workforce employed in shellfish, seaweed and finfish farming operations have been laid off due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coastal Resources
Take a fun, educational beach walk and share your finds
Beachcombing along the Connecticut coast can be a fun and healthy educational activity for families eager to get out outdoors while the COVID-19 virus keeps children home from school.
Grant will fund creation of climate impacts video
Adapt CT, an outreach partnership of CT Sea Grant and CLEAR, has been awarded a $2,978 grant to fund a student intern to work on a video about climate change in Connecticut.
Workshop on managed retreat rescheduled
“Managed Retreat in the Age of Climate Change,” a workshop that will be hosted by Connecticut Sea Grant and the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), has been rescheduled to Nov. 13 due to the COVID-19 virus.
Symposium looks to shape bright future for seaweed farming
Create a trade association to spearhead marketing. Develop solutions and strategies to extend the shelf life of seaweed. Recognize that seaweed isn’t like other seafood — it’s competing for space on the dinner plate with vegetables, Ideas like these were in abundance at the National Seaweed Symposium.
1st food safety guide for seaweed may help product advance
Connecticut-grown kelp is a little like an unopened packet of summer squash seeds left on a shelf after planting season has passed. While its potential to become a mainstay of restaurant and home-cooked meals has been promoted in recent years by growers, the media, and others, the reality hasn’t caught up. But a newly published guide could help change that.
Hearing airs ideas on Blue Plan’s strengths, shortcomings
Sound science, an open and transparent process, and a treasure trove of facts, figures and maps available to everyone — those are some of the attributes speakers ascribed to the Long Island Sound Blue Plan at a public hearing before the Environment Committee of the State Legislature on Feb. 21.
Learn about Blue Heritage Trail project at Feb. 2 talk
Syma Ebbin, research coordinator for Connecticut Sea Grant, will join two others involved in the development of the Blue Heritage Trail in a presentation about the project at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Groton Congregational Church.
Having 20/20 vision about climate change in 2020
In an op-ed article published in the Dec. 29, 2019, edition of The Day, Connecticut Sea Grant Communications Coordinator Judy Benson says the year 2020 can be a time for being clear-sighted about what climate change means now and in the future.
Concepcion talks about kelp for public radio, news article
Aquaculture Extension Specialist Anoushka Concepcion explained the promise and challenges of kelp farming in Long Island Sound for two news outlets.