The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has announced a $3 million grant from the Emily Landecker Foundation in support of the university’s seafood and aquaculture program.

The funds will enable the UNH School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering to expand its Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems programming to reach a global cohort of students, providing them the techniques and skills needed to implement culturally specific aquaculture projects. The center aims to develop a multi-disciplinary program that combines science and engineering with community-based seafood production, providing in-person and online classes alongside hands-on training at UNH’s AquaFort—an offshore aquaculture research and training platform.

“UNH is a leader in innovative aquaculture practices that are designed to address today’s highly complex ocean and coastal challenges,” said UNH president Elizabeth Chilton. “This generous gift…will allow us to grow our sustainable seafood program to give communities, near and far, the tools to grow sustainable food options.”

“We have deep concerns about climate change, the world we live in, and how this could impact food availability for future generations,” said representatives of the Landecker Foundation. “We live in New England, so we are keenly aware of the warming of the Gulf of Maine and how it is, and will continue to, affect local fisheries and other sources of food from the ocean.”