Speakers: Janet Duffy-Anderson, Chief Scientific Officer, SVP Research and Understanding, Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Mel Sanderson, Chief Operating Officer, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance. Jake Kritzer, Executive Director, NERACOOS. Jake Kritzer, Executive Director, NERACOOS
Jake Kritzer: The seafood industry in New England is deeply embedded within the historical, cultural, and economic fabric of our region. Fishing in New England is the oldest commercial enterprise in the United States, and our region is the birthplace of the seafood industry nationwide. However, today, a number of economic, environmental, and policy challenges threaten the future of this vital sector. These challenges are felt by other regions right across the country and together contribute to a more than $20 billion national seafood deficit. NSPIRE is a dynamic partnership spanning the seafood industry, tech sector, scientific community, and government that aims to bring technological innovation to the seafood industry in New England and then nationwide to tackling these challenges head on. The vision of NSPIRE is one step closer to becoming a reality after this vision was named a finalist in the National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines program. An exciting opportunity to fundamentally change the course of seafood of the seafood industry in New England and across the nation.
Mel Sanderson: New England is the birthplace of commercial fishing in the US and represents 25% of the nation's seafood value. It is an industry that has demonstrated dogged determination and ingenuity over the centuries. Our seafood sector is a patchwork of thousands of independent and corporate producers that share the same waters, the same supply chain bottlenecks, and the same graying of the fleet. Seafood landings have a broader economic impact of $7.5 billion across the region. We have over 40 managed species and several more from the mid-Atlantic that are shifting rapidly into New England waters. This diversification has helped generations of fishermen adapt to the cyclical nature of fisheries, and it will likely be critical as we adapt to changing oceans and an aging workforce. But part of that adaptation will also have to be a new way of doing business for the next generation. For example, rapid changes in the environment mean fishermen need more than a stack of old logbooks to find fish. They need actionable environmental intelligence to better read the ocean and guide their decision making. Luckily, New England fishing businesses have a long tradition of embracing technologies that make fishing more efficient and profitable. From sonar to cameras, to smartphone apps, to environmental sensors. Navigating current challenges and altering the region's growth trajectory requires new technologies to gain efficiencies, to capitalize on new species, and to catalyze the substantial growth potential of sustainable aquaculture. To solve our challenges, we need more than a few new tools. The seafood industry recognizes this, and it is at an inflection point, well positioned for a technological revolution. Our first round of use-inspired R&D projects builds on pioneering work already happening with fishermen, aquaculturists, processors, and researchers. They need NSPIRE to advance the technology to a transformational level and scale it across the region for truly disruptive innovation.
Nicholas A. Rotker: The moment is now to accelerate investment in the New England seafood sector, a region filled with collaborators, technological advancements, and decades of know-how driving innovation in the maritime space. For decades, if not centuries, our regional institutions and companies have been collaborating in ocean innovation and exploration, and we've been doing this through technology. Without it, advancements in a number of ocean-related industries would not and will not thrive. This includes the seafood industry. What's exciting is that today, ocean technology is what defines the growth opportunity. The global ocean technological market is set to grow by nearly $300 billion in 2033. Seafood and aquaculture are the third largest sub-sector within the market.
Nicholas A. Rotker: NSPIRE will bring the great strides made by the Ocean Tech Hub in Rhode Island and Massachusetts together with Maine and New Hampshire. Their strong technology sectors combined with historical partnerships with the seafood industry will seed continuous growth.
Janet Duffy-Anderson: What makes NSPIRE the right team to drive transformational change across the seafood sector? First, this is not just a coalition. NSPIRE is a purpose-built cross-sector engine comprised of over 50 organizations. We bring innovators and experts from academia, industry, government, communities, and tech to work across the entire seafood supply chain from harvest to consumers, catalyzing innovation and delivering solutions. This team has representation across the entire seafood continuum. We have come together to address the critical bottlenecks in harvesting, processing, distribution, and workforce development that have challenged the sector in the past. The NSPIRE team was intentionally built for end-to-end solutions. Second, we are leveraging our region's long history of collaboration, coordination, and shared frameworks to propel success. Our team enjoys long-standing cross-state relationships and state-industry partnerships, which will advance the development, scaling, and adoption of tech-led solutions. Third, we are built for scale, and we are prepared to catalyze national seafood innovation. New England is the heartland of US seafood, and we are a leader in fisheries and seafood production, science, technology, and policy. We are building on our legacy to develop and deliver collaborative, transferable, technology-driven solutions that will transform the US seafood economy.
Jake Kritzer: Bringing the vision of NSPIRE to life will require ideas, energy, and resources. If you're passionate about New England's seafood industry and you want to see its rich past continue on as a vibrant future, please reach out and let us know. Thank you.
