Report on the Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Initiative for Economic Development

Project Overview

The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center has initiated a marine aquaculture demonstration project focused on economic development. This initiative, funded by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), is designed to advance the marine aquaculture sector along the US Gulf Coast through targeted research and practical training.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The initiative directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on economic growth, environmental sustainability, and education.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – By increasing the availability of seed stock, the project contributes to enhancing food security through a greater supply of sustainable seafood.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The emphasis on hands-on training and workforce development aims to equip individuals with the technical and vocational skills necessary for employment in the aquaculture industry.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The initiative is structured to stimulate the regional “blue economy” and create new employment opportunities, fostering sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Through applied research, the project seeks to accelerate innovation, enhancing the technological capabilities and sustainability of the marine aquaculture industry.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water – By promoting controlled aquaculture, the initiative helps reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, contributing to the sustainable management and conservation of marine resources.

Key Objectives and Expected Outcomes

According to Dr. Kelly Lucas, USM Vice President for Research, the project is strategically designed to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Accelerate innovation in marine aquaculture through applied research.
2. Develop a skilled workforce via comprehensive, hands-on training programs.
3. Support and expand the regional “blue economy.”
4. Generate new jobs within the aquaculture sector and related industries.
5. Increase the availability of seed stock to support the growth of sustainable aquaculture.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article highlights that the initiative will support the regional “blue economy,” “create jobs,” and promote “economic development,” which are core components of SDG 8.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The project’s focus on “marine aquaculture” directly relates to the sustainable use of marine resources for economic benefit, a key objective of SDG 14.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The initiative’s aim to “accelerate innovation” and conduct “applied research” in the marine aquaculture sector contributes to fostering innovation and upgrading industrial capabilities, as outlined in SDG 9.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The mention of “workforce development” and “hands-on training” connects the project to SDG 4, specifically in providing relevant technical and vocational skills for employment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article supports this by stating the initiative is designed to “accelerate innovation” through “applied research.”
2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The project’s explicit goal to “create jobs” and facilitate “workforce development” directly addresses this target.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

1. Target 14.7: By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. The project’s goal to support the “blue economy” on the US Gulf Coast through “marine aquaculture” is a direct application of this target’s principles.
2. Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology. The initiative’s components of “applied research” and “hands-on training” align with increasing scientific knowledge and building local capacity in marine technology.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries. The focus on “applied research” and “innovation” in the marine aquaculture industry directly contributes to this target.

SDG 4: Quality Education

1. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The “workforce development” and “hands-on training” elements are designed to provide these specific skills for the aquaculture sector.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of jobs created: This is a direct, implied indicator for Target 8.5, as the article states the initiative will “create jobs.”
• Number of individuals receiving training: This is an implied indicator for Target 4.4. The mention of “workforce development” and “hands-on training” suggests that the number of participants can be tracked to measure success.
• Economic growth in the regional “blue economy”: This is an implied indicator for Target 14.7. The project’s contribution to the regional economy through aquaculture would be a key measure of its impact.
• Number of innovations developed: This is an implied indicator for Targets 8.2 and 9.5. The goal to “accelerate innovation” suggests that the output of new technologies or methods will be a performance metric.
• Volume of seed stock made available: This is a specific, measurable outcome mentioned in the article (“increase the availability of seed stock for aquaculture”) that serves as a direct indicator for Target 14.a and the overall health of the aquaculture industry.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bairdmaritime.com