Haystack and Maine Sea Grant Receive Major Grant from NOAA's Marine Debris Program
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Maine Sea Grant are pleased to announce the awarding of a significant grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. This grant will fund the Maine Marine Debris Community Action Coalition, a community education and research development initiative aimed at developing new materials and uses from ghost traps in the Gulf of Maine.
“We’re embarking on a groundbreaking partnership with the University of Maine to explore the potential of experimental materials made from marine debris, and we're incredibly excited about the new chapter this project represents for the Haystack Fab Lab,” says James Rutter, Haystack’s Technology Director.
The Maine Marine Debris Community Action Coalition is a partnership between four primary partners -including Haystack- and eight collaborating organizations from the education, research, and community sectors, with additional members to be recruited through project activities. The coalition's objectives are to identify and develop improved methods and technological designs for processing and refabricating marine debris, such as ghost lobster traps and derelict aquaculture farming gear, into products; to develop new educational programs and opportunities for high school students and professionals; and to create a robust and connected community.
“I'm really excited about this project. Working with Haystack has opened so many opportunities for practical and innovative work toward reducing marine debris, and to use those activities as material for some very creative educational programs,” says Dana Morse, Senior Extension Program Manager and Aquaculture Lead at Maine Sea Grant. “It aligns nicely with Sea Grant's goals, and takes advantage of our collective talents.”
The $299,707.00 grant will support this initiative for two years, marking a crucial step forward in Maine's fight against marine debris, and the awarding of this grant reflects the significance and relevance of this project for our community. For more information on the NOAA Sea Grant, including links to the other funded projects, please visit the project’s website here.