Pallone Announces $230,665 for Rutgers to Support Commercial Fishing and Aquaculture Industries through Distance Learning in New Jersey

Piscataway, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) today announced $230,665 in federal funding for Rutgers University to expand distance learning capabilities to rural communities and businesses in Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, and Ocean counties, providing critical support to the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries in New Jersey’s coastal region. 

The project, spearheaded by Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, will establish one main location to share lessons, another that both shares and receives lessons, and two more places where people can join and learn using the latest technology for online education. These upgrades will deliver instructional coursework and industry presentations to three locations, benefiting 10,802 students across the region.

“This investment is a major win for New Jersey’s communities,” said Congressman Pallone. “By equipping Rutgers and its partner sites with the tools to connect and share expertise, we’re giving local businesses and residents access to the education and training they need to thrive. Supporting our state’s commercial fishing and aquaculture supply chain is critical to strengthening the local economy, creating jobs, and reducing the barriers these rural communities often face.” 

This funding will support initiatives including:

• Enhanced access to industry-specific education for businesses in the commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors.
• Expanded educational opportunities for underserved rural communities.
• Increased resilience to climate challenges by supporting sustainable economic practices.

In addition to the USDA grant, Rutgers will contribute $40,706 in additional funding, bringing the total project cost to $271,371.

Pallone has championed federal investments in aquaculture through the bipartisan Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act which was introduced in 2023. The legislation reforms federal agricultural policy to ensure aquaculture and seafood industries receive equal treatment within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill requires the USDA Secretary to give the same consideration to aquaculture producers as animal agriculture producers and ensure adequate and fair funding levels are made available to aquaculture producers through grants under USDA programs.