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Derek A Barr
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In the dead of winter with the salty water of the Atlantic spraying in the air, Mark Fregeau, PhD can be found on the Ocean Reporter, out of Rockport, Massachusetts, with Captain Bill Lee, checking on his mussels. He is alongside his former college roommate—now colleague and partner in this venture—Ted Maney, PhD.
Essentially, they are “farming in the water,” said Fregeau, whose program is on the cutting edge of offshore aquaculture. Cat Cove Marine Laboratory and the Northeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center have been vital components and partners in the success of this program. But getting from a seed of an idea 11 years ago to the current implementation took hard work, dedication and community outreach.
The efforts have proven fruitful. Mark Fregeau and Ted Maney were awarded the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The grant aims to fund projects that focus on the needs of fishing communities, the economic benefits of sustainable fisheries, and generating opportunities that will keep waterfronts viable for working conditions.