Mi'kmaq Nation, Luke’s Lobster among first recipients of seafood industry climate funds
Projects underway by the Mi'kmaq Nation in Maine and Luke’s Lobster were among three organizations nationwide to receive inaugural grants from a New York nonprofit that’s focused on climate change solutions within the seafood industry.
Acme Smoked Fish, a privately-owned company in Brooklyn, N.Y., with manufacturing facilities across the eastern U.S., Chile and Denmark, last year founded the nonprofit Acme Smoked Fish Foundation.
Each recipient will receive a $40,000 grant this year to support an innovation focused on lowering the carbon footprint within the seafood industry and/or increasing the leadership role of underrepresented groups in the industry.
With TD Bank as the catalyst sponsor, Acme’s awards program looks to support innovation that will mitigate the impacts of climate change, while featuring the work of underrepresented groups. In addition to funding, award recipients will have opportunities to work with leaders at Acme Smoked Fish Corp.
The Mi'kmaq Farms and Fish Hatchery, run by the Mi’kmaq Nation, raises 12,000 pounds of a Maine strain of eastern brook trout each year, utilizing recirculating aquaculture system technology. With the funding, the hatchery will be able to couple renewable solar power with the existing RAS system, which is expected to be a more viable and environmentally friendly practice. By creating an energy-independent aquaculture system, the project can buffer the disruptions to the food system brought on by climate change and other events. It’s expected the work could inspire other native American communities working on similar efforts.
At Luke’s Lobster in Portland, the Lift All Boats Initiative is a student lobstering program that provides access to BIPOC students, mostly immigrants, who typically lack a pathway to become a commercial fisherman in Maine. During the program, students learn about the carbon footprint of the fishery and innovations that can reduce emissions from the lobster industry over time. The program just finished its first year and is expanding while also looking for opportunities to replicate the model. The award will help fund the cost of instructors who can join the team on the water as they teach students the ins and outs of piloting a boat, baiting and setting traps, hauling traps, selling lobster and more in a sustainable manner.
The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association was also granted $40,000 for its Boat Energy Transition Accelerator pilot program to convert the Alaska fishing fleet to hybrid diesel/electric as the next best step toward decarbonization.
“We look forward to seeing this critical work through and providing resources along the way,” Rob Snyder of Acme Smoked Fish said in a news release. “As our industry continues to evolve, we believe that innovations like these will pave the way for a cleaner future.”
Snyder was the longtime leader at the Island Institute in Rockland before becoming Acme’s first culture and sustainability officer last year.
The team is launching a similar awards program in Chile and planning to do a second year of U.S. awards in 2023
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments