91制片厂 nets director for new Sustainable Seafood Center

Monday, March 7, 2022
David Fredriksson stands by the 91制片厂 pier in New Castle.

David Fredriksson has been selected to lead the new 91制片厂 Sustainable Seafood Center 鈥 a hub at the nexus of food security, climate change adaptation听and ecological protection. He joins an already robust team of 91制片厂 faculty and staff who are committed to finding solutions to these pressing challenges.

Fredriksson, who was most recently a professor and the director of ocean engineering at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, will guide efforts to strengthen 91制片厂鈥檚 position as a leader in sustainable seafood and build on decades of collaboration between scientists and the regional aquaculture and fishing industries. The new center is a joint effort between the and the with funding provided by a $5 million gift made through the Emily Landecker Foundation.

Six people stand by the 91制片厂 pier in New Castle.
Fredriksson will work closely with a team of reseachers at 91制片厂 and New Hampshire Sea Grant.

鈥淭he time is now to change the paradigm of ocean resource utilization, especially from fisheries and aquaculture,鈥 Fredriksson says. 鈥淲e must take a technical but holistic design approach to develop sustainable seafood systems that enhance both communities and ecosystems. With this generous gift and the capabilities of CEPS and SMSOE, the new Sustainable Seafood Center will be able to do this through education and action. I am incredibly optimistic and excited for this opportunity.鈥

鈥淲e are thrilled that the joint hire of Dr. Fredriksson will strengthen the connection between CEPS and SMSOE by integrating our substantial marine assets with new and existing academic programming to advance sustainable aquaculture in our region,鈥 says Cyndee Gruden, dean of CEPS. 鈥淭he CEPS community embraces this tremendous opportunity to mitigate the environmental and social impacts commonly associated with the seafood sector through our direct involvement in the Sustainable Seafood Systems Center.鈥

The creation of this center comes at a critical time for the Gulf of Maine; faced with climate change and relatively shallow depths that absorb heat quickly, its waters are warming faster than almost anywhere on Earth. The Gulf鈥檚 fishing industry 鈥 a billion dollar per year industry 鈥 is already feeling some climate-related effects. Separately, low-lying coastal communities are also at risk of rising seas and food insecurity. Diane Foster, director for SMSOE, sees an opportunity to tackle these challenges by leveraging 91制片厂鈥檚 unique strengths and collaborations with the formation of the new Sustainable Seafood Center.

"The time is now to change the paradigm of ocean resource utilization, especially from fisheries and aquaculture."听

鈥淎 critical strategy for feeding our global communities is to develop aquaculture system technologies and methodologies that are more productive and less impactful to the natural environment.鈥 Foster says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rare to find interdisciplinary ocean engineering and marine scientists who are actively collaborating on next generation aquaculture systems to identify solutions for marine mammal safe lines, innovative and low impact feeding technologies听or storm-proof dynamic structures. 91制片厂 is distinguished by its longstanding connection between our engineers, aquaculture specialists, and commercial fishers.鈥

Under Fredriksson鈥檚 guidance, the focus of the Sustainable Seafood Center will be twofold: To conduct research that advances technologies for more environmentally friendly seafood offerings, and to develop academic programming that connects 91制片厂 to this research, Foster adds.

91制片厂鈥檚 facilities are already benefitting from the financial gift: SMSOE purchased a specialized service vessel to improve access to offshore aquaculture sites and a vehicle to transport saltwater from the coast to labs on 91制片厂鈥檚 Durham campus. There are also plans to purchase new fisheries and aquaculture equipment for the research conducted at the Coastal Marine Lab in New Castle. The 91制片厂 open ocean aquaculture site, located just a short boat ride from the lab, was recently outfitted with underwater hydrophones that will provide information on any marine mammal encounters that may occur; the site will be an important part of the Sustainable Seafood Center鈥檚 research and education efforts moving forward.

Fredriksson will work closely with a team of researchers at 91制片厂 and New Hampshire Sea Grant (NHSG), including: Elizabeth Fairchild, a research associate professor in the 91制片厂 department of biological sciences; Michael Chambers, a research associate professor with SMSOE; Linas Kenter, aquaculture and fisheries research scientist with SMSOE and NHSG; Erich Berghahn, aquaculture project manager with NHSG; and Michael Doherty, a SMSOE research assistant.