Sea Grant Support: A Note from the Director
We are asking for your support urging Congress to maintain funding for Sea Grant. To date, over 600 individuals have signed on in support of our Massachusetts programs, MIT Sea Grant and WHOI Sea Grant. We greatly appreciate all of your support and positive comments. If you would like to join the effort, there is still time to add your name here: https://forms.gle/7DHFs1y5EthJyXKb7.
For almost 60 years, MIT Sea Grant has been serving the businesses, communities, and economies of Massachusetts. We have already received an overwhelming response from our network – from aquaculture farmers and fishermen to researchers and resource managers, as well as educators and students from Massachusetts and beyond. It has been motivating and illuminating to read through these comments and anecdotes as they flow in, and we put together an interactive map of the nationwide support to share these stories: https://gisviz.mit.edu/maps/sea-grant-supporters/.
This spring, Sea Grant programs across the country called on collaborators and constituents to add their names to sign-on letters urging Congress to maintain support for Sea Grant. Thanks to the strong support of the communities we serve, we have historically received bipartisan backing in Congress. As the FY2026 federal budget is finalized, that support remains as important as ever.
Your support sends a clear message that Sea Grant programs are vital to our communities, economies, and environment. Thank you for lending your voice to ensure programs like ours continue.
— Michael Triantafyllou
Director, MIT Sea Grant
Highlighted Comments from Supporters:
“Sea Grant drives catalytic solutions for healthy oceans, productive natural resources, and next generation preparation for a burgeoning ocean economy.”
“MIT Sea Grant has always been a valuable resource even for inland river protection. They provide strong reliable scientific support for research in our rivers and in how healthy rivers support marine fish populations.”
“The MIT Sea Grant is where the autonomous undersea vehicles were first designed.”
“Grant funding from MIT Sea Grant was pivotal in supporting my laboratory and undergraduate research students as an early career faculty of Engineering. The impact of Sea Grant support on my career cannot be overstated.”
“MIT Sea Grant contributes critical knowledge and advice to industries and landowners around ocean ecology.”
“Sea Grant is a fantastic program worthy of greater support, not cuts. The return on investment is extraordinary and it goes directly into projects and organizations in communities throughout the state. Please do all you can to keep Sea Grant strong and well funded.”
“MIT Sea Grant impact expands well beyond the state of Massachusetts. Students and researchers around the world value and benefit significantly from this excellent program.”
“SG has made many significant contributions to the economy, environment and people of Massachusetts, and we really need the continuous source of new information it has and will provide.”
“MIT Sea Grant is a valued partner in support of MA’s robust aquaculture industry.”
“MIT Sea Grant plays a vital role in supporting our coastal communities and economies, developing cutting edge technologies in support of industry and the benefit of society, thank you!”