The Sea Grant Extension Program

http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov

By: Virginia Lee Assistant Director for Outreach, Rhode Island Sea Grant

URI Coastal Resources Centerhttp://www.crc.uri.edu

Sea Grant’s Outreach Sea Grant’s Outreach InfrastructureInfrastructure

The Sea Grant Outreach Community consists of:25 Marine Education specialists300 Extension staff/specialists70 Communications specialists

Sea Grant Outreach: Sea Grant Outreach: ExtensionExtension

Goal: Effect change through outcome-based education

The Sea Grant Extension Network:– Provides effective, two way communication

between producers and users of information– Translates complex scientific information for

decision makers and citizens

Extension Mission

“to provide an effective, two way communication between the users and producers of knowledge”

- practical mechanism for getting information out of laboratories

- communicates user needs to scientific community

Philosophy and Ideals

* Citizen or user driven approach (Citizen advisory structures)

* Non-advocacy

* Present alternatives & provide all viewpoints

* University-based educators (no regulatory function)

* Connected to key coastal clientele (trust developed through 34 year history)

* Programmatic flexibility and balance based on local needs

Prog Mgmt/Other

7%

Coa Eco Dev19%

Coa Eco Hea25%

Public Safety6%

Educ & Hum Res13%

Adv Tech3%

Seafood Prod27%

Distribution SG Extension Program Funding*Distribution SG Extension Program Funding*

(Allocated by Strategic Plan Categories)

Pyramid of Effectiveness Indicators*End

Result

Inputs – Time, Money

KASA* Change

R Reactions

P People Involvement

Practice Change

A Activities*Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, Aspirations

*Journal of Extension Education, March/April 1975

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         Indonesian Project: Case Example

I. Situation statement - U. S. seafood importers have begun to refuse Indonesian seafood products because they cannot prove that the seafood is

safe

II. Goal(s) - Develop a national seafood safety system for Indonesia

III. Objectives - Have all Indonesian seafood exporters adopt the HACCP based seafood inspection system

IV. Activities

1) Bring American team to conduct training for major seafood exporters

2) Translate and make available HACCP training manual

3) Conduct follow-up training for workers in seafood plants

4) Develop posters for use in fish houses to remind workers of the procedures

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

I. Situation statement - Only 20 % of blue crabs are used for human consumption

II. Goal(s) - To develop a commercial market for soft shell blue crabs

III. Objectives

1) To have 100 fishermen begin crab shedding operations

2) To have the Indonesian food marketing institute develop a campaign to introduce consumers to soft shell crabs

3) To have a university researcher develop a grant to explore freezing and packaging techniques for soft shell crabs

IV. Activities

1) Conduct workshops on harvesting techniques

2) Train fishermen on how to install and operate flow through shedding systems

3) Presentation to government food marketing director and staff

4) Organize meeting between food science researchers and funding agencies

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

I. Situation statement - A new species of Argentine scallops is being harvested that is much smaller than the American species and only worth 1/3

the value

II. Goal(s) - Increase the value of the Argentine sea scallop product to the American industry

III. Objectives

1) To develop and market one new product from the Argentine sea scallop

IV. Activities

1) Work with surimi researcher to apply protein gellation technology to sea scallops

2) Assist industry with developing product identity through FDA

3) Conduct in-plant experiments to test the technology

Attributes of an Effective Extension agent

-Subject matter knowledge

-Excellent communications skills (verbal and written)

-Works independently without much supervision

-Self-starter, has initiative

-Ability to listen & communicate with diverse audiences

-facilitates and builds consensus

-Credibility with local audiences (shared cultural values)

-People skills - outgoing personality and ability to socialize with local audiences

"Expand the Sea Grant Program Internationally. In response to direct requests from interested foreign governments and universities, the Administration will conduct a donors conference in Latin America, hold a workshop in Southeast Asia, and develop a technical assistance plan in North Africa in order to help introduce and adapt the successful U.S. Sea Grant system of applied research, extension, and education to countries in these regions. Sea Grant will help create a global network of institutions dedicated to applying the knowledge and technologies that lead to sustainable forms of coastal and marine resource development and conservation."

President Bush’s Response to the U.S. Ocean Commission, 2005

Web: http://ocean.ceq.gov/actionplan.pdf