Here at Farmingdale State College, we know how important environmental activism is
to our students because it is just as important to us. Pollutants like nitrogen and
heavy metals have infiltrated and negatively affected the Long Island Sound and our
aquaculture industry for decades. Conducting research to find a viable option to revitalize
the water quality and restore the commercial industry is imperative for the future
of the Long Island Sound.
We are proud to announce that Farmingdale State College will be a part of this essential
research. NEIWPCC has awarded a research grant in the amount of $99,365 to Farmingdale
State College’s cross disciplinary research team of biologists, economists, and business
faculty in order to find a sustainable solution. The grant, officially entitled “The
Economic Feasibility of Commercial Nutrient Bioextraction in the Long Island Sound,”
is part of the Long Island Sound Study’s, or LISS, Nutrient Bioextraction Initiative.
The grant will be used by our research team to evaluate the economic feasibility of
using bioremediation to revitalize the Long Island Sound.
Our research team is led by PI Dr. Richard Vogel and includes CoPIs Drs. Amanda Shore,
Peter Park, Ebru Ulusoy, Nanda Viswanathan, Xu Zhang, and associate investigator Professor
Mary Clifford. Through their research, they believe they will not only find a way
to reduce the pollutants in the water using natural resources, but also restore the
region’s commercial aquaculture industry.
Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Economics, Dr. Richard Vogel, stated,
“We’re excited to begin work on this project that is vital to revitalizing the Long
Island Sound and the marine aquaculture industry on Long Island.”
The research team’s plan is to utilize previously unexploited species of seaweed and
shellfish commonly found in Long Island waters. They will begin by identifying the
feasibility of several species of seaweed and shellfish for nitrogen extraction. The
team will then evaluate the commercial market for these species and possible locations
in the Long Island Sound for both efficient bioextraction and commercial exploitation.
They will also conduct an economic analysis of the cost and operating structure to
ensure profit.
Once the team has completed their research, they will create a comprehensive report
with their findings and their recommendations for the species with the greatest market
potential and pollution removal benefits. This report will be posted on the School
of Business webpage: Business and Economic Research and Community Engagement. The
project will run through spring 2023.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency under assistance agreement LI-00A00384 to NEIWPCC. The contents
of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental
Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial
products mentioned in this document.
