A cross disciplinary team of biologists, economists, and business faculty from Farmingdale State College has been awarded a research grant in the amount of $99,365 by NEIWPCC.
With this grant, the team plans to research the commercialization and cultivation of previously unexploited seaweed and shellfish commonly found in the area to address excess nitrogen and other pollutants, which have negatively impacted the Long Island Sound and surrounding waters.
This research is important not only in finding a way to address the water quality in the area, but also in helping to restore the region’s commercial aquaculture industry. Both have been suffering over the previous two decades.
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 is earmarked to evaluate the economic feasibility of using bioremediation to revitalize the Long Island Sound.
The research team includes:
- Richard Vogel, Primary Investigator
- Amanda Shore, Co-Primary Investigator
- Peter Park, Co-Primary Investigator
- Ebru Ulusoy, Co-Primary Investigator
- Nanda Viswanathan, Co-Primary Investigator
- Xu Zhang, Co-Primary Investigator
- Professor Mary Clifford, Associate Investigator
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.”
Everyone on the team is passionate about this research and cannot wait to begin. Once completed, the report will be posted on the Farmingdale State College website within The Center for Business and Economic Research and Community Engagement. The project will run through spring of 2023.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement LI-00A00688 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.
About The Long Island Sound Study (LISS)
The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) brings together agencies, commissions, universities, citizens, and environmental, industry, and user groups to improve the health of Long Island Sound. Their efforts help achieve progress toward Clean Water, Thriving Habitats, and Sustainable Communities.
NEIWPCC is a regional commission that helps the states of the Northeast preserve and advance water quality. Established in 1947, we engage and convene water quality professionals and other interested parties from New England and New York to collaborate on water, wastewater, and environmental science challenges across shared regions, ecosystems, and areas of expertise. NEIWPCC implements and funds research, environmental monitoring, restoration, and other on-the-ground projects; trains water quality professionals; funds and/or staffs programs that engage the public; and represents the interests of member states at the local, regional and national level.
