Even though over half of the seafood that we consume globally is farmed, aquaculture is still relatively unfamiliar to the general public compared to its land-based counterpart, agriculture. While there are many possible explanations for this disparity in public awareness between our food production industries, one of the biggest challenges is communicating fact-based information to the public in an accessible and engaging way. In this era of information overload and shrinking attention spans, reaching audiences with accurate, engaging, and actionable science-based messages is more challenging and more critical than ever. 

For informal and formal educators to address this aquaculture literacy gap, they need science-based resources to help the public understand how their seafood gets to their plate, how to safely select and prepare seafood, etc. The Southeast Aquaculture Communication Collaborative (SACC) is addressing this gap by developing a centralized, web-based resource hub designed to simplify access to aquaculture outreach materials for educators, extension professionals, and communicators across the Southeastern U.S. 

This initiative curates and amplifies fact-based content in a variety of formats, including lesson plans, videos, fact sheets, and more that were originally developed by Sea Grant programs, universities, and nonprofits. By aggregating these resources into a searchable online library, the project reduces barriers to aquaculture literacy and extends the impact of previously under-promoted materials. A key audience for this hub is informal and K–12 educators, who often face time constraints and limited support for developing lesson plans. The hub’s intuitive design and curated content aim to make aquaculture education more accessible and efficient to implement. 

This presentation aligns with the session’s focus on science communication tools and resources that meet people where they are at, which is often online. The presentation will include a live demo of the resource hub and a walk-through of how attendees can suggest new resources be added to the hub. The project exemplifies how digital tools can be used to fill crucial education gaps, promoting sustainable and healthy consumer choices.

Notes: I would prefer a presentation format to demo the project, but could also do a poster session with the project description and a QR link to the website. I am a full-time Sea Grant employee and a graduate student, so feel free to categorize me how you feel is fit.