State Marine Aquaculture Coordination Network

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Aquaculture, in collaboration with the National Sea Grant Law Center, recently formed the State Marine Aquaculture Coordination Network (SMACN). SMACN provides a forum to bring together state officials and extension personnel to discuss best practices for marine aquaculture management and an avenue for interstate information exchange.

SMACN’s mission is to create efficiencies through collaboration which will benefit state programs, federal coordination, research and extension efforts, and industry access. This network aims to provide a needed space for state-level administrators to learn from each other’s experiences and challenges on a variety of topics, including lease siting and regulation, permitting processes, industry outreach and development, and user conflict issues. SMACN will also serve as an information hub for a multitude of stakeholders through the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive inventory of regulatory information and contacts across state aquaculture programs.

SMACN Annual Meeting May 16 - 18, 2023

In 2023, SMACN members are meeting in Memphis, TN. More information can be found here:

• SMACN Annual Meeting Registration
  

• Hotel Registration Information:
  The Guest House at Graceland
  Call 901-332-3322 or 1-800-238-2000, press 4, and provide the block code and group name.
  - Block code: 230515AQUA
  - Group name: Aquaculture Conference

• Shuttle Service to/from Memphis International Airport:
  Call The Guest House at Graceland for airport pick up and drop off (they are aware of the arrival and departure days): 901-443-3000
  

• Travel Support Request Guidance

• Consultant Participant Reimbursement Form

• Agenda coming soon: skeleton version upon request (Lrfremin@olemiss.edu)

Inaugural Workshop: May 17 – 19, 2022

In 2020, the National Sea Grant Law Center received funding from the NOAA Sea Grant program to support the inaugural SMACN workshop. The workshop was held May 17 – 19, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. Participation in the workshop was by invitation only and limited to state aquaculture managers, Sea Grant aquaculture extension agents in the Southeast (Virginia through Texas), and select federal partners.

SMACN Workshop Agenda