Minnesota Sea Grant

About us

We've been around: For more than 50 years, the National Sea Grant College Program has supported coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension, and education. The National Sea Grant College Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1966. Minnesota Sea Grant achieved college status in 1985 and is a University of Minnesota systemwide program.

Our vision: The vision of Minnesota Sea Grant is to promote a present and future where citizens use science-based understandings of the environment to address issues concerning Lake Superior and Minnesota's aquatic resources and associated economies.

Our mission: Minnesota Sea Grant’s mission is to inform and facilitate interaction among the public and scientists to enhance the communities, the environment, and the economies along Lake Superior and across Minnesota's inland waters by identifying information needs, supporting scientific research to address those needs, translating the resulting science into actionable information, and communicating those results to the public.

Nationwide: Sea Grant is a national network of 34 university-based programs and the National Sea Grant Library.

Focus areas: The activities, products, and services of Minnesota Sea Grant support our four main national and local focus areas:

Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
Resilient Communities and Economies
Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development