Bridging Extension and industry needs in Northeastern United States aquaculture to strengthen competency development

Aquaculture extension and outreach professionals in the Northeastern United States are working in a sector shaped by evolving industry needs, workforce turnover, and complex position requirements. This study employed a mixed-methods design to converge findings from an extension competency assessment, an aquaculture industry needs assessment, and an evaluation of a professional development program targeting aquaculture extension professionals. Across these data sources, aquaculture extension professionals identified priority gaps in constituent engagement, project management, external funding, meeting facilitation, behavior change, and evaluation. Industry respondents identified disease management and regulatory navigation as the highest-priority extension support topics and reported generally positive satisfaction with extension services. Professional development participants self-reported increased knowledge across meeting facilitation, program evaluation, and engaging underrepresented communities, as well as improved regional connectedness. Findings provide baseline evidence that can inform aquaculture extension onboarding, professional development, and regional network-building. We recommend that aquaculture extension leaders and educators prioritize professional development in facilitation, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement, expand training on disease management and regulatory navigation, strengthen regional networking opportunities, and incorporate industry- and field-based learning experiences into their future extension competency development.