Dr. Emily Osborne details Sea Grant programs, asks lawmakers for funding safeguards and apprenticeship support

Dr. Emily Osborne, executive director of the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, told the panel that the agency is requesting a modest recurring operations increase, funding to sustain a seafood apprenticeship, and a nonrecurring safeguard to protect programs if federal dollars are delayed.

Sea Grant operates as a state agency made up of nine institutions, including public colleges and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and pursues three core functions: extension (translating science into usable information), research (grant-funded studies), and education/workforce development. "We're a non-advocacy agency," Osborne said, adding that the organization's role is to provide "science-backed information for folks to make decisions."

Osborne highlighted recent and ongoing projects, including a congressionally directed South Atlantic red snapper research effort whose results were used by several states to apply for NOAA exempted fishing permits. She described a paid, one-month virtual seafood apprenticeship that runs in May, is intentionally capped at 12 apprentices for hands-on pairing with industry mentors, and has produced 17 graduates over two years; six of those graduates have been tracked into part- or full-time positions in the commercial seafood sector.

On budget specifics, Osborne said the consortium leveraged an $8.4 million state appropriation to secure about $30.6 million in non-state support over the timeframe she cited, presenting that as approximately a 364% return on investment, and she said the consortium returns an estimated $9 million in annual economic benefit to the state. She asked for a 6.3% recurring operations increase to cover rising costs since 2023, requested $50,000 from the state to help sustain the $90,000-per-year apprenticeship program by matching federal funds, and proposed a $1.6 million nonrecurring appropriation as a safeguard in case NOAA funds are reduced or delayed.

Committee members pressed for detail on the NOAA funding timeline; Osborne said Sea Grant had not yet received federal funds for the fiscal year and was awaiting a continuing-resolution appropriation or full-year release, which motivated the nonrecurring safeguard request. When lawmakers noted the House appropriations process had trimmed the apprenticeship request from $90,000 to $50,000, Osborne said Sea Grant can match federal dollars to support the 12-person cohort this year but indicated future cohorts would need reassessment if supplemental support is not available.

On program intake and legal work, Osborne said constituents and state agencies contact Sea Grant directly and that the consortium maintains advisory committees to set priorities. Asked about "truth in seafood" or labeling enforcement, she said the Sea Grant Law Center is studying legal approaches and that issues like DNA testing and labeling raise complex legal and technical questions.

The committee did not take a vote on the requests during this session; members thanked Osborne and scheduled follow-up discussion with staff about budget language and provisos.

The consortium provided the presentation materials and agreed to provide additional proviso language clarifications and further outcome tracking data for apprenticeship graduates on request.