The New England Aquarium’s BalanceBlue Lab (BBL) is going beyond research to pilot, implement, and scale solutions that support ocean industry and ocean health. By advising and partnering with businesses and decision-makers, BBL helps ensure that the blue economy—from seafood to shipping—can grow responsibly while safeguarding the ocean and all who rely on it.
BalanceBlue Lab has been at the forefront of the responsible seafood movement for decades. We provide advice both in-house, including recommending environmentally responsible seafood for the Aquarium’s café and animal feed, and further afield, through improvements in global seafood certification standards and fisheries and aquaculture programs.
We work directly with stakeholders that develop and test tools, including on-demand gear innovations and bycatch reduction devices, that reduce the risk of harmful interactions with endangered, threatened, and protected marine life, including the North Atlantic right whale.
New England is synonymous with the blue economy, with a marine industry forming the backbone of the region’s identity, alongside cutting-edge fields such as software development, data science, and AI. Our vision for a vibrant blue economy in the region is one that balances growth, innovation, and job creation with ocean stewardship, conservation, and sound science.
Building off the Aquarium's decades of experience and scientific expertise, we counsel partners in marine industries, including aquaculture, wind energy, fisheries, and climate adaptation and resiliency. We’re trusted by companies, innovators, and investors because we don’t just research solutions—we help implement them.
