FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jacob Scott
jscott@vectisstrategies.com
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 24, 2022) – AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, in collaboration with Cal State Northridge’s (CSUN) Institute for Sustainability, The Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy & Jobs, and Santa Monica College announced their second annual series of webinars focused on aquaculture, called “Blue + Green 2022.” Pre-registration for the events is required and can be found here: https://altasea-project-blue.org/blue-green-2022/.
The series comprises four, one-hour webinars, scheduled on the first four Thursdays of June. The webinars will feature aquaculture and sustainability experts from some of the top colleges and research institutions in the world, as well as founders from some of the most innovative startup companies.
As defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), aquaculture is “the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in all types of water environments.” One of AltaSea’s tenants, Pacific6, holds the permit for the first offshore aquaculture facility in U.S. Federal waters.
“Our goal with this series is to shine a spotlight on the emerging aquaculture sector in the blue economy – an area that is important to the sustainability of our oceans,” said AltaSea CEO Terry Tamminen. “We’re pleased to partner with CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability and the Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy & Jobs to promote the incredible potential and importance of the aquaculture sector.”
Aquaculture and the supporting technologies bring together many key ingredients, including the future growth opportunities that support coastal ecosystems, the economy, jobs, and the local communities. This webinar series reimagines partnerships between business, government, universities, and communities through regenerative ocean research, exploration, and equity-based economic development.
“This year, we are particularly excited to highlight Indigenous aquaculture practices and tribal food sovereignty initiatives,” said Natale Zappia, Director of the CSUN Institute for Sustainability.
“Our planet’s oceans have the answers to some of mankind’s most perplexing challenges, but it will take a workforce with a 21st century skill set and the right mindset to explore and harness the unlimited resources it offers,” said Michael Kelly, Executive Director at The Los Angeles Coalition. “The good news is this ‘Blue Economy,’ which includes aquaculture, algae fuels, and robotic exploration of the unmapped depths, is growing right here in Southern California, creating not only good middle-class jobs, but opportunities for Angelenos to help drive a more sustainable future for all of us.”
“Training a workforce to do the crucial jobs needed in this growing industry is exciting and fulfilling because it provides well-paying careers to those who also want to make a difference,” said Ferris Kawar, SMC’s Sustainability Project Manager.
The series is being sponsored by AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy & Jobs, Santa Monica College, and CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability. The webinars include:
Thursday, June 2: Seaweed Startups: Growing a Crop-Based Business
Panelists:
- Julia Marsh, Co-founder and CEO of Sway, a venture-backed materials company producing packaging made from seaweed
- Pat Schnettler, Co-founder of 12 Tides, a seaweed snack brand
- Ashlan Cousteau, Principal Founder of SeaWeed Naturals, a first-of-its-kind wellness lifestyle brand that is combining the benefits of cannabis with the benefits of seaweed.
Moderator: Ann Carpenter, founder and CEO of Braid Theory, a vertically integrated venture advisory.
Thursday, June 9: Traditional Knowledge in Regenerative Aquaculture
Panelists:
- Matt Teutimez, Tribal Biologist, Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation
Moderator: Nat Zappia, Institute for Sustainability, CSUN
Thursday, June 16: Aquafarming Jobs of the Future: Building a Regenerative Farming Workforce
Panelists:
- Ferris Kawar, Sustainability Project Manager, Santa Monica College
- Meredith Brooks, Program and Grants Manager Consultant, AltaSea
- Kendall Barbery, Programs Director, Greenwave
Moderator: Michael H. Kelly, Executive Director, The Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy & Jobs
Thursday, June 23: Sea Through the Weeds: Navigating the Policies and Politics of Offshore Seaweed Farming in CA
Panelists:
- Diane Windham, California Regional Aquaculture Coordinator, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region
- David Telling, Pacific 6
Moderator: Wendy Greuel, Former Controller, City of Los Angeles.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Please note that the final list of speakers is still being finalized. The most up-to-date list of moderators and panelists, along with their bios, can be found here.
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About AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, located on 35 acres at North America’s leading seaport by both container volume and cargo value, is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.
For more information on AltaSea, please see our website: https://altasea.org.
About California State University, Northridge, Institute for Sustainability
Founded in 2008, the Institute for Sustainability works with stakeholders across campus to integrate sustainability into all aspects of the university from operations and infrastructure to outreach, education, and research. The Institute serves all the colleges of the university, working to increase interdisciplinary and cross-functional communication, education, and research on sustainability.
About The Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy & Jobs
The L.A. Coalition brings together leaders from business, labor, academia, and nonprofits to advance initiatives that generate economic growth, create quality jobs and a skilled workforce, and improve the region’s overall quality of life.
About Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). For 31 consecutive years, SMC has been California’s leading transfer college to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and other University of California campuses. The college also tops in transfers to the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University and is the top feeder west of the Mississippi to the Ivy League Columbia University. More than 110 career training degrees and certificates at SMC—in fields ranging from the traditional (Accounting, Early Childhood Education, Nursing) to the emerging (Sustainable Technologies, Technical Theatre, and a baccalaureate degree in Interaction Design)—offer professional preparation for students interested in directly entering the job market, transferring to a four-year school, or upgrading specific skills. SMC provides news and cultural enrichment through its NPR radio station KCRW (89.9 FM), the Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, and lifelong learning through distinctive programs such as its Emeritus Program for older adults.