Ocean Strategies, Inc.

Are you a shellfish farmer in Washington State? Or are you simply interested in aquaculture and want to support the industry in YOUR community – wherever that may be?? As with gleaning the most out of this life, be it shellfish farming, commercial fishing, policy consulting or ACTUAL LIFE – relationships are key. It is the backbone of our small public affairs firm here at Ocean Strategies and it is the baseline in which we thrive with our families, our local communities and surely the working waterfront communities across the United States that we support and uphold. During September’s PACIFIC COAST SHELLFISH GROWERS ASSOCIATION annual meeting Tyler Edgar shared some helpful shellfish permitting tips for you and your colleagues.  Scoot to our website to review the top 10 things YOU can do to support the local permitting process. #shellfish #washington #aquaculture #community #workingwaterfront #fishing #commercialfishing https://lnkd.in/gmZmEpca

This week the Port of San Diego will close the comment period on its Shellfish & Seaweed Aquaculture Program (SSAP) discussion draft. Download our FAQ on the draft for more info. Your feedback is important IF YOU…  *Work or play in San Diego regional waters  *Buy, sell, or distribute seafood landed or processed in the San Diego region *Are a community stakeholder in San Diego  *Are knowledgeable about the local blue economy Early engagement is key to creating a community-informed program and successful public process. The public comment period closes October 25, 2024. #shellfish #seaweed #california #aquaculture #sandiego #commercialfishing #takeaction

The Supporting Oyster Aquaculture & Restoration (SOAR) Program launches a Request for Proposals to catalyze Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Shellfish Aquaculture Industry. SOAR is soliciting proposals from organizations and individuals to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the shellfish aquaculture industry and to encourage future initiatives to promote DEI to achieve sustainable growth for restoration and aligned industry efforts. New deadline for submission of proposals is November 15, 2024. The Pew Charitable Trusts The Nature Conservancy #shellfish #aquaculture #diversity #equity #inclusion

Good news is worth repeating! Check out this Fishermen's News synopsis of Hannah Heimbuch’s 3-part story about processing shake-ups and successful pivots during the summer salmon season. Thanks Margaret Bauman for featuring. Check out the full series at oceanstrat.com/blog. #setnet #commercialfishermen #fishing #alaska https://lnkd.in/gfT87dDG

Civil Eats discusses a case for seafood self reliance with Joshua Stoll, a Local Catch Network founder. They bridge topics like Community Supported Fisheries, climate change, and what the bottom line requires — getting your policymakers, funders, and decision makers to advocate for seafood staying local. #seafood #fisheries #climate

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS! Proposals due October 23 (extra week added): Submit an abstract or session proposal (including a panel session) at the National Working Waterfront Conference, which will convene in San Diego in February 2025. “The goal of the conference, and the National Working Waterfront Network as a whole, is to increase the capacity of coastal communities to make informed decisions, balance diverse uses, ensure access, and plan for the future of their working waterfronts. This year’s theme, Working Waterfronts: Adapting to Change, was chosen in light of the many challenges that working waterfronts are facing related to drivers such as impacts of climate change, land use, and workforce development.” Colleagues, let’s get creative and submit a proposal pronto! #workingwaterfronts #fishingcommunities #fishing #climate #workforcedevelopment #california

Our latest Washington Aqua Bites is out to our subscribers. This seasonal publication on all things #aquaculture in Washington state is a compilation of industry news, perspectives, and information relevant to #shellfish and #seaweed aquaculture. Top hits include the Washington State Department of Ecology beginning a Shoreline Management Act Rulemaking Process and the Port of San Diego’s Proposed Aquaculture Program. Both will play a critical role in advancing sustainable aquaculture on the West Coast. If you'd like to be the first to read any of Ocean Strategies’ reports, leave a message in the comments or visit our website, oceanstrat.com to sign up.

Quick peek at our Principal Brett Veerhusen adventuring out East this week.

Don’t miss Hannah Heimbuch’s third and final installment to her “Close-Up on Closures" series, highlighting her personal experience riding the waves of Alaska’s fish processing woes. Hannah articulates the highs and lows of her summer fishing season, its similarity to other waterfronts’ struggles, possible solutions and a tiny bit of closure. What do YOU think our working waterfronts and the U.S. harvesting sector need to survive and thrive? What tools and solutions help fishing communities persevere through big changes? What challenges are other communities across the U.S. seeing (coastal or otherwise)? What changes can we make to keep food systems intact and improve them?

WORKING WATERFRONT FEATURE (our new monthly series highlighting working waterfront community successes) Our first installment showcases California’s Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust. In November 2020, the trust launched the Monterey Bay Community Seafood Program to provide healthy, sustainably harvested seafood to local families, farmworkers, seniors, and others in need of food assistance, along with economic support to their local fishermen, food workers, and seafood businesses. The program works directly with Monterey Bay seafood businesses who purchase from fishermen at a fair market rate, then process and deliver the fish to local food relief organizations. To date, the program has helped these businesses purchase more than 22,730 pounds of local seafood and donate more than 60,616 nutritious seafood meals in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Huge props to these folks supporting the vital community ties to their local commercial fishing sector. #fishing #commercialfishing #california #seafood #success