UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

Our Seafood Specialist, Erin Arneson, had the opportunity to present at the GRC + SWANA Power of Partnership joint conference this week on Jekyll Island. She discussed our newest oyster shell recycling partnership, We Recycle Shell.

Please join us in welcoming Katie Hill as our new Sea Grant Legal Program Director! Katie currently serves as Public Service and Outreach Faculty with UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Through the Sea Grant Legal Program, she will supervise the research and work product development of Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellows during the academic year or summer. Leading up to her appointment, Katie has worked on coastal law and policy topics at the Institute of Government including coastal blue carbon law and policy, coastal stormwater management, derelict trap policies, and oyster aquaculture policy. We're thrilled to have her on our team!

We're looking to add a Community and External Affairs Manager to our team! This position will play a crucial role in fostering positive relationships between the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and its local community, businesses, government agencies, and other stakeholders. It will involve strategic planning, advocacy, and effective communication to promote the organization’s interests and address community needs. Learn more and apply today at https://lnkd.in/esj-ZDT8

We were honored to have Janisse Ray join us last week for #SeaGrantWeek hosted in Savannah, Georgia! She inspired us all with her thoughtful words and presence.

Attention undergraduate and graduate students: we're looking for a Marine Debris Outreach intern! This paid position runs from September to December and will be based at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island. The goal of this internship is to provide programming and outreach to educate about the negative impacts of marine debris and encourage community members to take part in stewardship activities. If interested, apply today at https://bit.ly/4fLvO6G

Our Marine Educator and Public Program Coordinator, Shannon Matzke, participated in the New Faculty Tour this week with UGA Public Service and Outreach! The group had the opportunity to travel the state to learn about the impact of UGA across Georgia. The tour’s goal is to provide new faculty members with a formal and comprehensive introduction to the state's geography, demographics, diversity, economy, history and culture.

Our director Mark Risse and the aquaculture seed grant team toured different aquaculture operations across the state recently, including our Shellfish Research Laboratory, local oyster farm leases, and Owen & Williams Fish Farm, Inc. With funding from UGA's Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants program, the team is working to bolster the capacity of Georgia’s aquaculture industry to meet the growing demand for high-quality seafood, support local economic development opportunities, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the U.S. aquaculture sector. The trip allowed those involved to learn from stakeholders representing diverse aquaculture operations across the state. Other UGA colleges and programs involved in this aquaculture development and investment project include UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and the Center for Food Safety.

Tune in Tuesday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m. EST for a research webinar hosted by Justin Manley, hatchery manager of our Shellfish Research Laboratory. He will be presenting research outcomes of a NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy grant-funded project, “Strengthening the Georgia Hard Clam Industry through expansion into southern quahog, Mercenaria campechiensis, mariculture.” This research webinar is targeted towards regulatory authorities and existing or potential small business owners interested in, or actively engaged in, clam farming in the South Atlantic Bight. Register at https://bit.ly/3LvQHFk

We're hiring a full-time, faculty track Aquarium Curator to join our team on Skidaway Island! This position oversees the care of ambassador animals, manages creative exhibitry projects and works to enhance visitor experience. Apply by August 1 to assure full consideration. Learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/ecPCQ2rQ

"There’s so much going on in these environments where fresh water meets salt water and the land is meeting the sea, creating this nutrient-rich mud for plants and animals to thrive in." Our Coastal Resilience DOD Liaison, Michelle Covi, talks with Innovation @ UGA about the importance of salt marshes on our coast and how she works with communities and military installations to preserve their existing ecosystems.