The Sea Grant Aquaculture Academy is a year-long, cohort-based professional development opportunity program for Sea Grant supported aquaculture education and engagement professionals. The Academy is designed to develop the knowledge, skills and networks needed by Sea Grant aquaculture staff to be successful in their work supporting the development of the United States aquaculture community.
Throughout the year, participants in the Academy will participate in 80-100 contact hours of interdisciplinary curriculum. This will primarily take place during two, four day workshops in the Northeast (New Hampshire) and Mid-Atlantic (North Carolina) chosen to maximize topic exposure through field trips, activities, guest speakers and more. In addition to the workshop activities and virtual curriculum resources, there will be a strong emphasis on networking with Sea Grant peers and partners to promote short and long-term information exchange across the country.
Time commitment: Participants will commit to attend the two, multi-day in-person workshops and brief, virtual introductory presentations in the months leading up to each workshop.
Workshop 1: April 7 - 10, 2025 (arrival on April 6, 2025), in the New Hampshire Seacoast area
Workshop 2: October 14 - 17, 2025 (arrival on October 13, 2025), in North Carolina
Who's eligible? Participants from any Sea Grant program who work on topics related to aquaculture are eligible to apply.
More info: See our FAQ page for additional details or reach out to Linas.Kenter@unh.edu
The application period is open now and closes on November 22 at 5pm. Applicants will be notified in late December/early January 2025.
Join us on the AQUACULTURE INFORMATION EXCHANGE to stay connected. Group name: Aquaculture Leadership Academy
Linas Kenter recently joined NH Sea Grant in 2021 with a strong background in finfish biology and culture. Since joining the Sea Grant network, he has eagerly expanded his responsibilities into regional shellfish industry extension and working at UNH to expand aquaculture related curriculum offerings.
Eric Herbst joined North Carolina Sea Grant in summer of 2020, serving the role of Coastal Aquaculture Specialist. Eric supports workforce development and education programs, coordinates and conducts applied research with academic and industry partners and works with a diverse group of stakeholders to assess industry needs, identify challenges and develop science-based solutions to advance opportunities in the state’s growing aquaculture sectors.
Lindsey Williams joined NH Sea Grant in 2021 to lead and grow the program’s workforce development activities. With a background in marine policy, human dimensions of coastal systems, and work at the science-policy interface, Lindsey works to support science-based decision making that draws on a range of disciplines and perspectives.
Frank Lopez joined the NC Sea Grant program and the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute as extension director in March 2018. He works with extension specialists and associates at the North Carolina State University Campus in Raleigh, and three coastal offices in Manteo, Morehead City, and Wilmington.
