There has been a recent resurgence of interest in aquaculture within Oregon, as in much of the U.S. Over the past twenty years, Oregon Sea Grant’s (OSG) support of aquaculture has been intermittent, with the last full-time OSG Aquaculture Extension specialist retiring in the mid-2010s. A search for a new Aquaculture specialist was indefinitely delayed in 2020 due to a COVID-related hiring freeze, and the fate of the position is unclear. However, OSG recognized the need to support research and industry efforts following renewed interest by coastal communities. We hired an Aquaculture Fellow in Nov. 2020, serving in a temporary Extension position until March 2023, and a Marine Resource Extension faculty member partially supports aquaculture. These efforts have enabled OSG to take on a larger role.
Since 2020, OSG has focused on addressing current needs and establishing partnerships with other organizations supporting sustainable aquaculture expansion. In early 2021, we conducted a needs assessment that revealed strong interest in aquaculture expansion, and several barriers, including permitting challenges, lack of a regulatory framework for novel species, limited leasing space, workforce constraints, and climate/ecological limitations. OSG has been working to address these challenges over the past year by providing informational resources, leading a workforce development grant, and working with partners to support their outreach efforts. We produced a white paper that provided recommendations for addressing regulatory and policy barriers, and a StoryMap focused on current aquaculture production in the state. Additionally, OSG partnered with Oregon Aquaculture Association to plan an aquaculture development conference and develop online business planning and siting tools.
In this presentation, we will give an overview of the past and current efforts of OSG to support aquaculture expansion, our plans for the future – such as workforce development planning and permitting guidance – and seek advice from attendees on building a state aquaculture program.