Washington State is the largest producer of farmed bivalves in the nation and is currently facing a substantial decline in aquaculture workforce recruitment and retention. An informal needs assessment conducted by Washington Sea Grant (WSG) and Oregon Sea Grant revealed several underlying challenges, including a general lack of career awareness, challenging working conditions, limited housing and transportation infrastructure in rural communities, and cultural and generational shifts around workplace expectations and norms. To begin addressing these challenges, WSG is developing Tide’s Out – a bilingual workforce development program that includes both crew training and manager training components. Tide’s Out is guided by an Advisory Committee composed of experts with shellfish industry and/or diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in maritime expertise. In year one, WSG piloted the manager training program, which included managerial leadership skills, employee recruitment and retention best practices, strategies for working with diverse employees, and resources to improve employee safety and well-being. In year two, we revised the manager training curriculum, developed the crew training curriculum and ran both training courses simultaneously, wrapping up the 2025 Tide’s Out program with a job fair connecting newly trained employers and potential employees. In 2026, we will implement both training programs again, and revise and adapt them based on lessons learned from this year.