Aquaculture 2025 New Orleans, Louisiana | Program Session Women and Underrepresented Identities in Aquaculture

Women and Underrepresented Identities in Aquaculture

Monday, March 10, 2025 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Balcony L
Chair: Blair Morrison, Angela Caporelli

In this session, we will explore the values of research, community, collaboration, and celebration while bringing together the current and future generations of leaders in aquaculture. Women and individuals from underrepresented identities will be featured to speak about their work and lived experiences in the field, including their diverse career paths and perspectives, challenges and obstacles overcome, and programs designed to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for underrepresented groups in aquaculture. Time for open discussion will allow attendees to exchange stories, build community, and share ideas to enhance DEIA in aquaculture. We welcome anyone who supports a more diverse and inclusive aquaculture industry to join us for this session.

8:30	WOMEN OF THE WATER: BUILDING COMMUNITY AND CATALYZING CHANGE IN AQUACULTURE Blair Morrison, Women of the Water / Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
8:45	AQUACULTURE THROUGH THE YEARS; HOW I GOT WHERE I AM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE Angela Caporelli, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
9:00	EMPOWERING AQUACULTURE’S NEXT GENERATIONS: EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS TO INCLUSION Imani Black, Minorities in Aquaculture
9:15	WOMEN IN VIRGINIA’S SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE SECTOR: A GENDERED PERSPECTIVE OF INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT AND CHANGE WOMEN AS A MINORITY IN THE SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE SECTOR: A VIRGINIA CASE STUDY ON THE GENDERED PERSPECTIVE OF INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENTAND CHANGE Jazea Smith, California Polytechnic State University - Humboldt
9:30	TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF QUEEN CONCH FARMERS IN CARIBBEAN COMMUNITIES Megan Davis, Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
9:45	THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLAM FARMING INDUSTRY: THE CEDAR KEY STORY Leslie Sturmer, Suzanne Colson, Nena Calvert, Rose Cantwell
10:00	BREAK
10:30	PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY IN THE SECTOR: TAKEAWAYS FROM SAGE’S GENDER EQUALITY DIALOGUES Becca Williams, Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE)
10:45	BREAKING WAVES: A WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE ON RURAL AQUACULTURE Danielle Florenzen, Pacific Seafood
11:00	AQUACULTURE FOR ALL: FOSTERING EQUITY IN MAINE’S AQUACULTURE SECTOR BY DIVERSIFYING WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS Annie Fagan, Maine Sea Grant
11:15	GULLAH GEECHEE OOMAN AND OUR AQUACULTURE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE IDENTITIES Marilyn Hemingway, Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce
11:30	HOW COMMUNITY ADDS MEANING TO MARICULTURE JOBS Meta Mesdag, Salty Lady Seafood Co.
11:45	ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES: EYES ON THE HORIZON TO MEET NEW PEOPLE, ACCEPT FRESH CHALLENGES, AND INVEST IN YOURSELF Michelle L. “Mick” Walsh, United States Aquaculture Society
12:00	LUNCH
1:00	OPEN DISCUSSION AND ROUND TABLES

Jazea Smith
WOMEN IN VIRGINIA’S SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE SECTOR: A GENDERED PERSPECTIVE OF INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT AND CHANGE
Jazea Smith
Leslie Sturmer
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLAM FARMING INDUSTRY: THE CEDAR KEY STORY
Leslie Sturmer

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