Texas Sea Grant Welcomes Coastal and Marine Extension Agent

Sara Stewart, Extension Agent

Brownsville, Texas — Sara Stewart joins Texas Sea Grant as the new Coastal & Marine Extension Agent for Cameron County.

Extension agents deliver innovative science-based solutions and education in their counties. Stewart will implement, plan and evaluate educational programs and activities throughout Cameron County related to the marine and coastal environment.

Stewart earned a Bachelor of Science in Earth, Environment, and Coastal Sciences from the University of New Orleans and is currently nearing completion of her Master of Science in Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management from Texas A&M University.

Earning the trust of the fisheries industry stakeholders as a strong and effective liaison is a characteristic that Stewart has cultivated. This has helped her in her several years of working for state agencies and within the private sector. Along with this, using her strengths in conversing with industry professionals and stakeholders to aid and coordinate cooperative research have helped bolster her career.

Previous positions that Stewart has held include Environmental Scientist, Biologist and Marine Biologist. These positions have all focused on the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry. In addition, Stewart has worked with Sea Grant in many ways, most recently as a graduate assistant on the Better Bycatch Reduction Project with the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Industry.

Since her childhood, Stewart has wanted to study Marine Biology. This is due to a love of films such as Flipper, Free Willy, and Andre and the Sea Lion. While she may have found herself on a path of Fisheries Biology/Management, Stewart still satisfies her passion for general marine life. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, fishing and playing with her 85 lb black lab.

As the Coastal & Marine Extension Agent for Cameron County, one thing Stewart wants to work toward is establishing a strong Coastal Marine Advisory committee that can address many of the pressing issues facing the Texas coast and support a growing seafood awareness effort. “It’s a luxury to pursue what makes you happy; it’s a moral obligation to pursue what you find meaningful,” and Stewart gets to do a little bit of both.

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Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the State of Texas and universities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Texas. It is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is one of 34 university-based Sea Grant Programs around the country. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research center at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.