Texas Sea Grant Selected to Co-Lead Next Phase of National Aquaculture Training Program

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas Sea Grant has been selected as a lead partner for the next phase of the Sea Grant Aquaculture Leadership Academy, a national professional development program designed to strengthen the U.S. aquaculture workforce.

In collaboration with Minnesota Sea Grant, Texas Sea Grant will help lead the initiative, supported by a $350,000 award administered by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium in consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant Office.

The Aquaculture Leadership Academy, known as ALA 2.0, builds on the success of earlier cohorts held on the East Coast in 2024 and 2025, led by New Hampshire Sea Grant and North Carolina Sea Grant.

While the first iteration of the academy focused on the East Coast, ALA 2.0 marks a shift in geographic focus that bridges two critical regions of the United States: the Midwest and the Gulf. By centering activities in Minnesota and Texas, the academy will provide a comprehensive look at the diverse aquaculture practices that define these regions. Participants in Minnesota will explore land-based freshwater systems common to the Great Lakes, including finfish and shrimp production in recirculating and pond systems. In Texas, sessions will immerse participants in saltwater aquaculture along the Gulf Coast, offering a broader understanding of the national aquaculture landscape.

The program will train up to 60 new and mid-career professionals from the Sea Grant and Land Grant networks, as well as federal aquaculture programs over two years. Participants will engage in a combination of virtual learning and in-person training focused on leadership development, technical knowledge and industry engagement.

“There is a strong need to expand aquaculture extension capacity to support the flourishing industry in economically, environmentally and socially sustainable ways,” said Christine Hale, Texas Sea Grant extension director. “This program is a wonderful collaborative training opportunity that will enable extension professionals from across the country to bring new tools and skills home with them to support the aquaculture industry meaningfully and effectively at the local level.”

Texas-based sessions, planned for fall 2026 and 2027, will highlight saltwater aquaculture production along the Gulf Coast. Participants will explore rapidly expanding sectors such as red drum, hybrid striped bass and shrimp production through hands-on tours of commercial farms, hatcheries and research facilities.

Planned stops include operations such as Homegrown Seafood, the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Hatchery, Gulf States Aquaculture and the Palacios Marine Agriculture Research facility. Participants will also visit Texas A&M AgriLife Research’s oyster hatchery in Flour Bluff, and will learn about the state’s growing oyster mariculture industry through engagement with producers, including visits to local oyster farms. The program will also highlight aquaculture’s connection to coastal communities through an ecotourism-focused oyster experience in partnership with Clearwater Oyster Gardens along the coastal bend.

“Texas has such a large aquaculture industry supplying a variety of products to the U.S., and this project allows us to showcase and educate leaders from across the country on what Texas is producing,” said Mario Marquez, Texas Sea Grant aquaculture program manager.

In addition to technical training, the Texas curriculum will emphasize leadership and business skills critical to the industry. Programming will include workshops on conflict resolution and communication, as well as marketing strategies such as social media outreach. Participants will also explore seafood markets and consumer trends through discussions with chefs and buyers and receive training on economic tools and seafood safety practices, including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point principles.

Amy Nowlin, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Sea Grant coastal and marine agent for Matagorda County, said her experience in the first academy cohort highlights the program’s value.

“The Aquaculture Leadership Academy broadened my perspective far beyond my local waters, deepening my understanding of regional aquaculture practices while connecting me with aquaculture specialists across the Sea Grant network and beyond,” Nowlin said. “These relationships have not only expanded my professional network but strengthened my ability to support sustainable aquaculture in Texas. I’m especially excited to help with ALA 2.0, offering others the same opportunities to learn, connect and grow.”

The Texas Sea Grant academy team includes Marquez, Nowlin and Extension Director Christine Hale. Together with Minnesota Sea Grant partners, the team will deliver a comprehensive program that reflects the diversity of U.S. aquaculture systems, from freshwater production in the Great Lakes to marine and coastal operations in the Gulf.

ABOUT TEXAS SEA GRANT

Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the State of Texas, universities, and communities 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 across the nation. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research and extension program at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use, and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.