Florida Sea Grant’s Aquaculture Outreach and Communications Fellowship aimed to advance aquaculture development and student learning by integrating science communication, stakeholder engagement, and policy development. The 2022-2024 program supported two fellows, Sydney Williams and Hayley Lemoine, whose complementary projects aimed to enhance understanding of restoration aquaculture regulations and public perceptions of offshore aquaculture, respectively. Their fellowships resulted in five conference presentations, eight blogs, two events, 240 interviews across five states, and a regulatory guidance document.
Sydney Williams, who at the time was a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering at the University of Florida, focused on clam and seagrass restoration aquaculture. By conducting 34 interviews and hosting a two-day workshop with stakeholders, she identified and ranked priorities and opportunities for advancing restoration aquaculture in Florida. Sydney’s work bridged science and policy, helping to streamline restoration policy and promote sustainable aquaculture practices. Findings from the workshop went on to affect Florida policy.
Hayley Lemoine, a Ph.D. candidate in Geography at Florida State University, conducted research to explore public perceptions of aquaculture development, including offshore aquaculture, in different regions of the United States. Through targeted stakeholder interviews and focus groups with the public, Lemoine investigated the social acceptability of aquaculture expansion in regions such as the Gulf of America, the Southern California Bight, and Alaska. She also published a blog series called “AquaCurious” to demystify aquaculture, address misconceptions, and foster informed conversations about its role in food security and environmental stewardship.
Together, these fellows advanced Florida Sea Grant’s mission to support responsible aquaculture through education, outreach, and policy innovation. After their fellowships, they both moved into positions that provide opportunities for them to make an even larger impact in their fields. Lemoine is a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at NOAA Fisheries and Williams is a Nature-Based Solutions Specialist with the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Through this program, Florida Sea Grant helped cultivate a new generation of aquaculture leaders equipped to communicate effectively, collaborate broadly, and drive sustainable innovation.