Aquaculture America 2026

February 16 - 19, 2026

Las Vegas, Nevada

Education Extension Technology Transfer

Thursday, February 19, 2026 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Concorde C
Chair: David Cline, Angela Caporelli

  • 8:30 AM
    Misti Stelljes

    RAISING THE BAR (AND THE FISH): PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AQUACULTURE PROFESSIONALS

    Misti Stelljes

  • 8:45 AM
    Amy Schrank

    THE GREAT LAKES AQUACULTURE COLLABORATIVE (GLAC): ADVANCING AQUACULTURE LITERACY

    Amy Schrank

  • 9:00 AM
    Stephanie Showalter Otts

    FROM ORDINANCES TO OPPORTUNITIES: A TOOLKIT FOR LOCAL AQUACULTURE POLICY IN THE U.S. SOUTHEAST

    Stephanie Showalter Otts

  • 9:15 AM
    Lauren N. Stigers

    ENHANCING AQUACULTURE LITERACY THROUGH 360-VIRTUAL REALITY

    Lauren N. Stigers

  • 9:30 AM
    Carissa Maurin

    EXPANDING AWARENESS OF AQUACULTURE AS A VIABLE STEM CAREER FOR MAINE’S YOUTH

    Carissa Maurin

  • 9:45 AM
    Tiffany Wood Mahler

    CULTIVATING THE FUTURE: BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE AQUACULTURE WORKFORCE THROUGH K-12 EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

    Tiffany Wood Mahler

  • 11:00 AM
    Alyssa MacDonald

    BRIDGING THE GAP: ASSESSING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS FOR HAWAI‘I’S AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY THROUGH INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES

    Alyssa MacDonald

  • 11:15 AM
    Michelle L. Walsh

    JOINT PROFESSIONAL AQUACULTURIST CERTIFICATION: STANDARDIZING AND RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN THE AQUACULTURE WORKFORCE

    Michelle L. Walsh

  • 11:30 AM
    Steeve Pomerleau

    EDUCATING TOMORROW’S AQUACULTURE WORKFORCE: A FLIPPED, HANDS-ON, AND INDUSTRY-CONNECTED TRAINING MODEL AT BELLINGHAM TECHNICAL COLLEGE

    Steeve Pomerleau

  • 11:45 AM
    Maya Pelletier

    SHELL-EBRATE! BIVALVE EDUCATION FOR K-12 CLASSROOMS

    Maya Pelletier

  • 12:00 PM
    Maya Pelletier

    BUILDING A ROBUST PIPELINE TO AQUACULTURE CAREERS IN MAINE THROUGH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES

    Maya Pelletier

  • 12:15 PM
    Elliot Nelson

    AQUACULTURE IMPACTS THROUGH K-12 TEACHER TRAININGS: EXAMPLES AND OUTCOMES

    Elliot Nelson

  • 1:30 PM
    Kenneth Thompson

    HANDS-ON CLASSROOM AQUAPONICS PROJECTS IMPROVE PERCEPTIONS OF STEM DISCIPLINES AND CAREERS AMONG URBAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

    Kenneth Thompson

  • 1:45 PM
    Kevin Fitzsimmons

    UPDATE 2026 – NEXT GEN USDA – PREPARING HISPANIC AND OTHER UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS IN FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE

    Kevin Fitzsimmons

  • 2:00 PM
    Christian Brayden

    BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS), OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS, AND IMPROVING ON-FARM SAFETY: ADVANCING THE SECTOR AS PER MAINE'S OYSTER FARMERS

    Christian Brayden

  • 2:15 PM
    Caldonia Carmello

    LESSONS LEARNED FROM COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN SEA GRANT EXTENSION AND FEDERAL PARTNERS

    Caldonia Carmello

  • 2:30 PM
    Leticia Fantini Hoag

    BUILDING A BRIDGE FOR EXTENSION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN SHRIMP AQUACULTURE BETWEEN AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE

    Leticia Fantini Hoag

  • 2:45 PM
    Herbert E. Quintero Fonseca

    FISH FARM TOURS AS A LEARNING TOOL – YEAR 2

    Herbert E. Quintero Fonseca

  • 3:00 PM
    Kirk Manson

    LARGEMOUTH BASS (LMB) PRODUCTION IN A FLOATING IN-POND RACEWAY SYSTEM IN OHIO

    Kirk Manson

  • 3:15 PM
    Jonathan van Senten

    INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION TO MEET INDUSTRY NEEDS: AN EXAMPLE PROJECT FROM THE WESTERN REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CENTER

    Jonathan van Senten

  • 3:30 PM
    William Decker

    TECHNOLOGY REVIEW FOR MAINTAINING OPTIMUM DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS

    William Decker

  • 3:45 PM
    Dave Love

    OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND WORKER WELLBEING IN THE US AQUACULTURE, COMMERCIAL FISHING, AND SEAFOOD PROCESSING SECTORS

    Dave Love

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