Aquaculture America 2026

February 16 - 19, 2026

Las Vegas, Nevada

Plenary Session

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Concorde B
Chair: Aaron Watson, Jackson Gross

  • 8:50 AM
    Olivia Markham

    STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

  • 8:53 AM
    Li Sun Chin

    STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

  • 8:56 AM
    Savannah B. Saeger

    STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

  • 9:05 AM
    Carrie J. Byron

    SEAMADE AT UNE: A COLLABORATIVE MODEL FOR ADVANCING SEAWEED AQUACULTURE

  • 9:15 AM
    Jackson Kimle

    (Midland Co., Iowa) IS DEVELOPING ONE OF THE ONLY INDOOR SHRIMP PRODUCTION OPERATIONS IN THE MIDWEST. HE IS HELPING TO REDEFINE WHAT INLAND AQUACULTURE CAN LOOK LIKE IN THE UNITED STATES

  • 9:16 AM
    Ali Bolourchi

    (Tsar Nicoulai, California) IS INNOVATING AT THE INTERSECTION OF TRADITION AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH HIS WORK WITH STURGEON CAVIAR AND MEAT PRODUCTION. HIS APPROACH PRIORITIZES QUALITY, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, AND PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION

  • 9:17 AM
    Jody Houck

    (East Bay Oysters, Florida) is building a premium oyster farm in the Florida Panhandle. She is focused on ecological restoration, local food systems, and raising awareness about shellfish aquaculture in the Southeast