Olazul: Innovation for Marine Conservation

Over the past couple years, I have been involved with the Connecticut Sea Grant and their efforts to further scientific research in sustainable shellfish aquaculture. In conjunction with the CT Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture, I served as an undergraduate researcher in an oyster restoration project aimed at using innovative remote-setting aquaculture techniques to restock Connecticut's natural oyster beds in Long Island Sound. This opportunity, along with researching the history of the shellfishing industry in Connecticut, allowed me to gain an unparalleled appreciation of the development and overall importance of the industry as a whole.

While I learned much about technical shellfish aquaculture methods and epizootics, the thing that impacted me the most was working alongside the oyster growers and harvesters. Most of the fishermen and deck hands were immigrants that only spoke limited English. They were happy to toil away in all sea conditions, and they always greeted me with a bright smile and eager enthusiasm. Both the owner/captain and his employees were extremely helpful in this project. They were personally interested in our research and whether we would find a way to sustain their livelihood and the bolster the shellfishing industry.

If you would like to read more about my research project, please feel free to read either of the two articles I published in CT Sea Grant magazines:
http://web2.uconn.edu/seagrant/whatwedo/aquaculture/dredge/fall2012.pdf
http://seagrant.uconn.edu/publications/magazines/wracklines/fallwinter12/restocking.pdf

So now, with my personal encounters with the many aquaculturists and fishermen behind the shellfish industry in Connecticut, I feel like I have a more deepened understanding of various sustainable fishing issues that plague larger fisheries around the world.

I'm going to be a bit blunt here by saying this; there are fishermen out there that could care less about preservation and only care about coming home with a fat paycheck....HoWEvER... most of the fishermen that I have come into contact with do care deeply about conservation of oceanic and coastal resources. They have learned through experience that their livelihood depends on protecting natural fish stocks and limiting harvests to preserve resources for future years and generations. This goes for finfish and shellfish alike.

That said, I want to introduce you to an organization that, in the past couple years, I have seen grow tremendously. Olazul, a non-profit organization based out of La Paz, Mexico, is dedicated to sustainable ecological aquaculture. While they are primarily a shrimp hatchery and aquaculture facility, they have grown to also support sustainable seaweed and ornamental aquarium species aquaculture and research.

Here is their main website: http://olazul.org/index.php

Please watch this promotional video for Olazul and their mission to bring ecological aquaculture to the forefront of sustainable fisheries!

The awesome team that is Olazul: http://olazul.org/team.php

I want everyone that considers themselves to be an ocean activist to think long and hard about balance. Where is the balance between sustaining the natural wonders of the sea and preserving marine ecosystems, and supporting the economy and local fisheries driven by the world seafood industry? Please watch this video and familiarize yourself with the real men and women behind small-scale fishing operations that put food on your plate! Support Olazul in any way you can and let us all be conscious of where our seafood is coming from.