CARMEL, Calif., Jan. 15, 2018 — Fish 2.0, the global community for seafood innovators, invites aquaculture experts, seafood industry leaders and investors interested in U.S. Gulf Coast and Midwest aquaculture to attend a Feb. 13, 2019, pitch session and networking event at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) in Ocean Springs, Miss. Participation is free, but space is limited. Investors, experts and entrepreneurs who want to attend must register online.
Attendees will:
- Get a taste of aquaculture innovation bubbling up in the region
- Meet other experts, leaders and investors looking at aquaculture’s potential
- Plug into the Fish 2.0 community and build their aquaculture knowledge
- Hear over 20 pitches from growing aquaculture businesses based in the region
Participants in the Gulf Coast event can also tour the marine aquaculture facility. The aquaculture center focuses on alleviating the bottlenecks that constrain the production of marine species. The tour provides a backstage look at advanced technologies and the opportunity to discuss issues and trends critical to aquaculture and genetics.
“At TCMAC we work with industry, government and nonprofits to advance aquaculture," said TCMAC Director Kelly Lucas. "Fish 2.0 is a great way to expand aquaculture by providing businesses with tools and networking that can help them achieve their goals.”
“Marine aquaculture is growing, and advances in techniques, gear, automation and products occur in a moment’s notice,” she adds. “Connecting entrepreneurs and investors helps get these developments into the marketplace.”
Event seeks to build community around expanding Gulf Coast aquaculture opportunities
The event, the culmination of a two-day workshop for aquaculture businesses supported by NOAA Fisheries, is an active community-building session where businesses, experts and others meet and learn from one another.
“Expanding marine aquaculture is vital for supporting our nation’s seafood production, year-round jobs and enhancing coastal resilience,” says Paul Doremus, chief operating officer at NOAA Fisheries. “By supporting sustainable aquaculture innovation, we can increase and diversify U.S. seafood production to deliver economic, environmental and human health benefits.”
Fish 2.0 Executive Director Monica Jain notes that “aquaculture opportunities are expanding quickly in the Gulf Coast region, and we are seeing a range of shellfish and finfish producers with excellent products. The time is now for businesses, investors and others to come together to grow the sector.”
The Gulf Coast workshop, pitch session and networking event is part of the U.S. aquaculture track in the current cycle of Fish 2.0, which brings together innovators from around the world to grow the sustainable seafood sector. Any eligible business, workshop participants and others can take Fish 2.0’s two-part online Readiness Assessment. The top-scoring businesses—the Fish 2.0 Forty—will also earn a spot on stage at the Global Innovators Forum Nov. 5-6, 2019, at Stanford University, where they’ll present to invited investors and experts from across the country and around the world.
Investors, experts and entrepreneurs with questions about the workshop and pitch session, the Fish 2.0 Readiness Assessment or the 2018-19 Fish 2.0 qualifying cycle can contact Fish 2.0 at Cole@fish20.org.
About Fish 2.0
Fish 2.0 is a global community that brings innovators together to grow the sustainable seafood sector. Working through our worldwide network, regional events, online Readiness Assessment, Fish 2.0 Connect online hub, and Global Innovators Forum, Fish 2.0 participants collaborate to drive innovation, business growth, and positive impact. Everyone benefits: Entrepreneurs meet potential investors, partners, and advisors that help them accelerate impact and growth. Investors and experts get early access to investment opportunities and learn about emerging technologies and trends.
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