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The California Aquaculture Association is proud to share a series of perspectives from intern, Briana (Bri) Le, a fourth-year Aquatic Biology major and Professional Writing minor at UC Santa Barbara. Follow along as Bri explores the vital role of aquaculture for both consumption and conservation in her series “Bri’s Outlook on Aquaculture”.

Whenever I tell people I’m a college student at UCSB, they often respond that it must be nice to be within walking distance of a beach from campus, and then they ask what I am studying.

I’ll admit, I feel blessed to go to a school where I can just walk to a sandy beach and look out to the ocean to clear my mind after a dense, hour-long lecture. I find it crazy that there are people in this world who have never seen the ocean or been to the beach; they’re truly missing out. Though I do acknowledge that these folks may not have the means to go to the beach, especially if they’re living in a landlocked state.

I answer their question by sharing that I’m majoring in aquatic biology and minoring in professional writing, under the science communication track. I also specify that I’m interested in fisheries and aquaculture. They then ask what aquaculture is. Though I am always happy to inform others about aquaculture and my research interests, it is a bit troubling that this field is undervalued despite its significance to our global food supply.

There is a communication problem within aquaculture, and it is necessary to start addressing it as the world transitions towards a blue economy.

I’m sure whoever is reading this is largely familiar with aquaculture. For those that aren’t, aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms in a controlled environment. It is currently the fastest-growing food sector in the world, out-pacing wild-capture fisheries in terms of seafood production. In California (CA), the aquaculture industry comprises hard-working individuals cultivating all types of seafood, ranging from oysters, mussels, abalone, and seaweed.

CA aquaculture operations also operate under some of the strictest environmental regulations in the U.S. I’m not entirely familiar with the finite details of establishing an aquaculture farm in CA. However, I am aware that it is notoriously difficult to get a project approved due to numerous overlapping agency jurisdictions and strict coastal protections, creating barriers that prevent many from entering and establishing themselves in the industry. For established operations, people involved prioritize sustainable practices and contribute to restoration efforts to address struggling wild populations. Regardless of their efforts, most Californians have never heard of them.

Part of this unfamiliarity issue is people’s perception. Farmed seafood carries a stigma that wild-caught doesn’t. When people think of farmed seafood, they tend to imagine unsustainable, commercialized practices. Think of an overcrowded net pen where the fish are pumped with antibiotics, riddled with parasites, and are just one malfunction away from escaping the pen and wrecking wild populations. These concerns are valid for some existing operations, but do not reflect the reality of most CA aquaculture farms. This nuance is often overlooked because the science rarely reaches those who need to hear it. Researchers will continue to publish scientific papers, and companies will continue to write status reports. However, there is a communication gap—scientific communicators translating aquaculture content into comprehensible forms meant for the layperson.

Science communication can contribute to this public knowledge gap. Science communication is not only about making scientific concepts accessible; it’s also about establishing trust and connection. We learn best by sharing stories, and there are many aquaculture stories to be told. Communicating with the public can influence consumer choices, shape markets, which can change policies and funding. If there is mistrust in farmed seafood, people simply won’t buy it. If farmed seafood isn’t bought, CA aquaculture operations struggle to operate and expand. If there is no growth, then the industry can’t work towards establishing sustainable methods and restoration work that make the aquaculture industry worth supporting in the first place. The stakes of poor communication are greater than they may seem.

I’ve spent this spring quarter writing about aquaculture for a general audience. Science communication came more naturally than I expected. Though my scientific interests are cemented in aquaculture, I felt fulfilled writing stories on aquaculture-related topics to a general audience. Writing about abalone, sea urchin tinned fish, sea lettuce, and AYCE sushi for people who may be unfamiliar with these things wasn’t difficult; it was genuinely fun! The most difficult part of this process was balancing my writing internship, coursework, research, and all of the responsibilities that come with being a fourth-year college student.

Aquaculture stories are worth sharing, and there aren’t enough people telling them. CA has a coastal industry encompassing dedicated farmers, researchers, and conservationists doing impactful work that most will never know unless someone takes the time to make the information accessible. That is what science communication is largely about. For me, communicating about aquaculture won’t stop when this internship ends.

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About the Author

Briana (Bri) Le is a fourth-year Aquatic Biology major and Professional Writing minor at UC Santa Barbara, where she focuses on the Science Communication Track. A first-generation college student and Vietnamese-American, Bri is a member of the McNair and FUERTE fellowships, programs dedicated to helping students from underrepresented backgrounds develop research and professional skills. Her background includes studying the thermal tolerance of juvenile giant kelp under Dr. Halley Froehlich and completing a hands-on internship at The Cultured Abalone Farm in Santa Barbara, where she gained practical experience in land-based farm operations.

Driven by a passion for ‘practical science’, Bri aims to bridge the gap between complex marine research and public understanding. She views aquaculture as a cornerstone of global food security and environmental conservation, yet recognizes that it remains widely misunderstood. Through her work with the California Aquaculture Association, Bri uses her communication skills to demystify the industry and promote diversity, striving to make the field more accessible and inclusive for people of all backgrounds.