Sheila Semans
Executive Director
www.noyocenter.org
Mission:
To advance ocean
conservation through
education, exploration and
experience
Blue Economy Strategy for Noyo Center
SEAWATER, SEAWATER,
SEAWATER! Partner with the
City of Fort Bragg and the Noyo
Harbor District to develop
flowing seawater system;
Strengthen partnership with
the Kashia Band of Pomo
Indians to pursue shared
regenerative aquaculture
aspirations
Nurture and grow Noyo Ocean
Collective Partnership and
develop shared objectives
Partner with the West
Business Development Center
to develop Blue Economy
accelerator and mentorship
resources
Support existing Blue
Economy companies already
sited or trying to site in Fort
Bragg
Leverage existing West Coast
and North American Blue
Economy programs to serve
North Coast entrepreneurs
immediately while local
program fundraising and
development proceeds;
Test, refine, and iterate North
Coast Blue Economy training
programs;
Support North Coast Blue
Economy entrepreneurs with
regulatory and permitting
processes;
Develop a Blue Economy
mentor’s circle to support
entrepreneurs; and,
Initiate and cultivate
relationships with social
impact and Blue Economy
investors to facilitate access
to capital; and,
Identify existing facilities in Ft.
Bragg to support Blue
Economy entrepreneurs and,
as needed, develop new
facilities to incubate and
support companies.
Noyo Center’s
Three Locations
Field Station in Noyo Harbor
Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center
• All volunteer run
• Open 7 days a week
• Hosted over 5,000 people in 2024
Discovery Center Science Museum
• Open 5 days a week.
• Over 30,000 visitors in 2024
Acquired in 2022
Regenerative Aquaculture: Seaweed and Urchin
• Develop a simple aquaculture system with recirculating seawater that can be easily replicated by others in the harbor and elsewhere in our region. • Showcase restorative seafood through our commercial kitchen; build local markets • Determine the economic potential of this effort and whether we can scale to commercial production on the headlands property
• Build education program around this: classroom, research, community science GOALS
Regenerative
Aquaculture:
Abalone and
Bull Kelp
Sea Grant
Moss Landing
Kashia Tribe
Bodega Marine Lab
The Nature Conservancy
Field Station: Marine Mammal Science
Restoration: Sonoma and Mendocino
Supporting Local Science
Field Station Assets
• 60ft dock access in Noyo
Harbor
• Access to seawater
• Wet/dry lab space
• Meeting/event space
Future Aspirations
• Bull Kelp restoration –
seeded lines
• Sunflowers sea star
aquaculture
FS: Coastal Inundation and Resiliency Planning:
- Coastal Conservancy funding for FS redesign
- Collaboration with City’s BEVRI SLR analysis
Supporting
Local
Science
• City’s BREVI Plan • Noyo River water quality
assessment
• In water aquaculture
feasibility with Sea
Grant: water quality,
urchin, abalone, and
kelp
• SLR Planning: June 7th
Public Engagement
Event
• ONEKA Wave energy: • Dome content and
public information
• Science Social at FS
with technology
• Mendocino Bay Restoration
efforts
• Primitives: Manufactured
materials using urchin shells
Field Station: Education
Field Trips, community events, internships
Open since 2019
• Supporting Local Tourism (30,000 visitors)
• Exhibit Partnerships
- CA Academy of Sciences
- The Exploratorium
• Community Events
- Whale Festival
- Kelp & Urchin Festival
• STEAM Education
- Exhibit Design: Beaked Whale
• Field Trips / Summer Camps
• Internships: College and HS
Discovery Center
Science Museum
Bringing the invisible to life
J. Iselin
K. Joe
A. Dias
OCEAN IMMERSION DOME and
LIVE EXHIBTS
OCEAN SCIENCE
CENTER
2025 Goals
EHDD Architects
• Design completed
• Operational business plan
completed
• Funding strategy
OSC Property
• Rezoning approved by Coastal
Commission—thank you City of Fort Bragg!!
• Property exchange for land between our parcel
and the runway
• Create easement for wetland restoration on
adjoining Park property
• Pursue funding for site restoration master plan
La-BONE-atory breaking ground this summer!
La-BONE-atory: First mill site construction in a generation!! La-BONEatory
• Multi-use space
• Blue whale articulation
• Marine mammal triage
• Science research and education
Collaborative Blue Economy Goals for 2025
Flowing seawater is key infrastructure to support the BE: We plan to work with City and Harbor District to determine the best alternative for the community .
Workforce development. Deepening our collaboration with Mendocino College— partnering to design new aquaculture certification program and supporting preservation of their unique and impressive marine specimen collection.
Thank You City
of Fort Bragg
• City Council
• Planning Commission
• City Staff and consultants
• Isaac Whippy, Sarah McCormick, John Smith, Marie Jones Questions?
www.noyocenter.org
Sheila Semans
Executive Director
[email protected]