Building Capacity for Fort
Bragg's Ocean Future
Progress, Partnership and Community Impact
Sheila Semans
Executive Director
Mission:
To advance ocean
conservation through
education, exploration
and experience
• Science
• Education
• Conservation
• Blue Economy
• Climate Resilience
Advancing the
Ocean Science
Center Vision
Through Science,
Partnerships and
Community Impact
Building the Pathways Today
Marine Science Assets
• Whale House LaBONEatory (first building on OSC Campus) • Discovery Center Science Museum
• Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center
• Field Station with wet lab and dock
Blue Economy Development
• Advancing regenerative aquaculture potential in Noyo Harbor • Eco-tourism opportunities
• BEVRI Plan, Seawater intake infrastructure
Climate Resilience
• Kelp forest ecosystems
• Assessing sea-level rise vulnerabilities in Noyo Harbor. • Retrofit planning for Marine Field Station
Marine Mammal Science
• Marine mammal response and specimen preservation
• Community science programs; beach surveys and live whale identification Education
• K-Grey programs
• Public engagement
• Workforce development
Ocean
Science
Center
Physical
Assets
Blue
Economy
Climate
Resilience
Marine
Mammals
Partnerships
Education
From Vision to Reality:
Whale House
LaBONEatory
Building Marine
Science Capacity
A future Ocean Science Center needs scientific expertise and infrastructure now.
• Kelp forest restoration
• Marine mammal research
• Volunteer training
• Regional partnerships
Building Blue
Economy Capacity
• Regenerative Aquaculture
• Urchin ranching
• Red abalone
• Seaweed
• Future: sea stars
• Workforce development
• BEVRI contributions
Building Climate
Resilience Capacity
• Kelp forest ecosystems
• Sea-level rise study
• FS adaptation planning
• Seawater intake discussions
Building Community
Engagement
Capacity
• Hands on Science: Beaked whale project
(blue whale on deck!)
• Public Engagement: KelpFest, Whale
Festival, Noyo Pelagics
• Students: Field trips, afterschool
programs, camps, Internships,
classroom curriculum
• Volunteers (100+)
What Comes
Next
• Whale House completion by fall
• Bring the blue whale home, begin restoration
• Aquaculture expansion
• Ocean Science Center Planning
▪ Restoration Master Plan
LaBONEatory
• Multi-use space
• 73-ft Blue whale articulation
• Marine mammal triage
• Science research and education
Thank You!
www.noyocenter.org
Sheila Semans
Executive Director
[email protected]