Dr. Linda Santschi, Scientific Director of Coastal Marine Biolabs and VSE Partner, delivers opening comments

Dr. Linda Santschi (left) and Dr. Carrie Kappel (right)

Dr. Carrie Kappel, Researcher and Senior Fellow at UC Santa Barbara’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, introduces a comprehensive spatial planning model designed to aid the offshore aquaculture site selection process

Dr. Carrie Kappel discusses how multiple data layers can be used and synthesized to inform aquaculture spatial planning

Dr. Kappel describes how spatial planning can be used to minimize potential conflicts associated with multiple overlapping ocean uses

Dr. Kappel presents outputs from a bioeconomic model of commercial and recreational halibut fisheries

Oscar Peña, General Manager of the Ventura Port District and VSE Partner, discusses future planning meetings that will allow for the full participation of a variety of stakeholders in the site selection process

Grace Goldberg, Director of Operations for the SeaSketch Program at UC Santa Barbara, introduces the SeaSketch platform and how this mapping tool can be used to create a productive and interactive forum during the lease site selection process

Brian Pendleton, Business Operations Manager for the Ventura Port District and VSE Partner

Workshop participant contributing to question and answer segment of the workshop

Dr. Carrie Kappel listens attentively to audience members’ concerns

Workshop participant listens to comments raised by other workshop attendees

Doug Bush, General Manager of The Cultured Abalone Farm in Goleta and VSE Partner

Workshop participant contributing to question and answer segment of the workshop

Workshop participant listens with interest to discussions during the question and answer segment of the workshop

Dr. Linda Santschi, Scientific Director of Coastal Marine Biolabs and VSE Partner

Randy Lovell, State Aquaculture Coordinator, contributes to the workshop discussions

Workshop participants

Everard Ashworth, Chair of the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners and VSE Partner

Workshop participant contributing to question and answer segment of the workshop

Workshop participant contributing to question and answer segment of the workshop

Oscar Peña (background), General Manager of the Ventura Port District and VSE Partner, and workshop participant (foreground) listening to concerns raised during workshop discussions

Workshop participants engaged during Q&A segment of the workshop

Workshop participant

Oscar Peña(right) and workshop participant (left)

Dr. Carrie Kappel responds to questions raised during workshop discussions

Workshop participant

Everard Ashworth, Chair of the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners and VSE Partner, addresses workshop participant during the Q&A session

John Higgins, Harbormaster for the Ventura Port District

Post-workshop discussions