The halyards of the Norwegian sailing ship Statstraad Lehmkuhl fly their sails and the traffic on the water seems to be accompanied by the waves. On board, a group of Mexicans, accompanied by foreigners, are part of the global voyage of the boat called One Ocean Expedition (OOE).
In the stretch from Ensenada to La Paz alone, multiple projects are being developed in favor of the seas and coastal communities, especially one with a global perspective, such as the Center for Applied Aquaculture and Innovation (CAAI).
“In the coming years, it will be a global, global center to promote innovation and applied solutions to advance regenerative aquaculture,” explained Andrew Rhodes, director of public relations and politics for the Innovaciones Alumbra collective, who is participating in this marine trip.
The OOE is a voyage of the sailboat that is an ambassador for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development. On its way around the world, various synergies and decisions take place aboard this sailboat and the 945 nautical miles on board have been no exception.
Participants of the expedition from NGOs, businesses, academic centers and aquaculture production shared on board. Photo: Juan Luis Garcia.
Luis Castellanos, director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation area at CAAI, stressed that the center emerged as a result of years of work by the Innovaciones Alumbra collective, which harmonizes the economy with ocean vitality and the development of communities.
“And within all that vision as a collective, the Center for Applied Aquaculture and Innovation seeks to be this space where science, innovation, training, education and economic development, entrepreneurship can be integrated in one place through a space that we want to make open, interactive,” he said.
Castellanos highlights the CAAI's scientific pillars that will involve laboratories for carrying out tests that meet aquaculture growth and feeding needs; training spaces, for specialization and the incubation of ventures.
“The idea is that it should be a virtuous space, a center where anyone who wants to develop, who wants to learn, who has a business or dreams of being integrated into aquaculture, can go to the center and find the tools,” he explained.
The project's ambition has global dimensions, a projection that finds its roots in the local.
Cota Rivas shared his perspectives for innovation aboard the sailboat. Photo: Juan Luis Garcia.
Rafael Cota Rivas, director of Talent and Workforce Development at CAAI, comments that they are already working in two ways: identifying the needs and desires of the actors involved in the aquaculture sector; and developing the best ways to transfer the necessary capacities to be developed.
Regarding this mapping work, he comments: “It has been knowing the entire territory and all the people involved in the aquaculture value chain in the region, but at the same time also those who for some reason have made the decision not to enter aquaculture, because we are also interested in knowing what those reasons are, what they needed,” said Cota.
Agreements with universities
Synergies are also woven on board the ship. An approach with the University of Maine has taken place and two of its experts on board have been able to share with the rest of the participants of the expedition the work they are doing in this area of the Northwest of the United States known internationally for lobster fishing and its aquaculture efforts.
Meggan Dwyer, associate director of the Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) at the University of Maine, shared that a range of possibilities opens up for collaboration with the CAAI and other actors, in which there is a particular interest in strengthening a student exchange axis.
“My wish would be for students from Baja California Sur to come to Maine during the summer. They will participate in our program and then we will go to Baja California Sur in January or something similar, during one of their vacations to visit farms and work on projects that, in some way, can transcend borders,” said Dwyer.
Dwyer develops strategies for where the IRA, an institute funded by grants, should go. Photo: Juan Luis Garcia.
Together with Professor Damian Brady from the same house of studies, they are considering projects that would contribute to local aquaculture in Mexico, such as the use of satellite images, which identify an ideal place of production and develop tools for aquaculturists.
“For example, an oyster farmer might wonder if an area is good for aquaculture. 'I need data about it and you can take the images from the satellite and land it on the ground to create mapping tools that you can show people,” said the director.
While Dwyer recognizes that there are a lot of ideas on the table right now, there is enthusiasm for what is brewing between the Institute and the CAAI.
On behalf of the CAAI, the signing of agreements and launches began when Statstraad Lehmkuhl arrived in La Paz on November 24.
On behalf of the CAAI, the signing of agreements and launches began when Statstraad Lehmkuhl arrived in La Paz on November 24. The first with the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (Imipas) and the second with the Tecnológico de Monterrey.
With the university, the CAAI expects to advance training and technological development programs, while with the Imipas it will focus on applied research.
The signing of the agreement was attended by representatives of Tec. de Monterrey and Imipas. Photo: Juan Luis Garcia.
The conclusion of new agreements will continue in 2026, Cota said.
“Definitely, we are going to have very specific cases, as quickly as tomorrow that we are in La Paz we will sign agreements with a university (Tec. de Monterrey), but there are others that are already very advanced, including the one at the University of Maine, which will allow us to establish actions to execute very quickly over the next year,” Cota confirmed.
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