The Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture is proud to uplift the voices of our Future Leaders in this blog series: Meet a Future Leader. In this series we will interview the members of CSA that are Future Leaders set to make waves in aquaculture. We’ll learn what inspires them, what they hope to contribute to the world of aquaculture, and why they advocate for sustainable aquaculture.
We’d like to introduce you to Lucy Vogt, a graduate of Northwestern University of former Seafood Policy Intern at Environmental Defense Fund.
Tell us about yourself. What was your first introduction to aquaculture?
My name is Lucy Vogt, and I recently graduated from Northwestern University with bachelor’s degrees in social policy and environmental policy. I am originally from Washington, D.C. and thrilled to be a Future Leader for the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture.
I first fell in love with the ocean on our family trips to the Maine coast every summer. My sisters and I would run around the beach playing with seaweed, observing scurrying hermit crabs, and watching lobstermen come into the cove and check their traps. Whether asking where each fish in the fish market came from or worrying about the ominous red tide, I always wanted to know more about the vast world of the ocean. Those curiosities led me to pursue a degree, and now a career, in activating ocean climate solutions.
Despite my interest in ocean conservation, I was not formally introduced to aquaculture until my Seafood Policy Internship at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). At EDF, I collaborated with lobbyists and ocean experts on projects related to U.S. fisheries and open ocean aquaculture. Pretty quickly, I was hooked—telling friends who were kind enough to listen about the incredible potential of farming fish, the need for federal legislation, and my excitement about pursuing a career in the aquaculture space.
What excites you about aquaculture? Why did you join the CSA? What are your goals as a Future Leader?
Even under the best scenarios, wild fisheries cannot keep up with the impacts of climate change and our ever-growing global demand for seafood. Instead of continuing to import the vast majority of our seafood (half of which is farmed), aquaculture provides us the opportunity to find new ways to source seafood sustainably while building resilience in local communities and economies. As an ocean and seafood-loving climate optimist, I did not need any more convincing that aquaculture was a climate solution we could not overlook.
As a Future Leader, I am most excited to be a part of a community of like-minded advocates who bring different specialties and backgrounds to help advance offshore aquaculture and sustainable food systems. Whether collaborating with a chef or attending events on Capitol Hill, I am looking forward to channeling my excitement about aquaculture into meaningful advocacy with CSA. Along the way, I hope to sneak in a couple of cooking questions for our chefs!
What would you like decision-makers to know about seafood and aquaculture?
Whenever a lobsterman came into the cove to check their traps, I would always ask my parents how they knew everything. My dad would remind me “They’ve spent generations honing their technique and know how to do it right.”
Without a proper federal regulatory framework for open ocean aquaculture, we are missing out on the incredible benefits that aquaculture could provide. Additionally, by passing comprehensive aquaculture policy, the U.S. will position itself as a global leader in sustainable ocean farming practices and reap the benefits of open ocean aquaculture.
We would be wasting an opportunity to not explore the benefits of aquaculture, and we would be irresponsible to engage without knowing exactly what’s at stake. It’s on us to grow it here and do it right to keep our oceans and communities thriving.