Seafood is having a moment. 

More people are paying attention to where their food comes from. More conversations are happening about sustainability, innovation, and the future of protein. And aquaculture and seafood – whether you’re in farming, processing, research, policy, or maritime trades – is at the center of that story.

This visibility is a gift, but also a responsibility. Right now, we have the chance to reclaim the narrative of aquaculture and show the public what it truly represents: sustainability, resilience, and opportunity. But we can only do that if we’re honest about both our accomplishments and our struggles, and if we commit to building an industry that reflects the communities we serve.

Reflections from five years of MIA

As 2025 closes, I’ve been reflecting on the past five years of building Minorities In Aquaculture (MIA). It’s been a journey full of opportunities, impactful people, and eye-opening conversations. It’s also been a path of major trial and error, figuring out how to be an entrepreneur, an aspiring leader, and a person navigating the responsibility that comes with showing up in this space in all the ways I’m called to.

When MIA began, it was an undeveloped melting pot of ideas. I thought I knew what it could be, but honestly, it has repeatedly shifted and revealed itself into something deeper and more expansive each year. Along the way, I’ve made mistakes, learned what works, and discovered that the kind of presence I want to have in this industry is rooted in intentionality. 

My goal has never been perfection. It’s been to do good work, to build something meaningful with others who are equally passionate, and to be proud of my small piece of this ocean pie.

This year reminded me of what’s possible. MIA expanded internships to new regions, connecting more students to hatcheries, farms, and labs. More women of color took their first steps into aquaculture careers. Mentorship networks grew stronger, linking newcomers to professionals who could guide them.

But, I also learned that scaling requires more than passion. It requires sustainable resources, the right infrastructure, and strong partnerships. Representation is important, but it only has an impact when it transforms the system, giving people the power to lead, not just participate.

These lessons reinforced something I think we all feel: progress is real, but it’s fragile unless we commit as an industry to pushing it forward together.

The next five years

The next five years will be critical. The pressures on our industry are undeniable: workforce shortages, generational career shifts, climate challenges, and consumer demand for transparency. We’ve made progress, but the gaps remain. Too few people are entering the pipeline. Old perceptions about seafood careers persist. And strategies aren’t yet bold enough to secure the workforce of the future.

At MIA, our 2026-2030 strategic plan is designed to address these challenges head-on, not just for our organization, but as part of the larger effort to move the entire industry forward. The goals we’ve set mirror what aquaculture, seafood, and maritime professionals across the country are already calling for: clearer career pathways, stronger connections with communities, and a sharper, more unified story about what aquaculture truly represents.

For MIA, that means expanding programs that make careers accessible and financially viable, countering misinformation with facts and human stories, and deepening partnerships with industry, academia, government, and community organizations to widen the pipeline. It also means leaning into technology and innovation to make aquaculture more resilient and attractive to the next generation, and finding ways to bring them in and make it easier for them to stay.

But progress will also depend on breaking out of silos. Too often, aquaculture has relied on familiar networks and traditional ways of collaborating. The next phase requires us to think bigger, to bring in voices, skills, and perspectives that haven’t always been included in shaping this industry. That could mean inviting partners from education, workforce development, finance, or technology into conversations where they’ve historically been absent. It could mean creating new spaces where farmers, processors, scientists, and communities solve challenges side-by-side rather than in parallel.

And honestly, we also have to ask ourselves: when are we going to put aside the perceptions, biases, and misconceptions we hold about other parts of this field – whether it’s commercial, academia, or government – and finally sit down to acknowledge that most of us are working toward the same goals? Until we get on the same page about why silos still exist, we can’t begin to break them.

This isn’t about doing more of the same. It’s about reimagining how we work together so that aquaculture becomes not just more innovative, but more connected, intentional, and impactful. Because without breaking down these walls in the next five years, we risk falling short of the workforce, production, and sustainability goals that 2030 demands of us.

Most importantly, we must demonstrate that inclusion is not an optional add-on. It’s a strategy for growth, competitiveness, and sustainability. If we want to meet the demands of the future, the industry must open its doors wider, and MIA is committed to helping build those doorways. These aren’t abstract goals. They are the building blocks of an industry that can not only meet the challenges ahead but thrive in the face of them.

Closing reflection

Looking back on the last five years, I’m proud of what MIA has built but I’m even more proud of what we have built together as an industry. The talent, the drive, and the passion are here. What remains is the will to create pathways wide enough, intentional enough, and lasting enough to carry that talent into the future.

Seafood has the spotlight right now. Aquaculture no longer has the luxury of being seen as niche. This is our time to define ourselves as vital to U.S. food security, sustainability, and innovation. Whether you’re on the water, in a lab, running a plant, or shaping policy, your presence matters in how this story is told and where it goes next.

The next five years will be decisive. If we continue to lean into the challenges, break down silos, and do the hard work of aligning around our shared goals, we will meet this moment. And if we do, I believe that when we look back in 2030, we won’t just see more seafood produced. We’ll see an industry reshaped by people who had the courage to work differently, work together, and build something better.

Because the future of aquaculture isn’t coming someday, it’s being built right now, one choice, one collaboration, and one year at a time.

Imani Black is an aquaculture professional, advocate, and industry trailblazer with a decade of experience in oyster farming and hatchery management across Maryland and Virginia. As the founder of Minorities In Aquaculture and a graduate with a Master’s degree in Ecological Anthropology from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, she is dedicated to fostering workforce inclusivity and equity through mentorship, education, and advocacy. (imanib@mianpo.org / @imaniiiblackkk)