Congresswoman Nanette Barragán Provides $1 Million in Federal Funding for Ocean STEM Labs at AltaSea

State Sen. Steven Bradford Helps Launch AltaSeads Conservancy

Standing at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) presented a ceremonial check of $1 million to highlight the federal monies she secured to fund postsecondary, ocean-based research and equipment aimed at finding solutions to climate change.

The funding from Congress’ 2023 Omnibus Budget Agreement will support additional research at the cutting edge, 35-acre campus that has become a home for top scientists to conduct important ocean-related research and discover solutions to environmental problems. Through intensive collaboration, students and research scientists will continue to conceptualize, identify, and address the most pressing issues facing the ocean today.

“I consistently meet such intelligent, talented, and driven students in my district who I know will be the changemakers and leaders of tomorrow,” said Rep. Barragán. “This funding will create opportunities for these students to access state-of-the-art resources to pioneer the fields of ocean-based climate solutions, marine biology, aquatic conservation, and the emerging blue economy. I am excited for the future of ocean innovation in San Pedro, and I am proud that our city, particularly our students, will help pioneer a new economy, environment, and world for all of us.”

The press event also included a ribbon-cutting of California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s new lab and field office at AltaSea as well as a sneak peek at the $19 million in recent renovations that are underway on the AltaSea campus.

State Senator Steve Bradford helped launch the AltaSeads Conservancy, which aims to develop into a leading non-profit organization in kelp restoration, breeding, farming, education, and outreach. The Conservancy’s goal is to protect wild underwater plant communities, called macroalgae, from pollution and climate change. Bradford said that aquaculture is an emerging and important new area for both addressing climate change as well as providing food options in California.

“The work being done at AltaSea gives us a look into an exciting future,” said Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena). “This funding will help create new jobs that support the blue economy which can lead to new energy sources that combat climate change and uncover new foods and new drug sources to help us live better. This new economy can also be a model for embracing and training skilled workers from under-served communities.”

From regenerative aquaculture and renewable energy to “blue tech” and underwater robotics, some of the most innovative efforts to address climate change and the use of power from the oceans are being researched and implemented at AltaSea. The campus is also on the frontlines of new carbon capture research and developing new technologies that leverage the ocean’s natural capacity as a carbon sink to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.

“In the same way that 50 years ago in Silicon Valley, there were a lot of innovators who went into their parents' garage … well, AltaSea has a much bigger garage,” said Terry Tamminen, President and CEO of AltaSea, who previously served as Secretary of California’s Environmental Protection Agency. “We believe that by providing scientists and entrepreneurs with an innovation laboratory, these pioneers of the blue economy can make their creativity spark and solve many of the energy, sustainability and environmental challenges we face today.”

“The new STEM labs made possible by this new Congressional designated funding will hopefully foster within the next generation a passion to continue protecting our state’s biodiverse resources and establish new and innovative ways to use our oceans to save our planet. AltaSea thanks Congresswoman Barragán for bringing this important federal funding to AltaSea, and we also appreciate the work of State Senator Bradford in continuing his support of AltaSea in Sacramento,” added Tamminen.

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About AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles

AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.

For more information on AltaSea, please visit: https://altasea.org

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