Stuart Thomas
Aquaculture Specialist
Expertise
- Shellfish ecology and aquaculture practices
- Seafood science, production, and safety
- Marine resource outreach and education
- Commercial Shellfish breeding
- Aquaculture sustainability & environmental adaptation
Stuart Thomas joined Washington Sea Grant in January 2026 as an Aquaculture Specialist, bringing more than 17 years of experience across aquaculture, fisheries, seafood science, and environmental restoration in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Originally from the United Kingdom, Stuart earned a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology from the University of Liverpool in 2008 before moving to the United States to pursue a career focused on sustainable shellfish farming and coastal stewardship.
Stuart holds an MS in Fisheries and Aquaculture from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and worked extensively in shellfish aquaculture throughout Cascadia, Alaska, and Hawaiʻi. His experiences include participating in subsistence fisheries in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington; seaweed culture in the Salish Sea; clam gardening with Indigenous communities; and shellfish and salmon restoration in the Skagit River system and delta. After beginning his career as a shellfish farming intern, Stuart advanced to broodstock manager for a major shellfish producer, where he supported breeding programs with commercial, research, and indigenous partners. In this role, he reared, tracked, and supplied oysters and clams to hatcheries across the West Coast, addressing challenges such as ocean acidification, warming waters, disease, restoration, and farm productivity.
In 2018, Stuart shifted his focus to commercial shellfish production and small business development, helping to build a new shellfish farm and processing operation from the ground up in northern Skagit Bay for a Salish Sea–based Indigenous community. This work included retrofitting a former salmon cannery into a bivalve processing facility, navigating complex regulatory and permitting frameworks, and developing wholesale, retail, and direct-to-chef markets for locally produced shellfish in Washington State. Through this experience, Stuart gained valuable perspective on Indigenous approaches to marine resource stewardship, economic development, and cultural connection to coastal waters. One of his most meaningful accomplishments was the harvest and distribution of traditional first-foods from the shellfish farm for community events and ceremonies, as well as contributing to the revival of clam gardening practices in the region, and getting involved with the fledgling seaweed and kelp aquaculture community in Washington state.
Drawing on his technical and practical experiences, Stuart has provided education, outreach, and consulting services over the years that have helped communities, organizations, and producers better understand shellfish aquaculture and ecology, tying together the environmental, social, and economic issues connected to them. Throughout his career, Stuart has focused on engaging the public with the value of our diverse local seafood resources, a commitment he brings to Washington Sea Grant in support of sustainable aquaculture across western Washington.
Outside of his formal roles, Stuart is an expert oyster shucker who supports his family’s traveling oyster bar, and he enjoys snowboarding, surfing, hiking, fishing and pretty much anything that gets him outdoors.
