Erick Dowell, a 2024 graduate of SMEA, is currently a Washington Sea Grant Fellow (WSG) working with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. His work sits at the intersection of marine restoration and sustainable agriculture, building innovative partnerships across land and sea.

Through his fellowship, Erick collaborates with shellfish farmers to design harvest and processing methods for a nuisance seaweed, Ulva (Commonly known as sea lettuce), which can foul aquaculture gear and negatively impact shellfish production. By developing practical solutions to manage excess sea lettuce, he is helping reduce operational challenges for growers while addressing broader ecosystem concerns.

Erick’s project extends beyond the shoreline. After processing the seaweed, he works with local terrestrial farmers to repurpose it as a soil amendment, returning valuable nutrients to depleted agricultural soils. By creating a circular system that links marine byproducts to agricultural needs, Erick’s work demonstrated how cross-sector collaboration can support both coastal economies and environmental resilience.