Regeneration-focused aquaculture centre signs first agreements
Billionaire-backed CAAI aims to use Gulf of California and Mexico as a model for the world
A new institution that aims to accelerate applied scientific and technological innovation for warm water regenerative aquaculture solutions has announced its first research and technology partnerships.
The Centre for Applied Aquaculture and Innovation (CAAI) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS), a decentralised agency of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) of the Mexican government.
CAAI has also formalised a collaboration framework agreement with Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Tecnológico de Monterrey), establishing the basis for joint activities in research, innovation, training, technological development, and entrepreneurship related to marine, coastal, and aquaculture ecosystems.
Ecosystem of organisations
The Centre is an initiative of Innovacciones Alumbra (iAlumbra), described as an ecosystem of organisations committed to demonstrating and catalysing models for economic development that restore nature, honour communities, and drive health and prosperity.
Innovacciones Alumbra was founded by Christy Walton, the billionaire daughter-in-law of Walmart founder Sam Walton, who finances the Cuna Del Mar sustainable aquaculture investment fund.
Cuna Del Mar portfolio companies Sol Azul Baja Oysters (Mexico), the Centre for Aquaculture Technologies (San Diego), Innovasea (Boston), and totoaba farmer Santomar (Mexico) are founding partners of the CAAI, along with iAlumbra, Cuna Del Mar, and sustainable aquaculture investor Hatch Blue.
Technology breakthroughs
“Warm water aquaculture can meet the growing demand for aquatic food while regenerating ocean health and benefiting the communities most vulnerable to increasing ocean temperatures,” said Ernesto Rodríguez Leal, executive director of the CAAI.
“Alongside leading partners like IMIPAS and Tecnológico de Monterrey, our goal is to advance applied research and technology breakthroughs that make (re)generative aquaculture scalable and accessible so we can restore marine ecosystems and open up new opportunities for people who depend on the ocean for their livelihood.”
The MoU with IMIPAS aims to strengthen scientific research, technological innovation, and talent development around sustainable and regenerative aquaculture in Mexico.
Dr. Victor M. Vidal-Martínez, director general of IMIPAS, said the partnership is very important for the development of aquaculture alternatives focused on coastal communities that are already suffering changes in the distribution of fisheries resources due to the effect of sea water warming.
“It is extremely important to develop viable aquaculture alternatives for the people living in these communities,” said Vidal.
Strengthening resilience
Linda Medina, regional dean of the School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnológico de Monterrey, said the Institute’s framework agreement with CAAI “enables us to bring together research, technology, and innovation capacities to advance solutions that restore marine ecosystems and support coastal communities”.
She added: “Together, we will be able to build innovative models that strengthen ecosystem resilience and sustainable development in Mexico.”
The CAAI said (re)generative aquaculture is at the leading edge in the biodiverse waters of the Gulf of California, and that all across the Baja California Sur region, open-ocean finfish systems, shellfish farms supporting mangrove restorations, and emerging restorative algae projects are redefining what ocean-based food systems can look like. On land in La Paz, a vast academic and research network has created a strong foundation for applied research and innovation.
The CAAI’s intent is to be a global hub, focused on accelerating solutions in regenerative aquaculture, using the Gulf of California and Mexico as a model and standard for global application.
