RECAP: Newport Women of the Water Conference

Friday, February 6th, 2026 — Central Coast Food Web, Newport, Oregon

WOW (no pun intended) this was a special one! Our Newport-based Women of the Water conference was an incredible reminder that while aquaculture is often viewed through the lens of technology and biology, at its heart, it is powered by people, and some really really incredible ones at that.

On Friday, February 6, 2026, Winter Waters and Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE) gathered Pacific Northwest based women and gender minorities working in aquaculture for this regional gathering. For context, Women of the Water is a national organization which, for its 2026 conference, opted to ask regional partners to host mini regional conferences to get real and regional insights for their Women of the Water Field Guide. Essentially, it was an open invitation for the community to help shape a practical resource for those working on the water all over the world.

Hosted at the incredible Central Coast Food Web, we got to gather in a beautiful waterfront conference room (available to rent out, here!) AND see active working aquaculture facilities like an R&D seaweed farm and commercial urchin ranch of OoNnee Sea Ranch. The day was dedicated to a simple but profound truth: Women and gender minorities make aquaculture happen, and we have to continue to uplift these voices in the space of working waterfronts!

To start the day, we went around the room to introduce ourselves and share our experiences in aquaculture. The passion, drive, diversity of career paths in aquaculture. From hands-on professional development to high-level industry strategy, the goal remained clear: to uplift and empower the underrepresented voices that are the backbone of our working waterfronts. Attendees walked through a series of prompts designed to spark honest discussion about real-world challenges faced in the workplace and in the field. By identifying what support is needed and what guidance is missing, the community is building a roadmap for a more inclusive and resilient industry.

Following the conference and tours at Yaquina Lab, the group enjoyed locally sourced, sustainable seafood bites and beverages at Local Ocean Seafoods, a Newport classic. Local Ocean also sponsored the group’s lunch, creating pickup platters through its catering program. Learn more about how Local Ocean can cater your meeting or event here.