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Terry Tamminen, President/CEO of AltaSea, former CalEPA Secretary, speaking at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Sergey Nuzhdin, Professor, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences Department, speaking in front of the sporeless kelp growing in tanks at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Dr. Melanie Lundquist, activist philanthropist speaking at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chairman of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute joins the speakers panel virtually at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Dignitaries tour the sporeless kelp growing in tanks at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Chef Bernard Ibarra prepares seaweed-centric plates at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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The grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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The grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Dignitaries tour the sporeless kelp growing in tanks at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Sporeless kelp growing in tanks at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles
in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG) -
Professor Sergey Nuzhdin, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences Department, speaking in front of the sporeless kelp growing in tanks at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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USC President Carol L. Folt, tries her skills at controlling a Blue Tech underwater robotics, during the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab. The more than 6,000 square feet lab is focused on regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on Monday, March 7, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
There were chef-prepared seaweed snacks, a virtual appearance by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and hundreds of AltaSea’s biggest fans on Monday,March 7, when the marine science campus celebrated its latest milestones.
It’s already been an eight-year journey to develop the 35-acre project that still has a ways to go.
But the dream that was initially floated by former Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geradine Knatz — who was among Monday’s guests — showcased some important strides, including the opening of an aquaculture lab, a celebration of the partnership with USC, and continued introductions of AltaSea’s new CEO, Terry Tamminen, who brings a long list of environmental accomplishments.
Ocean explorer Bob Ballard, who discovered the Titanic shipwreck, also made a pre-recorded visit, announcing he’d be creating a 10,000 square-foot interactive research center at AltaSea.
The growing campus is based in historic port warehouse space at 2451 S. Signal Street, near Warehouse One, in San Pedro.
Monday’s ribbon-cutting for AltaSea’s new aquaculture facility — run by USC’s Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab — unveiled more than 6,000 square feet of labs focused on the regenerative aquaculture of seaweeds and mollusks. The lab, led by USC Professor Sergey Nuzhdin, will grow seaweed aimed at creating biofuel, food, pharmaceuticals and various other products.
AltaSea also is envisioned to become the nation’s largest solar installation, with roof replacements — with enough megawatts of solar energy to power 700 homes — now underway.
“Look around you,” Tamminen told the crowd of about 200 people, seated in Warehouse 58. “You won’t recognize it a year from now.”
Speakers also included Melanie Lundquist, a leading benefactor for AltaSea, and USC President Carol Folt.
Nuzhdin’s kelp lab project, which he’s been working on with students, is an example of how AltaSea can renew the environment, Folt said.
“Global warming already has wiped out 50% of the kelp,” Folt said.
Every generation, Lundquist said, has its own challenges. Developing a blue economy, she said, is one of those new frontiers.
“Fossil fuels are the enemy,” Schwarzenegger said. “It’s killing the planet.”
The former governor also praised Tamminen, the state’s former Environmental Protection Agency secretary and a former aide and policy advisor to Schwarzenegger.
“He’s an extraordinary leader,” Schwarzenegger said. “I’m a great believer in him.”
Tamminen took over from Tim McOsker, who stepped down to focus on his campaign for the Los Angeles’ 15th City Council District seat.
Along with the speakers, there was plenty to see and learn about at Monday’s large gathering.
Holdfast Aquaculture, a partner in the Alta Sea effort, had an open indoor trailer where visitors could learn how high-quality seed is produced for seafood (oysters and mussels) farmers.
Ultimately, AltaSea will feature seawater laboratories, offices, a lecture hall and an interpretive center.
Upcoming projects include:
- Renovating 180,000 square feet of warehouse space with new roofs and solar panels.
- Working on carbon capturing technology, which the Institute for Carbon Management in UCLA’s Samueli Scholastic’s School of Engineering will bring to the campus.
- Implementating a pilot program project by Eco Wave Power, an onshore wave energy technology company that develops technology for turning ocean waves into green electricity.
Other recent milestones include receiving $6 million — matched by the Port of LA, to equal $12 million — from the state to help renovate the historic warehouses and wharfs as AltaSea pursues the goal of becoming the West Coast hub for blue economy ocean research.
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