The Black History of Chesapeake Bay Aquaculture
Name:
The Black History of Chesapeake Bay Aquaculture
Date:
February 3, 2026
Time:
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM EST
Event Description:
Imani Black shares her inspiring journey from growing up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to becoming a nationally recognized leader in aquaculture. In this talk, Imani will share and explore the overlooked legacy of Black watermen and aquaculture pioneers within Chesapeake Bay fisheries, while reflecting on her own path as a Maryland native and oyster farmer for the last 10 years of her growing career. Imani will reveal how her passion for conservation and restoration helped her overcome self-doubt, learning disabilities, and limited early support to launch Minorities In Aquaculture (MIA)—a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering women of color in aquaculture and fisheries. She will also discuss her graduate research at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory, where she examined the Chesapeake Bay through an ecological anthropology lens. This talk will offer an opportunity to learn more about aquaculture and seafood farming, understand the cultural and historical roots of Black contributions to the Bay, and explore why preserving local heritage is vital to the future conservation of this iconic ecosystem.
Event Media:
