Norwalk harbor is setting for final on-the-water workshop

Speakers and guests gather on the deck as Spirit of the Sound approaches the docks at the Maritime Aquarium of Norwalk.

Connecticut Sea Grant hosted the final in a series of four on-the-water workshops celebrating its 30th anniversary on July 26 on Norwalk Harbor. Seven speakers and 24 passengers toured the busy harbor aboard Spirit of the Sound, the Maritime Aquarium of Norwalk’s hybrid electric vessel. Topics covered by the speakers included water quality and testing projects in the local area; commercial aquaculture; seaweed aquaculture; research projects involving GoPro cameras on kelp beds, horseshoe crabs and living shorelines. Sea Grant Director Sylvain De Guise concluded the program with a presentation about the Long Island Sound Blue Plan, a marine spatial plan for the estuary that Sea Grant helped create.

Devon Forest, left, educator at the Maritime Aquarium, points out one of the features in Norwalk harbor to Sacred Heart University Prof. Jennifer Mattei, one of the speakers for the workshop.

State Bureau of Aquaculture Director David Carey, left, talked about commercial aquaculture as Connecticut Sea Grant Director Sylvain De Guise holds a map showing the shellfishing areas in Norwalk harbor.

Sarah Crosby, director of Harbor Watch at Earthplace, talked about water quality testing in the Norwalk River.

State Reps. Raghib Allie-Brennan, left, and Kerry Wood gave brief remarks at the start of the workshop presentations.

Norwalk harbor was busy with sailboats of all sizes, including these training vessels, during the excursion. — Norwalk harbor was busy with sailboats of all sizes , including these training vessels, during the excursion.

Richard Harris, water quality expert for Norm Bloom & Son/Copps Island Oysters talked about his work.

Spirit of the Sound passed one of Norm Bloom & Son's oyster boats working in the harbor. — Spirit of the Sound passed one of Norm Bloom & Son’s oyster boats working in the harbor.

Passengers heard from seven speakers on topics ranging from aquaculture to water quality to research.

The excursion passed several lighthouses that mark ledges and islands in Norwalk harbor.

Anoushka Concepcion, aquculture extension specialist for Connecticut Sea Grant, talked about seaweed aquaculture in the state.

Passengers get off the vessel after the two-hour workshop.

Photos by Judy Benson / Connecticut Sea Grant

Photos from the previous three workshops can be found at: https://seagrant.uconn.edu/?p=5277; https://seagrant.uconn.edu/?p=5251; and https://seagrant.uconn.edu/?p=4066.