PACIFIC SEA FARMS TEAM
Mike Spranger
Mike has been a resident of Vashon Island for over 20 years. After working for 30 years at a fortune 500 company, he retired from corporate life to co-found Pacific Sea Farms with the intention of creating a business that allows him to support his local and global ecosystems and community. As an advisory member of the Washington Seaweed Collaborative, Mike is highly involved in bringing kelp farming to the Puget Sound Region. When not out on the water, Mike is working with government agencies and other potential kelp farmers to expand kelp farming throughout the region.
Gretchen Aro
Gretchen has spent her 35 year career managing projects from land use developments to film and video productions. She has lived on Vashon Island for over 20 years and dedicated much of her time and energy to supporting the community through an array of community engagement. Her commitment to the environmental and human health of her community led her to co-found Pacific Sea Farms. In addition to working at the farm, Gretchen liaisons with local schools and community groups to raise awareness about the benefits of kelp farming.
Our interns assist with all areas of the farm and play an intricate role in our day to day operations. We are a small company and rely heavily on these kids to participate in keeping our business running. Interns help grow our kelp from spores to harvest, gathering sorus tissue from Puget Sound in the fall which emits the kelp spores. They then plant the spores in nursery tanks, monitoring their growth and transplant them to the farm where they monitor conditions and growth and assists with the harvest in the spring. Kelp farming is proving to have positive environmental impacts. Our interns help document these impacts by monitoring marine habitat , species and water quality at and around the farm. This year our interns created marketing, public relations and educational materials and lead community outreach at events including Vashon Low Tide Festival. All PSF interns are Level 1 certified in Large Mammal Entanglement Response from NOAA.
Our Interns
Ivy Staczek
Ivy is currently a senior at Aviation High School in Seattle, WA where she focuses on science and engineering. In addition to school and working at PSF, Ivy is the keeper for Vashon High School’s Women’s soccer team, a junior firefighter, and a kayak guide for Vashon Adventures. Ivy will be attending college in the fall of 2024.
Intern
Kate Spranger
Kate attends the Science and Math Institute in Tacoma where she focuses on biology and chemistry. When Kate is not at school or on the farm, she can be found on the pitch playing midfield for Vashon High School’s women’s soccer team, dancing and teaching at the Vashon Dance Academy and leading kayak tours for Vashon Adventures. Kate will be attending college in the fall of 2024.
Intern
Partner with us!
We love partnering with schools and researchers. Our working farm will double as a classroom and laboratory for schools and researchers throughout the Puget Sound region. Please email us for more information.
Are you an aspiring sea farmer? Kelp farming is a new industry in the Pacific Northwest. The process, from conception to permitting to building the farm, can be daunting. If you’d like support, email us. We love sharing information!