Cuna del Mar names new Managing Partner to lead strategic shift

Cuna del Mar announced yesterday that its Partners have named Donald Grant as its new Managing Partner. The appointment comes at a time when the impact investment fund is sharpening its focus on expanding its pioneering work and taking on a more active role as a global advocate for generative and regenerative aquaculture.

This strategic shift comes after 15 years of developing open ocean farming technology and models that, as demonstrated by the successful Totoaba revitalization in the Gulf of California, Mexico, are economically viable and environmentally responsible.

"We are at a pivotal moment where we must take huge strides toward regenerative outcomes," said Christy Walton, founder of Cuna del Mar and its umbrella company Innovacciones Alumbra. "Under Don's leadership, Cuna del Mar seeks to transition from a pioneer to a global catalyst, ready to democratize this knowledge and accelerate technology, practices, and models to support coastal economies."

An entrepreneur, lawyer, and ecosystem builder focused on leveraging innovation to advance ocean solutions with positive outcomes for community, marine ecosystems, and economies, Grant had previously served as Vice President of the impact investment fund dedicated to regenerative aquaculture. According to the release announcing his appointment, he has been instrumental in shaping Cuna del Mar's strategy.

"Our food and ocean systems are under strain"

From now on, Donald Grant will strategically guide the fund's investments in its integrated ecosystem of portfolio companies, an intentionally designed network aimed at solving the most pressing challenges in aquaculture while building and restoring biodiversity and ocean health.

Cuna del Mar's portfolio includes the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT); Onda, the Canadian spin-out of CATC; SalmoGen, a national supplier of Atlantic salmon broodstock and eggs in the U.S.; Innovasea, an aquatech firm; Open Blue, dedicated to cobia farming; Blue Ocean Mariculture, an open-ocean fish farm raising Hawaiian Kanpachi in Hawaii; and Santomar, the regenerative aquaculture company contributing to the revitalization of totoaba in the Gulf of California.

"I am honored to lead Cuna del Mar at a time when our food and ocean systems are under strain. The challenges are immense, but we believe regenerative aquaculture is a bold, replicable solution that can revitalize species, rebuild ecosystems, and feed communities while creating economic opportunities," Donald Grant said, commenting on his appointment. 

"My focus will be on mobilizing our unique ecosystem of companies to not only prove what's possible – as we've done with the revitalization of the Totoaba in Mexico through our portfolio company Santomar – but to share what we've learned. This includes collaborating with policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry partners to ensure that regenerative aquaculture becomes a powerful, global revitalization tool," the new Managing Partner of Cuna del Mar concluded.