Meet the Fish Reef Project Team
Chris Goldblatt
Founder/CEO
Chris Goldblatt received his Bachelor of Science from Humboldt State – 1998 in Fisheries and Business. Chris has 30 years on and under the water in California and globally. Early pioneer in the sustainable seafood movement, builder of basic artificial reefs in the LA area. Author of the six-part Luke Dodge Ocean Adventure novel series. As an avid freediver, Chris’s passion to see a vibrant healthy ocean stems back to his early teen years.
Dr. Wilfred Lus
PNG Volunteer Coordinator
Wilfred has a BSc (Honours First Class) in Geology from University of Papua New Guinea, and a PhD in Earth Science from Australian National University, Canberra. He is supporting the project’s mission to enhance the seafloor and its biomass through creation of artificial reefs, to address food security and climate change in impacted communities in Papua New Guinea.
Stanley Selasie Kpemli
West Africa Project Manager
Stanley Selasie Kpemli holds a bachelor of Science(BSc. Fisheries and Aquatic Science) from the University of Cape Coast Ghana. Stanley believes that Ghana’s fishery which currently relies mostly on small pelagic fishes captured by artisanal, semi industrial fishermen can be revamped as there are many calls that the fishery stock is being depleted. Deploying fish reefs in our waters will help to control and increase the fish stocks and other fishery resources.
Said Mohamoud
Project Director, Somalia
“A Joint Venture Parter for Fish Reef Project, I am proud to be helping to restore and enhance our fisheries and coral ecosystem for the benefit of all Somalis”, Said Mohamoud
Afriyie Ofori-Koree
MICRS, Managing Partner, LiveValue360
Afriyie is leading significant efforts in Ghana and West Africa to help industry and government partners to fully embrace the potential of the Fish Reef Project to make major contributions to ocean health and food security.
Dr. Ryan Jenkinson
Africa & PNG Science Coordinator
Having studied some of the most remote and rare marine ecosystems on Earth, Dr. Jenkinson brings a robust new skill set and vast experience to the Fish Reef Project.
Dr. Robert Abbott
Senior Principal Marine Biologist
Senior Principal Marine Biologist at ENVIRON International Corporation, is a fisheries expert who has been performing assessments of fisheries and aquatic resource information for government agencies and the private sector since 1974. He specializes in fisheries ecology, marine bioacoustics, artificial reefs construction and monitoring and 2D-acoustic fish tracking.
Mahat Muhumed Ali
Outreach Coordinator, Kenya & Somalia
Executive Director for East Africa Environmental Foundation (EAEF). A non profit organization. Ali holds a diploma in Public Relations from Moi University, and is also pursuing his degree in conflict and peace management at Mount Kenya University. He knows that the Fish Reef Project holds many benefits for peace making and ocean health for Africa.
Jenn Sorich
Creative Director, Graphic Designer
Jenn has been a part of the Fish Reef Project nearly from the start. When she discovered what the Fish Reef Project was developing, she made it her life’s work to help display the mission in a way that everyone could digest through graphic arts. Jenn has travelled around the world many times, speaking with locals who rely on the ocean for their survival, and has listened to their concerns over the years. She feels deeply connected to helping the ocean and in turn helping humanity thrive.
Lonnie Nelson
Logistics Manager, Freediver
Lonnie grew up surfing and diving since the age of 7. His passion for the ocean was inherited from his father and has since been gifted to his son and avid freediver. Lonnie proudly joined the efforts of the fish reef project with hopes of ensuring that future generations will be able to experience the ocean as he has.
Andy Taylor
Marine Biologist, Equiptment Coordinator
Andy is the owner of Blue Water Hunter Dive Shop in Santa Barbara and is also a freedive spearo. He is a long time volunteer for the Fish Reef Project, and has helped raise awareness via his dive shop.
Mark Massara, Esq.
Coastal Land Use Specialist Attorney
Mark Massara, Esq. has worked on many high profile land use cases and has made major, long term contributions to protect our coastlines and oceans.
Capt. David Bacon
Goleta Kelp Reef Advisory Board Chairman
Capt. David Bacon grew up fishing, hunting and studying critters. He went to college for Business, then spent many years in the high-tech industry running large mainframe computer centers. He was back to nature at every opportunity and after an early retirement from high tech, started a fishing charter service and later bought a bait & tackle shop. Capt. Bacon publishes over 500 articles per year for various print and online publications, does considerable public speaking and serves on various councils, panels and boards. Capt. Bacon, a strong supporter of Fish Reef Project said, “Since its inception, I’ve helped move and steer Fish Reef Project along because I have the decades of at-sea experience to see the need for habitat engineered to develop and sustain sea life into the future.
Dedicated Volunteers
Christian Koepenick
Photographer, Spear Fisherman
Professional photographer, FRP Photo manger, ocean lover and spear fishermen.
Annika Erikson
Social Media Intern, Surfer & Ocean Conservation
Born and raised on an island in Maine, Annika‘s upbringing revolved around the ocean. Her experiences as a crew member on barges in Maine and as an ocean-minded surfer in California have driven her to advocate for ocean health and conservation. With a profound passion for protecting the ocean and those who share a love for it, Annika is thrilled to take part in the Fish Reef Project’s mission.
Tony Huerta
Teacher
Tony Huerta is an elementary school teacher from Santa Barbara where he grew up surfing and fishing. He loves the ocean and teaching children about it. He is excited to be helping out a cause that will make more places for kids to enjoy in the future.
Daryl Wong, DDS
Freediver, Fisherman
"As a fisherman, diver, commercial fisherman for over 40 years I have slowly seen the decline of our reef resources. Two major changes occurred after Hurricane Iniki and Iwa. Both hurricanes drastically changed our reefs by flattening our reef ecosystem that were exposed to the storms. The loss of fish habitat also caused the decline in fish numbers. This reef project can help our ecosystem by replacing lost reef due to warming, disease, hurricanes and also provide a habitat for fish in areas that don’t have a reef ecosystem. I sincerely believe we can do something to help our local ecosystem with support from our community in the reef project that will benefit everyone."
Juliette Verstaen
Ocean Conservationist
Juliette is currently pursuing a degree in Aquatic Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and is interested in community and population ecology. Maintaining the ocean‘s health is important to her, which is why she’s excited to be involved with the Fish Reef Project, helping to improve oceanic ecosystems.
Chris Castillo
Geographer, GIS Mapping
GIS (Geographic Info Science) Professional. Geographer. Operations Analyst. Fish Reef mapping and application manager.
Eileen Francisco
Ocean Activist
Eileen Francisco holds a bachelor of science from San Jose State in marketing. She first heard of the Pacific Garbage Patch in 2010 and has been an advocate for Ocean Health ever since. Her passion is to convince the world to create Marine Life Enhancement Reefs for as long as the Ocean needs them.
Ben Pernia
Shark Conservationist, Freediver
Born and raised on The Great Lakes, it was a natural progression for Ben to adapt a fluid lifestyle and become a fully committed ocean-minded waterman. Shortly after completing his BS at Northern Michigan University, Ben forged his passion to end the global slaughter of sharks as a fisheries observer with NOAA‘s Sandbar Shark Research program. Now, after a diverse run of sustainable fisheries work in Asia during 2012, Ben has settled in on Maui to take the reigns of Fish Reef Project Hawaiʻi. Most agree, it’s obvious Ben‘s dedication to protecting the ocean’s balance is complete.
Tyler Vanderlip
Freediver, Surfer
Tyler Vanderlip has been a salty dog since day one, whether it is freediving, surfing or any other ocean activity. His love for the ocean is what has influenced him to be a part of The Fish Reef Project.
Nick Kautzman
Fisheries Biologist, Freediver
Nick Kautzman holds a Masters degree in fisheries and aquatic invertebrate zoology from Gonzaga University. He works in the public and private sectors in a variety of positions that focus on special status species management. Nick is an accomplished and avid freediver.
Sarah Rose Devine
Ocean Conservationist
Sarah has a BS from the University of California at Berkeley in Conservation and Resource Studies and a J.D. from Golden Gate University and currently works in a civil rights law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. As a long time ocean lover and environmental advocate, Sarah is excited to be working with the Fish Reef Project.
Rena Obernolte
Senior Marine Biologist
Rena Obernolte, senior Marine Biologist held a Bachelor degree in Aquatic Biology from UCSB and a Masters in Environmental Studies from SJSU. She worked in San Francisco Bay building artificial reefs for native oysters and fish habitat. She specialized in invertebrate ecology and acoustic fish monitoring. Sadly, Rena has passed away. The Fish Reef Project is grateful for her dedication, and she will be missed by all.
