Check out PV Mag’s tour of AltaSea with a special interviews from Jenny Krusoe, Executive Vice President & COO of AltaSea, Robin Aube, Director of Advancement, and Kevin Gaines, of Kelp Arc!

The Ocean Solution: How AltaSea is Powering the Blue Economy Revolution

Originally from the Seacliff neighborhood of San Francisco, Krusoe grew up on the water above Baker’s Beach, a stretch of coastline not unlike Palos Verdes. “I’ve always had the ocean in my blood,” she says. After attending Harvard and then Stanford Business School, Krusoe spent time working in the film industry before turning her focus toward helping nonprofits become fiscally responsible. That work ultimately led her to the Annenberg Foundation, where she served as a consultant to Executive Director Leonard Aube.

Aube played a pivotal role in the creation of AltaSea. The Port of Los Angeles had brought forward the idea of using port land—state-owned, 35 acres in total—for something transformative. The vision was to build the largest ocean innovation campus in the world dedicated to finding solutions for climate change. Aube understood the significance of the ocean’s role in addressing global environmental challenges and believed in the potential of the sustainable Blue Economy long before it became part of the mainstream conversation. Krusoe recalls, “He was a true visionary who treated everyone with such grace. He knew how to convene, how to build, and how to create coalitions.”

After being brought in as a consultant, Krusoe became the founding executive director of AltaSea nearly ten years ago. “It takes a village to build something of this size,” she says. “We’ve had an amazing team, and I’ve had the honor of hiring two of our CEOs, including Tim McOsker—now our councilmember—and our current CEO, Terry Tamminen, who brings incredible experience from his work with Governor Schwarzenegger, the EPA, and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.”
AltaSea is focused on researching, developing, and scaling ocean-based technologies that can meet the climate challenge. At the same time, it provides K–12 education and workforce development programs to ensure a future-ready generation is equipped to support and scale these technologies. “We have the solutions,” Krusoe emphasizes. “Now we need to scale them and build the workforce fast enough to make real change.”

Palos Verdes has been a strong supporter of AltaSea from the beginning. Many board members, including Melanie Lundquist and Eric Johnson, as well as key staff members, live in the area. Chadwick School, a vital educational partner located in PV, has an active presence on the AltaSea campus. “They have a classroom here. One of their teachers is allocated part-time to help with K–5 curriculum development, which is an area we’re growing,” says Krusoe. “They’ve helped with volunteer programs, curriculum development, and they’re bringing real expertise to the table. This year, we’re honoring Chadwick at our annual Blue Hour gala for all their incredible work with us.”

AltaSea’s work revolves around the idea of the sustainable Blue Economy—a relatively new concept that’s distinct from the traditional ocean economy of shipping and tourism. The Blue Economy focuses on new sectors like aquaculture and sustainable ocean farming, offering carbon-free solutions to global food, energy, and water security challenges. “Aquaculture is really ocean farming,” Krusoe explains. “We have a company here that runs the only federally permitted mussel farm in the country. We also support seaweed farming for use in biofuels and plastic replacement. Seaweed is incredibly versatile.”
One of the major players at AltaSea is Dr. Sergey Nuzhdin, who runs the largest seaweed seed bank in the United States. His development of “sporeless kelp”—a strain that can’t replicate on its own—makes it possible to farm seaweed at scale without it becoming invasive. “That breakthrough allows seaweed to be used safely for biofuels and other high-volume needs,” she says.
Hydrogen technology is another focus area.

“You can’t really electrify large ships,” Krusoe explains. “Batteries would take up too much space. But if you convert to hydrogen, you eliminate emissions. It’s the only real option for decarbonizing shipping.” AltaSea currently hosts four carbon capture projects that pull carbon from the ocean and convert it into green hydrogen and other useful byproducts. “The ocean is heating up fast. These kinds of technologies give us a chance to reverse that. We’re not without hope—we just need to act quickly.”
While the science can be complex, Krusoe sees her role as a translator between the lab and the public. “I’m not a scientist,” she says. “So I make them explain things to me until I understand, and then I explain it to others.”

Beyond innovation and research, equity and access are core to AltaSea’s mission. “We prioritize hiring from the local community and from underrepresented communities. It’s important to me that we’re bringing others along with us,” says Krusoe. “I started my career being the only woman in the room. That still happens more than it should. But I keep showing up, and I bring other women with me.”

Recently, Krusoe was named to the Ocean Opportunity Lab’s Global 500 list of top women in ocean leadership. Although the list has since been removed for political reasons, she considers it an honor to have been included alongside women she’s long admired. She was also asked to join the board of the World Ocean Council, an organization that works with ports and shipping industries around the world to implement climate solutions. “It all happened at Climate Week in New York,” she recalls. “The new head of the council was there and asked if I’d join. Now we’re partnering with them for an event at the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in June.”

When asked what legacy she hopes to leave behind, Krusoe reflects, “If even a dozen kids who came through here become marine biologists, that’s a legacy. I used to say I hoped one day kids would dress up as marine scientists for Halloween—that it would be that mainstream. And I still hope that.”

The challenges are real. As someone leading an organization centered around climate change and committed to diversity, Krusoe acknowledges the pushback. “I got my first death threat of the year last week,” she says candidly. “But I don’t let it stop me anymore. Twenty years ago, it would’ve derailed my day. Now, I just keep going. I think the answer is to be louder—but calmer.”

AltaSea continues to invite the community to learn, explore, and get involved. The next public open house is April 12 and will feature technology demonstrations, food trucks, tours, and opportunities to meet ocean innovators. Most programs are free, and events are held regularly. “We do about six open houses a year, and each one is different,” Krusoe says. “April’s event will focus on both the green and blue economies, and we’re partnering with organizations from Watts to bring even more voices to the table.”

AltaSea’s annual gala, Blue Hour, returns on September 27, and this year’s theme is “Blue Foods.” It will celebrate culinary sustainability and feature live cooking demonstrations, surprise performances, and honors for both Chadwick School and chef Andrew Zimmern, who produced the PBS documentary Hope in the Water.

“AltaSea is about more than science. It’s about building the future—one that’s sustainable, equitable, and inclusive,” Krusoe says. “And we’re doing it right here, by the ocean.”

Carrying the Vision Forward: Palos Verdes Resident Robin Aube Connects Legacy, Innovation, and Community

Robin Aube’s story is not just one of leadership—Carrying the Vision Forward: Robin Aube of AltaSea Connects Legacy, Innovation, and Community.
Robin Aube’s story is one of love, legacy, and a long-term vision for the planet. As Director of Advancement at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, she plays a pivotal role in one of the world’s most ambitious ocean-based research and innovation campuses. But for Robin, AltaSea is far more than a job—it’s deeply personal.

Raised on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Robin’s connection to the South Bay runs deep. A local through and through, she once worked as a lifeguard and snorkeling instructor at Marineland, a beloved former attraction in the community. She later earned her degree in clinical science, with an emphasis in nuclear medicine and radiation physics, from Cal State Dominguez Hills. For 16 years, she worked at Long Beach Memorial before stepping away to raise her family.

Years later, fate would lead her to AltaSea—a place with both personal and professional meaning.
Robin’s late husband, Leonard Aube, was a marine life photographer whose work appeared in National Geographic, and he served as Executive Director of the Annenberg Foundation, who provided the seed funding for what would become AltaSea. But perhaps his most enduring legacy is AltaSea itself.

“He came home one day and said, ‘There’s redundant property at the Port of L.A., and I’m going to make it the greatest oceanographic research center in the world,’” Robin recalls. “We used to come out here and stare at empty warehouses. He was already seeing what could be.”

Today, that vision is thriving.

Robin joined AltaSea nine years ago to help bring Leonard’s dream to life. What began as a personal journey of healing has evolved into a passionate career in environmental stewardship. As Director of Advancement, she leads fundraising, grant writing, and board engagement. Under her guidance—and the leadership of COO Jenny Krusoe—AltaSea is now 86% leased, housing groundbreaking tenants in marine research, renewable energy, and sustainable aquaculture.
“We used to beg people to come here,” Robin says. “Now they’re begging us.”

AltaSea’s transformation hasn’t been easy. In the early days, Robin couldn’t even include the term “climate change” in grant proposals—it was too politically charged. Today, AltaSea is a national model for forward-thinking environmental innovation.
A $30 million renovation breathed new life into AltaSea’s historic 1914 warehouses. Once used to house submarines during the two World Wars I and II , they now support cutting-edge marine science and technology.

As a lifelong resident of Palos Verdes and neighboring San Pedro, Robin feels a strong responsibility to connect her community with the work happening just down the hill. Many local residents are involved—as donors, board members, and educational partners—and the momentum continues to grow.

One of AltaSea’s proudest initiatives is the Blue Economy Climate Action Pathways (BECAP) program. With partnerships across 15 Los Angeles-area community colleges—including El Camino, Harbor, West L.A., and Santa Monica College—BECAP provides hands-on training in regenerative ocean farming, marine energy, and climate action certification. Santa Monica College already has two student cohorts enrolled, and a new maritime apprenticeship is launching with El Camino College to address declining maritime industry enrollment.

“We’re training the next generation of ocean innovators,” Robin says. “These are careers that are critical to our future.”
AltaSea also runs a robust high school mentorship program, hosting up to 50 students each summer to work alongside scientists and startups. In addition, 30 college interns are placed annually across the AltaSea tenant network, infusing the ecosystem with fresh ideas and energy.

“This place is about the future,” Robin says. “Some of the technologies being developed here today won’t be household names for another decade—but they will be.”
AltaSea will host its next Public Open

House on April 12, featuring a renewable energy summit, food trucks, exhibitor expo, and opportunities to meet the innovators leading this important work. Robin encourages Peninsula residents to attend—and welcomes speaking
opportunities at local schools, community groups, and civic organizations.
Each day, she walks the AltaSea campus surrounded by her husband’s marine photography, prominently displayed throughout the facility. Leonard’s vision lives on—not just in images, but in action. It’s a powerful reminder that one idea, rooted in passion and backed by community, can ripple outward to change the world.

Saving the Giants of the Sea: Kelp Ark at AltaSea

Standing amidst the aquaculture tanks at AltaSea, Kevin Gaines gestures toward rows of seaweed thriving under artificial LED lights. “This is the kelp aquaculture system,” he explains. “We take baby kelp—what we call gametophytes—and grow them out so we can study their gene expression and utilize them for other work.”

At the forefront of kelp conservation, Gaines is leading the charge at Kelp Arkc, a dedicated seed bank for seaweed. With kelp forests facing an alarming decline—nearly 80% loss along the West Coast alone—the need for preservation is urgent.
“It’s not just a local issue,” he says. “It’s a global issue.”

Kelp Ark’s mission is to conserve giant kelp and other species by preserving them in a seed bank, serving as a genetic reservoir that allows researchers to protect and eventually restore these vital underwater forests.
“We work closely with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,” Gaines explains. “They allow us to collect these samples because they recognize how critical this work is.”

Natural disasters have become a growing threat to marine ecosystems. Runoff from fires ain the Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga Canyon has significantly impacted water quality in Santa Monica Bay.

“The rainy season after a fire is like a one-two punch for the ocean,” Gaines notes. “All that debris ends up in the water—along with heavy metals and other contaminants. The runoff can block sunlight, and since these are photosynthetic organisms, they struggle to survive.”

Kelp Ark not only serves as a repository but also plays a key role in scientific research. “Our seed bank is unique because we don’t just isolate kelp genetics—we also preserve the microbes that live with them,” says Gaines. “These bacteria influence growth and resilience to disease, so we’re building a true genetic database of both the kelp and its associated microbes.”
AltaSea, where Kelp Ark is based, is a hub of ocean innovation, working with leading research institutions on initiatives such as sustainable marine energy and carbon capture technologies.

“We’re building a 3,500-square-foot laboratory facility here at AltaSea,” says Gaines. “By the end of the year, we hope to be in our new space, which will allow us to expand our work.”

Despite the ongoing threats, there are signs of hope. Some kelp forests, including those off the Palisades, have shown resilience following previous warming events.

“It’s all about getting the community engaged in preserving these incredible ecosystems,” he says with a smile.
As AltaSea continues to advance marine conservation, Kelp Ark stands as a beacon of hope—ensuring that the giants of the sea not only survive but thrive for generations to come.