Donald Bacoat

Fisheries, Animal & Veterinary Science
vita

Donald's fascination with the sea was sparked from numerous fishing trips with his dad while growing up on the Chesapeake Bay. He majored in Spanish and minored in Biology as an undergraduate at Morehouse College. Through NOAA's Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), Donald conducted his master's thesis research on cobia (Rachycentron Canadum) and probiotics at the University of Miami and the University of Maryland's Center of Marine Biotechnology (COMB) under the guidance of his advisor Daniel Benetti. Furthermore, he has polycultured cobia from eggs to market size with conch (Strombus gigas) in a flow through pond at the University of Miami's Experimental Hatchery.

Currently, Donald is pursuing his Ph.D. degree in Environmental Sciences with a specialization in aquaculture at the University of Rhode Island under the advisement of Dr. Marta Gomez-Chiarri. His professional goals include the sustainable culture of fish such as tuna in the open ocean and the mass culture of sustainable fish feeds from sources such as sardines and polychaetes. In addition to aquaculture, Donald is concerned with improving water quality in coastal areas such as Narragansett Bay and the Chesapeake Bay. Through a combined effort with government, scientists, and community citizens, Donald believes that coastal areas can return to being a thriving place for all types of aquatic organisms.

When not involved with professional interests, you will probably find Donald dancing salsa and reggae on the dance floor, running up and down a soccer field, or somewhere in the water chasing fish.