AMLT Staff

Jacob Harris, Coastal & Ocean Stewardship Program Manager

Why did you want to work for AMLT / why are you doing this work?

I have a strong sense of responsibility to the place that I live. My interest in ecological science comes from my drive to give back to the community and all living beings that make up that community. AMLT shares that sense of responsibility and generates science to strengthen our community. In my role with AMLT, I hope to honor the original people here and contribute to the Amah Mutsun’s rich accumulation of ecological knowledge. I am so grateful for the opportunity to develop the Ocean Program and support Amah Mutsun leadership in coastal stewardship.

What from your whole life's experiences are you bringing to this role?

My background centers around connecting people with the ocean. For me, research, restoration, fishing, surfing are all about the ways we relate to the sea. In all my past experiences, I focused on the elements that build that relationship. My combined experiences taught me the value of experiential learning. Being present, listening, and observing are the foundation of ecological knowledge and I am passionate about helping others find their own connection to the ocean. I am inspired by Indigenous stewardship traditions that enable people to live integrated with the natural community. Today, I am committed to rebuilding that relationship with a vision to support a sustainable future for generations. My goal with AMLT is to develop community-driven ecological research that is inclusive of diverse perspectives and many different types of knowledge.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Kumeyaay territory, an area known today as San Diego. Both of my parents are teachers and I come from a family that taught me to learn from everybody and from the natural world around me. I come from many years of traveling to study the ocean and coastal management, learning from diverse types of knowledge. I come from seven years in restoration ecology and from five years in seafood, fishing, and aquaculture. I most recently come from the oyster restoration aquaculture program in the Amah Mutsun territory at Elkhorn Slough.