Biography of Alan Desbonnet
[CV]

Alan Desbonnet
Interim Assistant Director, Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program
M.S. Biological Oceanography, University of Connecticut, 1989; B.A., Environmental Biology, Eastern Connecticut State College, 1979

Alan Desbonnet worked in the coastal management and planning portion of the extension program from 1989–2002, then shifted his focus into aquaculture and program management aspects in late 2002, and  providing oversight of the education activities for the program since 2005. In mid-2006 he took on the duties of Interim Assistant Director, working more closely with the Director and other staff in managing the entire program portfolio. His thesis research focused on predator-prey relations and aquaculture of surf clams, and he conducted non-thesis related research on amphipod physiology that was presented the Buck-Ketchum Award at the 1989 New England Estuarine Research Society meeting. After joining the Sea Grant team, Desbonnet engaged in a diverse array of projects that provided interpretation of science for improved management of coastal resources. Desbonnet was instrumental in designing an interstate management plan with Connecticut and Rhode Island, and with Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He also developed a water resource inventory and assessment that has promulgated a move towards sustainable water management at the state level in Rhode Island. Desbonnet was also instrumental in launching the nine-town Washington County Regional Planning Council, a group which is now engaged in inter-town collaboration and cooperation on resource and economic planning and management issues. Desbonnet developed a GIS system for the Sea Grant Sustainable Coastal Community and Ecosystems team and assisted in the development of many novel GIS data layers for Rhode Island, including a 400+ coastal public access site data layer that sets an historical baseline for public access in the state. Previously, Desbonnet worked three years at the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium as an aquarist and researcher, and five years in the aquarium's education and outreach division, writing and teaching college- and high school-level classes. Desbonnet also designed and implemented the college intern program for the aquarium during his tenure there. He is currently managing editor for the Husbandry & Management section of the international journal Aquaculture, and writes a monthly "science for the fisherman" column in On The Water magazine. Since 1992, he has taught ecology as an adjunct at Eastern Connecticut State University. Outside of work Desbonnet is an avid fly fisherman in both fresh and salt waters, an accomplished amateur photographer and gourmet cook. Desbonnet is also an avid runner and cyclist, a needed pastime to keep off those gourmet calories. Desbonnet has also served as Secretary of the Stonington Shellfish Commission since 1991.