Marie Thoms

Communications Director
Marie Thoms headshot

What I do for Sea Grant 

  • Provide strategic communication program guidance
  • Provide strategic media relations, including news releases and media training
  • Manage development and evaluation of communication products and services
  • Manage Sea Grant's program and project websites
  • Support the director to manage Sea Grant's legislative and government affairs
  • Manage messaging and marketing for Sea Grant products
  • Provide editorial and scientific review of proposals
  • Manage Sea Grant's annual federal (NOAA) reporting
  • Serve on Minnesota Sea Grant's leadership team
  • Supervision communication staff

Research Interests

  • Science communication
  • Public understanding of science
  • Science journalism
  • Communication science

Education

M.S. - Professional Communication

University of Alaska Fairbanks

B.S. - Biological Sciences

Western Michigan University

B.S. - Natural Resources and Environmental Communication

The Ohio State University

Outreach Projects

Trout being tossed from a hand-held net into an aquaculture pond.

Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative

The Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC) is a three-year (2019-2022) project to create a regionwide group to foster relevant, science-based initiatives that support aquaculture industries. Image credit: ©Damian Horațiu Sultănoiu. stock.adobe.com

Top down view of school of spotted fish

Aquaculture Market Study

The Aquaculture Market Study is a three-year (2020-2023), $250,000 project led by the University of Minnesota Sea Grant program that was created to determine the potential for a sustainable food-fish aquaculture industry in Minnesota.

Great Lakes Fresh Fish Finder, cartoon grocery cart with two jumping fish in the basket.

Great Lakes FreshFishFinder.org Website

FreshFishFinder.org was developed to meet a need to directly connect fish producers with consumers after the disruption of traditional markets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Know the fish. Know the regs. Illustrations of three fish.

Steelhead or Salmon? Which Did You Catch?

MNSGs “Know the Fish. Know the Regs.” decal is a handy visual aid that anglers can use while on the water with a fish in hand to easily identify Steelhead.

Featured Stories

Six people standing together in front of a booth wearing aprons.

Great Lakes Aquaculture Products Featured on Capitol Hill

Extension Column

The Sea Grant Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative, led by Minnesota Sea Grant, hosted a Great Lakes aquaculture seafood booth at the annual NOAA Sustainable Seafood Celebration in Washington D.C. in June 2023.

Media Mentions

News Releases

Know the fish. Know the regs. Illustrations of three fish.

Steelhead or Salmon? Which Did You Catch?

Just in time for the spring fishing season, Minnesota Sea Grant created a new educational tool to assist Lake Superior anglers in the identification of Steelhead when compared to salmon. 

2024 Wisconsin & Minnesota Aquaculture conference flier

2024 Wisconsin-Minnesota Aquaculture Conference Hooks Fish Farmers

The Wisconsin Aquaculture Association and the Minnesota Aquaculture Association will host the

Person feeding larval Yellow Perch (fish) in a tank.

2024 Minnesota Sea Grant Community-Engaged Internship in Fisheries and Aquaculture is Accepting Applications

Application Period is Open - Deadline April 14, 2024