Cuna del Mar, an impact investment fund focused on regenerative aquaculture, has appointed Halifax lawyer and entrepreneur Donald Grant as its new Managing Partner.

The appointment of Grant, who previously served as the fund’s Vice President, marks a strategic shift for Cuna del Mar as it aims to take a more active role in promoting regenerative aquaculture globally. Regenerative aquaculture is a system of marine farming that cultivates food while restoring and enhancing ecosystems by such means as growing diverse species and restoring natural habitats.

Grant is best known in the Atlantic Canadian startup community through his previous positions as the first Executive Director of the Ocean Startup Project and an executive with Dartmouth-based Leeway Marine.

“Under Don’s leadership, Cuna del Mar seeks to transition from a pioneer to a global catalyst, ready to democratize this knowledge and accelerate technology, practices and models to support coastal economies,” said Cuna del Mar Founder Christy Walton in a statement.

For the past 15 years, Cuna del Mar has invested in developing open ocean aquaculture technologies and farming models that balance economic viability with environmental responsibility.

In his new role, Grant will oversee Cuna del Mar’s portfolio of companies, which includes The Center for Aquaculture Technologies, a Prince Edward Island research organization that the fund bought in 2019. Other portfolio companies include Onda, SalmoGen, Innovasea, Open Blue, Blue Ocean Mariculture, and Santomar. These companies collaborate on initiatives such as the revitalization of the Totoaba species in Mexico’s Gulf of California.

Grant said he plans to strengthen collaboration among policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to advance regenerative aquaculture. “Our food and ocean systems are under strain,” he said. “We believe regenerative aquaculture can revitalize species, rebuild ecosystems, and feed communities while creating economic opportunities.”