John Forster Serves as Aquacopia Adviser

Formally titling a relationship that dates back to 2005, Aquacopia announced that John Forster serves as an adviser to the venture capital fund. The firm had previously named Howard M. Johnson to the board of advisers.

Aquacopia managing director, David Tze, noted, "John brings tremendous wisdom from hard-won experience. Few have participated more in North American aquaculture. He offers us critical, sage advice as we develop our venture capital portfolio."

Forster has worked in the aquaculture industry as a scientist, manager, consultant and fish farm owner since 1965. Today, he serves public and private sector clients as a consultant and has a special interest in the application of experience from the farmed salmon industry to new aquaculture species.

Initially a researcher with the UK government, he moved to the business side with Shearwater Fish Farming in 1974. There, he ran a commercial trout farm and established an international technical services business.

Transferring to Port Angeles, WA and Stolt Sea Farm in 1984, he helped the company develop its West Coast salmon and sturgeon farming operations before starting his own consulting practice in 1994. In the same year, he founded Columbia River Fish Farms, the largest U.S. producer of steelhead trout, from which he divested his interests in 2005.

Forster serves on NOAA’s Marine Fishery Advisory Committee and the boards of Ocean Farm Technologies, Marine Farms Belize, Hukilau Seafoods (formerly Cates International), and Pacific Ocean Fresh.