An average nine-year-old does not think much about extension and outreach. However, for Thomas Derbes, growing up on the white sandy beaches along Florida’s Emerald Coast helped him develop an early interest in protecting and serving his coastal community.
“When I was nine, a commercial developer attempted to dredge an area abundant with seagrass along Panama City Beach. I wanted to demonstrate how much living seagrass thrived in that area, so I found a way to collect surveys with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and even organized a neighborhood committee to protect the seagrass,” says Thomas Derbes.
Leveraging his passions and experiences working with coastal communities, Thomas Derbes will serve as Florida Sea Grant’s Santa Rosa County UF/IFAS Extension Agent. In his role, he will deliver educational and outreach programs to community stakeholders and residents in Santa Rosa County, focusing on local areas of interest including water quality, aquaculture, and commercial and recreational fisheries management.
“One of Thomas’ strengths that make him a great addition to the Florida Sea Grant team is his background in water quality and marine finfish and shellfish aquaculture. This, along with his passion for education, will be particularly valuable in Santa Rosa County, where there are several new oyster growers,” says Dr. Maia McGuire, Associate Director of Extension and Education at Florida Sea Grant.
Derbes attended the University of West Florida’s marine biology undergraduate program and received his Master of Science at Auburn Univeristy’s Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences Program, with a research focus on the Florida Pompano and the effects of a taurine-supplemented diet, which is an amino acid essential for enhancing immunity and growth performance. His research was funded by Sea Grant and led to many exciting opportunities for Derbes.
“I attended a few Sea Grant conferences and was able to present my thesis work at Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant’s Bays and Bayous Symposium. I also worked at multiple fish and invertebrate hatcheries, and toured many more, including my favorite, the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab. These opportunities, including an introduction to extension work, would not have been possible had Sea Grant not funded my research.”
I look forward to the collaborations that will help restore the maritime commercial and recreational fishery, and bring back a sustainable fishery for everyone to enjoy.
Derbes’ academic and professional career reflects the importance of sustainable fisheries management. He interned at the Mote Marine Lab after his undergraduate, studying saltwater aquaculture. He also served as the stock assessment specialist at Alabama Marine Resources Division, where he worked heavily with trout and flounder regulations. However, his work with oyster farming and catering reminded him of the importance of incorporating research and information in public education.
“I went out in public, shucked oysters, and talked about the oysters and the local environment. I wanted everyone to understand the importance of consuming local oysters, and I found that through active storytelling,” says Derbes. “This was one of the most fulfilling experiences ever.”
Working in the oyster industry also enhanced Derbes’ exposure to local environmental issues.
“I have been part of commercial farming of oysters for about six years now, and I’ve seen four 100% mortality events in our Bay during this time, as well as fluxes in water quality.”
In Derbes’ upcoming projects as a Santa Rosa County agent, he plans to work with the Pensacola and Perdido Bay Estuary Program to help restore the ecosystem, especially oyster habitats, and he will work alongside Florida Sea Grant’s Levy County agent, Leslie Sturmer, to encourage the sale of local oysters to restaurants and bars.
“My number one priority is educating the public and engaging them. I look forward to the collaborations that will help restore the maritime commercial and recreational fishery, and bring back a sustainable fishery for everybody to enjoy.”
Thomas can be reached at the Santa Rosa Extension office at (850) 623-3868 or tjderbes@ufl.edu.
