Meet Our Team
Connecting science, culture, and community to advance sustainable, ocean-farmed seafood.
Our Shared Values
At Tagal Oceanic, our work is guided by a belief that healthy oceans and resilient communities are inseparable. We value collaboration over silos, education as a pathway to stewardship, and solutions rooted in place, culture, and respect for both science and lived experience. Whether working in hatcheries, classrooms, or communities, we are committed to advancing sustainable seafood systems that honor people, ecosystems, and the stories that connect them.
Meet Mark
Mark Tagal is a marine biologist and award-winning aquaculturist with more than 25 years of experience in fisheries science, hatchery management, and nature-based aquaculture. His work focuses on advancing regenerative seafood systems that support ecosystem health, climate resilience, and community benefit.
As Hatchery Manager at Blue Ocean Mariculture, Mark led daily broodstock and larval operations while overseeing a major expansion of hatchery infrastructure, including advanced live-feed systems and biosecure water treatment. He previously served as a senior biologist and aquaculture lead on NOAA-funded projects, where his pioneering work on multi-species larval rearing, particularly for endangered Pacific rockfish, earned national recognition, including NOAA’s Fisheries Team Member of the Year Award.
Through his work with IBSS Corp and the Pacific Aquaculture Research Network, Mark has supported Hawaiian fishpond restoration, forage fish research on surf smelt, and aquaculture literacy programs for coastal communities and tribal youth. He is a co-founder of Arton Aquafarms, M&L Aloha Services, and now leads Tagal Oceanic, integrating technical innovation with blue carbon restoration and community-driven mariculture.
Meet Lisa
Lisa Tagal is a strategist, storyteller, and community builder with nearly four decades of professional experience supporting mission-driven initiatives through education, partnerships, and communications. Lisa’s work bridges aquaculture, marine science, and education, connecting people to sustainable seafood, fostering ocean stewardship, and advancing place-based solutions that support thriving communities and healthy ecosystems.
As co-founder of Tagal Oceanic, Lisa leads partnership development, communications, and program strategy. She plays a central role in shaping education and outreach initiatives, including The Merroir of Ocean-Farmed Seafood, Rockfish Rangers, and Forage Fish Friends, that translate marine science into accessible, engaging experiences for students, educators, funders, and community partners.
Lisa and Mark co-founded the family-run M&L Aloha Services, a small construction company, and Arton Aquafarms, an oyster and fish farm in the Philippines. While M&L Aloha Services focuses on providing community-driven services and supporting local families, Arton Aquafarms advances sustainable aquaculture, strengthens economically challenged Filipino communities, and contributes to global ocean health. Along with leadership roles in retail, education, and regulatory compliance, these experiences shaped Lisa’s strengths in strategic planning, team leadership, and program development.
Her work reflects a deep commitment to building sustainable seafood systems that restore ecosystems, strengthen communities, and benefit people and the planet.
