Halley Froehlich

Halley Froehlich is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She holds a joint appointment in the Environmental Studies Program and co-leads the Froehlich Lab, which focuses on sustainable seafood systems, aquaculture, and climate change impacts. Froehlich earned her B.Sc. in Animal Biology from UC Davis and her Ph.D. in Marine Ecology & Fisheries Sciences from the University of Washington. Her postdoctoral work at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) explored sustainable open-ocean aquaculture.

Her research bridges ecology, policy, and data science to address global challenges in marine ecosystems. Key areas include aquaculture’s role in mitigating climate change, interactions between aquaculture and fisheries, and public perceptions of conservation efforts. Froehlich is a co-Principal Investigator on cross-departmental projects and collaborates internationally on seafood sustainability.

Her lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining field physiology, social modeling, and ecological analysis. Current projects investigate climate adaptation strategies for aquaculture, spatial planning for marine resource efficiency, and co-location of aquaculture with renewable energy infrastructure. Froehlich actively promotes diversity in STEM, particularly in underrepresented fields like fisheries and aquaculture.

Publications highlight her work on climate impacts, aquaculture policy, and sustainable food systems. She advises graduate students (e.g., Claire Gonzales) and postdocs (e.g., Lauren Smith), mentoring future leaders in marine science. Froehlich’s lab is located in Bren Hall, and she can be reached at hefroehlich@ucsb.edu for collaboration or student inquiries.