Path to Ocean Policy: Q&A With Leigh Habegger

Leigh Habegger is the most recent addition to the team at ESP Advisors. She has more than a decade of experience in the ocean and fisheries space, most recently serving as the Executive Director of Seafood Harvesters of America. Having spent time on the Hill and in the private and nonprofit sectors, Leigh has extensive knowledge of fisheries management, coastal restoration, and ocean policy. Curious about her journey? Get to know her below!

Where does your interest in the ocean come from? 

I've always been fascinated by the ocean, but the earliest memory I have is walking along the Sarasota beach, searching for sand dollars with my grandfather. The day he suggested we snorkel to increase our search area was one of the best days of my childhood! My grandparents would always make sure we made a trip to the Mote Marine Aquarium when I visited, and it was there that I began to realize people studied the ocean and its creatures for a living—how cool! The experiences I had in Florida as a child certainly planted the seed that would develop into my full-fledged love of the ocean. 

What path took you into ocean policy?

I had a bit of a circuitous path into marine policy. I was pre-med in undergrad, but I jumped at the opportunity to spend one last free summer somewhere tropical before taking the MCATs and setting off on rotations. I spent that summer assessing coral disease rates inside and outside of marine protected areas (MPAs) and supporting scientists investigating other aspects of reef health. The goal was to examine the efficacy of MPAs in Belize. I remember leaving that summer imagining a life of tropical locales and SCUBA diving and thought, "Well, it's a lot more enticing than signing up for bright lights and cold operating rooms for the next seven-to-10 years of my life." So, I jumped on the marine biology bandwagon. I spent a year working for a study abroad program in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where I was exposed to the management and policy sides of the marine environment. I then pursued a Master's in Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island before working as a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow for Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), fully embracing DC life and ocean policy!

What are you looking forward to in your work with ESP Advisors? 

I love the rockstar team here at ESP Advisors and am very much enjoying plugging in with some of the best and brightest. I am looking forward to serving our clients and providing them with the knowledge and support to achieve their policy priorities!

What's something about the ocean you wish more people knew? 

I worked extensively with commercial fishermen at each of my jobs prior to joining ESP, and I wish more people understood the dedication that people in the seafood industry put into bringing fresh, sustainable seafood to your plates. The U.S. has some of the best-managed fisheries in the world and is consistently held as the gold standard in international spheres. Choosing U.S. seafood drives demand, supports sustainable practices and coastal communities, and creates jobs throughout the seafood supply chain. Eat more U.S. seafood!