Bob Rheault started a small shellfish hatchery while he was working on his PhD at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. He trademarked the Moonstone Oysters brand and established a marketing cooperative to distribute locally-farmed oysters nationwide. He sold his farm in 2007 now serves as the Executive Director of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association. He has served on NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Council and now sits on NOAA’s Science Advisory Board. His research  interests include documenting and evaluating the environmental services provided by shellfish aquaculture and using nutrient credit trading as a means to mitigate coastal eutrophication. He is a passionate advocate for the shellfish farming community.