is on a mission.
Our mission is to restore aquatic ecosystems. We take dirty, mucky, algae-dominated bodies of water, and turn them into beautiful, healthy, clean, clear, sustainable ecosystems that support plants, fish, animals, anglers, ecotourism, and local economies. Seagrass is the key to crystal clear water. It cleans the water, stabilizes the sediment, and provides food and habitat for fish and animals, and sequesters harmful nutrients that cause algae. We dredge to provide a clean substrate, plant seagrass, protect it, and maintain it.
In response to the high incidence of Florida manatees perishing from starvation due to disappearing seagrass meadows, their primary food source, Sea & Shoreline has launched a new campaign titled Seagrass Saves Sea Life. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness and educate consumers and legislators on the positive environmental and ecological benefits of seagrass, and to provide updates on current projects underway to restore seagrass in Florida’s waterways. For news, events, and fun and educational resources about the benefits of seagrass and how you can do your part to keep our waterways clean to save sea life, follow us on social media.
Why choose
Sea & Shoreline?
We have done more aquatic restoration projects than any company in the world. Most importantly, our projects last. We guarantee it. We maintain the world’s largest aquaculture nursery with a variety of seagrasses that are ready to plant, and have developed scientifically-validated, patented technologies and processes that help to ensure the long-term success of your restoration project.
Meet our
Management Team
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Jim Anderson
Founder
Jim is responsible for our main aquaculture nursery in Ruskin, Florida where he cultivates seagrasses and other submerged aquatic vegetation for our aquatic restoration projects. Jim spent most of his career in turf farming and nursery production of ornamental plants. Jim has developed and patented several subaquatic restoration technologies including an underwater liquid fertilization system, a planting machine that mechanizes the back-breaking work of hand-planting seagrass beds, a transplantation system for salvaging and transporting large pieces of seagrass sod, and sediment tubes for repairing propeller scars.
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Carter Henne
CEO & Chairman
Carter is a biologist and is responsible for scientific research and innovative solutions to address water quality and coastal resiliency. He is a native Floridian with a passion for creating self-sustaining natural aquatic ecosystems through scientifically validated restoration methods. Carter completed undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of South Florida and held positions with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Seagrass Recovery where he was Chief Biologist and Project Manager for some of the largest and most successful Florida seagrass projects to date.
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Brian Henry
President & Chief Operating Officer
Brian oversees Sea & Shoreline's operations and strategic growth as President & Chief Operating Officer. A graduate of Campbell University, Brian brings experience from banking, private equity, gaming, and sports marketing to his leadership role. Since joining Sea & Shoreline in 2022, he has been instrumental in driving the company's mission to advance aquatic restoration, coastal resiliency, and environmental solutions. A native of Beaufort, NC, Brian enjoys golf, sports, fishing, and family time. He believes Sea & Shoreline is uniquely positioned for transformative growth within the environmental industry.
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Ryan Cripe
CFO
Ryan oversees the financial and accounting operations of Sea & Shoreline as Chief Financial Officer. A graduate of Washington State University, he brings extensive experience in financial management and strategic planning. Prior to joining Sea & Shoreline, Ryan served as Senior Director of Operations for North American Roofing and as CFO for SR Building Services and Advantage Timber & Lumber. An avid angler and environmentalist, Ryan is passionate about Sea & Shoreline’s mission to restore water quality and create healthy aquatic ecosystems. His leadership supports the company’s efforts to drive sustainable growth while addressing critical environmental challenges.
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Andy Risi, PhD
Vice President, Solutions
Andy is responsible for the company’s marine construction projects and for transitioning all newly awarded construction projects from sales to operations. His areas of specialization include environmental science, coastal stabilization, dredging, heavy civil construction, and permitting. Andy is a Florida and North Carolina certified General Contractor and has held positions with Oklawaha Farms and La Vai Moana Marine Center. He completed undergraduate studies in Geology at Southern Methodist and received his PhD in Marine Geology and Geophysics at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
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Ryan Brushwood
Vice President, Environmental Science
Ryan manages Sea & Shoreline’s team of biologists and is responsible for all seagrass and other submerged aquatic vegetation restoration projects. He has led highly successful projects in the Indian River Lagoon and its tributaries, Caloosahatchee River, Crystal River, Homosassa River, and dozens more, some with documented survivability rates of over 95%. Ryan manages permitting and works closely with FDEP, USACE, FWC, and state water management districts. He is a PADI certified diver, and holds a B.S. in Marine Science/Biology from the University of Tampa.
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John Than
Vice President, Supply
John manages the aquaculture of seagrass and other submerged aquatic vegetation at Sea & Shoreline’s nursery in Ruskin, FL and joint nursery with Hubbs SeaWorld in Sebastian, FL. His area of specialty includes large scale facility design, build and management; husbandry and reproduction of aquatic vertebrate, and invertebrate animals and plants and algae for restoration. John received his background in Aquaculture/Biology from the Hillsborough Community College and has continuing education with the University of Florida. John was a Curator and Development manager for the Center for Conservation and Technology at the Florida Aquarium, and worked extensively on their coral projects in house and in the Florida Keys where he has worked with MOTE Marine, Keys Marine Laboratory, Coral Restoration Foundation, and NOAA. His has been a commercial fisherman for over 25 years and is excited to help bring his experiences to help restore our natural resources.
Our History.
Sea & Shoreline’s founder Jim Anderson started his career cultivating lawn grasses of various species to accompany his nursery operations. Jim ventured into seagrasses when a local favorite fishing area was threatened with closure to boats as a result of extensive propeller scarring. He argued that repairing the seagrasses was more logical, and began developing technologies to address seagrass restoration needs. As a turf farmer/grower, he felt that using farming skills and retooling them to fit aquatic restoration needs would be a logical transition.
Since then, the company has not only successfully restored countless rivers, lakes, lagoons, and estuaries, but also pioneered innovative technologies that help to ensure the long-term success of restoration projects.
