The Business of Aquaculture

Oysters, Oceans, and Outcomes: A Deep Dive with Nik Sachlikidis

Lourdes Gant

Meet the not-your-average suit who’s practically grown gills. Nik Sachlikidis—CEO of The Oyster Restoration Company and Managing Director (Aquaculture) at Cadman Capital—builds ventures that regenerate oceans, feed the future, and create real-world value by turning breakthrough science into scalable action. In this kickoff conversation, we chart Nik’s journey into oyster restoration, unpack TORC’s mission-driven playbook, and explore how bivalves are quietly powering big environmental wins.

You’ll hear:

  • What sparked Nik’s passion for restoration—and how it’s evolved over 20 years in aquaculture and fisheries
  • TORC’s core mission and how it guides daily decisions (from seabed to spreadsheet)
  • The toughest challenge so far—and the strategy that turned it around
  • How oyster reefs deliver outsized climate and community benefits
  • The innovative techniques and tech TORC uses to scale restoration
  • Long-term goals for the movement—and what success looks like at ecosystem level
  • A success story with measurable impact on a local coast
  • How TORC engages communities, policymakers, and partners to accelerate change

Whether Nik’s casting lines on the weekend or casting vision for the industry, this episode is a masterclass in ocean-positive leadership—with practical insights you can apply on Monday. Dive in.

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