Charles Clark

Research Associate

Charles Clark headshot

Charles leads and supports economic and marketing research initiatives under the Seafood Economic Analysis and Marketing Research (SEAMaR) program at VSAREC. Charles’ current research focuses include:

Quantifying the farm-level effects of the regulatory environment
Evaluating economic impacts of aquaculture and seafood industries
Feasibility of emerging species for aquaculture
Business development and risk management
Financial benchmarking of aquaculture sectors
Consumer studies (preferences, willingness-to-pay, demand)
Supply and demand modeling and forecasting

Additionally, Charles engages in public outreach activities to promote industry knowledge exchange, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.

Prior to joining VSAREC, Charles work for Fishers Island Oyster Farm (NY) where he gained hands-on experience in shellfish production systems and further developed his passion for sustainable aquaculture.

M.S., Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech, 2024

B.S., Marine Science, Concentration(s): Biology & Aquaculture, University of Maine, 2018

Peer-reviewed Publications

Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Hegde, S., Kumar, G., Clark, C., Boldt, N., Fornshell, G., Hudson, B., Cassiano, E.J., DiMaggio, M.A. (2025) The National Regulatory Cost Burden on US aquaculture farms. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 56(2), e70005.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Clark, C., Boldt, N. (2023). Has the Regulatory Compliance Burden Reduced Competitiveness of the U.S. Tilapia Industry? Fishes 8,151.
Engle, C., van Senten, J., Parker, M., Webster, D., Clark, C. (2021). Economic tradeoffs and risks between traditional bottom and container culture of oysters on Maryland farms. Aquaculture Economics and Management, 1,32.
Dickey, G., Preziosi, B. M., Clark, C. T., & Bowden, T. J. (2018). The impact of ocean acidification on the byssal threads of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). Plos One, 13,10.

Extension Publications

Clark, C., van Senten, J., Kumar, G., Haws, M., Parker, M., Hegde, S., Knoche, S., Brayden, C. (2025) Identifying Economic and Marketing Needs in U.S. Aquaculture: Insights from Survey of Sea Grant Programs and Aquaculture Hubs. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J. (2023) Assessing the impacts of the 2020 Virginia Sea Grant COVID-19 Response and Supplemental Activities. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Suffolk County, NY results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Nassau County, NY results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of New York City results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Hampton Roads, VA results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Northern Virginia (NOVA) results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Richmond, VA results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Eastern Shore, MD results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Montgomery County, MD results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Prince George County, MD results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Ciaramella, M., Parker, M. (2023). Changes in consumer preferences for seafood products due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary of Washington D.C. results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
van Senten, J., Engle, C. R., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Smith, M.A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., Schwarz, M.H. (2022) Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. ornamental fish farms: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
van Senten, J., Engle, C. R., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. mollusk businesses: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. crustacean farms: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. trout foodfish businesses: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. tilapia farms: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. sportfish farms: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses located in the USDA Western Aquaculture Region: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
van Senten, J., Engle, C. R., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses located in the USDA Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture Region: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Smith, M. A., van Senten, J., Engle, C. R., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses located in the USDA North Central Aquaculture Region: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Clark, C., van Senten, J., Smith, M.A., Engle, C.R., Schwarz, M.H., Fluharty, S., Kumar, G., Hegde, S. (2022). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. Mollusk aquaculture and allied businesses: Quarter 4 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Engle, C.R., van Senten, J., Smith, M. A., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., & Schwarz, M. H. (2021). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. catfish businesses: Quarter 1 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
van Senten, J., Smith, M.A., Engle, C.R., Clark, C., Fluharty, S., Schwarz, M.H. (2020). Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses: Quarter 2 Results. Virginia Cooperative Extension.