Alaska Mariculture Initiative

December 21st, 2019 update:

The application period for the 2020 Alaska Seaweed Farm Start-ups Training Program is now closed. AFDF and partners will notify applicants of selections by January 15^th, 2020 at the latest. Thank you all for your applications and interest, we are truly looking forward to this collaborative program! Please stay tuned and come back to the AFDF website for more updates on the emerging mariculture industry in Alaska. Please reach out to Riley Smith with any other questions pertaining to the Alaska Seaweed Farm Start-ups Training Program.

December 2, 2019 update:

AFDF announces training program for Seaweed Farm start-ups. More information here.

November 20^th, 2019 update:

 Seaweed Farm Start-Ups – Application for Training

As part of Phase 2 of the Alaska Mariculture Initiative, AFDF and partners are excited to announce the Alaska Seaweed Farm Start-up training program to be held in Kodiak, Ketchikan, and Sitka in February of 2020! The training program is open to anyone interested in starting their own seaweed farm in Alaska. This is an extraordinary opportunity for interested applicants to gain the tools and knowledge necessary to enter the emerging and promising mariculture industry in Alaska! Applications were due by December 20^th, 2019. Please see below for more information.

The goal of this program is to provide tools and training for Alaskans to start seaweed farms. The program is targeted towards commercial fishermen, Alaska Natives, and fishing communities. The program will be completed in three sections:

1) online webinar,
2) in-person 2-day workshop, and
3) one-on-one mentoring for high-performing participants.

Participants will be required to attend the webinar and one of the in-person workshops. If the participant does not live in one of the three communities in which the workshops will be held, the applicant will be responsible for paying all travel and lodging costs. Topics covered will include identification of seaweed species, lifecycles of seaweed, the hatchery process, site selection, use of Mariculture Map, farm gear and equipment, business plan development, farm loans available, state lease application process, gear deployment, seeding and harvesting techniques, quality handling, and safety considerations. Information and instruction will be provided by GreenWave, Alaska Sea Grant, ADNR, ADFG, Blue Evolution, OceansAlaska, AFDF and others. Materials and food during the workshops will be provided. While cost of the program is free for those who are selected for the program, participants will be expected to attend and complete work products in order to continue to each section. Space will be limited to ten participants per workshop, and six participants total for one-on-one mentoring.

On August 27th, Alaska reached three milestones in the development of mariculture. Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed two important documents: Administrative Order #297 – which will extend the Mariculture Task Force (Task Force) until 2021, and House Bill #76 – which allows shellfish and seaweed hatcheries to be eligible applicants for the Mariculture Revolving Loan Fund, sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz​ and Senator Gary Stevens. The Alaska Mariculture Development Plan was also unveiled, created by a broad group of stakeholders with a goal to grow a $100 million industry in 20 years.

The signing event was hosted by Hump Island Oyster Company, owned by Trevor and Julie Sande in Ketchikan, Alaska. AFDF thanks all those who have helped us get this far. “If we are all working together, success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford.

Background: In 2013, the AFDF Board of Directors held a strategic planning session after which the organization spearheaded a new Alaska Mariculture Initiative – an effort to accelerate the development of mariculture in Alaska. In 2014, AFDF received a grant from NOAA which seeded the Initiative. As a result of the Initiative, Governor Walker established the Task Force in 2016 by Administrative Order (AO) #280, which included AFDF, the State of Alaska, and other key stakeholders, recognizing the benefits to Alaskans which could be provided by a fully developed mariculture industry, including:

• Economic – provides jobs and commerce in coastal communities
• Environmental – improves the local ecosystem in various ways, such as providing water filtration, essential habitat, and diverse ecosystems, removing excess nutrients, and mitigating ocean acidification
• Cultural – complements existing traditions, customs and skill sets in coastal communities
• Industrial – complements and expands the existing renewable seafood industry, which is Alaska’s largest private sector employer
• Food Security – increases access to local foods for Alaskans.

The Task Force recently completed its work as directed in AO #280 and presented it to Governor Walker. The completed documents included the following: Phase 1 – a set of case studies, Phase 2 – an economic framework for mariculture in Alaska, a statewide comprehensive plan – the Alaska Mariculture Development Plan, and a briefing document (or summary of the Plan). More information about mariculture can be found at the following websites: AFDF and ADF&G.

In Brief – Alaska Mariculture Development Plan

AMI Phase 2: Economic Analysis to Inform a Comprehensive Plan