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 15th, 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 20th, 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 20th, 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.
Mariculture Milestones
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.
Seaweed Farming in Alaska
AFDF has helped organize and facilitate recent meetings regarding seaweed farming and mariculture development in general. Meetings have been held in Cordova, Anchorage, Kodiak, Craig and Sitka. Future meetings are being planned at Wrangell, Ketchikan and Homer. Power Points and other information from these meetings can be found at this link. In particular, if you are looking for more information about starting a seaweed farm, see the following link.
Alaska Kelp Farming: A New Sustainable Seafood Opportunity (video)
In Brief – Alaska Mariculture Development Plan
Alaska Mariculture Development Plan
AMI Phase 2: Economic Analysis to Inform a Comprehensive Plan
Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI) Phase 1: Economic Analysis
Phase I of the Economic Analysis to Inform the Alaska Mariculture Initiative has been completed and can be viewed here. Phase I is a set of case studies which looks at examples of successful mariculture industries around the world and how they may relate to the development of Alaska’s industry. Presentations of the results of Phase I and other mariculture development topics have been given during the following meetings: United Fishermen of Alaska, Alaska Shellfish Growers Association, and Pacific Marine Expo. These PowerPoint Presentations, and additional supporting materials, are available on AFDF’s website. If you are interested in a presentation, please contact the AFDF office to discuss options. This initiative is funded by NOAA grant #NA14NMF4270058.
AFDF has also raised approximately $20,000 to match a grant proposal to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) in order to produce Phases 2 and 3 of the Economic Analysis to Inform the AMI. These phases of economic analysis are important to help inform stakeholders and policy makers regarding development possibilities for mariculture in Alaska.
The Alaska Division of Economic Development completed the Alaska Shellfish Farm Size Feasibility Study which compares short and long-term profitability for oyster and/or geoduck farms of varying sizes.
Regarding policy changes, the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) included mariculture in its list of priorities for projects to fund in NPRB’s 2016 RFP (see pages 3 and 13).
AFDF has also been working with Governor Walker’s Administration towards the creation of the Alaska Mariculture Task Force. Stay tuned for more information on this in the future.
Recent news on mariculture in Alaska:
- Pilot project could spur an Alaskan seaweed industry
- AMI Aims for billion dollar industry
- Alaska shellfish industry growing
- From Maine to Alaska – A Pitch for Seaweed
- Kelp potential
- Shellfish Farming becomes million dollar industry
- Alaska mariculture gains momentum, heading to weed
- Mariculture presentation at Pacific Marine Expo by Carter Newell 2015-11-18
- Mariculture presentation at Pacific Marine Expo by Julie Decker 2015-11-18
- Mariculture presentation to AFDF Board by Carter Newell 2015-11-17
- Mariculture Presentation to Ocean Tuesday & Alaska Ocean Cluster 2019-02-26
Resource Booklet from Alaska Mariculture Workshop, hosted by NOAA Fisheries, January, 2020
Supporting Documents
June 7, 2016 Update:
Contents:
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- Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF)
- State of Alaska
- Alaska Mariculture Development Prospectus – 2013 (ADCCED)
- Alaska Shellfish Farm Size Feasibility Study – 2015 (ADCCED)
- Shellfish Mariculture Industry Development Plan – 2006 (ADCCED & ADF&G)
- CS HB 300 / SB 172 – Shellfish Enhancement & Rehabilitation Legislation – 2016
- Invertebrate Restoration and Enhancement Guidelines DRAFT 2013 (ADF&G)
- Aquatic Farm Sites 2012 (ADF&G)
- Aquatic Farming Production Values 1990‐2014 (ADF&G)
- Aquatic Farm Industry Report Summary 2013 (ADF&G)
- Aquatic Farm Industry Report Summary 2015 (ADF&G)
- 2015 Annual Aquatic Farm Status Report
- Salmon Fisheries Enhancement Contribution to Fishery 1987‐2012 (ADF&G)
- Abalone Recovery Priorities – Second Draft
- Alaska Abalone Recovery Working Group
- Abalone Recovery Plan – Goals and Objectives – DRAFT
- Administrative Order #280 – Mariculture Task Force
- Press Release – Governor Walker signs Administrative Order #280
- Alaska Mariculture Task Force – members
- Alaska King Crab Research Rehabilitation and Biology (AKCRRAB)
- AKCRRAB website: initiative, mission & goal
- AKCRRAB Strategic Plan 2010‐2014
- AKCRRAB Strategic Plan 2015‐2020
- AKCRRAB Newsletter – August 2014
- Article – First Release of Hatchery‐Reared Crab Coming This Fall (Pacific Fishing)
- Article – Hatchery Reared Crab Survive Well in the Wild (Fishermen’s News)
- Alaska Shellfish Farming Industry
- American Fisheries Society – Alaska Chapter
- State of Washington
- Maine & California
- NOAA
- National Shellfish Initiative
- Implementation of the National Shellfish Initiative
- NOAA Support for Puget Sound Shellfish
- Seaweed in the Spotlight
- NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Strategic Plan 2016‐2020
- NOAA 10‐year Plan for Marine Aquaculture 2007
- NOAA Marine Aquaculture Policy 2011
- NOAA Marine Aquaculture Strategic Plan 2016‐2020
- USDA
- U.S. Interagency
- New Zealand
- New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy – Phase I
- New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy – Phase II
- New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy – Five Year Action Plan
- New Zealand Aquaculture Research Strategy
- New Zealand Aquaculture Market Development Strategy
- New Zealand Aquaculture – A Sustainable Growth Story
- Investment New Zealand
- Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
- State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (2014)
- World Aquaculture Production of Seafood by Country (2013)
- World Aquaculture Production of Aquatic Plants (2012)
- Global Aquaculture Advancement Partnership (GAAP) Program (2013)
- Regional Review of Status & Trends in Aquaculture Development in N. America
- Ocean Acidification & Changes
- West Coast Ocean Acidification & Hypoxia Science Panel – Findings (2016)
- “We Can Lead”: Washington State’s Efforts to Address Ocean Acidification
- Sweetening the Waters – The Feasibility and Efficacy of Measures to Protect Washington’s Marine Resources from Ocean Acidification (2012)
- Tracking Ocean Acidification in an Alaskan Shellfish Hatchery (2015)
- Expansion of Vegetated Coastal Ecosystems in the Future Arctic (2014)
- Public Education
- Letters / Resolutions of Support for Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI)
- Regional Review of Status and Trends in Aquaculture Development in North America
- Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
- Alaska Shellfish Growers Association
- Haa Aani, subsidiary of Sealaska
- Representative Peggy Wilson
- Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
- Senator Lisa Murkowski
- Senator Mark Begich
- Senator Bert Stedman
- Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association
- Southeast Conference
- Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference
- United Fishermen of Alaska
- Greg Cushing – commercial diver, SARDFA Board member
- Bill Rotecki –Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly member
- Larry Soriano – President, Alaska Ship Supply
- Juneau Economic Development Council
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Vision – Grow a $1 billion industry in 30 years.
AMI – Economic Analysis – Phase I – Case Studies
Concept Paper – Alaska Mariculture Initiative
Description of the Alaska Mariculture Initiative –
A project to expedite the development of the mariculture industry in Alaska and funded by a NOAA grant.
The potential economic impact of a fully developed mariculture industry in Alaska is not well understood by industry or policymakers. It is also not entirely clear what is needed to move from Alaska’s current micro industry to a fully developed industry. The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) has been awarded a grant from NOAA in order to spearhead the Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI) with the following goals:
1. Expand the stakeholder base, create partnerships, and increase capacity to be effective;
2. Develop a clear and comprehensive strategic plan, including a written commitment to implement the plan by the various stakeholders and agencies.
Northern Economics, Inc. was contracted by AFDF to conduct an economic analysis to help inform decisions to be made in the creation of the AMI strategic plan. The economic analysis will contain three phases and each phase will be posted on this webpage when available:
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- Phase I: Comparative case studies (9) which outline examples of successful mariculture industries in different regions of the world;
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- Phase II: Given the results of Phase I, develop a preliminary economic analysis, including a model or framework, to support & inform the development of Alaska’s statewide strategic plan;
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- Phase III: Analysis of the costs, benefits & economic impact of the final statewide strategic plan developed as part of the AMI, given implementation.
Articles in the News:
Proposals now being sought to gauge economic potential of Alaskan mariculture
AFDF announces new mariculture initiative
NOAA funds mariculture industry development plan in Alaska
Ocean farming AFDF plans introductions of mariculture initiative
AFDF has project to build 1 billion industry
The rise of Alaska shellfish farming
AFDF Alaska shellfish aquaculture initiative
IntraFish – will Alaska finally embrace aquaculture
SE soil and water conversationGlobal Aquaculture Advancement Partnership (GAAP) Program