Alaska Mariculture Initiative

Recent update – March, 29, 2018:

In 2016, Governor Walker established and appointed members to the Alaska Mariculture Task Force by Administrative Order No. 280, with the directive to provide recommendations to develop a viable and sustainable mariculture industry. On behalf of the Task Force, the following document represents the culmination of its work – the Alaska Mariculture Development Plan. Take particular notice of the vision, goal (grow a $100 million mariculture industry in 20 years), guiding principles, priority recommendations, and other important elements of the plan.

Alaska Mariculture Initiative:  Economic Analysis to Inform a Comprehensive Plan – Phase 2 – Economic Framework

Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI) – Economic Analysis completed

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 articles 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

Supporting Documents

June 7, 2016 Update:

Contents:

• • • • 1. Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF)
           1. Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI) Concept Paper
           2. RFP – AMI – Economic Analysis – 2014
           3. Northern Economics Proposal
           4. Economic Analysis to Inform the AMI – Phase I – Case Studies
           5. Economic Analysis – Phase I – References
        2. State of Alaska
           1. Alaska Mariculture Development Prospectus – 2013 (ADCCED)
           2. Alaska Shellfish Farm Size Feasibility Study – 2015 (ADCCED)
           3. Shellfish Mariculture Industry Development Plan – 2006 (ADCCED & ADF&G)
           4. CS HB 300 / SB 172 – Shellfish Enhancement & Rehabilitation Legislation – 2016
           5. Invertebrate Restoration and Enhancement Guidelines DRAFT 2013 (ADF&G)
           6. Aquatic Farm Sites 2012 (ADF&G)
           7. Aquatic Farming Production Values 1990‐2014 (ADF&G)
           8. Aquatic Farm Industry Report Summary 2013 (ADF&G)
           9. Aquatic Farm Industry Report Summary 2015 (ADF&G)
           10. 2015 Annual Aquatic Farm Status Report
           11. Salmon Fisheries Enhancement Contribution to Fishery 1987‐2012 (ADF&G)
           12. Abalone Recovery Priorities – Second Draft
           13. Alaska Abalone Recovery Working Group
           14. Abalone Recovery Plan – Goals and Objectives – DRAFT
           15. Administrative Order #280 – Mariculture Task Force
           16. Press Release – Governor Walker signs Administrative Order #280
           17. Alaska Mariculture Task Force – members
        3. Alaska King Crab Research Rehabilitation and Biology (AKCRRAB)
           1. AKCRRAB website: initiative, mission & goal
           2. AKCRRAB Strategic Plan 2010‐2014
           3. AKCRRAB Strategic Plan 2015‐2020
           4. AKCRRAB Newsletter – August 2014
           5. Article – First Release of Hatchery‐Reared Crab Coming This Fall (Pacific Fishing)
           6. Article – Hatchery Reared Crab Survive Well in the Wild (Fishermen’s News)
        4. Alaska Shellfish Farming Industry
           1. Shellfish Mariculture – Alaska Priorities – Research, Training, Development & Information Needs, 2011
           2. Shellfish Industry – Planning Session Outcomes, 2006
           3. Tipping the Balance: Bringing Alaska’s Shellfish Industry to the Takeoff Point
           4. ARTICLE – Plant a Patch of Water May 2016
        5. American Fisheries Society – Alaska Chapter
           1. Newsletter, Fall 2014 – President’s Corner (excerpt)
        6. State of Washington
           1. Washington Shellfish Initiative (WSI)
           2. WSI Factsheet
           3. WSI Phase 2 Overview
           4. WSI Phase 2 Work Plan (2016)
           5. WSI Phase 1 & 2 – Governor’s Office Presentation
        7. Maine & California
           1. An Aquaculture Development Strategy for the State of Maine (1990)
           2. Maine Aquaculture R&D Summit – Agenda (2015)
           3. California Shellfish Initiative (2013)
        8. NOAA
           1. National Shellfish Initiative
           2. Implementation of the National Shellfish Initiative
           3. NOAA Support for Puget Sound Shellfish
           4. Seaweed in the Spotlight
           5. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Strategic Plan 2016‐2020
           6. NOAA 10‐year Plan for Marine Aquaculture 2007
           7. NOAA Marine Aquaculture Policy 2011
           8. NOAA Marine Aquaculture Strategic Plan 2016‐2020
        9. USDA
           1. Investment Strategy in Support of Rural Communities in SE Alaska (excerpt)
           2. Intertribal Agriculture Council – USDA resources in support of mariculture
        10. U.S. Interagency
            1. National Strategic Plan for Federal Aquaculture Research (2014‐2019)
        11. New Zealand
            1. New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy – Phase I
            2. New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy – Phase II
            3. New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy – Five Year Action Plan
            4. New Zealand Aquaculture Research Strategy
            5. New Zealand Aquaculture Market Development Strategy
            6. New Zealand Aquaculture – A Sustainable Growth Story
            7. Investment New Zealand
        12. Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
            1. State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (2014)
            2. World Aquaculture Production of Seafood by Country (2013)
            3. World Aquaculture Production of Aquatic Plants (2012)
            4. Global Aquaculture Advancement Partnership (GAAP) Program (2013)
            5. Regional Review of Status & Trends in Aquaculture Development in N. America
        13. Ocean Acidification & Changes
            1. West Coast Ocean Acidification & Hypoxia Science Panel – Findings (2016)
            2. “We Can Lead”: Washington State’s Efforts to Address Ocean Acidification
            3. Sweetening the Waters – The Feasibility and Efficacy of Measures to Protect Washington’s Marine Resources from Ocean Acidification (2012)
            4. Tracking Ocean Acidification in an Alaskan Shellfish Hatchery (2015)
            5. Expansion of Vegetated Coastal Ecosystems in the Future Arctic (2014)
        14. Public Education
            1. Maine Aquaculture Survey (2002)
            2. Public Perceptions of Aquaculture – New Zealand (2014)
            3. Public Opinion of Shellfish Farming in WA, OR, CA (2016)
            4. The Political Economics of Mariculture in the U.S. (2016)
            5. ARTICLE – Rubino & Knapp Lay out Political Economics of US Aquaculture (2016)
        15. Letters / Resolutions of Support for Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI)
            1. Regional Review of Status and Trends in Aquaculture Development in North America
            2. Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
            3. Alaska Shellfish Growers Association
            4. Haa Aani, subsidiary of Sealaska
            5. Representative Peggy Wilson
            6. Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
            7. Senator Lisa Murkowski
            8. Senator Mark Begich
            9. Senator Bert Stedman
            10. Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association
            11. Southeast Conference
            12. Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference
            13. United Fishermen of Alaska
            14. Greg Cushing – commercial diver, SARDFA Board member
            15. Bill Rotecki –Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly member
            16. Larry Soriano – President, Alaska Ship Supply
            17. Juneau Economic Development Council

Vision – Grow a $1 billion industry in 30 years.

AMI – Economic Analysis – Phase I – Case Studies

RFP – AMI – Economic Analysis

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:

• • • • • • 1. • • • 1. • • 1. • • 1. 1. • Phase I: Comparative case studies (9) which outline examples of successful mariculture industries in different regions of the world;
                                      2. • 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;
                                      3. • 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:

SE soil & water

AFDF seeks proposals for AMI

Proposals now being sought to gauge economic potential of Alaskan mariculture

Kelp craze – fish factor

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