Mariculture + Innovation =

Opportunity

Julie Decker, Alaska Mariculture Initiative

Presented to:

Cordova

Economic Summit

April 19, 2018

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Presented by:

Julie Decker

& Sam Rabung

Mariculture Task Force

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Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

What is Mariculture?

In Alaska, mariculture is NOT…

Finfish Farming

In Alaska, mariculture is…

Species = local (shellfish + invertebrates + aquatic plants)

+ Pacific oysters

Mariculture is…

hatcheries

Opportunities & Benefits:�Economic

Hump Island Oyster Co.

Wins 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year from

Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce

Opportunities & Benefits:�Cultural

Connects Alaskans with traditional food sources, harvesting activities & skills

Opportunities & Benefits:�Food Security

Increases access to local foods

Opportunities & Benefits:�Industrial

Commercial fishing vessels – Bristol Bay

Processing plant – Kodiak

Salmon hatchery – Prince William Sound

• Compliments & expands existing $6 billion seafood industry
• Builds on assets – vessels, plants, sustainable fisheries, salmon hatcheries, Alaska seafood brand & ASMI

Opportunities & Benefits:�Environmental

Potential climate change mitigation & habitat

improvements through ecosystem services

(ie. water filtration, carbon, nitrogen & phosphorus removal)

Alaska Mariculture Task Force

Administrative Order #280: Governor Walker established the Alaska Mariculture Task Force (AMTF) by AO #280 in 2016.

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Directive - “To develop a comprehensive plan for a viable and sustainable mariculture industry producing shellfish and aquatic plants for the long-term benefit of Alaska’s economy, environment and communities.”

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Due – March 1, 2018

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Why? Opportunities &

Benefits to Alaskans

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Delivered

to Governor Walker

on March 23.

Vision:

Develop a viable and sustainable mariculture industry producing shellfish and aquatic plants for the long-term benefit of Alaska’s economy, environment

and communities.

Goal:

Grow a $100 million mariculture industry in 20 years

Alaska Mariculture Development Plan

Alaska Mariculture Development Plan

Guiding Principles

• SCOPE: For the purpose of this plan, mariculture is defined as enhancement, restoration, and farming of shellfish (marine invertebrates) and seaweeds (macroalgae).  Finfish farming is not legal in Alaska waters.
• COORDINATION & LEADERSHIP: Effective implementation of this comprehensive plan requires coordination and commitment of time and resources from local, state, federal and tribal governments, industry, communities, the University, and other interested stakeholders.
• SUSTAINABILITY: Development of mariculture will be compatible with sustainability principles to maintain and improve environmental integrity, as required by the Alaska Constitution and ADF&G management practices.
• ALASKA NATIVE PARTICIPATION: Mariculture development will benefit from the involvement of Alaska Natives in every element of the process.
• INNOVATION: Alaska presents many unique challenges, and developers will look globally to applicable research and solutions to apply to Alaska’s circumstances and geography.
• COMPATIBILITY: Implementation of this plan must protect existing marine uses, such as subsistence, commercial fishing, and recreation. It will also utilize Alaska assets and infrastructure.

Alaska Mariculture Development Plan

Priority Recommendations

1. Secure seed supply through hatcheries

2) Pass State legislation to A) help fund hatcheries through the Mariculture Revolving Loan Fund, and B) allow shellfish enhancement

3) Establish an Alaska Mariculture Development Council

4) Establish a Mariculture Research Center at the University of Alaska

5) Fill key positions to enable the growth of the industry: NOAA Aquaculture Coordinator in Alaska and Alaska Sea Grant Mariculture Specialist

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Tourism

• New in 2018 – Tours @ Hump Island Oyster Company (Ketchikan)
• Kaawu Oyster Company (Hoonah) sells to cruise ship passengers

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Alaska Salmon Hatcheries

• Opportunity for species diversification & additional revenues

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Demonstration Farm

• OceansAlaska in Ketchikan permitted seaweed demo farm
• Collaboration with ASG, Metlakatla, POW & local schools

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Kodiak Seaweed Cluster

• NOAA lab hatchery
• Blue Evolution processing
• New farm sites on Kodiak Is.
• New farmer training grant

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Seaweed Biofuel

DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E)

9/19/2017 - announced $22 million in funding for 18 projects, focus on technological challenges to growing and harvesting seaweed efficiently & cost-effectively; develop tools to enable US become a leading producer of seaweed helping to improve U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness.

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Category 1 Project: University of Alaska Fairbanks , Mike Stekoll – Project Leader

“…develop replicable scale model farms capable of the cost effective production of sugar kelp, a type of seaweed...a particular emphasis will be on the development of cost-effective harvesting methods based on technologies applied in the commercial fishing industry…”

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

New Food Products

Alaska King Crab Research Rehabilitation and Biology (AKCRRAB)

Activities since 2006:

• Hatching & rearing at Alutiiq Pride hatchery
• Experimental releases near Kodiak (2 yrs)
• Planning releases near Pribilof Islands

Rehabilitation of depressed king crab stocks in Alaska

Focus = red king crab in Kodiak & blue king crab near Pribilof Islands

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Sea Cucumbers

• Vacuum cleaners of the ocean
• Important to ecosystem
• Function similarly to earthworms as recycler of waste

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Mariculture + Innovation = Opportunity

Other mariculture-related ideas/projects:

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• MaricultureMap = GIS tool to inform citing; partners include TNC
• Oyster bars + tourism = new food business & promotion of Alaska seafood
• Waste treatment + mariculture = ecosystem services
• Carbon removal + seaweed mariculture = $ for carbon credits
• High school green houses + mariculture = career awareness
• Previously, mariculture = small scale, single species operations. Emerging, mariculture = medium scale, multi-species operations.

“Tomorrow is not today, or the past.”

- Larry Cotter, Innovation Summit, 2018

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What do Alaskans want mariculture to look like?