Overview
The Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) is funding the Farmer Knowledge Exchange program to build awareness of the Alaskan mariculture brand by encouraging reciprocal knowledge exchange from Alaskan industry members to other regions. Led by Alaska Sea Grant at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), the Farmer Knowledge Exchange assists Alaskan mariculturists in traveling to take advantage of the most up to date technology and husbandry practices. Supporting farmers and processors with travel funding to visit mariculture operations within Alaska and nationally throughout 2025 and 2026, the program encourages the friendly and innovative exchange of mariculture-specific expertise, strategy, and experience.
Each of these trips has increased Alaska’s mariculture knowledge, supported farmers and processors develop their own operations in the state by learning from others, and contributed to workforce development in the mariculture industry as a whole. By investing in workforce development, AMC is demonstrating a commitment to the future of the industry and recognizing that a successful industry is a collaborative one.
Use the toggles below to learn more about each trip.
Destination: Prince of Wales Island
Dates: 2/17/25 to 2/23/25
Funding: $5,776
Three members of Jakolof Bay Oyster Company, located in Homer, traveled to Prince of Wales Island to exchange knowledge with oyster farmers in the region. They were hosted by Tommaso Shellfish and Blue Starr Oyster Company, and also visited a number of other farms that are part of the Alaska Oyster Co-op. While the farmers have worked closely together as board members of the Alaska Shellfish Grower’s Association, due to the remoteness and expense of getting to Prince of Wales, this was their first time visiting the region. Focuses of the knowledge exchange included cultivation gear, floating upweller systems, marketing, and more.
Destination: East Coast
Dates: 4/4/25 to 4/14/25
Funding: $6,562
Kelp farmers from Kodiak traveled to the East Coast to visit different seaweed and oyster farms. During the 10-day trip, travelers met with farmers and processors to learn about farm equipment, compare techniques, and discuss solutions to cross-state industry challenges.
Destination: Maine
Dates: 10/20/25 to 10/25/25
Funding: $7,043
Representatives from the Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) and the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute (APMI) conducted a study trip to Maine to tour aquaculture operations, research facilities, and make industry connections. The purpose of the visit was to gain insight into the structure, innovation, and management practices of Maine’s mature aquaculture sector—particularly regarding kelp, shellfish, and invertebrate industries—and to explore models that may inform development in Alaska.
The itinerary included site visits to Atlantic Sea Farms, Mook Sea Farm, American Unagi, The Darling Marine Center and Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, The Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, and the Downeast Institute, as well as meetings with Sebastian Belle of the Maine Aquaculture Association and other key industry figures.
Destination: Kodiak
Dates: 6/20/25 to 6/25/25
Funding: $5,257
This trip supported two Cordova-based seaweed farmers to travel to Kodiak for the Kodiak Kelp Festival. While in Kodiak, they participated in community educational events, met with Scottish partners, and visited local seaweed farms. Participating entities included Kodiak Seafood & Marine Science Center, Kodiak Harbor, Blue Evolution, and Kodiak Island Sustainable Seaweed, as well as EcoCascade, Kaly Group, Southwest Mull & Iona Development, SAMS Group, and Scottish Seaweed Industry Association.
Destination: Washington
Dates: 9/11/25 to 9/19/25
Funding: $10,289
Four Kodiak and Larsen Bay-based mariculturists traveled to Washington to attend the Indigenous Aquaculture Summit, which is a forum for Indigenous peoples to learn from one another about their aquaculture operations, practices, problems, issues and opportunities and strengthen relationships between Tribes and First Nations. The summit included presentations, discussions, and aquaculture operations and research site visits, strengthening Alaska’s industry knowledge as a whole.
Destination: North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Washington
Dates: 12/8/2025 to 12/15/2025
Funding: $5,646
This funding supported two oyster farmers from Southeast to travel four different states, providing a broader perspective on East Coast oyster industries and ideas for increasing mariculture tourism opportunities in Southeast. They visited several farms while traveling up the East Coast, connecting with different oyster farmers and processors to share strategies and increase their knowledge of farming equipment and techniques. They also visited local oyster bars and joined a guided farm tour to learn about public-facing tours and events, providing valuable insight into warm-water oyster systems, alternative harvest methods, and customer-facing aspects of the business.
Destination: Juneau
Dates: 3/17/26 to 3/20/26
Funding: $2,712
Two members of PWSEDD traveled to Juneau to visit Barnacle Foods and learn about kelp processing techniques and equipment, particularly their rotary drum dryer. PWSEDD had purchased a rotary drum dryer, shredder, screw press, hammer mill, spray dryer, and conveyors with the help of AMC funding, and this trip allowed them to view similar equipment in operation prior to their first run-through of processing in the spring of 2026. Trip participants were able to learn in depth about important details such as throughput, moisture targets, staging, loading and unloading, sanitation, labor, and packaging flow, and utilized this knowledge into a successful processing season in the months to follow.
Destination: Cordova
Dates: 05/04/26 to 05/07/26
Funding: $3,466
After being visited by the Prince William Sound Economic Development District, two members of Barnacle Foods went on a reciprocal visit to Cordova to see PWSEDD’s processing equipment in action. Travelers were able to advise PWSEDD staff on processing to specs that would allow Barnacle to purchase their kelp in the future, and also were able to view their Sirputis Kelp Dryer, a newly designed piece of equipment with potential to greatly increase drying throughput of Alaska kelp.
Destination: Homer
Dates: 06/14/26 to 6/19/26
Funding: $3,328
Two oyster farmers from Salty Lady Seafood traveled to Homer to visit Jakolof Bay Oyster Farm and Alaskan Shellfish Farms. Travelers observed husbandry, havesting, processing, equipment utilization, and farm management practices to gain hands-on experience in oyster farming in different contexts. Additionally, farmers exchanged expertise in pricing structures and marketing strategies, gaining insight into the financial intersections between purchasing entity (wholesale or retail) and oyster size, and learned about inventory management and seed coordination.
