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2026 Mariculture Conference of Alaska

February 9, 2026

Lead Entities: Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Grant Component: Research & Development

The 2026 Mariculture Conference of Alaska will be taking place March 10th – 12th, hosted by Alaska Sea Grant, the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC), and the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation. The conference will bring together seaweed and shellfish farmers, processors, researchers, innovators, and industry leaders from across the state to identify opportunities for growth of mariculture in Alaska.

The event will include different speaker events, giving attendees a chance to learn about the latest developments in mariculture in Alaska, ranging from scientific insights to business and market development achievements. Discussions had and connections made at the event will contribute to the state’s growing mariculture industry and provide an opportunity for partnership building and knowledge transfers. Participants and leaders will also review challenges to the industry so far, discuss solutions to those challenges, and explore opportunities to build a stronger mariculture industry in the state.

Register for and learn more about the Mariculture Conference of Alaska below.

Keynote Speakers

Tuesday Keynote Speaker: Julie Qiu

Julie Qiu operates at the intersection of oyster expertise and brand strategy, helping producers translate technical nuance into market value. With over 18 years experience in food, hospitality, and luxury brands, Julie is an internationally recognized oyster sommelier and educator featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, and Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil.

Wednesday Keynote Speaker: Vincent Doumeizel

Vincent Doumeizel is Senior Adviser for Ocean at United Nations Global Compact. Following years working in the food industry, Vincent led The Seaweed Manifesto, and The Plankton Manifesto, a call to advance science on low tropic ocean ecosystems. Vincent founded the Global Seaweed Coalition and released the award-winning reference book, The Seaweed Revolution. He also led the creation of the first United Nations project on seaweed.

Workshops

Participants can begin the conference at one of three concurrent workshops Tuesday, March 10. Each workshop takes place in the morning, though individual workshop schedules vary. Read more about the workshops below.

Presenter: Bobbi Hudson, Pacific Shellfish Institute
Time: 8 am–12 pm
Location: Endeavor Room

This engaging workshop will cover harmful algae bloom (HAB) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) control strategies, and provide advice for communicating with distributors and customers. Farmers and shippers will also share cold chain best practices for successfully shipping oysters and clams.

Presenter: Tommy Sheridan, Alaska Blue Economy Center
Time: ~8–10 am (may run longer)
Location: Adventure Room

Originally designed in the early-1970s to enhance fisheries at a time when salmon returns were at historically low levels, Alaska’s salmon hatchery program has been successful by many metrics, with recent hatchery returns accounting for over 25% of all Alaska salmon harvests, oftentimes accounting for greater than 25% of the state’s total salmon fishery value. Alaska’s salmon hatcheries have also served to diversify economic opportunities in coastal Alaska communities to include some of the state’s largest recreational fisheries, and have supported maritime-related workforce development programs while contributing to cutting edge scientific research. As the State of Alaska grapples with issues relating to food, energy, and water security, stakeholders are exploring how this program could be leveraged to generate broader benefit. This workshop seeks to highlight a few areas where these opportunities may exist, including mariculture development, energy innovation and climate change mitigation.

Presenter: Melissa “Missy” Good, Alaska Sea Grant
Time: 8 am–12 pm
Location: Voyager Room

This facilitated workshop will generate an industry-informed roadmap for advancing seaweed processing capacity, product innovation, and workforce readiness in Alaska. Using breakout groups and live prioritization, participants will identify critical gaps, collaborate on what should happen first, what tools or resources are needed, and how to help Alaska’s seaweed industry grow and succeed for the long term.

Presenter: Julie Qiu, founder of In A Half Shell and co-founder of Oyster Master Guild
Time: 4:30–6:00 pm
Location: Quadrant Room
*Limited to 30 participants. By registering, participants acknowledge that consuming raw shellfish possesses inherent risks. Immunocompromised individuals should refrain from participating.*

This hands-on workshop explores the diverse flavor profiles of Alaska oysters through a comparative tasting. Attendees will learn a clear framework and shared vocabulary to better identify and describe subtle taste differences. This session breaks down the art of sensory evaluation, providing the essential tools to discuss oyster merroir with confidence.

Observer/waitlist sign-up for Julie Qiu’s workshop is available.

 

Background

Southeast Conference (SEC) is the federally designated Economic Development District (EDD) for Southeast Alaska, as well as the state designated Alaska Regional Development Organization. SEC’s mission is to undertake and support activities that promote strong economies, sustainable communities, and a healthy environment in Southeast Alaska.

In September 2022, Southeast Conference was awarded a $49 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) grant to catalyze a viable and sustainable mariculture industry in Alaska, supporting the production of shellfish and seaweed, for the long-term benefit of the state’s economy, environment, and communities.

SEC leads the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) grant coalition, which includes members of Alaska’s mariculture industry, tribal organizations, regulatory agencies, university system, regional EDDs, trade organizations, and others. A Governance Body, composed of AMC coalition leaders and Tribal executives from each of the project regions, guides the grant’s work and equity metrics.

The AMC has complementary grant components designed to break down barriers and develop Alaska’s mariculture industry. The Overarching Narrative explains how the grant components work together to grow the industry in an equitable and responsible manner. The full project period for the AMC BBBRC project is October 1, 2022 to September 30th, 2026.