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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.

About the AMC Marketing Program

Funded through the AMC’s Market Development grant component, the Alaska Mariculture Alliance (AMA) and Southeast Conference (SEC) have launched a robust marketing program to increase awareness, demand, and long-term market opportunities for Alaska’s growing mariculture industry. The AMC Marketing Program is being advanced by Tastemaker Comms in partnership with Rising Tide Communications – two experienced firms with extensive backgrounds in seafood marketing, brand development, and campaign execution.

About the Alaska Mariculture Cluster

In September 2022, Southeast Conference was awarded a $49 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to stimulate private investment and grow Alaska’s mariculture industry to $100 million in sales in 10 years.  The Alaska Mariculture Cluster grant involves a large coalition of state agencies, Tribes, non-profits, and others working together over a five year period ending May 2027.