With funding from the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) has announced the third and final cohort of applied research and development projects for the Joint Innovations Project (JIP) program. These joint projects form strategic private sector partnerships and are designed to accelerate innovation, address barriers to growth, and stand up Alaska’s emerging mariculture industry.

The third cohort, totaling $377,775 in funding, was established to address a recognized need for targeted product development within the mariculture industry. This round utilizes underspent funds from Cohorts I and II to support smaller, high-impact projects on shorter 8-10 month timelines with awards up to $50k.

The funded projects and lead entities are:

• Alaska Ocean Farms: Advancing Value-Added Mariculture: Development and Testing of Kelp Dumplings
• Barnacle Foods: Data-Driven Messaging for Mariculture Growth: Analyzing the Communication and Visual Strategies that Drive Engagement and Consumer Behavior
• Greenwave and Noble Ocean Farms: Novel processing of five kelp species for cosmetic and nutraceutical products
• Pacific Hybreed: Establishing an Alaska Broodstock program for the Pacific Oyster
• Pacific Kelp Co: Alaskan Kelp Boost: Biostimulant Validation and Go-to Market
• Prince William Sound Economic Development District: Scaling Ambient Salted Processing To Improve Supply Chains and Low-Tech Preservation Methods
• Saltwater Inc: Addressing Kachemak Kelp Production & Distribution Challenges to Improve the Bottom Line
• Sea Quester Farms: Building a Standardized Pilot Processing System for Salmon/Kelp Burger
• WildBlue Solutions: Reshaping the Future of Plastics

First and Second Rounds in Progress

The first cohort of 15 projects began work in August 2023, while the second cohort of 14 projects began in August of 2024. Findings and dates will be compiled into reports and distributed to the public, ensuring insights are available to current or future industry participants, as well as the public.

To learn more about JIP rounds I and II, visit the AMC Airtable database or AFDF’s website.

About AFDF

Since 1978, the AFDF has broadly represented the Alaska seafood industry (harvesters, processors, and support service businesses) in the areas of research and development. Since 2014, AFDF has spearheaded the Alaska Mariculture Initiative, an effort to expedite the development of growing shellfish and seaweed in Alaska.

AFDF is a part of the AMC coalition and one of the subaward recipients. As part of its subaward, AFDF oversees a portion of the Research and Development component, and in particular, the Joint Innovation Projects.

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 Alaska Mariculture Cluster is October 1, 2022 to September 38, 2026, though some projects may be extended up until May 28, 2027.