The Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) contracted with McKinley Research Group and the Pacific Shellfish Institute to provide AMC and the broader mariculture industry with current information about topics including oyster and seaweed harvest, farm utilization, seed supply and quality, and growing techniques. This is the first of three annual reports produced as part of AMC’s Mariculture Industry Tracking project.

Related: Research Project Launched to Track Alaska Mariculture Industry Growth

Statistics about the Alaska mariculture industry are limited and often not up to date, which makes it difficult to answer seemingly basic questions such as “how much sugar kelp was planted in Prince William Sound this year?” and “are there sufficient facilities to fulfill the anticipated need for juvenile oysters in Southeast Alaska?”

Key Findings

• Seaweed harvest likely fell in 2024, while oyster harvest rose.
• A lack of markets and poor seed quality negatively impacted the seaweed sector in 2024. Demand for frozen Alaska kelp for food products contracted in 2024, but greater access to kelp drying in 2025 may open new markets.
• While oyster markets seem to have softened nationwide in 2024, at least slightly, Alaskan oyster farmers did not have this experience with in-state sales.
• Both seaweed and oyster harvests are expected to increase in 2025.
• On average, much of the space on currently permitted oyster was used in 2024,

  while a small fraction of space on seaweed farms was used.

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 Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) 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, which 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.