The Alaska Mariculture Alliance (AMA) contracted with Rising Tide Communications (RTC) to research and draft a Public Relations & Outreach Plan. The project’s purpose is to provide organizations tasked with mariculture communications with resources to communicate strategically and comprehensively to audiences about Alaska’s shellfish and aquatic plant farming.

As with any industry in its early phases, opportunities and challenges will require specific, targeted messaging. Several organizations, including AMA, Alaska Mariculture Research & Technical Center (AMRTC), Alaska Sea Grant, and the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) are engaging in different aspects of industry and external communications. The plan’s recommendations point everyone in a cooperative way forward that makes the most of organizational capacities and strengths.

This plan is a vital element designated by the Governance, Coordination & Outreach grant component of the AMC, of which AMA is a subaward recipient. The project was initiated through competitive request for proposals (RFP) and awarded to RTC in July 2023. The plan was overviewed via a webinar in May 2024, and the final plan published in July 2025.

About the Alaska Mariculture Alliance

The Alaska Mariculture Alliance (AMA) was created in response to the final report of the Alaska Mariculture Task Force, which was established in 2016 to explore potential avenues for industry growth in Alaska. The report recommended the creation of the AMA to coordinate the many parties interested in the development of mariculture in Alaska. AMA’s mission is to develop and support a robust and sustainable mariculture industry for the long-term benefit of Alaska’s economy, environment and communities.

Within the AMC grant coalition, AMA is tasked with managing the Liaison Program, in addition to developing and implementing the Public Relations and Outreach Plan.

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.