In November 2023, Southeast Conference solicited proposals for mariculture processing feasibility studies, under the Equipment & Technology component of the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) grant. Nine (9) organizations were awarded funding, totaling around $1.08 million.

The awarded studies are addressing a variety of topics, including supply and demand assessment, analysis of existing or underutilized infrastructure, architectural or engineering services to support capital and operations cost estimations, financial feasibility studies, and/or operations planning.

Study #1

Title: An Economic Assessment of Harvesting, Processing, and Primary Stabilization Methods for Commercially Grown Kelp
Lead Entity (Region): Chugach Regional Resources Commission (Kenai Peninsula)
Objective: Study costs and available methods of harvesting, processing, stabilization (freezing), and shipment of kelp biomass.

Study #2

Title: Business Plan for Shared Mariculture & Seafood Processing Center
Lead Entity (Region): PWS Economic Development District (Prince William Sound)
Objective: Develop a business plan and preliminary architectural and engineering design work for a shared facility that will support Cordova’s kelp farmers’ processing and drying needs.

Study #3

Title: Mariculture Processing Hub
Lead Entity (Region): Kodiak Economic Development Corporation (Southwest)
Objective: Study the development of a regional mariculture processing hub in Kodiak that would serve the entire Kodiak Archipelago.

Study #4

Title: Mobile Seaweed Processing and Dehydration
Lead Entity (Region): Native Conservancy (Prince William Sound)
Objective: Study the economic and engineering feasibility of a floating, mobile processing facility for seaweed drying.

Study #5

Title: Modular Processing Facility & Mariculture Innovation Center
Lead Entities (Region): OceansAlaska (Southeast)
Objective: Study feasibility of a small, modular, and scalable processing facility with a commercial kitchen and cold/cool storage to serve kelp and oyster farmers wishing to create or aggregate products for sale.

Study #6

Title: Regional Kelp Biorefinery
Lead Entity (Region): Saltwater Inc. (Kenai Peninsula)
Objective: Study the feasibility of establishing a regional biorefinery, potentially in an existing fish processing plant, to support the production of value-added kelp products including skin care and biostimulants.

Study #7

Title: Sea Otter Sound Cooperative Mariculture Center
Lead Entity (Region): Alaska Oyster Cooperative (Southeast)
Objective: Study the feasibility of building and operating a receiving, processing, storing, and shipping facility for mariculture products on Little Naukati Bay in Southeast Alaska.

Study #8

Title: Seaweed Processing and Dehydration
Lead Entity (Region): Organized Village of Kake (Southeast)
Objective: Study the economic and engineering feasibility of a seaweed and local food processing and dehydration facility in Kake that also makes use of waste heat from local power generation.

Study #9

Title: Shared-Use Mariculture Hub
Lead Entity (Region): Ketchikan Agricultural Producers Association (Southeast)
Objective: Study and identify the site location, funding strategy, and business plan for a shared-use regional mariculture processing and storage facility.

 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.