Through the AMC Marketing Program, Alaska Mariculture exhibited at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) for the first time, marking a significant step for the state’s growing oyster and kelp sector. The Alaska Mariculture booth at the March 15-17 event – staffed by AMA and SEC representatives alongside Alaska oyster farmers – welcomed thousands of attendees from across the seafood supply chain and introduced many to the quality, diversity, and potential of Alaska-grown oysters and kelp.

Visitors learned about Alaska kelp and sampled an array of kelp products to illustrate the story of farmers cultivating nutrient-rich kelp in cold, pristine waters and the local businesses transforming that harvest into innovative, value‑added products. The booth featured Kachemak Kelp, Barnacle Foods, and Chugach Chocolates, allowing visitors to see a variety of Alaskan culinary goods.

Alaska Mariculture also hosted an oyster showcase to highlight the distinct merroir of each region and underscore the diversity and quality of Alaska oysters. People tasted oysters from Alaska Shellfish Farms, Kodiak Ocean Bounty, and Seagrove, with Erik O’Brien from Kodiak Ocean Bounty and Markos Scheer from Seagrove present to interact with visitors face-to-face and provide a real connection to the industry.

SENA marked a public unveiling of Alaska Mariculture’s unified brand identity, booth design, and supporting collateral. The look provided a clear, premium introduction of the industry to buyers, distributors, processors, and media. The Alaska Mariculture booth was positioned near other Alaska seafood companies and organizations, reinforcing the strength of the state’s seafood economy and ensuring oyster and kelp farmers were represented within the broader Alaska story.

In addition to generating new industry leads that are now being followed up on, Alaska Mariculture coordinated on-site media interviews that will extend the industry’s reach to consumer and trade audiences, including The Associated Press and Undercurrent News. This was a successful first appearance at SENA, and the AMC Marketing Program will build on the exposure and relationships to further advance the industry.

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 AMC BBBRC project is October 1, 2022 to September 30th, 2026.