Reliable access to high-quality kelp seed is essential to the growth of Alaska’s mariculture industry. In recent years, the state’s kelp nurseries have faced challenges and inconsistent seed quality, contributing to unpredictable harvest yields. To address these challenges, the Alaska Mariculture Cluster funded the Kelp Seed Quality Improvement Program to improve seed quality and reliability across Alaska’s kelp industry. One of the projects funded through this program, GreenWave’s Optimizing Kelp Seed Production: Standardizing Procedures and Fostering Knowledge Exchange among Alaska’s Nursery Operators, was recently completed in August 2026.

In partnership with Alaska Sea Grant, GreenWave hosted Alaska’s first statewide Kelp Nursery Operators Workshop in Cordova in August 2025, bringing together 18 participants representing eight nurseries to share knowledge, develop standardized operating procedures, and troubleshoot common challenges. The project also funded infrastructure upgrades at eight nurseries, deployed seven custom seed spool winders, and established a statewide network for operators to exchange information and provide ongoing peer support. GreenWave also published a comprehensive Kelp Nursery Operations Manual and supported the installation of a pilot containerized nursery in Kodiak, which produced 96,000 feet of high-quality kelp seedstring during its first season.

The project coincided with significant improvements in Alaska’s kelp harvest yields. According to GreenWave’s final report, statewide average yields increased 34%, from 1.54 pounds per foot in the 2024–2025 growing season to 2.06 pounds per foot in 2025–2026, exceeding the project’s initial 20% improvement target. Kodiak experienced some of the largest gains, with several farms doubling or more than doubling their yields compared to the previous season. The results highlight the value of combining targeted infrastructure investments with hands-on technical assistance and collaboration among nursery operators to strengthen Alaska’s kelp seed supply.

Additional Resources:

• Final Report: GreenWave Kelp Seed Quality
• Kelp Nursery Operations Manual
• Blog Post: Shared Standards, Stronger Seed: Alaska Nursery Workshop
• Presentation: 2026 Post-Harvest Yield Report
• Seed Spooler Design Manual

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.