Last week, GreenWave published a report that summarizes the kelp industry’s progress over the past ten years. The report, which focuses on the U.S. and Canada, describes how seed production, farm production, and market landscape has developed throughout the last decade. It discusses successes and challenges, identifies infrastructure innovation and financing achievements, details supply chain coordination and the formation of cooperatives. The GreenWave report includes a regional snapshot of Alaska’s kelp industry and provides a useful overview of the entire industry’s progress and development.

The Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) works closely with GreenWave on six different projects, including a Kelp Agricultural Product Development project, a Kelp Seed Quality project, and multiple mariculture equipment awards. GreenWave is also involved in the Kelp Primary Processing Platform, a project led by the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak that is working to create a modular system capable of producing stabilized kelp products for agriculture, food, and beauty markets. GreenWave also supports Alaska’s mariculture industry by strengthening cooperative development efforts in Cordova and providing additional support for the hatchery sector through the design of its containerized nursery.

Explore the Airtable below to learn more about GreenWave’s AMC projects.

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 Alaska Mariculture Cluster is October 1, 2022 to September 38, 2026, though some projects may be extended up until May 28, 2027.