Last week, Alaska Sea Grant and Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska hosted a mariculture workshop for people interested in or actively involved in oyster farming. Funded by the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) through its subaward with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the workshop aligns with AMC’s workforce development goals by expanding access to knowledge of the mariculture industry and strengthening participants’ understanding of oyster farming. During the workshop, participants visited a FLPUSY, discussed regulatory frameworks, and learned about seed supply.

These lessons were featured by KTOO, Juneau’s public radio station, which published an article about the workshop on February 17th. The article discussed the role of a FLUPSY in oyster farming, shared testimonies from workshop organizers, and outlined how mariculture can benefit communities and economies throughout Juneau. The article also mentioned the impactful role that AMC funding has had on the industry, noting that: “the recent availability of funding and training in Alaska mariculture makes the industry attractive” and linked to the AMC website.

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.