The Alaska Shellfish Growers Association (ASGA), a nonprofit organization representing shellfish farmers and those interested in developing shellfish aquaculture in Alaska, oversaw a nutritional analysis project to produce a nutrition label specific to Alaska grown Pacific oysters.  This project was funded under the AMC’s Market Development grant component.

This project begins to define Alaska grown Pacific oyster products and differentiate from the generic “Pacific oyster” nutrition information available. As a byproduct of the nutritional analysis for labeling, the project has generated data that can be further analyzed and identified for other research and development projects which could be useful to farmers.

After initial outreach efforts and aligning on project goals, ASGA’s Marketing Committee developed a sampling plan that delivered fresh oyster samples to Midwest Laboratories for testing and analysis. The results, which are included in the report linked below, provide nutritional data such as fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, salt, etc. for product labels for oysters grown on Alaska aquatic farms. This report will also help the industry identify research priorities and conduct more effective marketing campaigns.

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.