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Alaska Sea Grant Releases Mariculture Workforce Development Plan

December 20, 2023

Lead Entities: Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Grant Component: Workforce Development

Alaska planners have identified mariculture workforce development as an important strategic area, essential to growing the current industry into a major sector in the state economy over the next 20 years. This plan covers goals, strategies, and action steps for meeting the current and forecasted training needs for a growing mariculture industry.

The state of Alaska supported the creation of the Alaska Mariculture Workforce Development Plan to increase mariculture economic development. This plan was overseen by the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, funded by a U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant awarded to the Southeast Conference.

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.