Search AMC News
  • Grant Components

  • Lead Entities

Upcoming University of Alaska Mariculture Courses & Workshops

October 16, 2024

Lead Entities: UAA Prince William Sound College, UAF Alaska Sea Grant, UAF Center ICE, UAS Sitka, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast

Grant Component: Workforce Development

The Alaska Mariculture Cluster is heavily invested in workforce development to ensure all interested Alaskans can learn more about and work in the mariculture sector. We’re excited to share information about courses, workshops, internships, and other University of Alaska offerings, all supported with AMC grant funding.

UAS Sitka Campus

The Alaska Aquaculture Semester program is the University of Alaska Southeast’s immersive, hands-on education in sustainable ocean farming. Upon completion of the 13-credit hour semester, students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to start their own ocean farm or connect with industry professionals and researchers to explore new ways of cultivating ocean species for food.

The Alaska Aquaculture Semester program is offered each Fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Sitka Campus. Spots fill up quickly! Please submit an interest form by March 21, 2025 for the Fall 2025 semester. Visit the UAS website for more information about the Alaska Aquaculture Semester and included courses, field trips, and internship opportunities.

UAS Applied Fisheries is also offering a three-day Aquaculture Lab – April 27-29, 2025 – that explores the biology and cultivation methods for shellfish, seaweed and salmon species through engaging lectures, interactive labs, and exciting field trips to local salmon enhancement facilities and mariculture farms. For more information, please contact Angie Bowers at abowers4@alaska.edu.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

UAF & Alaska Sea Grant

Alaska Sea Grant has four upcoming workshops covering research, training, and technical assistance for Alaska’s mariculture industry:

  • Vibrio Bacteria in Shellfish Webinar: November 8, 2024 – This webinar will introduce Vibrio bacteria, covering key species, variations in pathogenicity and virulence, regulations, where they are found, how they interacts with shellfish, media strategies, and protecting market confidence.
  • Kelp Business Planning & Marketing: January 21–24, 2025 (Online) – This workshop will cover kelp farm capital and operating costs, helping participants develop start-up and operating budgets and calculate break-even price per pound. The workshop will also cover marketing and access to capital opportunities.
  • Kelp Farm Operations Training of Trainers: April 29–May 2, 2025 (Kodiak) – This immersive “Training of the Trainers” workshop is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to educate others on starting an aquatic farm in Alaska. Participants will gain hands-on experience and learn effective teaching techniques to share this information within their communities.
  • Seaweed Handling & Processing Workshop: May 21–23, 2025 (Kodiak) – This three-day hands-on workshop will cover the fundamentals of starting a commercial seaweed processing business, including industry overview, regulations, business management, processing equipment, food safety, and value-added product development.
  • Kelp Hatchery Operations: TBA (Kodiak) – This kelp hatchery training will provide participants with hands-on experience in the essential techniques of growing kelp from spores to seedlings. The course covers species identification, spore collection, nursery setup, maintenance, cultivation practices, water quality management, and troubleshooting.

For more information, please email Melissa Good, Alaska Sea Grant’s Mariculture Specialist, and visit alaskaseagrant.org/events.

Click to enlarge

UAA Prince William Sound College (PWSC)

  • Marine Natural Resource Technician (MNRT) program is a 16-credit Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) that provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful employment at the technician level in marine natural resources and marine science through hands-on training and coursework. Applications for the spring semester are open now, closing on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
  • In July 2024, UAA PWSC hosted a small engine repair workshop in McGrath to 12 students in July. The course was successful, and organizers identified interest and need for more these community maritime technical courses next summer. The AMC grant funds funds tuition.
  • This summer, ten teachers participated in the Marine Ecology For Teachers. Planning for summer 2025 in underway, including more advertising beginning in early 2025. The AMC grant funds teachers’ travel stipend, housing, and three credits of tuition.
  • PWSC Internships – PWSC hosted an intern at its facilities and placed another intern with the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute (APMI). Both internships were successful. The intern at APMI was offered a job but decided to continue her education. The PWSC intern is now enrolled in the Alaska Aquaculture Semester at UAS Sitka. APMI is interested in hosting more internships this coming summer, and PWSC hopes to expand offerings to the Native Village of Eyak and others. The AMC grant funds these internships’ stipend, housing allowance, and three credits of tuition.

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.