Overview
The Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) Mariculture Business Planning Program exists to support mariculture entities in their business and technical operations. This program, which spans between existing and new operations and is available across Alaska, aims to provide professional business planning services to strengthen operations, scale production, and increase improve readiness to access capital. The program is led by Spruce Root, a subaward recipient, and GreenWave, Seamark, and Kelson Marine who will work with farms and processors within the kelp and oyster sectors, respectively.
To learn more about each project, click here:
Spruce Root
Spruce Root provides technical assistance to entrepreneurs in developing successful mariculture businesses and prepares them for loan readiness. Spruce Root also delivers specific technical assistance regarding kelp, oyster, and related mariculture efforts to turn business ideas into reality. Through detailed business planning, financial modelling, narrative writing, and targeted education, Spruce Root is helping to further the Alaska Mariculture Cluster’s goal of growing and strengthening the mariculture industry in Alaska. Their offered services will further the business acumen of the state and help mariculture professionals grow their operations in seaweed farming, shellfish farming, and processing.
GreenWave
GreenWave and its partner Small Business Butter have been offering business planning services to kelp farmers and processors since 2025. Specifically, GreenWave offers one-on-one consultations with kelp entities to model farm-level cost of production, which provides visibility and information about their own operations and delivers actionable insights and data. They then continue to work with that information and identify where there is room within farm and processing operations for cost savings and increased efficiencies. The 2-hour consultations are interview-style reviews of business expenses and operations and include live-time analysis of opportunities for improvement.
Seamark
Seamark Holdings, LLC will offer pro bono business planning services and technical assistance to seaweed and shellfish farmers and mariculture processors across Alaska. Seamark will assess participating businesses’ needs, finances, and goals to provide customized advising and financial planning support, including assistance with production costs, cash flow management, and loan readiness. This support will help strengthen business planning practices for participating businesses and entrepreneurs and improve readiness to access capital for growth and investment.
Kelson Marine
Kelson Marine provides free technical assistance to prospective and existing Alaska mariculture businesses, helping farmers evaluate site conditions, optimize farm designs, and make informed investment decisions. Building on environmental modeling tools developed through the AMC’s De-Risking Investment and Site Suitability project, Kelson Marine offers individualized consultations examining physical and biogeochemical site characteristics, including currents, tides, wind, waves, water temperature, and salinity.
More extensive consultations are available to farmers actively developing a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) application, including farm structure evaluations and site-selection analyses that consider production costs, infrastructure needs, and operational constraints. These services aim to reduce operational risks, inform capital investments, and improve financing readiness. To qualify for an initial consultation, participants must first attend an RLF webinar or consultation.
