Overview

Mariculture farming in Alaska is primarily focused on cultivating Pacific oysters and three species of kelp (sugar, ribbon, and bull). The Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) grant program is largely concentrated on supporting the viability of these species. However, in the long term, it is likely that other macroalgae, shellfish, and mariculture species will be important parts of the industry as well.  

In November 2023, Southeast Conference (SEC), on behalf of the AMC, issued a request for proposals (RFP) for Other Mariculture Species Research & Development. Through a competitive review process, five projects were awarded funding, each targeting a different species with high potential to advance commercial farming, not including Pacific oysters, bull kelp, sugar kelp, or ribbon kelp. 

Building on the success of this first cohort, SEC issued another RFP in September 2024 for a second research cohort. Five new projects – conducted by universities, tribal organizations, and Alaska mariculture farmers – were awarded funding in March 2025 to support the AMC’s goal of developing a $100 million mariculture industry in ten years. Each project focuses on advancing cultivation techniques, addressing ecological and economic challenges, and enhancing the market potential for previously untapped mariculture species. 

The AMC’s Other Species program reflects a significant step toward diversifying Alaska’s mariculture portfolio. By expanding beyond oysters and common kelp varieties, these projects not only enhance economic resilience but also promote sustainable practices that benefit coastal ecosystems and communities.  

Please use the toggles below to learn more about the Other Mariculture Species projects. Once the projects are completed, final reports will be published on this webpage and the AMRTC Research Library.

First Cohort Projects

Project: Cockle Clam Cultivation
Lead Organization: Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC)
Funding: $117,612
Species: Basket Cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii)
Region: Kenai Peninsula 

In partnership with the Kachemak Shellfish Mariculture Association (KSMA), CRRC’s project will work to advance the cultivation of basket cockles using suspended culture systems originally developed for oysters​. Hatchery-produced juvenile cockles will be grown in KSMA’s FLUPSY and subsequently in lantern nets and metal trays across up to four farms in Kachemak Bay. The project will refine hatchery techniques, optimize growth strategies, and evaluate overwintering methods. Success could introduce a high-value shellfish species to Alaska’s mariculture portfolio, expanding opportunities for oyster farmers. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Dragon Kelp & Split Kelp Farming
Lead Organization: Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute (KALI)
Funding: $106,766
Species: Dragon Kelp (Eualaria fistulosa), Split Kelp (Hedophyllum nigripes)
Region: Kodiak 

KALI’s project, in partnership with Alaska Ocean Farms and Spruce Island Farms, will explore cultivation techniques for split kelp and dragon kelp, two species native to Alaska but not yet commercially farmed. Researchers will establish a new kelp farm in a remote Kodiak community and assess how sporophyte density affects growth and yield. With interest from kelp processors, these species could provide economic diversification while supporting Indigenous-led mariculture efforts. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Dulse Hatchery Cultivation Manual
Lead Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Funding: $87,487
Species: Red Ribbon Seaweed (Devaleraea mollis)
Region: Southeast 

This project builds on two years of successful indoor cultivation of dulse, a red seaweed prized for its high protein content and nutritional value​. UAF researchers will conduct a literature review and interviews to inform a hatchery cultivation manual. Dulse not only holds potential for human consumption but also serves as an ideal feed for pinto abalone (also being grown in the UAF lab conducting this dulse research). 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Sea Urchin Ranching for Coastal Communities
Lead Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Funding: $136,861
Species: Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)
Region: Kenai Peninsula 

UAF researchers – in collaboration with local oyster farms, a UAF/NOAA research station, and the Seldovia Village Tribe – will evaluate the feasibility of ranching green sea urchins​ using existing oyster farming gear.  This project will collect sea urchins from barrens and ranch them using various feed types, including kelp, wrack, and custom kelp pellets.  Results will be analyzed for growth and roe yield and marketability. The goal is to produce high-quality roe for seafood markets while providing additional options for mariculture farming. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Advancing Pinto Abalone Farming in Alaska
Lead Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Funding: $149,982
Species: Pinto Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana)
Region: Southeast

This project will develop protocols for transitioning pinto abalone from laboratory nurseries to ocean-based farming systems. Historically, pinto abalone populations in Alaska have declined. UAF researchers will conduct outplanting experiments in partnership with local aquatic farmer partners in Southern Southeast Alaska. The project will identify the optimal size for transferring juvenile abalone to ocean farms and test rearing cage designs that enhance survival. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Second Cohort Projects

Project: Geoduck Nursery and Farm Techniques
Lead Organization:  Pacific Shellfish Institute
Funding: $98,640
Species: Geoduck (Panopea generosa)
Region: Kenai Peninsula, Southeast

The Pacific Shellfish Institute – in collaboration with OceansAlaska, Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute, geoduck farmers, the Metlakatla Indian Community, and geoduck nursery operators in Washington State – will study nursery and predation control techniques to improve the survival of juvenile and outplanted geoducks​. Juvenile geoducks produced at Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute in Seward will be acclimated at OceansAlaska’s nursery before outplanting at a permitted geoduck farm south of Ketchikan and potentially other sites if available. They will set up predator control strategies (such as netting and protective tubes) at farm sites and will evaluate the growth and survival of geoducks. Additionally, they’ll monitor the recruitment of cockles and littleneck clams into geoduck farms. Cockles and littleneck clams have been found on geoduck farms in the past and may benefit from the same predator protection techniques, which could improve the economics of geoduck farming.  

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Diversifying Alaska’s Oyster Industry
Lead Organization: Blue Starr Oyster Company
Funding: $80,200
Species: Kumamoto (Magallana sikamea), Olympia (Ostrea lurida), and Virginica (Crassostrea virginica) Oysters
Region: Southeast

Blue Starr Oyster Company will pioneer the cultivation of Olympia (Ostrea lurida), Kumamoto (Magallana sikamea), and Virginica (Crassostrea virginica) oysters in Southeast Alaska. Historically, Alaska’s oyster farming industry has focused exclusively on Pacific oysters, leaving it vulnerable to market and environmental shifts. This project will leverage Blue Starr’s existing infrastructure, including its floating upwelling system (FLUPSY), to grow seed oysters of each species. Growth metrics, survival rates, and environmental conditions will be monitored and compared to Pacific oysters. Success would diversify Alaska’s oyster industry but open the door for other farmers to cultivate these premium species. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Sustainable Hatchery Rearing of Pacific Razor Clams
Lead Organization:  Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC)
Funding: $129,980
Species: Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula)
Region: Kenai Peninsula

Building on previous work, CRRC will develop sustainable hatchery protocols for Pacific razor clams and track the success of outplanting on Cook Inlet beaches​. With razor clam populations in Cook Inlet facing significant declines, this project aims to refine hatchery spawning techniques, comparing strip spawning and traditional methods. Hatchery-raised clams will be outplanted at Ninilchik South and Clam Gulch North beaches and marked with calcein dye to help distinguish hatchery-reared clams from wild clams. CRRC will track outplanting success in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. This project has the potential to restore clam populations, supporting both subsistence and commercial uses while advancing Alaska’s shellfish enhancement strategies. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Red Ribbon Seaweed Cultivation
Lead Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Funding: $150,000
Species: Red Ribbon Seaweed (Devaleraea mollis)
Region: Southeast, Prince William Sound 

Led by Dr. Michael Stekoll at UAF in collaboration the Native Village of Eyak, this project will explore the potential for commercial cultivation of red ribbon seaweed, also known as Pacific dulse​. While previous efforts focused on indoor tank culture, this project will transition to open-sea farming near Juneau and at the Native Village of Eyak’s mariculture site in Cordova. First researchers will collect wild plants, start lab cultures, and identify the best method for spore release. Then they will outplant seeded string in different seasons and at various depths and track growth.  Results will help determine the best season and depth for outplanting in order to achieve maximum yield. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]

Project: Multi-Harvest Strategies for Perennial Split Kelp
Lead Organization: Sea Quester Farms
Funding: Amount not finalized
Species: Split Kelp (Hedophyllum nigripes)
Region: Southeast 

Sea Quester Farms will develop multi-harvest strategies for perennial split kelp, a species capable of regrowing after harvest. Unlike annual kelps that require reseeding each season, split kelp is perennial, which may enable multiple harvests from the same plants. The project will compare harvest methods and frequencies and analyze the nutrient profiles across harvests and seasons. This work will investigate a new species of kelp for mariculture in Alaska with potential to reduce operational costs, develop new markets, and strengthen Alaska’s mariculture industry. 

Interim Update [Pending]
Final Report [Pending]