NOAA Fisheries Releases 2024 Alaska Aquaculture Accomplishments Report

NOAA Fisheries Aquaculture staff discussing oyster farming strategies with stakeholders near Juneau, Alaska. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

In 2024, the NOAA Alaska Regional Office and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center continued supporting Alaska's aquaculture industry.

Aquaculture, the process of growing organisms in the ocean, is a relatively young commercial industry that is poised for rapid growth in Alaska. Alaska's aquaculture industry consists of seaweed and invertebrate farming, with oysters, mussels, sugar, ribbon, and bull kelp being the primary species grown in the state. The NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Aquaculture Programengaged in projects to support the sustainable development of Alaska's aquaculture industry. They are outlined in NOAA's 2024 Aquaculture Accomplishments Report.

Front cover of the FY24 NOAA Alaska Aquaculture Accomplishments Report. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

We support scientific and social advances for the Alaskan aquaculture industry with cutting-edge research, policymaking, and management tools. We work closely with partners to improve and expand opportunities to promote sustainable marine production of shellfish and seaweed in Alaska.

The Alaska Aquaculture Program's FY24 aquaculture activities supported all four of the strategic goals laid out in NOAA's national 2023-2028 Aquaculture Strategic Plan:

1. Manage sustainably and efficiently
2. Lead science for sustainability
3. Educate and exchange information
4. Support economic viability and growth

Aquaculture Project Highlights

Aquaculture Opportunity Area Spatial Planning Workshops

In 2023, NOAA announced that its next AOA identification process would take place in Alaska state waters. In coordination with the State of Alaska, we hosted a series of spatial planning workshops in early 2024. The first workshop took place on February 26, 2024, in Anchorage. The second was held on March 26 and 27, 2024, in Juneau.

More than 140 people attended these workshops. Participants included Alaska Native community members, fishermen, aquaculture industry representatives, environmental organizations, scientists, and state and federal agency personnel. In August 2024, we released the Summary Report for the Alaska Aquaculture Opportunity Area Spatial Planning Workshops. It identified data gaps, points of contact, and next steps for engagement and data collection.

Optimizing the Tumble Culture Method

Tumble cages have become a popular culture method in the oyster aquaculture industry. They improve oyster shape, size, and yield while reducing labor for farmers. The tumble cage method helps farmers to reduce labor and increase oyster growth and yield. Previous trials of tumble culture methods in Alaska, however, have been unsuccessful due to the turbulent conditions found at many Alaskan oyster farms. These conditions create an "over-tumbling" effect where oysters and gear can be damaged. In this project a team of engineers, oyster farmers, and biologists designed, fabricated, and deployed research-scale tumble culture gear at intertidal and subtidal farms across Southeast Alaska. The gear was outfitted with sensors to better understand the variables impacting oyster growth within and across farm sites. Initial results show success in rearing oysters within the intertidal tumble cages and has generated further design ideas for future gear testing in Alaska.

A tumble culture array being tested in the intertidal zone near Juneau, Alaska. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Classroom Tumble Culture

NOAA installed a seaweed aquaculture unit in a Juneau classroom in FY24. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

We constructed a tumble culture for Ḵ'aach'in 2021 for a classroom in Klukwan. This year, the Alaska Regional Office's Sea Grant Fellow designed a new mobile seaweed aquaculture unit for a Juneau classroom. This new tumble culture was designed for a more compact, quieter classroom operation, with the potential to grow additional seaweed species. It was installed in a classroom in Harborview Elementary School. NOAA Fisheries staff attended several classes to teach 3rd and 4th grade students about the science of aquaculture.

The fellowship project also expanded the curriculum and developed a construction manual with videos detailing aspects of construction and maintenance. These materials will be available online in Fiscal Year 2025. The Alaska Fisheries Science Center also published a paper detailing their 2021 work on the original tumble culture unit in Klukwan.

Establish Assistant Regional Aquaculture Coordinator Position

The Alaska Regional Office required additional capacity to successfully identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska. We are pleased to announce that Hannah Wilson has joined our team as an Assistant Regional Aquaculture Coordinator.

One of her primary responsibilities is to support the Aquaculture Opportunity Area identification process. She will coordinate outreach, facilitate meetings, establish working groups with state and federal partners, and support data requests. She will help facilitate and coordinate various projects with partners including state and federal regulatory agencies, non-government organizations, tribes, and other entities.

NOAA Fisheries Assistant Regional Aquaculture Coordinator Hannah Wilson visits a Juneau oyster farm. Credit: NOAA Fisheries