Alaska Sea Grant welcomes new shellfish mariculture specialist

Alaska Sea Grant is pleased to announce the addition of James Crimp as the program’s shellfish mariculture specialist, based in Juneau, Alaska. Crimp will help foster the sustainable growth of shellfish farming across the state by supporting industry-driven research and providing education to local farmers.

A native of Anchorage, Crimp spent summers in Dillingham, set netting for sockeye salmon with his family. His passion for coastal communities and marine life continued after attending college in Maine, becoming involved in the area’s burgeoning seaweed and shellfish farming industries. He learned how these industries complemented Maine’s rich commercial fishing heritage.

Crimp joined the Island Institute as a marine business specialist, leading a training program that helped over 40 lobster fishermen diversify their incomes through kelp, oyster, mussel, and scallop farming. Later, he become the kelp supply director at Atlantic Sea Farms, the largest processor of farmed kelp products in the United States. He managed the company’s kelp nursery and oversaw a unique cooperative supply chain, providing seed and education to independent farmers.

In 2022, Crimp returned to Alaska to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His research focused on developing cultivation methods for pinto abalone, an emerging species with strong potential for mariculture in the state.

At Alaska Sea Grant, Crimp will work closely with both new and experienced oyster farmers, combining research and education. His priorities include updating Alaska Sea Grant’s Alaska Oyster Growers Manual, conducting workshops through the Alaska Mariculture Research and Training Center, and addressing industry-driven issues such as site selection and gear design. “After six years growing the seaweed and shellfish farming industry in Maine, I’m excited to return to my home state to help this burgeoning sector thrive,” said Crimp. Crimp is glad to be joining Alaska Sea Grant’s Marine Advisory Program, which covers a wide range of state issues, from subsistence harvesting to climate change adaptation. “As a commercial fisherman, scientist, and lifelong coastal resident, I’m thrilled to be part of a team that works across all aspects of coastal sustainability, ensuring our communities and ecosystems remain vibrant for future generations.”