Fellowship spotlight: Rachel French

Mariculture, the farming of seaweed and shellfish, has steadily grown in Alaska from a few operations in the 1970s to more than 60 farms today. These farms each support a small business in Alaska’s coastal communities. Current efforts are underway to provide strategic assistance to support growth of the industry.

As an Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow, Rachel French is working with Alaska Sea Grant’s mariculture team to help foster that growth by addressing the evolving needs of the oyster farming industry. French is helping revise the Alaska Oyster Growers’ Manual, last updated in 2012. Since that time, the industry has changed with the introduction of new equipment and farming practices. The updated manual will provide new and established farmers with the latest know-how for running a successful operation, from business planning and site selection, to equipment choices and best practices. The manual will also include a new chapter on biosecurity.

“Biosecurity is about ensuring oyster farming operations don’t harm local ecosystems,” explained French. “There are steps that must be taken to transport seed into Alaska, for example, to make sure that disease and nonnative species are not being brought here from out of state.”

French also supports the Alaska Mariculture Research and Training Center and contributes to Alaska Sea Grant’s outreach efforts. This work has taken her around coastal Alaska, interviewing oyster farmers in Prince of Wales, and leading community engagement events in Sitka. She co-hosted the Alaska Seaweed and Shellfish Festival during the 2025 Mariculture Conference of Alaska, highlighting mariculture products for the Sitka community.

French’s work in mariculture aligns with her professional interest in supporting local communities and the sustainable use of marine resources. Prior to her fellowship, she earned her master’s degree from the University of Miami, where she studied whale shark tourism operations in La Paz, Mexico. Her research focused on the risks posed to whale sharks from vessel collisions, and on sustainable management strategies.

“I was drawn to Alaska Sea Grant because of the work they do within local communities and the support they provide for industries such as mariculture,” said French. “I consider myself lucky to be able to work in and explore Alaska.”

More information about the Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program and our mariculture work is available on the Alaska Sea Grant website.