Aquaculture in Alaska

oyster farm buoys and floating platform near shore

Kachemak Bay shellfish farm. Photo by Deborah Mercy/Alaska Sea Grant.

Shellfish and seaweed farming and salmon hatcheries

Under Alaska state law, aquatic farming is limited to shellfish and seaweeds. The term mariculture refers specifically to the cultivation of marine organisms such as shellfish and seaweeds in a marine environment, distinguishing it from aquaculture, which encompasses all aquatic farming, including anadromous and freshwater species like salmon and trout.

Shellfish farming in Alaska began in the early 1900s when Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were introduced and seed was planted on beaches in Kachemak Bay and Ketchikan. The industry peaked in 1943 but later declined due to regulatory challenges and the remoteness of farms. In the 1970s, oyster farming resumed in southern Alaska, focused on the raw, half-shell market that continues today.

Seaweed farming is a newer industry. Although wild harvesting of seaweed has occurred in Alaska for centuries, the first commercial kelp farm was established in 2016. The sector has expanded quickly, with production reaching a record 872,000 pounds harvested in 2022.

Both shellfish and seaweed farming were supported by the Alaska Aquatic Farm Act of 1988, which created the framework for permitting and management. Since its passage, the industry has grown from a single permitted farm to more than 90 permitted operations statewide.

Salmon ranching is distinct from aquatic farming. It is conducted by private nonprofit hatcheries that release juvenile salmon into the ocean to enhance natural populations. These programs operate under the management of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and are designed to supplement, not replace, wild stocks.

Marine Advisory Program Support

Alaska Sea Grant’s Marine Advisory Program supports the development of Alaska’s mariculture and salmon enhancement sectors through:

Training and workshops for seaweed and shellfish farmers.
Technical assistance with business planning, permitting and farm operations.
Applied research and demonstration projects on species biology, processing and farm techniques.
Collaborative projects with hatcheries and other partners to improve understanding of salmon enhancement and ecosystem interactions.
Outreach and education to increase public understanding of mariculture and salmon ranching activities.

These efforts contribute to Alaska’s sustainable seafood production, workforce development and coastal community resilience.

Aquaculture resources

The Alaska Mariculture Research and Training Center builds partnerships and leverages resources to facilitate and coordinate training, research and dissemination across disciplines, including biology, engineering, economics, marketing and food sciences. Its goal is to support industry and community development and to improve mariculture management. AMRTC is an affiliate of the Alaska Mariculture Alliance and coordinates among public and private mariculture research, training and development organizations as well as state and federal agencies and Tribal entities in Alaska.

The Sea Grant network has established a National Seaweed Hub to serve as a science-based, non-advocacy resource for the domestic seaweed and seaweed aquaculture industry. This collaboration provides a framework to share information, address challenges, identify needs and find opportunities in this emerging industry.

Download the Seaweed Hub report for seaweed parameter testing resources.

The Alaska Aquaculture Permitting Portal is a step-by-step resource for potential and existing aquatic farmers in Alaska. The portal guides you through the necessary steps to receive state and federal authorizations for a new aquatic farm, or authorization renewal, amendment or transfer for existing farms. A companion printable Alaska Aquaculture Permitting Guide PDF is also available.

We have compiled a directory of farms and retailers in Alaska that sell or ship Alaska-grown seaweed or shellfish products. Alaska seafood, whether grown or wild harvest, comes from pristine waters and is prized as some of the highest quality seafood in the world.