A state task force set up to further develop a sustainable mariculture industry is setting up several advisory committees as part of that process.
The Alaska Mariculture Task Force was set up by Gov. Bill Walker following recommendations by the state’s marine industry. The group announced January 13 that after five meetings it is on its way to proposing an implementable plan by its deadline of March 1, 2018. These recommendations will address public and private investment, regulatory issues, and research and development needs.
To that end, AMTF has created advisory committees that will be focusing on research, development and environmental information, regulatory issues, investment and infrastructure, workforce development, public education and marketing.
“I think we’re on the right track,” said Julie Decker, vice-chair of the task force and executive director of Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation. Through its Alaska Mariculture Initiative, Decker explained AFDF had for several years pushed for the task force’s formation, following indications the mariculture sector showed potential for greater development. The initiative’s goal is to put Alaska mariculture on course to grow into a billion-dollar industry within 30 years, adding to the state’s overall fishing industry.
In an economic analysis AFDF prepared in March 2015, it found conditions were right to further diversify the state’s fishing industry, showing mariculture has potential as a developable sector. For one, consumption in Asia has improved the demand for geoduck, hard clams, seaweed and other products, creating a market and boosting the price.
The economic assessment also looked to various case |studies which could be replicated in Alaska. These could bring in new methods, such as mussel raft farming developed by fishermen in northwestern Spain, or mechanized seaweed cultivation as done by the Irish. Future maricultural efforts could also look to support efforts to bolster the state’s wild stocks of salmon
and crab.
The Alaska Division of Economic Development also looked into the prospects of mariculture, releasing its Alaska Shellfish Farm Size Feasibility Study shortly after in May 2015. The study compared short and long-term profitability for oyster and geoduck farms of varying sizes. It found most of the state’s aquatic farms were small-acreage operations, which were less efficient in terms of return than larger scale farms.
Decker pointed out the state’s multibillion-dollar seafood industry has much of the workforce, vessels and processing infrastructure to support greater mariculture. But for long-term development of the sector, a more concerted effort would be needed to best put Alaska’s assets to work and encourage it.
“We recognized that in order to develop this industry the state needs to be a part of it,” she said.
Formed by Walker last March by administrative order, the task force is focused on developing a viable and
sustainable mariculture industry. The task force defines mariculture as aquatic farming of shellfish and aquatic plants
in Alaska waters, as well as enhancement of wild fisheries – though not the farming of finfish, which is illegal in the state.
In its release, the task force identified mariculture of various shellfish species and seaweed as having potential to provide jobs and commerce in coastal communities while also increasing access to local foods. Culture of shellfish and aquatic plants can also bring environmental benefits to the local ecosystem, through habitat improvement and carbon removal.
Other members included Department of Commerce commissioner and task force chairman Chris Hladick, Paula Cullenberg, Angel Drobnica, Jeff Hetrick, Heather McCarty, Sam Rabung, Mike Stekoll, Kate Sullivan, Chris Whitehead and Eric Wyatt. Additional information on the members is provided on the MTF webpage, atwww.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=amtf.main.
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