The Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) is a statewide coalition that exists to catalyze the mariculture industry of Alaska for long-term economic, environmental, and community benefit. Partners include shellfish and seaweed producers, tribal and trade organizations, regulatory agencies, universities, and others.
The coalition is supported by a $49 million US Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge award, led by Southeast Conference. There are eight grant components that address topics including workforce development, market development, research projects, and technology deployment. AFDF is the subawardee for the following grant projects:
Joint Innovation Projects
As part of the Research & Development grant component, AFDF oversees the administration of the Joint Innovation Projects (JIP) program. The 29 individual research projects address a variety of challenges in Alaska’s emerging mariculture industry, including creating private sector partnerships, testing new technology and techniques, and implementing innovative solutions to industry barriers. Project findings and outputs are publicly available to benefit current and future industry participants.
As part of the Research & Development grant component, AFDF directs the De-Risking Investments & Site Suitability Program that supports confidence in Alaska’s emerging mariculture industry by reducing barriers to farm investment and site-selection. Investors and developers in Alaska’s mariculture sector face elevated levels of uncertainty, including site-exposure risk, physical ocean conditions, biological inputs, and capital cost assumptions. This research component addresses these risks by generating publicly available data to aid in decision making and investment readiness. Two projects have been awarded funding:
AFDF leads the Seaweed Tissue Analysis Program under the Research & Development grant component. This program has funded projects focused on analyzing seaweed tissue composition to help better understand potential uses of Alaskan kelps and other seaweeds. The Seaweed Tissue Analysis Project is directly supporting commercialization and growth of the seaweed sector by providing insights such as nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, and variability between seaweed species, ultimately helping to realize the economic potential of Alaskan seaweeds.
By building a scientific foundation for market pathways, quality assurance, and marketability, the program is supporting:
Product development in food, nutraceuticals, biostimulants, bioplastics, cosmetics, and more.
Innovation in processing and extraction techniques for high-value compounds.
Future seaweed farming and harvesting strategies.
Establishing industry standards for seaweed quality and composition.
Attracting investment and market interest in Alaska’s mariculture sector.
2025: Marine Biologics: Consulting & Analysis on 2024 Seaweed Tissue Lab Data, and advising on 2025 Sampling effort.
AFDF and Marine Biologics organized sampling from primarily commercial farming operations to be analyzed and contribute to the growing collection of seaweed chemical compositional data.
Green Energy in Mariculture
AFDF manages the Green Energy in Mariculture project component, with programs designed to develop sustainable energy sources and minimize fossil fuel usage in the mariculture industry. The funded projects will collect current baseline energy usage data, analyze renewable energy alternatives, and develop a long-term renewable energy plan that includes a “best practice” guide for energy audits and standards across the industry. These objectives position the mariculture industry towards energy efficient and forward-looking designs right from the start, creating cost-effective, sustainable operations that are resilient to future changes.
