© Hatch Innovation Services / The Fish Site
The platform provides a detailed overview of Alaska’s seaweed and oyster farming industries and their supply chains.
The project is led by Southeast Conference Alaska (SEC) and Hatch Innovation Services (HIS), in collaboration with FS Media, The Fish Site’s in-house marketing agency.
“Witnessing the Alaskan people's motivation and belief in what they are doing is truly inspiring. The state’s natural resources, the professionalism of the farmers and the support of local and state organisations is a winning combination. This platform will help to give mariculture stakeholders the stage they deserve,” notes Nitzan Unger, senior project manager at Hatch Innovation Services, on return from visiting key players in the sector.
“The Alaskan mariculture industry faces an incredible opportunity to set an example for what modern and sustainable ocean farming can and should look like. And, if you're looking for resources on how to do it, we hope this platform will be a valuable guide,” adds Moritz Mueller, managing director of The Fish Site and FS Media, who joined Unger for the fact-finding trip.
The Alaska Mariculture Cluster, which has been awarded a $49 million grant from the EDA’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, is a key partner in this effort.
Managed by SEC and supported by the Alaskan Mariculture Alliance, the cluster is focused on highlighting and developing the local industry. Notably, the project ensures that at least 25 percent of its impacts benefit Alaska’s native communities and entities.
Drawing on extensive primary and secondary research, including interviews with key industry stakeholders - such as hatcheries, farmers, processors, and innovators - the platform delivers an in-depth analysis of the current state of technology and techniques in seaweed and oyster production. The platform also presents production insights by species, broken down into the different supply chain stages. It aims to benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including private investors, government entities looking to generate jobs through restorative aquaculture, and blue economy project specialists.
For additional information, please visit Alaska Mariculture Insights, or contact Charlie Herrington (charlie@seconference.org) from Alaska Mariculture Cluster, or Nitzan Unger (nitzan@hatch.blue) from Hatch Innovation Services.
