Alaskan mariculture: a lifeline for The Last Frontier

Thea Thomas and her partner Cale Hershcleb have blazed a trail for seaweed farming in Prince William Sound, having been operational for four seasons as the Royal Ocean Kelp Co. 

Combining scientific curiosity and practical grit, Olivia Duner and Jonny Antoni - with the support of several friends - set up Sea Quester Farms in 2022 in a bid to establish a regenerative aquaculture operation in Bear Creek, near Juneau. 

Working with one of North America’s largest seaweed processors on one side, and a range of Alaska’s fledgling seaweed farmers on the other, Mothers of Millions is ensuring that growers have a market, while processors have a reliable supply. 

Sean Crosby gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Kachemak Shellfish Growers’ oyster hatchery in Homer, Alaska – an operation that’s helping to fuel the state’s mariculture boom.

Jeff Hetrick, director of the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute, a tribally managed marine research facility in Seward, Southeast Alaska, offers insights into the potential offered by the state’s growing mariculture sector, and the pitfalls it needs to overcome.

Kelp culture is still in its infancy in Alaska, but Evie Witten of the Kachemak Kelp Hub has plenty of ideas to unlock the market potential of the world’s fastest-growing seaweed.

Greg Bates of Alaska Shellfish Farms recounts how he and his family have managed to grow their oyster business over the course of 17 years.

The kelp farms of Kodiak are now ready to expand, if buyers - and the necessary processing infrastructure to serve them - emerge on time.

How can fishers dabble in mariculture? Two ladies in Alaska show us how to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Oyster and kelp farming are offering fresh opportunities for the scattered inhabitants of Prince of Wales Island, and those at the sharp end of the industry believe that mariculture could help to secure a sustainable economic future for Southeast Alaska.

A new $49 million grant aims to reinvigorate the Alaskan mariculture scene, prioritising native and traditionally underserved communities