Kelp Farms and Marine Life Co-Exist in Southeast Alaska

Marine aquaculture, or mariculture, provides economic opportunities for coastal communities in Alaska through farming shellfish and seaweed. NOAA Fisheries continues to support Alaska’s growing aquaculture industry through policy and permitting—providing access to resources and research.

A recent study highlights one of our newest aquaculture research collaborations. Through this partnership between the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Sea Quester Farms, we investigated whether seaweed farms provide novel habitat for Alaskan marine species. We compared the fish and invertebrate species present within Sea Quester farm sites to similar locations with no farms, and found no major difference. The research provided a better understanding of how kelp farms interact with the environment, which could help inform sustainable management.

“This study responded to a direct need from resource managers and interest from farmers to understand specifically how the presence of kelp farms in Alaska influenced culturally and economically important fish and invertebrate species,” said Jordan Hollarsmith, Ph.D., lead author and macroalgae and mariculture research biologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

Diving into Kelp Aquaculture Research

Worldwide, seaweed aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry. An increasing number of seaweed farms are sprouting up in the United States, including in Alaska.

Beyond boosting sustainable seafood production, seaweed farms offer expanding opportunities for maritime employment and support vibrant working waterfronts. Across the nation, they generate vital economic growth in coastal communities. With its vast coastline offering cold, clean, and nutrient-dense waters, coastal Alaska is ideally positioned for seaweed aquaculture.