NOAA Fisheries and Sea Quester Farms partnered up to evaluate if kelp farms provide habitat for marine life in Alaska. Pictured here is one of Sea Quester’s farms in southeast Alaska near Juneau. Credit: Hatch Blue, Alaska Mariculture Cluster

Kelp Farms and Marine Life Co-Exist in Southeast Alaska

10/3/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. 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… SEE MORE
Sablefish farmed in net pens at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center. Credit: Megan Ewald for NOAA Fisheries.

Managing Genetic Risk in Offshore Aquaculture

9/19/2026 - By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. Aquaculture can sustainably produce seafood to complement wild-caught fisheries. However, like all food systems, aquaculture requires sound science to ensure farmed species don’t harm wild species. Scientists at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center are working to understand the genetic risks in offshore aquaculture. NOAA has identified 21,000… SEE MORE
Atlantic bumpers, one of the marine finfish species being raised from larvae as part of the collaboration. Image credit: NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

U.S. Aquariums and Universities Collaborate on Transformative Aquaculture of Marine Fish

8/6/2026 - By Seagrant.noaa.gov, Seagrant.noaa.gov. A nationwide collaboration among public aquariums and research institutions has developed new methods to breed more than 20 marine fish species in human care, reducing reliance on wild-caught animals while launching new public resources to help advance sustainable aquaculture. Through a multi-year initiative titled “Catalyzing Marine Finfish Aquaculture… SEE MORE
A person tends to oyster beds at an oyster farm in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries)

NOAA Strengthens Commitment to Aquaculture Through New Cooperative Institute

6/28/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. Today, NOAA announced the University of New Hampshire as host institution for the new NOAA Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets (CIFARM) to expand NOAA’s impact and strengthen efforts to boost American seafood competitiveness. After a highly competitive application process, this new five-year cooperative institute will harness partnerships… SEE MORE
Apprentice Kailey Triant, from the 2025 Apprenticeship in Shellfish Aquaculture Program, sorts oysters for market with partner farmer Lisa Calvo of Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm. Separating marketable oysters from smaller ones is a way that farmers manage their inventory while ensuring that a high-quality product is provided to consumers.

5 Ways Aquaculture is Boosting Coastal Economies

3/26/2026 - By seagrant.noaa.gov, seagrant.noaa.gov.   1. Supporting disaster recovery for Louisiana’s crawfish industry In 2023, record-setting drought and extreme heat devastated Louisiana’s crawfish industry, a critical aquaculture sector that supports thousands of jobs and significantly contributes to the state’s economy. Louisiana Sea Grant worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to document the… SEE MORE
Crew aboard a small boat operated by the Seagrove Kelp Company harvests farmed kelp from an inlet in southeast Alaska. Undated image. (Image credit: NOAA Fisheries)

New Atlas Identifies Potential Opportunities for Aquaculture in Gulf of Alaska

2/21/2026 - By noaa.gov, noaa.gov. NOAA published today the Atlas for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs)offsite link, identifying 77 locations that may be suitable for sustainable shellfish and seaweed aquaculture operations in the Gulf of Alaska. This effort is part of NOAA’s commitment to prioritize American seafood competitiveness while strengthening the nation’s seafood industry,… SEE MORE