The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries has chosen Alaska as the next region in which to look for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas, following on planning already underway off the southern California coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.
An Aquaculture Opportunity Area is a defined geographic area that NOAA has determined to be environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate to support multiple commercial aquaculture operations. NOAA also evaluates these areas through both spatial analysis and the National Environmental Policy Act process. Sustainable marine aquaculture – also referred to in Alaska as mariculture – currently helps support Alaska’s blue economy, contributing to sustainable seafood, and local economies.
The effort to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas will be focused in Alaska state waters based on feedback from stakeholders, tribes, and current industry interest. NOAA will only consider shellfish and seaweed farming; finfish farming in Alaska state waters is prohibited by law. With more coastline than all of the Lower 48 states combined, Alaska is uniquely positioned to benefit from growing the marine aquaculture industry.
“Selecting Alaska to begin the process of identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas supports long-term goals for both NOAA and the State of Alaska, and strengthens our federal and state partnership,” said NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Administrator Jon Kurland. “We look forward to working with our state partners to increase seafood production from aquaculture, which has potential for significant growth into the future.”