News
NOAA Fisheries releases 2024 Alaska Aquaculture Accomplishments Report
October 8, 2024 By Aquaculture North America staff
NOAA Fisheries Aquaculture staff discussing oyster farming strategies with stakeholders near Juneau, Alaska. (Photo: NOAA Fisheries) NOAA Fisheries has released its 2024 Alaska Aquaculture Accomplishments Report, highlighting some of its key aquaculture project highlights.
In 2024, the NOAA Alaska Regional Office and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center continued supporting Alaska’s aquaculture industry.
A press release from NOAA states that The Alaska Aquaculture Program’s FY24 aquaculture activities supported all the strategic goals outlined in NOAA’s national 2023-2028 Aquaculture Strategic Plan:
- Manage sustainably and efficiently
- Lead science for sustainability
- Educate and exchange information
- Support economic viability and growth
The NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Aquaculture Program engaged in projects to develop Alaska’s aquaculture industry outlined in NOAA’s 2024 Aquaculture Accomplishments Report.
Here are some of NOAA’s Aquaculture Project Highlights:
Aquaculture Opportunity Area Spatial Planning Workshops
In coordination with the State of Alaska, NOAA hosted a series of spatial planning workshops in 2024. It saw over 140 people in attendance. It identified data gaps, points of contact, and next steps for engagement and data collection.
Optimizing the Tumble Culture Method
Tumble cages improve oyster shape, size, and yield while reducing labour for farmers. Previous trials of tumble culture methods in Alaska have been unsuccessful due to the turbulent conditions found at many Alaskan oyster farms.
A tumble culture array being tested in the intertidal zone near Juneau, Alaska. (Photo: NOAA Fisheries)
In this project a team of engineers, oyster farmers, and biologists designed, fabricated, and deployed research-scale tumble culture gear at intertidal and subtidal farms across Southeast Alaska. Initial results show success in rearing oysters within the intertidal tumble cages, generating design ideas for future gear testing in Alaska.
Classroom Tumble Culture
In 2021, NOAA built a tumble culture for Ḵ’aach’ for a classroom in Klukwan. In 2024, an Alaska Regional Office’s Sea Grant fellow created a new mobile seaweed aquaculture unit for a Juneau classroom.
NOAA installed a seaweed aquaculture unit in a Juneau classroom in FY24. (Photo: NOAA Fisheries)
It was designed for a more compact, quieter classroom operation, with the potential to grow additional seaweed species.
The fellowship project also expanded the curriculum and developed a construction manual with videos showing construction and maintenance.
Establish Assistant Regional Aquaculture Coordinator Position
Hannah Wilson has been appointed as an assistant regional aquaculture coordinator.
One of her primary responsibilities is to support the Aquaculture Opportunity Area identification process. She will coordinate outreach, facilitate meetings, establish working groups with state and federal partners, and support data requests.
NOAA Fisheries Assistant Regional Aquaculture Coordinator Hannah Wilson visits a Juneau oyster farm. (Photo: NOAA Fisheries)
Wilson will also coordinate projects with partners including state and federal regulatory agencies, non-government organizations, tribes, and other entities.
