published in 2021 in Scotland – another part of the world where seaweed aquaculture is seen as a promising new industry. Among them, according to the report: shading that reduces sunlight needed by other organisms within the water column, possible introduction of invasive species, underwater entanglements of marine mammals and obstructions to travel in the water.
The labor squeeze that is affecting the economy as a whole can also make it difficult for aquaculture operators to attract workers, especially considering the physical rigors of harvesting. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, the state agency that promotes Alaska fish, is unable to help, at least for now.
, expanded the scope of mariculture projects eligible for state permitting and grant funding. But in a late change in the Senate, a provision that would have granted ASMI authority to promote mariculture products was removed. Ortiz admits to being a relatively recent seaweed convert himself and someone who needed a little marketing-type persuasion.
Success involves getting more converts like himself, he said. “Part of that is being able to get mariculture products marketed worldwide through ASMI and other venues.”In Alaska Native culture, seaweed is a traditional food, with no such marketing outreach needed. That leads to some wariness in Indigenous communities about the proliferation of kelp farms., expressed some of those concerns at last month’s conference.
AlaskaBeacon Why go through the effort of farming? I’m sure there are suckers out there that are willing to pay for its carbon sequestration value if you leave it as is.
AlaskaBeacon Message for Dunleavy…bring back our marine highway.