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Farming 101 An Introduction to Seaweed Farming in Alaska

Presented by: Kendall Barbery and Lindsay Olsen

February 2, 2021 Land Acknowledgement

Image Source: Native-Land.ca What is seaweed?

“Seaweed” is the common name for numerous species of marine

Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic aquatic organisms

Including microscopic, free floating organisms (called “microalgae”) such as phytoplankton

And macroscopic “fixed” organisms (called “macroalgae”) such as bull kelp

Photo Credit: Noyo Center (2020) What is seaweed?

Image source: L - Lindeberg and Lindstrom (2015) Field Guide to of Alaska R - Garza, Dolly (2005) Common Edible Seaweeds in the Gulf of Alaska What is seaweed?

Photo Credit: L&R - Kendall Barbery, GreenWave What is seaweed?

Photo Credit: L, ADF&G, R, Ross Jones, Common Edible Seaweeds in the Gulf of Alaska What is seaweed farming?

Cultivation of macroalgae

Using hatchery-produced seed

Attached to submerged horizontal grow-out lines with related gear

Usually during winter months SEAWEED

SCALLOPS

MUSSELS

OYSTERS & CLAMS What is seaweed farming?

Usually during winter months

Compatible with other types of aquatic farming

And with summer-season commercial fishing activity

SEAWEED

SCALLOPS

MUSSELS

OYSTERS & CLAMS Species Overview Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana)

Photo Credit: L - Jackie Hildering - The Marine Detective R - Noyo Center (2020) Species Overview Ribbon kelp (Alaria marginata)

Photo Credit: L&R - Jennifer Wu, Edible Alaska Species Overview Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima)

Photo Credit: L - Kendall Barbery, GreenWave R - Alf Pryor, Blue Evolution WhatWhat is seaweed? is kelp?

Blade

Bull Kelp, Stipe Sugar Kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana Saccharina latissima Holdfast Photo Credit: baynature.org, NOAA Kelp Farming So how does this work?

Sorus tissue

Photo Credit: L - Ashley Hamilton M&R- Allegra Anderson Photography Kelp Farming So how does this work?

Photo Credit: L - Ashley Hamilton, GreenWave M & R - Kendall Barbery, GreenWave Kelp Farming So how does this work?

Photo Credit: Dave Bailey, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Kelp Farming So how does this work?

Photo Credit: GreenWave What do kelp farms look like?

Photo Credit: GreenWave, Thimble Island Ocean Farm in Branford, CT What do kelp farms look like?

Photo Credit: Still from Seagrove Kelp Company video of 100+ acre Craig, AK farm What do kelp farms look like?

Photo Credit: Still from WWF (2019) Our Planet episode about Bren Smith Example Simplified Diagram of a Single-Line System

Retrieval Buoy 200’ Anchor Line Growline Buoy Buoy 50’

Anchor Tag Line Growline (or Longline) Anchor Line +/- Chain What do kelp farms look like?

Photo Credit: Lindsay Olsen, GreenWave What do kelp farms look like?

Photo Credit: Domenic Mangenelli What do kelp farms look like? Catenary Framing Lines Longlines/Growlines

Buoy

Anchor

Retrieval Buoy

Tag Line Anchor Line +/- Chain

Credit: Adapted from design by Cliff Goudey & Associates What do kelp farms look like?

Photo Credit: Alf Pryor, Dead Humpy Creations Where are people farming kelp?

There are currently 27 aquatic farms permitted to grow various species of seaweed in Alaska, with 12 farms permitted exclusively for kelp

But not all permitted farms are actively growing seaweed, yet

Most seaweed farming activity is concentrated around regional hubs (such as Kodiak-Sun’aq and Ketchikan-Kichx̱áan) where seed suppliers and processors are established

With other hubs emerging near Cordova-Arwartuliq and Homer/Kachemak Bay-Qackimak.

Photo Credit: Blue Evolution Kelp Hatcheries Who is producing seed?

Cordova-Arwartuliq

Seward-Qutalleq Juneau-Dzánti K’ihéeni

Ketchikan-Kichx̱áan Kodiak-Sun’aq Kelp Farming How is Kelp Being Used?

Food Non-Food

Photo Credit: Atlantic Farms, Barnacle Foods, Akua Foods, Kelp Help, Lolliware, Nathan Taft What do AK farmers do with the kelp?

Most growers are currently harvesting and selling raw, unprocessed kelp to for-profit processing companies

These companies handle cleaning, sorting, processing, and the of value-added products such as blanched kelp noodles, kelp pasta, salsas, and spice mixes

Some small-scale independent growers may be developing “cottage ” products, which also require direct marketing to consumers

5-year rule! Photo Credit: Blue Evolution Who is processing kelp in AK?

Blue Evolution, in Kodiak, in coordination with Kodiak Island Wild Source

Barnacle Foods, in Juneau

EC Phillips, in Ketchikan, in coordination with Seagrove Kelp Co.

Photo Credit: Madelaine Voegeli / Sea Grove Kelp What kind of price can I expect?

It varies dramatically based on who you sell to, how, and where!

● Direct Market / Cottage Industry ○ Low Volume: 10s of lbs ○ High Price Point: $10-20+/lb

● Food Ingredient Wholesale ○ High Volume: 100s - 10000s of lbs ○ Low to Mid-Price Point: $0.45-8/lb

● Non-Food Use ○ High Volume: 1000s - 10000s of lbs ○ Low Price Point: < $1/lb

Photo credit: GreenWave So, whatSo, elsehow do do I Ineed do this? to know?

It can take up to two years to secure a lease and permit to operate

The Joint Application period for a DNR lease and ADF&G aquatic farm permit is open January 1 - April 30, annually

If you do not already have access to a site, good first steps include thinking about your business goals and assessing potential sites that would be feasible and profitable for you to farm Photo Credit: Noyo Center (2020) The 50:50 rule (50 individuals from within 50km of your farm site)

It costs money Kelp Farming Lease and Permit Costs

The cost of your aquatic farm lease and the permitting process depends upon the size of your lease and operation. Regardless of the size, fees may include:

● Cost of Alaska business license (usually $50, but currently free due to COVID-19) ● ADNR lease application fee, variable: ○ $600 if less than 1 acre ○ $1200 if 1-3 acres ○ $2000 if over 3 acres ● Aquatic farm permit application filing fee ($100 for an individual; $200 for a company) ● Annual lease fee ($450 for first acre plus $125/acre for each additional acre) ● Liability and workers compensation, as applicable (variable) ● ADNR minimum bond ($2500)

Source: Alaska’s Aquatic Farm Program, Part 1: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/license/aquaticfarming/pdfs/aqua_part1.pdf Kelp Farming Lease and Permit Costs

For example, a 7-acre site may cost approximately $5,850.00 in lease and permitting fees in the first year:

$0-50 Alaska business license (fee currently suspended) $2,000 ADNR lease application fee $100 ADF&G aquatic farm permit application filing fee $450 Annual lease fee (1st acre) $125 x 6 Annual lease fee (remaining 6 acres) x Liability insurance and workers compensation, as applicable (variable) $2,500 ADNR minimum bond ($2500) $5,850 ● Access ✔ ● Social and Cultural Suitability ✔

● Biophysical Suitability ✔

Photo Credit: SeaGrove Kelp Co. Order of Operations

Identify 2-3 potential sites

Evaluate and compare the sites

Use these helpful mapping tools: ADF&G Aquatic Farm Operations Map Order of Operations

Identify 2-3 potential sites

Evaluate and compare the sites

Use these helpful mapping tools: ADF&G Aquatic Farm Operations Map AOOS Map BETA

Farm Design What’s Next? Farm Design What’s Next? Photo Credit: Still from WWF (2019) Our Planet episode about Bren Smith Thank you!

Email: [email protected]