AKU-G-92-006 C3
Marine Resources
MARINE ADVISORY: PROGRAM Vol. VII No. 4 UNIVERSITY Of ALASKA —BBftHWB OK—- December 1992
In This Issue: Growing Shemish in Alaska l0^' coPy,. "A/ ':•'
Shellfish Aquaculture in Alaska: Its Promise and Constraints If you hope to succeed in the growing Alaskan shellfish industry, a good understanding of what is involved is required. Marine Advisory aquaculture specialist, Ray RaLonde, describes some of the history and the culture pro cess for a variety of species that are possible in Alaska 2
Aquatic Farm Permits Prior to 1988 aquatic farm permitting was a confusing and lengthy ordeal. Regulations were often unclear or non-existent. But with passage of the aquatic farm act, permit processing became formalized. However, for many people the process is still difficult to understand. Mariculture coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Jim Cochran, explains what you need to know to get started
Commercial Oyster Farming: Part ofStudents Training In 1989 Petersburg high school instructor, Jack Eddy, conducted shellfish and plankton research in his area with the hopes of establishing a school aquaculture program. With the students involved from the beginning, a program was established with grant money. It has been so successful that it is now in the process of becoming a self-sustaining business with a scholar ship program
Sea Farming Alaska Style Long time oyster farmer, Don Nickolson tells it like it is. Oyster farming in Alaska is not a retirement occupation. It involves long hours and resource fulness. But most of all he says it requires perseveranoe
Is Aquatic Farming in Alaska for You? If you are considering shellfishaquaculture, this checklistcan help you determine whether aquatic farming is feasible for your particular situation. Even though a busi ness plan is not required by the state of Alaskato obtain an aquatic farming permit, it is well understood by persons doing well in aquaculture that one is necessary for success. This is a good place to start planning your business 10
Marine Advisory Program, Alaska Sea Grant College Program, Schoolof Fisheries and Ocean Sciences ShellfishAquaculture inAlaska Its promise and constraints by Raymond RaLonde Alaska's shellfish aquaculture industry has a relatively long and send a tissue sample to the DEC laboratory in Palmer, history beginning in 1910 with theintroduction ofthe Pacific Alaska fortesting. Thesamples mustpassthe testbefore shellfish oyster. Although distributed on intertidal beaches from Ketchikan can be shipped to market. Because of itsextremetoxicity, PSP Ls to Kachemak Bay, the oystersgrew best in southeasternAlaska. a major concern to the industry, but the perception thatit hin Theindustry continued until 1961, but production remained ders shellfish aquaculture is inaccurate. Over 10years of exten small peaking in 1943 with the sale of550 galloas ofoyster meat.' sive PSP monitoring of shellfish farms have resulted in very few failed tests. Shellfish culturestarted again in the late 1970swith reintroduc- tionof Pacific oysterspat (juvenile bivalveshellfish) into south- . The constraints to aquaculture may seem overwhelming, but east Alaska. This time the renewed industry cultured oysters for Alaska holds a major advantage not found in other states, supe rawconsumptionin the halfshellmarket. Restrained primarily riorwaterquality. Whileshellfish harvestareas around the by lack of capital and restrictive tidelands permitregulations, the UnitedStatesare seeing more restrictions and closures,Akiskan industry was confined to a few farms near Wrangell, Alaska. aquaculture isexpanding. Superiorwater qualityand stria sanitation standards now place Alaskan aquaculture products in In 1989, implementationand funding of Alaska Senate Bill 514 a very competitive position. revitalized the shellfishculture industry. New regulationsstream lined permit processing, agency coordination vastlyimproved, In Alaska, each species with aquaculture potential has special and changes in tidelandspermit regulations added more stability promises and constraints.Finding ways of dealing with the to the industry.The improvements in the permittingprocess constraintsand taking advantage ofthe promises are what will induced a surge in permit applications. By the end of 1992,72 ultimately determine the success or failure of each shellfish aquatic farms will be permitted to culture seaweed, clam, scallop, aquaculture venture. blue mussel, abalone, and sea urchin. Pacific oyster The new Alaskanshellfishfarmers have many challenges.To begin with, the state of Alaska does not allow importationof any Pacific oystersdo not reproduce in the cold waters of Alaska. As fish or shellfish into the stateother than Pacific oysterspat that a result, Alaskan oysterfarmers must buy oysterspat from a are less then 20 mm in length. In addition, oyster spat must be shellfish hatchery. Unfortunately, Alaska does not have a shellfish purchased from shellfish hatcheriesapproved by the Alaska hatchery so farmers are compelled to buy spat froman out of Departmentof Fishand Game. These importationrestrictions state hatchery. Reliance on outside sources of oysterspat places requireshellfish farms, culturingspecies other than Pacific oys farmers in a precarious positionbecause oysterhatcheries are ters,use only species nativeto Alaska. often reluctant to sellspat to Alaska. Unwillingness to sellspat is caused primarilyby low demand for spat, and the time and High operation cost is a major problem faced by the Alaska expense required by the hatchery to receive a disease free shellfish farmer. High transportation cost to ship equipment to certification fromthe stateof Alaska. Shellfish hatcherymanagers the farms and product to market is a major reason for the prob are quickto point out that theirfacilities produce millions of spat lem Asan example, increased production costs require Alaskan that sellwith little trouble to non-Alaskan farms. Despite these oysterfarmers to ask for $3-$4 comparedto $2-$3 fora dozen problemsand because of expected increasingdemand for spat, oysters culturedin the stateof Washingtoa Tough competition a few shellfish hatcherieshave receivedcertification and shipped from Pacificnorthwest oyster farms compels the Alaska farmer to spat into Alaska. However, this coming spring only one shellfish increase efficiency and cut production cost to succeed. hatchery willbe certified to ship oysterspat to Alaska.
Presence of paralyticshellfishpoison toxin (PSP)affectsall Complicating the problem ofspat acquisition is the timing of bivalveshellfish cultured in Alaska. PSP is a naturally occurring when spat arriveat the farm. Ideally,oyster spat should start toxinfound inseveral speciesof microscopic dinoflagellate arriving in early spring to take advantage of the dense plankton algae. Shellfish consume the toxic algae and accumulate the blooms. During these bloom periods, oyster spat can double toxin in their intestinaltractsand tissues.The potential to concen their shell size iria few weeks, but delayed arrivalofspat, trate PSPtoxin requires shellfishcultured in Alaskato meet a caused by reliance on outside spat sources, may result in missing safetystandard of less than 80 mg of PSPtoxin per 100grams of the first spring growing seasoa This happened in 1992when tissue. To comply with these standards, the Departmentof spat shipments to many farms arrived in mid-summer. EnvironmentalConservation (DEC)requires PSPscreening of culture bivalves before marketing. The screening process re Alaska is an outstanding place for Pacificoyster culture. Although quiresthat a farmerharvestshellfish, place them in cold storage, native to warmer waters, it is an attractivespecies for aquaculture in Alaska because itgrows very well in cold water providing phous into theiradult form. Theoretically, a musselfarmercan there is abundant, high quality plankton. Many estuaries in collect spat by simply deploying, at the properlocation and time, Alaskaproduce so much high quality plankton during bloom a material that larvaprefer to set on. Hemp or coconut ropes are periods that they can match the growth achieved in warmer good materials. After the metamorphosis occurs,the spat are waters of the Pacific northwest Cold, dean water also reduces transplantedto the farm where they grow to market size.The bacteriacontamination extending shelf-life and assuringsafetyof process may seem easy, but the farmer may need to modifythe Alaska culturedoysters,especiallyoysterseaten raw. technique to get a good set of mussel spat
Pacific oysters, grown in warmer waters, reach sexual maturation Mussel larvagenerallyset during the summer. Spatare readyfor during their second summer oflife,causing them to become soft transfer to culturegear during the fell or spring following the set and milkycolored. These characteristics make oystersunmarket The farmerremovesspat from the gear and packs them into a able. In Alaska, because cold water temperature retardsmatura net mesh tube,calleda mussel sock.The spat filled mussel sock tion, high quality oysters are available during the summer. High is hung froma raftor buoy untilthe musselsreach marketsize. quality, summer oysters allow farmers to market their product In Alaska, blue musselsgrow from spat to a market size of two when there is less competition which can result in a higher price. to three inches in about one year.
Blue mussel A major constraint for culturing blue mussels is the labor re quired to fill the mussel socks, and to harvest and process mus Native populationsof blue musselsliveon many beaches in sels for market. Mechanicalaids are available that can help to Alaska. Beingso abundant, you may ask, "Whyculture mussels reduce labor,but the equipment is expensive. Marketing is ifthey are everywhere?" This is a good question. Mussels are importantfor mussel culture to succeed because the west coast everywhere,but they are not alwaysedible because beach populations ofthe United Statesare not traditionalmussel con grown musselstend to accumulatesand stirredup from the sumers. Mussels tend to accumulate PSP toxin faster and to bottom and small pearls may develop. These mussels are not higher levels than other shellfish.This increases the chances of marketable, but mussels cultured off the bottom eliminates the high PSPtest results that will deny or postpone sales. The risk is gritproblem The musselsalsogrow faster. greater during the summer and is site dependent Some farms have also experienced high summer moralities at harvesttime. Mussel farmers cannot buyspatfrom a shellfish hatchery. To These high moralities can cut deeply into profits, and require startthe mussel farm, the formermust capture spat from the wild further investigation. population. Successful capture of mussel spat requires an under standing of the bivalve life history, and using a propercollection Despite these obstacles,mussel culture has promise because technique. cultured musselsare high qualityand fastgrowing. Attaining an adequate production levelto allow mechanizationof some of Bivalves reproducemainly by releasing eggsand sperm intothe the laborious tasks, providing a stable flow of product to the water. After fertilization, a sequence of free floating larval stages market, and marketing are some of the challenges facing the develop. Near completion ofthe last larval stage, thelarvae seek mussel farmer. a preferred substance to attach to and go through metamor- Scallop
Growth of Pacific Oysters The muscle from the large scallop is in great demand in 5 Locations and commands a high price,sellingfor over $2 per pound at the wholesale level. Because of • 100 these attractive features, several farmers • 80>Marketable have permits to culture scallops. Four a 601 size scallop species have aquaculture ® ^O Shell height potential.Of these species, the D 20 in millimeters weathervane scallop attractsthe most attention since it grows to a marketable size muscle. Unfortu Southeast Alaska nately, weathervane scallop spat are not available be Yakatat cause shellfish hatchery Washington technology has not November been successful in British Columbia producing spat. November •Prince William June April While wild spat The PWS data are not extended to November because oysters reach market size by April collection, has been Scallop spat from other bivalvespecies because they grow on the bottom 9 ft. below mean low tide collection mixed with the existingwild population of clams. Clam fanning ' " ^^^-rSub-surface system l^egins with a survey of the beach to determine the current populationsize of residentclams. If a beach is found to be underutilized, dam spat are planted on the beach to bring the populationsize to the optimum level. The plot is then covered with net to prevent predation. Growth rates for littleneckclams Spat collector bag are slow in the northernlatitudes requiring up to 6 years fora with net filling crop to reach marketsize of 1-1/2to 2 inchesin length. Little- neck clamculturealso requiresa shellfish hatcheryto produce the spat
Seaweed
Seaweeds have several useful purposes: human consumption, food for other cultured marine animals (abalone and sea ur Sand bag (25 lbs) chins), and for the herringspawn on kelp industry. In recent years,studies in Alaska have concentrated on tecliniques to successful in capturing the Japanese scallop spat, it has not culture the giant kelp Maaxxystisfor the herring spawn on kelp proven successful for capturingweathervane scallopspat. The fishery in Prince William Sound. growth rate for wild weathervane scallop is slow. While the growth rate of farmed shellfishoften exceeds that of their wild Kelp culture involvesfour phases, collecting pore producing counterparts, the potentialgrowth rate for cultured weathervane blades (sporophylls) from the wild, artificial reproduction in the scallop is unknown. laboratory, cultureof the young plants (sporophytes),and cultur ing the plantsto marketablesize at the farmsite.A pilot research Culture of purplehinge rockscallop has promise because this project sponsored by the University of Alaska, the state of Alaska, speciesgrows to a marketablesize muscle.Spat can be hatchery andJapan was successfull in collecting, reproducing, and plant produced, but sinceAlaska has no shellfish hatchery, thisspecies ing young giant kelp sporophytes at a farm site near Sitka, Ls not currentlyfeasible to culture. Collectingwild spat has been Alaska. Althoughexperimentalresultsshowed promise, no unsuccessful. Traditionalshellfishculture gear cannot be em commercial kelp culturefacility is currently available to produce ployed to culture purple hinge rock scallops since one inch size kelp sporophytes for aquatic farming. scallops have the uncontrollable habit of cementing to a hard surface.The only way to remove scallops from the culture gear Other species at harvest time isto cut them out,which distroys thegear.. Abalone commands a veryhigh pricewithwholesale prices Wildscallopspat collectionhas not been a totalfailure because reaching $9.50 perpound, butculture oftheAlaska pinto aba of largeincidental capturesof pink and spinyscallopspat lone is not currently feasible because no spat are available Unfortunately, pink andspiny scallopsdo not grow large enough to produce a marketable size muscle. Farmscurrently History continuedonpage 5 culturingthese species hope to develop a whole scallopmarket.Althoughverygood quality, and easy to culture, whole scallops can retain more Culture bag with oysters PSP toxin than is accumulated in the scallop muscle alone. Because ofhigh PSPleyels,there Rack and bag have been no salesof whole scallop. High PSP is culture system most likely a site orseason associated problem three bag unit and not a measure ofthe tendency ofwhole scallop to retain the toxin. Whole scallops are sold alive and because oftheir short shelf-life, require prompt sale to the consumer or holding in live tanks for extended storage. Rebar rack littleneck clam
Littleneck clams, also called steamer dams, are a verypopular seafood that sellsfor a good price, ranging between $1.95-$2.75 per pound at the wholesale level. Littleneck dam culture differs GlossaiyofShellfish AquacultureTerms Spat- Ajuvpiaebiva>e.immecliatdy following thefreeliving Bivalve larva-Anearly live stage immediately following egg larval stage.Atthisstage the larvaattadi to a preferred Sub- : fertilization where.the bivalveis in a rnicroscopic larvaform. sttateand then metamorphose intotheiradultform. Bivalve - spat are oft^n referedtb as seed when they reach 3-20 mm in Eyed larva - Alaterpartof the larva stagewhere the shejlfish length. At this stage thespatarecultured on die farm. develops a light sensitive organ, referred toastheeyej then beginsthe processof crawling on the bottomin searchfora SuspendedCulture -A shellfish culture technique where the . placetoset : . shellfish are ShellfishTransportPermit -A permitrequiredby the Remotesetting- The process a shellfish farmer can use to Alaska Departmentof Fishand Game for a person to move or- producespat usingeyed larvapurchasedfroma shellfish possess liveshellfish forpurposesother than harvesting for hatchery. It involves providing a saltwater tank with ideal consumption. ,"'-:'' '">--•" conditions forsettJng,adding the larva to thetankand rearing thenewspatinthetankuntil, large enought to stock thefarm.. •OffBottom;Culture -A. shellfish culture techniques wherethe shellfish aresupported individually or incages from a structure Hardening-Aprocess usedbyshellfish farmers tostrength the anchoredto the bottom An exampleLs rackand bag culture. adductor muscle of oysters, the musde usedto keep the shell dosed. Oysters grown insuspended culture have a weak adV Shell-stock f The entire bivalve induding the shelland inter- diictormusde. Planting oysters in the intertidal zone, permits nal tissues. I . themto be out of waterfora periodof timeeach daycausing theadductof musde to strengthen. A strong adductor musde ShefiVstockshipper- Shell-stock shippersgrow, harvest, buy helps to keeptheshell dosedduring transportation and storage. orsell shell-stock They are not authorized to shuck shellfish or to repack shellfish once receivedfrom shellfish farmers. DryStorage -A refrigerated, shellfish holdingfacility that is requiredto store shellfish after harvestarid during the time Bivalves - Agroup of animals characterized by having two v period when tissuesamples fromthe harvestedshellfish are sheik Examples are:dams, oysters, mussels, and scallop. beingtested by the DepartmentOfEnvironmental Conservation for paralytic shellfish poison toxin. History continuedfrompa&4 of Alaska and private industry; hopefully, a hatchery will be in production soon. Abalonegrow slowly and are expensive to feed. An abalone . farmershould consider induding seaweed culture as part of the With the increased numberof farmers, several signs of positive farm operationto assurea coastant food supply. change are evident in the shellfish culture industry. Alaska farmers are workingmore cooperatively. Research and develop Sea urchin culture has generated some interestin recent years ment in Alaska aquaculture are increasing. Marketing effortsto because the inconsistency of gonad qualityobtained from har sellAlaska culture products are Ixiginningto show results. vestedwild populations severelyhampers development of a Hatchery proposalsare being pursued. A number of coastal stablemarketprice. Culturing urchinsmay help to eliminate this communities are now funding aquaculture ventures or seriously problem, but has not been explored in Alaska to date. looking at shellfish aquaculture to add economic diversity. Witliin a few years, millions of oystersand thousands of pounds The future of otherAlaskan cultured shellfish should lie readyfor market Althoughgrowing at an unprecedented rate, modem shellfish National concern about seafood qualityonly helps fuel interest in culture in Alaska Ls in its infancy. The industry Ls so new that Alaskan aquaculture. We have an opportunityto learn fromthe manyfarms have not yet produced their first crop of shellfish. mLstakes made by other aquaculture ventures, maintain the Atthisstage of growth, the industry desperately needs a shellfish purityof our coastalwaters, apply exLsting information to solve hatchery to supply a secure source of oysterspat, and develop problems constraining the industry, and employthe energyfrom additional species to diversify farm production.Severalshellfish partidpantsto produce the finest quality shellfish available for hatchery proposaLs are currently being investigated by the state the seafood market Aquatic Farm Permits byJim Cochran In 1988, the Alaska legislature approved an act that formalized Applications for aquatic farm permits on stateland(fortide and thefarming ofshellfish and aquatic plants inthestate. Prior to submergedlands, this is the area between mean high water 1988,farmers had existed in a tenuous world of make-do per [MHWl and the 3-mile limit)must be received by DNRduring an mits and, in some cases, no authorizations annual 60-dayopening. Announcement of the atall. That changed with passage ofthe select species to dates for these openings, and the districts being aquatic farm act culture opened are advertisedin most Alaska newspapers This legislation and are distributed to a mailing listmaintained by specifically formed DNR. A singleapplication form is accepted for a programfor shellfish and aquatic plant farming. On state land, the Depart ment ofNatural COE general permit review Resources (DNR) was identified as the lead agency be cause the aquatic farm ~ SubmitTo DNR: Determine needs permit could (during 60 day application period) 1) Aquatic farmapplication lead to a lease 2)Coastal project questionnaire 3) federal applications (copies)' whichwas interpretedas a disposalof Special area Permit (To DFG) Include in aquatictic I Contact agency state land. The Alaska Department of Rsh farmapplication2J for application and Game took charge ofreviewingand •Agency review Federalappt. issuing permits for allfarm or hatchery directly to agency operationsin the state,no mattertheir Additional 1 landstatus. The Departmentof Environ information request g mental Conservation took authority to both the DNR and the ADF&G ACMP permit Copies of applications for issue permits and deal with the human determination health issues offarmed bivalve shellfish. J most other permits and certificatioas Agency permit are inducted in the application In 1989, DNR and ADF&G decisions packet At this time a $50filing fee is Yes required.After the 60-day filing formulated regulations to pro Applications Diagram approved? • mulgatethe statutes. A coordi a,z*3cA period, Department of Governmen nated programwas established. tal Coordination (DGC) coordinates DNR Land Use jj The Division ofGovernmental Permit issued J the reviewof the applications. Coordination was tapped as the V Consistencywith the Alaska Coastal DFG Aquatic Farm 5 Management Program is determined, agency to coordinate permit , .Permit . 3 review not only forAlaska then permit decisions for the DNR CoastalManagement Plan Aquatic Slock j A and ADF&Gpermits are made. (ACMP) issues, but also for all Normal processing time from receipt agencypermits. The Corpsof of the application to approvalof the Engineers (COE)issued permits enabling permits is rune months. for structures in navigable DEC PSP Surveyn.jj waterways. The first farm permit -, .,. .'.- i For more informationon aquatic application period was held in farm permitting,contactJim DEC Growing Area \ Cochran, ADF&G Mariculture Coor Southeast in 1989- A second Certification 1 opening was held in dinator (907-465-4160), Janetta Southcentral in 1990. Statewide Correct Problemsiblems 1 a I Offer Product for Pritchard, DNR Mariculture Officer openings were held in 1991 Sale • (907-762-2270) or Francis Pilliiant, DGC Project Review Coordinator and 1992.Over 150 applica DEC ProductTest tions were received during these (PSP) (907-5616131). 4T J openings.As of November 1992, Aquatic FarmSales ' 72 farm permitswere issued. QualityofAlaskaShellfish by Raymond RaLonde National concernaboutseafoodquality ison everyshellfish Results ofwholesale level bacteria counts ofshellfish since 1989 farmer's mind. Animportant partof thisconcern isthe fact that Year Alaska Imports into Alaska theAlaska aquaculture industry isparticularly sensitive to this Compliance Violations Compliance Violations concernsince85percent of allseafoodillness iscausedby eating 0 54 24 rawseafood and the primary market for Alaska oysters isthe 1989 1 1990 12 0 55 8 half-shell oyster thatisofteneaten raw. In Alaska, assurance of 0 54 7 seafood quality isthe responsibility of theAlaska Department of 1991 12 1992 12 0 20 2 Environmental Conservation (DEC). Bacteria counts found in NOTE: Productssampled were clams(other than razordams or raw shellfishtissue are indicatorsthat DECuses in its sampling geoducks), oysters, and mussels. Dataprovided by the Alaska program to checkthe quality of shellfish. Departmentof Environmental Conservatioa Two types ofbacteria counts aremonitored by DEC, fecal Youare probably wondering"Howcan I tellifthe seafoodI buy coliform and totalbacteria.Fecalcoliformbacteriaare a part of at the retail marketis high qualityand safe?" Actually, there is no thenon-pathogenic natural flora foundin the intestinal tracts of sure way to determine ifseafoodissafe to eat, but for bivalve mammals. Fecal sourcepollution can be a serious problerh since shellfish, there are some characteristicsthat will help you deter eatingcontaminated shellfish can causesome serious human mine quality. illnesses. Totalbacteriacounts indicatethe care given shellfish duringprocessing, transporting, and storing. Generally, lower Shellfish should be stored in a moist environment at a tempera bacteria counts indicate better care and ensure a longer storage. ture of lessthe 40°F. Coldtemperatureslows bacteriagrowth Unfortunately, monitoring occurs at the wholesale level. Accom and the metabolic rate ofthe animal. When live bivalve shellfish panied with a'lengthy laboratory procedure, results of monitor are purchased, the shellsshould be dosed, or dose when you ingmaynot be available until afterthe shellfish are consumed. snap the shellwithyour finger. Ifshellsare gaped, the animal The pastrecord of testing maybe onlysureto judge the quality maybe dead, and you have no way of knowingfor how long. ofshellfish. Alsolook at the entire batch of shellfish displayed. Ifseveral shellfishare gaped, this may indicated that even the dosed The Foodand Drug Administration (FDA) sets the standardsfor shellfish may be in poor condition. The liquor,fluidthat drains bacterial contamination ofseafood. For shellfish the standards from the shell when opened, should be dear. Milky, soft tissue are 230fecal coliform bacteriaper 100gramsof tissueand may be an indication of spawning conditionor decomposition. 500,000 totalbacteria per gram of tissue. Asyou can see in the An opened shellfish should smelldean and fresh, not likerotten figure Alaska hasconsistently showna superior record ofcom eggs.Shellfish should be refrigerated as soon as possibleafter pliance with FDA standards. purchase,and do not eat shellfish that have gaped shells. The Alaska shellfish culture industryis continuing to focus on safetyand quality. As a consumer,you can assistthe quality assurance issue by buying only high qualityseafood from your retail outlet This is an example Model of a Longline Lantern Net System ^ Marker Bouy of one type of latem net longline •^ system used to culture oysters or scallops Subsurface Anchor Block: Commercial Oyster Farm Part ofStudents' AquacultureTraining byJack Eddy, Instructor After years of operating a successful pink salmon hatchery, In May 1991, the class put 42,000 Pacific oysters, Crassostrea the aquaculture students at Petersburg High School, located gigas, on their site.The school farm is an educational/ in South-east Alaska, became pioneers in a student operated experimental farm as well as a commercial farm. Half of the commercial shellfish farm. oysters were placed in lantern nets on a suspended line/ buoy system. The remaining oysters were cultured in cages The purpose of the project Ls to provide "hands on" oppor on beachracks. Thestudents monitored the growth rates tunities for aquaculture students in shellfish culturing, re between the two methods, and they found initially the search and rharketing techniques. suspended culturing method provided slightly better growth opportunities. During the summer of 1989, the instructor conducted shell fish and plankton research in the Wrangell Narrows and ad The students put an additional 12,000 oysters on the site in joining areas. The proposed school farm site was found to the spring of 1992. They continue to try different culturing be quite productive in nutrients required for shellfishgrowth. methods and monitor and record the results. In the fall of 1989, the high school aquaculture program re Marketable oysters are currently being harvested from the ceived approval from the school administration and the vo school farm site. cational advisory board to begin the permitapplication process. The shellfishfarm project was initially funded by a slate The high school students were involved in the process from grant for vocational education. It is now in the process of the beginning. They helped in the project planning, permit becoming a self-sustaining business. Profits from the com applications, and equipment ordering. In the fall of 1990, mercial venture are utilized to maintain the farm project and the high school received the appropriate permits. to hire students to work on the farm during the summer. Excess revenue will be used to establish a scholarship for The aquaculture class, in cooperation with the high school students interested in aquaculture, biology or a related field. shop dass, constructed rebar oyster racks and set them up It is planned that the first scholarship will be given to a on the school farm. member of the 1993graduating class. Oyster Farm continued on page9 Costs ofConstruction Shellfish aquaculture can be expensive. Casts ofconstruc ,Oysterspat (Oyster seed): tion and operation will vary for each farmer depending on • Oyker spat-$15- $20 for 1000 spat'..- the amount of resources the farmer has available. Each . farm will require a boat, a.place to live, transportation Lantern netculture: costs Basically, the;year is divided into two segments-one, when the oysters are grow ing full bore (the growing season), second, when the oyster growth slows down. All of our activities are scheduled around this Don Nickolson inspecting oystersurface trays in SoutheastAlaska. annual cycle. • In early spring as the hours of daylight increase (but not babies double in size every 3 weeks or so. Swatting no-see- necessarily the amount of sunshine) the major activities are ums is full time. preparing for the growing season. Flotation devices need repairing and culturing gear cleaned. This is also the time to This is our summer program, oyster, oyster, oysters. Also, at plant the new crop-spat, as they are called-small oysters this time all the cute little critters of the sea make a point of about 7-8mm in length, which will become increasingly propagating themselves and establishing homesites on all of demanding for attention and handling as the months go by. your submerged gear. Boat bottoms are a favorite with the Also, repair of motors and boat maintenance are better barnacles, nets and plastic trays are perfect for sub-tidal taken care of now. I have duplicates of every motor and tunicates, and those tiny black specks plastered everywhere machine, including all three outboards, spare boats, and lots will soon become inch long mussels. You think you've got of replacement parts. There is no harsher environment on weeds in your garden - you ought to give this a try. earth for machines than salt water. By May the fun really Finally, its Fall and Sharon and I take a break. After ten begins. Everything suddenly needs attention. Gear that has minutes, we prepare to spend the next 4 months catching been beached needs to be refloated. This is midnight work up. We give the babies (now a strapping 3 inches long) one as this is when the big tides occur in the Spring. Oysters in last thinning and diaper change before settling in for the all stages ofgrowth have literally exploded-doubling or winter. Harvesting still continues, 2 days of every week, not tripling in size-squeezing into every available square inch of only for cash flow, we need space for the next crop. You've culturing gear. As I frantically run from one project to the heard the saying 'Jack of all trades master of none' - in all next I don't really notice that I'm only getting 4 or 5 hours my long years of Alaska style oyster farming I've mastered of sleep every night Our work week involves about 2 days one - Perseverance. of harvesting market size oysters, 2 days of working on intermediate sizes, and 5 days of thinning babies-as the OysterFarm continuedfrom page8 Educational goals for the program are to provide opportuni The students work quite hard and feel an ownership in the ties for students to partidpate in gathering and recording project. scientific data, practice aquaculturing techniques, maintain ing business records, developing markets, and in general Brian Paust, the Marine Advisory Agent in Petersburg, has obtaining skills and knowledge applicable to the seafood been a valuable source of information and assistance for the industry, other businesses and the biology field. high school venture. Is Aquatic Farming in Alaska for You? Shellfish aquaculture is a rapidlyexpanding industry in Alaska. Before 1988there were a few shellfishfarms located in southeastern Alaska, but since passage of the 1988mariculture legislation by the Alaska legislature, applicationsfor aquatic farms have mush roomed to a point that by the end of 1992there willbe 72 permittedaquatic farms. Aquaticfarming is, however, a risky profession. Likeother forms of farming,aquaculture involvesconsiderable investment of capital, labor, patience, and good businesspracticeto succeed. Ifyou are considering shellfish aquaculture, this checklist can help you determinewhether aquatic farmingis feasible for your particularsituation. Thischecklist does not consider all possible questionsthat you need to ask yourself, nor is answering "yes" to many of the questions a guarantee of success.The real intentof this checklistis to provide you a formatto address the main problems you willbe facing when enteringan aquaticfarmingbusiness:organizingand preparinga businessplan. Even though a business plan is not required by the stateof Alaska to obtain an aquaticfarming permit, it iswell understoodby persons successful in aquaculture that one is necessary forsuccess. Thisisa good placeto startplanning yourbusiness. Ifyou haveany questions that need addressing feel freeto contactthe University of Alaska Marine Advisory Program. Yes No Marketing Yes No •• 1. Have you assessed the existing market forthe • • 7. Can you afford to wait 18-24 months for income spedes you have selectedfor marketsize,seasonal until your first crop attains marketable size and can demand, customers, competition, and wholesale/ be sold? retail price? • • 8. Do you have adequate cash reservefor unantid D • 2. What isthe product form youwish to market pated costs (equipment failure, system modification, (live, shucked, value added)? and crop loss?) • • 3. Do you have the equipment to harvest, process, •• 9- Have you inquiredabout insuring your facility? store, and transport your product to market' Personal • • 4. Are you familiar with the legal requirements to market your product? D D 1. Are you willing to worklong, hard, and irregular hours (16 hours days, 7 days a week, at night) D • 5. Do you have a marketing strategy? • • 2. Areyou comfortable withmathematical problem • • 6. Ifyourmarketing strategy does notwork, do you solving,economic accounting, and marketing' have a fall back strategy? • • 3. Areyou willing to seek help when you need it' Economics • • 4. Are you the typeof personthatworks better D D 1- Haveyou developeda 3 to 5 yearbusiness plan' independently than forsomeone else? D • 2. Doyouhave monthly objectives, production • • 5. Doyou have technical experience? schedule,and cash flow projections throughthe development stageand your first yearin the market' • • 6. Areyou mechanically skilled? • • 3. Have you determined the cost to constructyour • [] 7. Do you know others in the businesswho will facility? provide help and advice? • D 4. Have you estimated theyearly operational costs • • 8. Areyou a member of an aquacultureassociation? for your facility? • • 9. Doyou subscribe to andreadaquaculture periodicals? • • 5. Do you have accessto equipment or know suppliersforaquacultureequipment necessary to •• 10. Are you willing to partidpateand pay the expenses develop your site? to partidpate in workshops and short courses? • D 6. Do you havethe necessary financial resources? • • 11. Does your family support your work? 10 Distribution of Shellfish Farms in Alaska Yes No Siteanddesign Yes No • D 1. Doesyoursitecomplywiththe coastal zone man D D 4. Have you discussed your planning operation with agement plan for your regioa' local,state, and, ifrequired, federalagendes that may be reviewing your permit application' Q • 2. Is itfeasible to culture the organism you selected at the site? O D 5. Haveyou requestedan aquaticfarm permitappli cation from the Department of Natural Resourcesor • • 3. Doesthe sitehaveany potential sources of the Department of Fish and Game? pollutionin the area' D O 6. Doyou have the necessary data to complete the D' D 4. What form of transportation Ls available to your site. permit application, or a plan to obtain the data? • • 5. What isthe transportation expense forfreight to Q • 7. Haveyou estimated the expenses you may need and from your site' to apply toward obtaining information to complete data collection for the permit application' • • 6. Are utilities availableto your site. Production • • 7. If no utilities are available, how are you going to providesthem as needed? • • 1. Haveyou determined whatspedes you wantto culture and are there established culture techniques? Legal constraints Q Q 2. Doyou have an idea ofwhat culture technique • • 1. Do you know the regulations for tidelands use you intend to use? in Alaska' • D 3. Do you have a dependable source for obtaining • O 2. Do you know thestateand federal regulations seed stock for your Jarm? for use ofland if these agendes are the upland owner? D D 4. Are back up seedstock sources available? • Q 3. Will the upland owners, neighbors, or the nearest community object to your operatioa' • • 5. Is there a trainedexperienced work forceavailable in your area to assist with farm operation? Thisfaa sheet was adapted from Isaquaculturefor•youPby Frank R. Lichtkoppler and James M.Ebeling,Ohio Sea Grant Fora listof technical resources, organizations, and publicationson aquaculture request BibliographyofMaricultureInformation Resourceshom the AquacultureSpecialist at the MarineAdvisory Programin Anchorage,Alaska. 11 Office and Staff Directory Contact any ofthe following offices for information on: • Fisheries Business Management • Gear Technology • Workshops • Marketing Publications • Seafood Technology • Processing • Tax Preparation • Packing and Shipping Research • QualityControl • Legislation • Marine Safety • Regulations Aquaculture ^•^» _ !Am _ »3 — *^B*.— *™»ii *Ji «^" •- • Anchorage • Bethel • Petersburg Marine Advisory Program Marine Advisory Program Marine Advisory Program Carlton Trust Building, *110 UAF Kuskokwim Campus P.O. Box 1329 2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd. P.O. Box 368 Petersburg, Alaska 99833 Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4140 Bethel, Alaska.99559 ••• Voice 907-772-3381 Voice 907-274-9691 Voice 967-^543-4515 " Fax 907-772-4431 Fax 907-277-5242 - Fax : 907-543-4527 - Brian Paust John Doyle _ •- "•• ..;.•'? • Geri Hoffman-Sumpter .- Donald Kramer „ '••"- .'"-' -"'" >•• -• - : ' - '" '-'• • : •. :- " ' ,, • Sltlca ,..-•:. :..-i ;:beborah"Mercy- ."-" ._ .: • Dillingham Marine Advisory Program ^ toyBalonfie :~ ; - . . V ''.:--" Marine Advisory Program 1297 Seward Avenue :-... - Craig Wiese -- . ••--._•' • _-•• P.O. Box 1549 - Sitka. Alaska 99835 . , .. - - ' " "•• . * Dillingham, Alaska 99576. Voice 907-747-3988 -.*. • Cordova;. .-....'.: \ Voice 907-842-1265 Fax 907-747-3552 Marine Advisory Program,•-.".; Fax 907-842-5692 'Dolly Garza P.O. Box.830 .-.--. Terry Johnson Cordova, Alaska 99574 ':• • KodJak Voice 907^424-3446 ; •-:•:-•- • Homer Marine Advisory Program Fax 907-424-5246 - Marine Advisory Program 900 Trident Way Rick Steiner 4014 Lake Street, "201B Kodiak, Alaska 99615 Homer, Alaska 99603 Voice 907-486-1514 • Kotzebue Voice 907-235-5643 Fax 907-486-1540 Marine Advisory Program Fax 907-235-6048 Charles Crapo P.O. 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Postage Donald Kramer, Chairman Marine Resources PAID Pcnntl «107 )CXiutJL C "y**KiHJ University of Alaska Anchorage. Alaska Managing Editor. . Deborah Mercy Marine Advisory Program 2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 110 Technical Editor: Raymond RaLonde Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4140 Photography: Don Nickolson, Raymond RaLonde Illustrations: Deborah Mercy Subscription: To receive this publication send your name and address to the Anchorage office. There is ho charge. Printed with soy based ink on recycled paper- Please recycle where possible. 12-==