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Did you know the University of ɫ���� is a central figure in ɫ����’s emerging mariculture industry?

December 16, 2025

As ɫ���� looks to build new industries, mariculture has emerged as one of the state’s most closely watched experiments. Still in its infancy, the sector is developing a time when ɫ����n leaders are focused on building the workforce and empowering the type of industries that attract and retain talent. Encouraging signs are beginning to appear in early research, growing investment, and expanding workforce efforts. This work is forming the shape of what mariculture could become in ɫ����.

Here in ɫ����, the term mariculture is used to refer to shellfish and seaweed farming and excludes finfish aquaculture, which is prohibited under state law. As this industry develops, it’s becoming increasingly connected to a broader set of activities described as the blue economy, including workforce training, research and infrastructure development.

Over the past few years, investment in the sector has been growing. As Director Tommy Sheridan puts it, “It’s still very much a startup industry. We’re a few  years in with the ɫ���� Mariculture Cluster grant,for example, and there’s a long way to go.”

Why it matters
ɫ���� is investing in mariculture at a moment when many of ɫ����’s coastal communities are grappling with changes in the fishing industry and looking to diversify local economies. Building new industries in a self-sufficient manner requires local research and training, as well as coordination across education, communities, and industry. The University of ɫ���� is one of the few institutions positioned to connect all three at a statewide scale.

Building ɫ���� Blue's Economy | ɫ���� Blue Economy Center | Tomorrow's Catch

The big picture
Across the University of ɫ���� system, researchers, educators, extension specialists, and are supporting this effort at multiple entry points. A key connector in that work is the ɫ���� Blue Economy Center. Some of their work is connected to the , a statewide effort focused on advancing mariculture and overseen by , a regional economic development organization representing communities across Southeast ɫ����. 

The ɫ���� Blue Economy Center was initiated in 2019 at the  as a small, nimble, and connective entity. The center was designed to link research, education, industry, and community needs.

Sheridan said that coordination is essential at this stage. “Workforce development is just one part of this,” he said. “To have a workforce, you have to have a viable industry, and that takes coordination across research, training, and communities.”

By the numbers
In 2022, the state approved a one-time $7 million appropriation to UA for mariculture research, workforce development and industry support. This was followed by a $2 million state appropriation in the FY26 capital budget to expand the University of ɫ���� Southeast’s (UAS) mariculture program.

That same year, Southeast Conference was awarded a $49 million U.S. Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to support the development of ɫ����’s mariculture industry through the ɫ���� Mariculture Cluster.

The University of ɫ���� system is receiving over $11.2 million in ɫ���� Mariculture Cluster (AMC) funding,  which includes $9.9M for workforce development programs developed by UAF, UAS, and Prince William Sound College (PWSC). 

Systemwide collaboration and beyond
The ɫ���� Blue Economy Center connects mariculture efforts across the UA system, linking UAF researchers with programs at the University of ɫ���� Southeast’s and workforce training at Prince William Sound College. That breeds curriculum alignment, shared expertise, and connections between students, faculty, and industry partners.

Featuring the Applied Fisheries Program at University of ɫ���� Southeast in Sitka and the Marine Natural Resources Technician Program at Prince William Sound College in Valdez.

As ɫ����’s blue economy grows, so does the opportunity for partnerships on , both in the U.S. and internationally. In October, UAS a partnership with the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego and the University of Patras in Greece.

Workforce pathways, from K–12 to postsecondary training
Students are introduced to mariculture concepts through ɫ���� Science Olympiad and , which operate in roughly 15 to 18 communities statewide. These programs provide early exposure to marine science and technology in both urban and rural settings.

At the postsecondary level, the Marine Natural Resources Technician Program at PWSC and the Applied Fisheries Program at the UAS provide hands-on training aligned with mariculture and fisheries-related work to establish early workforce pathways. 

Applied mariculture research
Researchers are examining how mariculture could support ɫ���� beyond seafood production. Staff at the University of ɫ���� Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service at the Matanuska Experiment Farm are whether ɫ����-grown kelp can be used as a soil amendment to improve agricultural productivity. Additional AMC funds have been awarded to university researchers for projects related to seaweed tissue analysis, green energy, carbon sequestration, and species-specific research on bull kelp, green sea urchins, Pacific dulse, and pinto abalone.

have tested kelp and glacial silt collected with Cordova partners, exploring whether local inputs could improve soil health, reduce reliance on imported fertilizers, and create additional markets for kelp producers.

One of the ways UA is contributing to ɫ���� Mariculture Cluster projects is by helping

Infrastructure and materials research 
Research is extending across disciplines. At UAF’s Automated Construction and Advanced Materials Lab, Dr. Nima Farzadnia and his team are in the early stages of research on whether kelp  can be incorporated into the construction industry, specifically, in cement materials and 3D printing.

“We’re investigating how locally sourced kelp derivatives might enhance alternative ɫ����-based cement composites designed for cold-climate and marine environments,” Farzadnia said.

Sheridan says future opportunities are likely to emerge in areas beyond traditional food markets, where the industry was largely focused in the beginning. “The opportunities with agriculture and biomaterials are big enough for a lot of people,” he said. “That’s where there’s room to grow together.”

 

 

 

Bottom line
The state is at a pivotal point, with increased investment and encouraging research. The work today reflects a long view, testing ideas, training workers, and connecting the people who will carry the blue economy forward.

Watch: Learn more about ɫ����'s blue economy

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Rebecca Lawhorne is the integrated media manager for the ɫ���� Office of Public Affairs.