Alaska received overwhelming support from public comments.
Alaska aquaculture in practice - seaweed farming in Doyle Bay, Alaska with Seagrove Kelp Co. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries has chosen Alaska as the next region in which to look for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.
An Aquaculture Opportunity Area is a defined geographic area that NOAA has determined to be environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate to support multiple commercial aquaculture operations. NOAA also evaluates these areas through both spatial analysis and the National Environmental Policy Act process. Sustainable marine aquaculture—also referred to in Alaska as mariculture—currently helps support Alaska’s blue economy, contributing to sustainable seafood, and local economies.
The effort to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas will be focused in Alaska state waters based on feedback from stakeholders, tribes, and current industry interest. NOAA will only consider shellfish and seaweed farming; finfish farming in Alaska state waters is prohibited by law. With more coastline than all of the Lower 48 states combined, Alaska is uniquely positioned to benefit from growing the marine aquaculture industry.
Read more.
NOAA News Release
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