MARICULTURE IN ALASKA 2010

The move from the farm to an industry

Jeff Hetrick Alaska Shellfish Institute alaskashellfishinstitute@gmail.com

BEFORE 1988
Started 1910
Oysters from Japan Peaked at 550 gallons of meat 1943 Closed 1961

1976-1989
Intrepid Wrangell area farmers ASGA formed Permitting nightmare Surface trays Poor oyster survival and unpredictable Switched to longline lantern nets Hatchery first proposed 1979 Total reliance on outside seed sources By 1989 only a single farm left

THE AQUATIC FARM ACT OF 1988

It is the policy of the state to encourage the establishment and responsible growth of an aquatic farming industry

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
1988 Prohibition for importation of aquatic species 1990 Single agency application 1995 Oyster nursery culture began 1995 Littleneck clam fishery for SE Alaska closed 1996 Kachemak Bay Shellfish Mariculture Cooperative 1996 Broadening Shellfish Aquaculture Conference 1997 Tidelands leasing program DNR 1997 Shellfish Hatchery operation began 1998 Denial of on-bottom permit applications 2000 Uniform sampling program ADEC 2002 HB 208: Over the counter sites available 2002 PSP testing changes for geoduck fishery 2004 Shellfish and the Environment Conference

1979 Oyster growth study 1991 Larval drift paper 1995 - 99 Oyster nursery 1999 Basket cockle hatchery project 1999> - Molluscan broodstock program 2000- 02 Cadmium in oysters 2001 Littleneck clam growout S.E. AK 2001- 2006 Purple hinge rock scallop growout 2005 Vibrio parahaemolyticus 2005 Oyster marketing Harrington. MS Thesis 2005> - PSP research 2006> - Economics of oyster farming 2008 Oyster quality study, statewide seasonal assessment 2009> Intertidal geoduck growout 2009> - Quality improvement of frozen geoduck clam 2009> Littleneck clam productions scale study 2009> - Oyster growout study floating bag and intertidal 2009> - Domoic acid studies Baseline data, kit development

APPLIED RESEARCH

MARICULTURE More than farming

Shellfish hatcheries Nursery culture Purchasing and sales Marketing Maintenance services Gear sales and fabrication Transportation Enhancement Tourism More

For Sale Aquaculture Gear in Stock New Lantern Nets CANOON LAGOON OYSTER CO.

THE PACIFIC OYSTER

Not native to Alaska Imported seed in early 1900s Industry failed in late 1960s Restarted again in the 1970s for the halfshell market Only species allowed for importation

THE OYSTER FARM

ALASKAN OYSTER FARMING

Fouling removal 18-24 MONTHS 3-4 WEEKS

3-4 times

Growou t

Sorting

Seed the Restocking Farm

MOVE FROM FARM HARDENING HARVEST FINAL CLEANING CHILLED DRY STORAGE MARINE TOXIN TESTING PASSES

FAILS

PACKAGE FOR MARKET

A LITTLENECK CLAM FARM PRODUCTION PLAN

Determine clam distribution on the beach. Estimate the beach population Measure clams and graph the length frequency distribution Interpret the length frequency distribution Develop the management plan.
Population control, seeding plan, harvest plan

INVENTORY EXAMPLE The Sampling Design

ROC K

OCEAN

TYPICAL CLAM BEACH INVENTORY PLOT

INVENTORY ANALYSIS
Tenass Pass
18 16 Total Length Frequency

Blue Water 4
frequency

Total Length Frequency

25 20 15 10 5 0

4 3

frequency

14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

1 2

1
1 5 9 13 17

2
21 25

10

13

16

19

22

25

28

31

34

37

40

43

46

49

52

55

29

33

37

41

45

length (mm)

length (mm)

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 Age in years

Total Length Frequency 25 20

frequency

Length (mm)

1 2 3

15 10 5 0
1 5 9 13

17

21

25

29

33

37

41

45

49

53

length (mm)

57

49

SITE PREPARATION

SEEDING THE BEACH

CURRENT RESEARCH
Purple hinge rock scallop Intertidal geoduck clam farming Alternative oyster culture Sea cucumber farming Paralytic shellfish poison and domoic acid monitoring

CHANGING INDUSTRY
We must give up the way it is In order to have it the way we Want.

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STATEHOOD ACTION
Alaska State Constitution Article VIII Natural Resources
SECTION 3. COMMON USE. Wherever occurring in their natural state, fish, wildlife, and waters are reserved to the people for common use.

THE REALITIES OF DOING AQUACULTURE IN ALASKA

Environmental protection Americas last frontier Commercial fisheries 52% of US catch
The states second most important income producer and Alaska will continue to assure its sustainability But the U.S. still imports 85% of its seafood

Common property governs use of state fisheries land and water.

Tidelands are state land, very little private land Uplands are mostly federal, state, & Native corporation Must acquire state leases for tidelands and uplands leases for land-based structures, upland leases are rare Affects access to wild stock aquaculture opportunities

THE REALITIES OF DOING AQUACULTURE IN ALASKA

Mariculture is a newcomer
Fear factor associated with a new enterprises Perceptions can lead to unnecessary concerns Conflicts with existing and historic uses Resistance to change that may be necessary

Private enterprise in a public domain

Accountability for the public resource Restrictive regulations, sometimes impossible to follow Right to fail (Supported by Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources)

Historical problems

THE REALITIES OF DOING AQUACULTURE IN ALASKA

Business and financial
Alaska is remote Alaskans looking for more lucrative financial enterprise Little government investment (Even nationally) Availability of aquatic farming load program Still much business aspects that we dont know well

Transitional
Research and development needed Culture practices changing Training programs now beginning

BENEFITS OF MARICULTURE
Environmentally friendly
No pollution (No feeding) High marine water quality standards
Recreational 100 FC/100ml Mariculture 14 FC/100 ml

Actual Expected concentration Ammonia (! g/L) (! g/L 100% Flow 60.256 528.41 rate 35-50% Flow 27.27 499.49 rate 15-25% Flow 38.533 509.94 rate 0% Flow rate 22.667 490.32 Ammonia

Rice 2001

Nitrate removal Pelagic/benthic coupling Strict control of transport

Import ban accept for oysters Disease certification Hatchery inspections Genetics policy Transport zones

BENEFITS OF MARICULTURE
Economics

BENEFITS OF MARICULTURE
Compatibility
Environmentally sustainable Commercial Fishing Part-time/seasonal employment Tourism Eco-tourism and outdoor recreation

BENEFITS OF MARICULTURE
Social
Recognition for shellfish farming Community stability Business diversity Public education and training offered

ADVOCACY
Advocating for what?
Personal responsibility Environmental sustainability Economic viability Safe and wholesome marketability Social acceptability Production reliability Regulatory accountability
Alaska Aquatic Farm Act 1988 It is the policy of the state to encourage the establishment and responsible growth of an aquatic farming industry

NOAA Aquaculture Policy Summary Statement 1998

A strong NOAA role in aquaculture will stimulate job creation in public sector, help to revitalize communities suffering from the collapse of traditional fisheries stocks, utilize advanced technologies and management regimes to resolve natural resource conflicts and ensure that aquaculture is done in an environmentally sound manner, reduce the fisheries trade deficit, and increase domestic production of finfish and shellfish and recreational opportunities. Marine aquaculture can augment restoration efforts of depleted marine stocks and can provide safe, highquality seafood for consumers.

THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Farmer business management training Custom made financial management tools Economic modeling of farming Assisting with getting financing Assistance with formation of cooperatives
Financial management Production management Technological advances

Website development Future workshops