Abstract: As a follow-up to our June 1, 2023 announcement beginning the process to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters, in partnership with the State of Alaska, NOAA Fisheries published a Request for Information (RFI) in October 2023 seeking public input for 60 days. This RFI requested data, comments, views, information, analysis, and suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in Alaska state waters, including feedback on siting parameters that can be used to select potential study areas for further analysis.
This presentation, highlights the process of identifying AOAs in Alaska state waters, and the feedback NOAA received during the RFI period to help inform NOAA as it works with Federal, State, and Local agencies, appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils, and in coordination with appropriate Tribal governments to identify AOAs.