Advancement of Pacific oyster research capacity in Alaska through research hatchery development and field testing
The oyster industry is well poised for expansion in Alaska; however, major bottlenecks in industry growth include restricted production of oysters at early life stages, and a lack of selected broodstock for seed production. To date, the only consistent supply of oyster seed for Alaska farmers has originated from out-of-state sources. Likewise, the genetic groups used in these hatcheries have been selected for increased performance in Oregon, Washington, and California, where the climate and nearshore oceanography differ from those found in Alaska. To address these bottlenecks, researchers at NOAA-AFSC based in Juneau and Kodiak, AK are collaborating with federal and industry partners to enhance selective breeding efforts in Alaska, investigate novel gear configurations, and develop the first research oyster hatchery in the state. Specific projects include efforts with the USDA-ARS Pacific Oyster Genomic Selection Project (Newport, OR) and Pacific Hybreed (Manchester, WA) to investigate field performance for genetic groups of interest. The research hatchery that is being developed in Juneau, AK will serve as a research hub for advancing rearing technology and techniques to increase capacity to grow the early life stages of oysters and develop broodstock for both in-state and out-of-state production. This collaborative approach to breeding and hatchery research leverages expertise and capabilities of researchers across the US Pacific coast to resolve barriers to industry growth.