As Alaska’s mariculture sector continues to grow, workforce development plays a crucial role in supporting the cultivation and processing of seaweed and shellfish across the state. This presentation will highlight two key initiatives: the Alaska Mariculture Workforce Development Plan and a collaborative project between Alaska Sea Grant and the Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute (KALI), both aimed at addressing workforce needs in the evolving mariculture industry.
The Alaska Mariculture Workforce Development Plan serves as a strategic roadmap to meet the workforce demands of Alaska’s emerging mariculture sector, focusing on shellfish and seaweed farming. The plan emphasizes expanding public awareness, creating training opportunities, and promoting sustainable industry involvement. Workforce development is essential to scaling the industry, particularly in processing, product development, and marketing. By leveraging the University of Alaska’s resources and coordinating with industry partners, the goal is to grow mariculture into a $100 million industry over the next 20 years.
Complementing this statewide effort is the collaboration between Alaska Sea Grant and KALI, which focuses on developing a workforce specifically for seaweed cultivation and processing in the Kodiak Archipelago. This program addresses the unique challenges of rural and coastal communities, delivering tailored training on seeding, harvesting, handling, and processing to improve product quality and shelf-life. The initiative emphasizes sustainable practices, aiming to integrate seaweed farming with existing community activities and foster economic diversification.
Together, these initiatives aim to build a resilient, skilled workforce capable of driving mariculture growth in Alaska, while enhancing economic opportunities and environmental stewardship in rural coastal communities.