Kelp aquaculture is a nascent and growing industry in Alaska where cold, nutrient-rich, and uncontaminated waters result in high quality biomass. There is considerable support from regional and federal initiatives to expand the blue economy sector, and in Alaska much of that support is focused on kelp and shellfish aquaculture. This presentation will review the opportunities, challenges, and ongoing research in three select topics that are key to sustainable industry expansion: (1) aquaculture site suitability, (2) ecosystem interactions with aquaculture, and (3) kelp stabilizing and processing. Regarding site suitability, there are ample opportunities for aquaculture expansion in the extensive coastal zone of Alaska, however low population densities and vast distances between inhabited communities result in little infrastructure and logistical challenges for both cultivating kelp and getting it to target markets. Investigations are underway that will inform optimized farm placement from both marine spatial planning and organismal physiology perspectives. Ecosystem interactions can constitute a service or a detriment depending on the nature of the interaction, which may also vary spatially and temporally. We are conducting research to understand how species of interest are interacting with kelp aquaculture, and developing in situ strategies and permitting tools to maximize benefits while minimizing interactions seen as harmful, such as Pacific herring spawning on cultivated kelp. Finally, stabilizing cultivated kelp in a cost effective manner has proved challenging in Alaska’s cold and wet climate. Research is underway to develop processing methods suitable to the climate and economies of Alaska, and local products are being developed to incorporate kelp into local manufacturing that may require less transport and stabilization. The expansion of the kelp aquaculture industry is full of exciting possibilities and formidable challenges. Knowledge exchanges and collaborations with other US and foreign regions that have mature or growing kelp aquaculture industries will likely aid in sector growth in Alaska.