"In Alaska we have more coastline than all the lower 48 [states] put together... It's my goal to make Alaska the mariculture capital of the world," said Alaska Governor, Mike Dunleavy.
Seagriculture USA.
Seagriculture USA kicks off in Ketchikan, Alaska, today, for what looks set to be two intense days of discussions on the future of the global seaweed sector - but with a special focus on its potential within the unique environment of Alaska.
The conference will feature a range of key speakers, who will share their know-how within seaweed for feed, food, offshore cultivation, biorefining, and much more.
Today's proceedings get underway with a keynote by Julie Sande, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, who will talk about "Mariculture in Alaska: Oceans of Opportunity", leading into the first conference session on the "Past, present and future of the Alaskan seaweed industry".
The theme of Sande's keynote echoes previous Alaska government statements in favour of low-trophic aquaculture, including by Alaskan Governor, Mike Dunleavy, who provided a welcome video posted on the Seagriculture USA website, showing his support for the growing seaweed industry in the state.
"In Alaska we have more coastline than all the lower 48 [states] put together. Alaska's the salmon capital of the world. It's my goal to make Alaska the mariculture capital of the world as well," Dunleavy said.
"We've streamlined the permitting process for mariculture, and cut the time needed to get a new farm lease in state waters in half," he added.
According to Seagriculture USA figures, the North American seaweed market is forecast to grow significantly, reaching nearly USD 5 billion by 2029, driven by high demand and revenue generation. In 2022, brown seaweed held the largest market share, fueled by rising demand for natural and organic products.
For their part, conference participants are looking forward to a chance to network, share ideas, and learn about new innovations within the sector.
Kelp farmer Jo Lane of the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance told WeAreAquaculture that she sees this kind of event as crucial in developing the industry. "The industry is quite small and at the beginning of its journey. We have a lot to learn from each other," she explained.
"I'm giving an overview of the seaweed industry in Australia as well as a case study of my kelp business working on developing kelp farming in Australia. I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends and making new connections to learn more about the seaweed industry in the US," Lane told us.
A common theme, which was also the subject of debate at the European edition of the Seagriculture conference held in June in the Faroe Islands, is the question of regulation - and securing capital is also remains a challenge, Lane points out.
"There seems to be a common theme of regulatory hurdles globally and that is definitely something that has impacted our progress in Australia," Lane notes. "Funding and investment is also a challenge," she adds.
WeAreAquaculture is a media partner of Seagriculture USA.