Opportunities and challenges for Alaska kelp aquaculture Bulletin of Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency

Kelp aquaculture is a nascent and growing industry in Alaska where cold, nutrient-rich, and clean 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 paper reviews 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 infrastructure and logistical challenges for 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 are developing in situ strategies to maximize benefits and regulatory efficiencies while minimizing interactions seen as harmful. Finally, stabilizing cultivated kelp in a costeffective 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 exchange with regions that have mature kelp aquaculture industries, such as Japan, will likely aid in sector growth in Alaska.