Seaweed Aquaculture Research in Alaska for Commercial Applications Michael Stekoll University of Alaska Southeast/JCCFOS

Global Seaweed Production from Aquaculture Worldwide commercial harvest = 26.8 M mt (2013) 95% of harvest from cultivated seaweeds Total value of cultivated seaweeds: $6.6 x 109 in 2013 http://www.fao.org/fishery/statistics/global-aquaculture-production/en

Classification of Seaweeds Greens Browns Reds

Some Seaweed Products Ireland Canada Australia Japan USA

Current Studies Funded by Premium Oceanic (C. Yarish and J. Zertuche) Tamsen Peeples – seaweed technician Research methods for culturing several seaweed species from SE Alaska Kelps Saccharina Alaria Nereocystis Ulva lactuca Palmaria mollis

Premium Oceanic/Blue Evolution

Aquaculture of Saccharina

♂ ♀ Life cycle of kelps Recruit Mature Juvenile Gametophyte Sorus Sporophyll Settle & Germinate Sporophyte Spores

Kelp Culture

No added iron and/or red light With iron and white light

[Fe] in seawater nearshore in Juneau <<1 μM

Seeding Cremona Strings on Pipes

Kelp Outplanting Sites in Juneau 1 mile

4.3%·d-1

3.9%·d-1

4.2%·d-1 3.2%·d-1

4.5%·d-1

4.4%·d-1 3.6%·d-1

3.7%·d-1

S. latissima S. groenlandica

Species Outplant month Outplant date Measurement date Growth rate (%d-1) Avg Max length weight kg/m groenlandica Oct 10/19/2015 4/19/2016 4.26 86 2.6 latissima Nov 11/17/2015 5/12/2016 3.93 228 10.4 Dec 12/18/2015 4.15 178 2.1 3.16 96 1.1 Jan 1/23/2016 4.46 83 0.9 Feb 2/20/2016 4.36 118 - 3.59 65 Mar 3/8/2016 6/23/2016 3.70 113

Temperature/Salinity at 2m depth NW Coghlan Island, Juneau, AK

Nitrate levels in SE Alaska fall winter spring summer 40 30 [Nitrate] μM 20 10 Aug Dec Apr

Some Preliminary Conclusions October line had lots of natural recruits of Saccharina and other species S. latissima grew larger than S. groenlandica Best growth was the November outplanting Therefore, outplant in November After the April bloom the nutrients drop, the salinity drops and the temperature rises, the kelp growth slows down and blades become ragged and fouled with bryozoans and diatoms. Therefore, harvest in April At least for Coghlan Island.

A Commercial Seaweed Hatchery (Nursery) To provide seeded strings to potential growers Located at UAS Anderson Lab First permitted seaweed hatchery in the state

Conditions on Seaweed Hatchery Permits in Alaska Parent Stock – need at least 50 “unrelated” fertile adult fronds taken from dispersed sites within a 50 km distance from the proposed outplant site. Use at least 50 different sori for each seeding. Effluent water from tanks in which non-local specimens are taken must be disinfected with bleach. Prior to outplanting, seeded strings must be inspected by ADF&G Pathology to verify no diseases. No strain selection can be done. Fertile fronds on the outplanting structures must be removed to minimize spore release.

An extension of current work Sea Grant Project An extension of current work When is Saccharina latissima fertile, i.e. what is the natural life cycle of the kelp? Can we manipulate the gametophytes and/or the baby sporophytes to suspend or slow down their growth? What are the best conditions for growth of the plants in the lab? What are the best outplanting months? What is the best depth for outplanting? Does it change through the growing season? How do the nutrients, temperature and salinity change over the year? Is the pattern different in different parts of Alaska? Can we effect strain selection?

UAS Undergraduates Ilya Turchaninov Eric Fagerstrom Zach Johanson Kathryne Beauto Premium Oceanic Beau Perry Justin Sternberg Sid Mitchell Tamsen Peeples

Thank you