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

2. Global Seaweed Production from Aquaculture
Worldwide commercial harvest = M mt (2013)
95% of harvest from cultivated seaweeds
Total value of cultivated seaweeds:
$6.6 x 109 in 2013

3. Classification of Seaweeds
Greens
Browns
Reds

4. Some Seaweed Products
Ireland
Canada
Australia
Japan
USA

5. 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

6. Premium Oceanic/Blue Evolution

7. Aquaculture of Saccharina

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

9. Kelp Culture

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

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

12. Seeding Cremona Strings on Pipes

14. Kelp Outplanting Sites in Juneau
1 mile

16. 4.3%·d-1

17. 3.9%·d-1

19. 4.2%·d-1
3.2%·d-1

21. 4.5%·d-1

22. 4.4%·d-1
3.6%·d-1

23. 3.7%·d-1

24. S. latissima
S. groenlandica

26. 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

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

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

31. 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.

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

34. 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.

38. 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?

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

40. Thank you