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AMA is shifting to a monthly e-newsletter, and we want your feedback on what you'd like to see in these updates. This edition is filled with AMA announcements, resources and opportunities, upcoming events, other mariculture news, and even a new classifieds section.
Check it out below, and let us know what you think!
| | Round 3 of the Mariculture Incentive Grant program is open! | | | | |
The Mariculture Incentive Grant Program (MIGP) provides grant funds for mariculture farmers, processors, nurseries and hatchery operations in Alaska. Applicants must satisfy a 1-to-1, dollar-for-dollar match requirement through cash or loans.
Loans secured through AMC’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) qualify toward MIGP's match requirement. The RLF addresses lending barriers within the mariculture industry by offering collateral support to lending institutions for borrowers who do not qualify for traditional loans and by leveraging capital to support rural and distressed communities. Spruce Root is an approved lending institution, with additional partners expected to join as agreements are finalized.
For more information about the RLF or to apply for a loan, please contact Southeast Conference's Jamey Young (email) or Spruce Root's Michael Ching (email).
More MIGP information is available on AMA's website. Questions? Read the FAQ or reach out to grants@alaskamariculture.org.
| | Emma Luck, Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow | | |
Emma Luck is serving as a 2025 Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow with the Alaska Mariculture Alliance. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Alaska Southeast, as well as a Master of Marine Policy from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Growing up in Homer, Alaska, she developed an interest in marine science from an early age. Emma is particularly interested in policy initiatives relating to marine resource management and ocean conservation in Alaska's coastal communities.
Reach out to Emma.
| | Molly Dischner, Communications Manager | | |
Molly Dischner is the Alaska Mariculture Alliance's first communications manager. She has more than a decade of experience in journalism and communications. Much of her work has focused on fisheries, coastal resources and community engagement. She loves words, science, and working at the intersection of the two to help others understand and engage in resource management. Originally from California and Oregon, Molly has called Alaska home since 2006.
Reach out to Molly.
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Calvin George, Aleutian Islands
Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska
Calvin George is our newest mariculture liaison, conducting outreach to Southwest Alaska's Aleutian Islands.
Calvin is Tlingit from Southeast Alaska with a passion for making impactful change and restoring the oceans and lands sacred to his people and many other Alaskans. He has fished, processed and hunted marine and land-based wildlife for many years. He brings a deep understanding of stewardship to this role, and wants to use his knowledge and networking skills to continue moving mariculture development forward in the region.
Calvin sees immense potential for mariculture and kelp in particular in Southwest Alaska. Working collaboratively and guided by community and cultural values, he hopes to help farmers hone their practices, expand market opportunities and utilize the region's existing maritime infrastructure.
Reach out to Calvin.
| | First Alaska Mariculture FAM Tour showcases oysters & kelp | | |
In late September, the AMC Marketing Program hosted its first FAM (familiarization) Trip to connect chefs, buyers, and media with Alaska’s growing mariculture industry.
The two-part experience began with a Mariculture Dinner in Anchorage where local restaurateurs, chefs and distributors, along with national media guests, sampled oysters from six Alaska farms and dishes featuring kelp and oysters in inventive ways. AMA's Jason Lessard and Emma Luck were able to attend and share an industry-wide perspective on the offerings. From there, reporters from Serious Eats, Saveur, Nation’s Restaurant News, and Food52 traveled to Homer and the Kachemak Bay area for hands-on farm tours and a behind-the-scenes look at kelp innovation, oyster cultivation, and menu inspiration. AMA's Molly Dischner joined for several tours, including visiting the Kachemak Kelp Innovation Center, Kachemak Shellfish Growers Co-Op, Moss Island Farm and Spinnaker Sea Farms.
This inaugural trip set the stage for future collaborations and demand for Alaska oysters and kelp in Alaska and beyond.
Read the full recap and more about the AMC marketing program here.
| | Chugach Regional Resources Commission celebrates APMI hatchery purchase | | |
In September, Chugach Regional Resources Commission hosted a celebration of the purchase of the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute. CRRC board members, staff and partners shared the significance of the purchase for the during the ceremony, which AMA was delighted to attend.
“Owning this waterfront property and building isn’t just a financial or strategic decision — it’s a reclamation of space, identity, and future. For too long, Native organizations have had to operate in borrowed spaces. This purchase anchors us permanently in Seward and deepens our commitment to the Chugach region. It’s Land Back in a real, tangible way — creating a place that reflects our mission, empowers our people." -CRRC Executive Director Willow Hetrick-Price
Read more about the purchase in Tribal Business News and the Seward Folly.
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Input requested: Atlas for Values Based Aquaculture
Your input is needed! North American Marine Alliance and partners are building a mariculture resource and want your feedback. North American Marine Alliance (NAMA), along with partners, State Innovation Exchange (SiX), Inland Ocean Coalition, and others, are working together as part of a collaborative team to develop an interactive online resource hub called: The Atlas for Values Based Aquaculture. The project will curate tools, policy, research, and strategies to build a thriving seafood economy that respects local communities, protects ecosystems, and shares profit from source to table. Provide your input by filling out the survey at this link.
| | | Build Back Better Updates | | | | |
