Alaskan Mariculture Benchmark Survey

Alaska Mariculture Benchmark Survey
2024 Fiscal Year

On June 1, 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration named Alaska an
Aquaculture Opportunity Area. Sites within these areas are evaluated for their potential
environmental, social, and economical suitability for commercial mariculture activities. This survey
will be used to collect economic data on the operating costs, species-specific revenues, and farm
characteristics of mariculture farms in Alaska. The information from this survey will remain
completely anonymous and only aggregated data will be shared publicly. We will develop a
benchmark report, similar to the Maine Seaweed Benchmarking Report (https://maineaqua.org/wpcontent/uploads/2023/08/Maine-Seaweed-Benchmarking-Report.pdf), that provides economic data
that can be used by existing and potential growers to help secure business loans, track trends in the
industry, and supports the expansion of mariculture activities in Alaska.

Sponsored by NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service)

OMB Control: 0648-AKM
Expiration Date: / /

Information on Your Alaskan Mariculture Operation
The questions below are about your mariculture farm in 2024. Unless otherwise indicated,
please include information for only the 2024 calendar year. Please answer each question to
the best of your ability and be as precise as possible where applicable.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 45 minutes, including time for reviewing instructions,
reviewing existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Russel
Dame, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, [email protected] Only aggregated results from the survey
will be released publicly. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

A. Farm Background
1. What is the registered business name associated with your Aquatic Farm Operation
Permit? And where is your lease located? Please list the bay/watershed of your lease,
not the business address associated with your permit.

2. What year did you begin to plant marine species on your mariculture lease?
Note: This includes any marine species and may be different than the year you were issued
your Aquatic Farm Operation Permit.

3. In 2024, how many total acres were permitted for mariculture activities on your
lease(s)?
Total acres
4. How many of your total acres were allocated to each marine species group?
Note: Some acreage may overlap between species.
Acres used for oysters
Acres used for kelp species
Acres used for blue mussels
Acres used for other marine species

5. At any given time during the growing season, approximately how many oyster bags,
feet of kelp longlines, and blue mussel lines were on your lease in 2024?
Feet of longlines

Wet Pounds (lbs.)

Number of bags

Quantity of oysters

Feet of mussel lines

Quantity of mussels

Kelp

Oysters

Blue Mussels
6. Do you own your mariculture boat? And if not, what is your monthly/weekly/daily
boat payment? Please select your payment frequency and please indicate the number of
payments made in 2024.
 Yes
 No  $

 Per Month

 Per Week

 Per Day

Number of Payments Made in 2024:
7. Do you use your mariculture boat for any other non-mariculture income-generating
activities? Please check all that apply. If “Other” is selected, please give a brief
description of the venture.
 Yes 

 Commercial Fishing

 Site-Seeing/Wildlife Viewing Tours

 For-Hire/Guided Charter
Fishing

 Other:

 No

B. Operation Costs
The following questions ask for detailed cost information associated with your mariculture
operation. As a reminder, your information will remain confidential and only aggregated
results from the survey will be released publicly. We will use this information to analyze
the average cost to operate a mariculture farm in Alaska and calculate financial metrics
(breakeven price and quantity, average fixed and variable costs, etc.) that can be used by
potential and existing growers.
8. What are your total annual expenses for your mariculture operation in 2024? Include
all expenses related to your mariculture operation (i.e. production, processing, marketing, etc.)?
$

per year

9. For the following line items, please list your annual costs to operate your mariculture
business and the percentage of each line item that you associate with only your
mariculture operation: If you do not incur fees associated with a line item, please put a
“0” or an “NA” on the line.
Total
Annual
Expense
a. Farm lease & permitting fees………………………
b. Consulting/diving expenses………………………..
c. Legal fees…………………………………………..
d. Operating loans (truck, building, boat, etc.)…….…
e. Mooring fees……………………………………….
f. Boat/truck registration……………………………...
g. Fuel (boat/truck) …………………………………...
h. Mortgage/Rent of Building(s) ……………………..
i. Electricity…………………………………………..
j. Seed (oysters, kelp, etc.) …………………………..
k. Hired labor…………………………………………
l. Gear repairs/maintenance/expansion ……………...
m. Marketing…………………………………………..
n. Shipping/Transportation……………………………
o. Ice………………………………………………….
p. Insurance…………………………………………..
q. Miscellaneous supplies (knives, gloves, etc.) …….
r. Other expenses (please specify) …………………..
i.

………………………

ii.

………………………

iii.

………………………

Percent of
Total Cost
Allocated for
Mariculture

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

10. What is your average cost for a growout line/bag (including anchors, zip-ties, etc.)?
If species is not grown on your lease, please leave blank.
$

per kelp line

$

per oyster bag

$

per blue mussel line

11. What was your average cost for seed in 2024? Please be specific about size of oyster
seed purchased. If seed is not purchased for a given species, please leave blank.
$

per feet of seeded string

$
$
$

per 1,000 oysters @
per 1,000 oysters @
per 1,000 oysters @

$

per 1,000 blue mussels

mm
mm
mm

12. On average, how many labor hours are used per year on your mariculture operation
(maintenance and repairs, harvesting, etc.)? If hired labor is used, what is the
average wage rate per hour? Note: Unpaid labor can include friends/family, interns, and
other types of unpaid labor.
Hours from
Owner/Operator

Hours of Unpaid
Labor

Hours of Paid
Labor

Average Wage Rate
for Paid Labor

Kelp

$

Oysters

$

Blue Mussels

$

13. Do you pay yourself a salary?

 Yes

 No

14. What is your annual revenue associated with your mariculture operation in 2024?
Including all mariculture species grown and harvested from leases.

$
C. Kelp Operations
The questions in this section are only about kelp species grown on your mariculture lease in 2024.
If kelp was not grown on your mariculture lease in 2024, please skip to question 21.
15. Please complete the table below based on your kelp operation in 2024.
# of Kelp Lines
on Lease

Average Depth

Average Length
of Seeded Line

Total Wet Pounds
Harvested

16. How many months after planting do you expect to harvest a given line?
months

Average
Spacing

17. Please complete the table below based on your kelp sales from 2024.
•

Quantity Sold – The total quantity of kelp sold into each market. For example, if
100 wet pounds of kelp were sold in 2024, please list 100.

•

Unit – The unit used when selling kelp (i.e. wet pounds, dry pounds, feet, etc.)

•

Price per Unit – The price per unit listed in the previous column. For example, if
wet pounds were listed under unit, then please list the price per wet pound.
Market

Total Quantity
Sold in Each
Market

Unit
(wet pounds, per
spool, etc.)

Price per Unit

Unprocessed wet

$

Value added processor

$

Other (please specify):

$

Other (please specify):

$

18. What percentage of planted kelp does not make it to market in an average year?
Note: The sum of these two values does not have to equal to 100%
% of plantings lost in a typical year due to entanglement, theft, or mortality
% of plantings that are disposed of due to a lack of market and/or cannot be sold
19. For an average kelp delivery, how many miles do you have to travel from your lease
to market and/or your primary kelp processor? Note: If you do not deliver kelp to a
market and/or processor, please write “NA”
Miles by boat to market

Miles by boat to a processor

Miles by land to market

Miles by land to a processor

20. Do you plan on expanding your kelp mariculture operation? And if so, how many
total wet pounds of kelp do you forecast harvesting?


Yes, I plan on expanding…

 No, I do not plan on expanding

wet pounds harvested in 2025
wet pounds harvested in 2026
wet pounds harvested in 2027

D. Oysters Operations
The questions in this section are only about oysters grown on your mariculture lease in 2024.
If no oysters were grown on your mariculture lease in 2024, please skip to question 28.
21. Please complete the table below describing your oyster operation. Please check the
growout gear used in 2024 and fill out the columns associated with each gear type. If
less than 4 mesh sizes are used, please leave remaining columns empty. Only complete
rows associated with gear type used in 2024.
Growout Gear Type
 Floating bags 

Mesh Size(s)
mm
mm
mm
mm

 Stacked cages (cages
without bags) 

mm
mm
mm
mm

 Lantern nets 

mm
mm
mm
mm

 Other (please specify):


mm
mm
mm
mm

Average Stocking
Density

Number of Units
on Lease

22. From first planting, how many months does it take for an average oyster to reach
marketable size for the half-shell market?
months
23. On average, how many times per year do you cull your oysters?

24. Do you sell any of your oysters as seed to other growers?
oysters in 2024 at an average price of

 Yes  Approximately
$

 No

per 1,000 seed

25. Please complete the table below based on your oyster sales from 2024. Please exclude
oyster sold as seed to other growers.
•

Quantity Sold – The total number of oysters sold into each market. For example,
if 1,000 oysters were sold in 2024, please list 1,000.

•

Unit – The unit used when selling oysters (i.e. per dozen, per oyster, etc.)

•

Price per Unit – The price per unit listed in the previous column. For example, if
per oyster was listed under unit, then please state the price per oyster.
Market

Total Quantity
Sold in Each
Market

Unit
(per dozen,
per oyster, etc.)

Average Price
per Unit

Half-shell market within Alaska:

$

Half-shell market outside of Alaska:

$

Farm storefront:

$

Other (please specify):

$

Other (please specify):

$

26. What percentage of all planted oysters are not sold into the market?
Note: Loss due to excess biofouling, natural mortality, theft, etc.
% of planted oysters not sold into market

27. Do you plan on expanding your oyster mariculture operation? And if so, how many
total oysters do you forecast harvesting? Please do not consider oyster seed sales and
only oysters that will be sold for consumption.


Yes, I plan on expanding…

 No, I do not plan on expanding

oyster harvested in 2025
oyster harvested in 2026
oyster harvested in 2027

E. Blue Mussel Operations
The questions in this section are only about blue mussels grown on your mariculture lease in
2024. If no blue mussels were grown on your mariculture lease in 2024, please skip to question 31.
28. What is the primary method for growing and harvesting blue mussels? Please
describe below:

29. How many pounds of blue mussels did you sell in 2024? And what was the average
market price?
Pounds of blue mussels sold .................................. $

per pound

30. In the future, do you plan on expanding your blue mussel mariculture operation?
And if so, how many additional blue mussels do you forecast harvesting?


Yes, I plan on expanding to…



No, I do not plan on expanding

pounds of blue mussels harvested in 2025
pounds of blue mussels harvested in 2026
pounds of blue mussels harvested in 2027

F. Other Mariculture Species
31. Please list any other mariculture species that you plant and/or harvest from your
mariculture species. For example, sea cucumbers, abalone, clams, etc.

32. Please describe the general method to plant and grow each species listed above.

33. If these species are sold into the market, please list the average price per unit and a
general description of the market.

G. Risk Perceptions
34. Please check the following environmental events you have experienced while
operating a mariculture lease.
 Harmful Algae Bloom
 Severe Storm/Ice Event
 Disease/Parasites (not including typical biofouling organisms)
 Atypical Biofouling Event(s)
If you are willing to participate in a short follow-up conversation (~30 minutes) regarding
your experience with any of the environmental events above, please check the box below:
 Yes, I would be willing to participate in a follow-up conversation

H. Demographics and other information
35. Are you an Alaskan resident? If you are an Alaskan resident, in what community do
you reside?

 Yes, I am an Alaskan Resident  Community Name:
 No, I am not an Alaskan Resident
36. What is your gender?
 Female
 Male
 Transgender, non-binary, or another gender
 Prefer not to answer
37. In what year were you born?

38. What is your race and/or ethnicity?
Select all that apply and enter additional details in the spaces below.
□American Indian or Alaska Native – Enter, for example, Navajo Nation, Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet
Indian Reservation of Montana, Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, Nome Eskimo
Community, Aztec, Maya, etc.
□ Asian – Provide details below.
□ Chinese
□ Asian Indian
□ Filipino
□ Vietnamese
□ Korean
□ Japanese
Enter, for example, Pakistani, Hmong, Afghan, etc.
□ Black or African American – Provide details below.
□ African American □ Jamaican
□ Haitian
□ Nigerian
□ Ethiopian
□ Somali
Enter, for example, Trinidadian and Tobagonian, Ghanaian, Congolese, etc.
□ Hispanic or Latino – Provide details below.
□ Mexican
□ Puerto Rican
□ Salvadoran
□ Cuban
□ Dominican
□ Guatemalan
Enter, for example, Colombian, Honduran, Spaniard, etc.
□ Middle Eastern or North African – Provide details below.
□ Lebanese
□ Iranian
□ Egyptian
□ Syrian
□ Iraqi
□ Israeli
Enter, for example, Moroccan, Yemeni, Kurdish, etc.
□ Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander – Provide details below.
□ Native Hawaiian □ Samoan
□ Chamorro
□ Tongan
□ Fijian
□ Marshallese
Enter, for example, Chuukese, Palauan, Tahitian, etc.
□ White – Provide details below.
□ English
□ German
□ Irish
□ Italian
□ Polish
□ Scottish
Enter, for example, French, Swedish, Norwegian, etc.

39. What is the highest grade or level of school you completed?






Some high school or less
High school diploma or equivalent
College graduate (AA, AS, BA, BS) or technical school
Graduate degree (MA, MS, MBA, PhD, JD, MD, etc.)

40. If you are/were a commercial or for-hire guide fisherman, please list the number of
years you participated in each fishing sector? And check the box if you currently
participate in a commercial or for-hire fishery. If you were never a commercial or forhire guide fisherman, please skip to the next question.
Commercial fisherman
For-hire guide fisherman

 Yes, I currently participate in a commercial fishery
 Yes, I currently participate in a for-hire fishery

41. Is mariculture your primary source of income?

 Yes, mariculture is my primary source of income
 No, mariculture is not my primary source of income
42. If mariculture is not your primary source of income, please briefly describe your
primary source of income below. If mariculture is your primary source of income, please
skip to the next question.
43. Before opening your mariculture operation, how many years of mariculture
experience did you have growing any marine or freshwater species within Alaska
and/or outside of Alaska?
In Alaska

Outside of Alaska

44. What are your opinions on the future of Alaskan mariculture? Please list any
optimisms or pessimisms you may have. Continue on following page if space is not
available.
Is there anything we overlooked?
Please use the space below to provide us with any other comments you would like to make.