ALASKAN SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE

Transcription

1 ALASKAN SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE Past, Present, and Future Raymond RaLonde Aquaculture Specialist University of Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program

2 SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE Oyster Mussel Scallop Littleneck Clam Geoduck Cockle

3 PRODUCTION OF ALASKAN FARMED SHELLFISH Sales and number Year

4 PRODUCTION OF ALASKAN OYSTERS Sales and number 1,200 1, Number x 1000 Dollars x Year

5 THE OYSTER FARM Suspended culture For the half-shell market Labor intensive Growout about 18 months Shellfish cleaned, test for PSP, package and ship Sales in 2003 was 661 thousand pounds

6 Single farm R and D needed Marketing needed Total sales 1,697 lbs in 2003 MUSSEL FARMING

7 CLAM FARMING Beach cultured Prepare site, deploy predator net, plant seed, maintenance, harvest Harvest for 2003 was 61,658 lbs Not meeting current Alaska demand

8 GEODUCK CLAM Geoduck clam commercial harvest 360,000 lbs at $3.48/lb Subtidal trials underway using divers and exclusion netting Intertidal research in third year Unacceptable mortality 20% slower growth than WA, BC Studies continuing with new seed and nursery culture No aquaculture harvest Annette Island Project

9 A HISTORY LESSON Oyster farming began in early 1900s Ended in 1958 with maximum production 450 gallons of oyster meat Started again 1978 followed by a difficult decade Aquatic farm act 1988

10 A HISTORY LESSON One stop permitting from Aquatic Farm Act Shellfish hatchery constructed On-bottom permitting crisis 1998 Regulation revision Alaska State Constitution Prove productivity increase Article VIII Natural 10 yr quarterly operation plan Resources Separate wild and hatchery stocks at harvest Legal challenges to common property provision Ten year tidelands leasing provision Much research and development SECTION 3. COMMON USE. Wherever occurring in their natural state, fish, wildlife, and waters are reserved to the people for common use.

11 BIOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS Need for a reliable seed source for oysters Exotic species import ban, even for native species Research and development required for indigenous species Slower growth of shellfish (value needed) Paralytic shellfish poison blooms

12 SHELLFISH HATCHERY Seed production for: Pacific oyster Littleneck clams Geoduck clam Basket cockle

13 SHELLFISH NURSERY CULTURE Doubled oyster growth Decreased operational cost by 40% Improved survival from 40-60% to 85+% Improved inventory control Ovoid area mm Jun 12-Jun 22-Jun 2-Jul 12-Jul 22-Jul 1-Aug 11-Aug 21-Aug 31-Aug 10-Sep 20-Sep 30-Sep 10-O ct

14 ROCK SCALLOP RESEARCH Lantern net growout Market size in 3 to 5 years Recover at 18 months Muscle wt./shell wt % ± 0.56 (95%) Whole tissue PSP positive No sales in /13/2002 5/24/2002 9/1/ /10/2002 3/20/2003 6/28/ /6/2003 1/14/2004 4/23/2004 8/1/ /9/2004 Shell length mm Date

15 OYSTER BROODSTOCK DEVELOPMENT Develop an Alaskan strain of oyster Increase growth performance Consistent growth and survival

16 IMPROVED COMMUNICATION Workshops Hosting conferences Mediate controversies Publications Planning

17 APPLIED RESEARCH Littleneck clam project completed Paralytic shellfish poison toxin research portable kit Results of the Littleneck Clam (Prototheca staminia) Growout Project for Southeast Alaska by Raymond RaLonde Aquaculture Specialist Marine Advisory Program School of Fisheries and Ocean Science University of Alaska Fairbanks

18 BUSINESS AND OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS High cost of doing business in rural Alaska Lack of investment capital (perceived risk) Lack of infrastructure Poor site selection for farms Constraining regulations - Tidelands leasing

19 A HISTORY LESSON Infrastructure investment Information and training More R and D Marketing Quality control Regulatory reform Reduction in contraints Resolution of common property provision Tidelands leasing reform Projects Grant Funding Ketchikan geoduck nursery 47,300 Naukati FLUPSY 61,250 Kake FLUPSY expansion 40,400 Cordova processing facility 67,500 Cordova remote setting facility 15,000 Homer processing facility 177,210 Seward pre-nursery pond 429,000 ASGA - grant administration 20,340 TOTAL $858,000 Match total funding is $1,225,272

20 THE TIDELANDS LEASING PROGRAM Every other year permit application opening Daunting application process Application review conflicts (Local hearings) Length of review time Regulations restrictive and cumbersome Appeals lengthy and expensive Process fraught with confrontation

21 A CHANGE WAS NEEDED Industry growth was not happen under the current circumstances Other avenues were tried Courts and lawsuits Appeals for permit denials Initiatives were slow and often confrontational Regulatory reform was unproductive Economically depressed communities needed help A new approach was necessary Sales and number 1, Number x 1000 Dollars x Year Annette Island Aquaculture Project

22 RESULTS OF THE CONTRAINTS Slowed development No off-years applications Increased business failures Improper siting Site where you could No opportunity for a coordinated effort Cooperative formation, marketing etc. No infrastructure opportunity Lack of critical mass of development Atmosphere of misinformation The fear factor is prolonged through the permit process Dynamics are different when permits are on the table

23 PROCESS OF DEVELOPING COMMUNITY PARTNERS The homework What are the local circumstances? Visit to talk Always have an invitation The presentation Just the facts The community response Making the decision Act or not?

24 THE FACT OF AQUACULTURE Percentage % 90.00% 80.00% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Oysters Clams/cockels Mussels Scallop Species Billion Pounds Round Weight Global Seafood Production Millions of Tonnes Captured Fisheries Aquaculture 2005 Years Total Population Demographics United States Demand (Howard Johnson 2004)

25 Total Population Change : Census Areas 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% -10% -20% 49% 24% 23% 22% 14% 2% -5% -2% -11% THE PEOPLE IMPACT MatSu N Slope Dillinghan Kenai Alaska Ketchikan Prince Wales Wrangell- Psbg Bristol Bay Population Pyramid Coastal to to to to to 19 0 to 4 Males Females percent UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research

26 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE $20,000 gross revenues per acre for Alaska oyster [ Based upon performance of 6-acre S.E. and 1-acre Kachemak Bay farms over a five-year period. ] At this rate, Alaska would require only 5,000 acres of coastline to create a $100 million industry!

27 ECONOMIC SPIN-OFFS OF SHELLFISH FARMS Services (Fuel, groceries, supplies, welding, outboards, etc.) Shellfish Nurseries ($13,000 net profit/million seed) Processing (Provides year-round flow of product) Air Service (My farm backhauls 900-1,800 lbs/week) Revenue Sharing (Farms pay Fisheries Business Tax) Employment (My farm employs 4 on a year-round basis)

28 INITIAL SITE VISITS Sitka (No) Naukati (Yes) Thorne Bay (Yes) Hydaburg (No) Metlakatla (Yes)

29 WHO DOES THE PLAN? PARTNERSHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL We all do the plan Community committee State and federal agencies DGC, ADF&G, DNR, DEC, USFS, COE Local governments, citizens, businesses, University of Alaska (UAF, UAS, UAA) NGO s Aquaculture industry- ASGA, Local farmers Southeast Conference - EDD Alaska Science and Technology Foundation

30 THINK BIG HOW WE DO THE PLAN Reconnaissance large areas Consider and respond to local concerns through aquaculture committees Examine sites through the state review process independent of the regulators Use GIS technology with available data Select large areas not small farm plots Cluster farms sites to develop cooperatives Complete the permit applications for a large zone with a designated farm area

31 (1) -N: W: (Kaguk Cove) (2) -N: W: (Salt Lake Bay) (3) -N: W: (Nossuk Bay) (3) -N: W: (Nossuk Bay) (4) -N: W: (Warm Chuck Bay (5) -N: W: (Warm Chuck Bay) (6) - GPS Down - (NE corner of Heceta Island) (7) - GPS Down - (SW Tuxekan,.) (8) - GPS Down - (Western Tuxekan Island) (9) - (POW shore of Tuxekan Passage) (10) -N: W: (near Salt Lake Bay) (11) -N: W: (Tuxekan - Yahku Cove) (12) -N: W: (Nundei Cove ) (13) - (Winter Harbor - POW) (14) -N: W: (S. Winter Harbor) (15) -N: W: (Tonowek Narrows) (16) -N: W: (17) -N: W: (18) N:55 o W: 133 o PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND SITE SURVEYS

32 THE EXPANSION 105 sites nominated Over 10,000 acres (recon) Active site review sessions Nine month review Leases in January 2004 Government commitment Partnerships are solid and spreading

33 Sites available = 0 Sites available THE RESULTS Sub-tidal = 12 sites 105 acres Inter-tidal = 24 sites 148 acres Suspended = 126 sites 1093 acres TOTAL SITES STATEWIDE = 162 TOTAL ACREAGE AVAILABLE= 1346 CURRENTLY LEASING = 27 SITES 2005 Remaining are offered over the counter at DNR

34 APPLYING FOR A SITE Web site selections Five page application Few days review Sent on to Alaska Department of Fish and Game Regular (every other year open) remains

35 PROGRESS 0N PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND Naukati floating upwelling nursery Canoe Lagoon gear supplier New tidelands leases 70 Acres so far x x xx x x x x

36 ONGOING INITIATIVES Scallop culture field research (Sea Grant) Entering the third year of growout at two locations Cockle and geoduck clam culture research First year growout ends in October Southeast Alaska Aquaculture Program (CES, UAF/PRF, Sea Grant) Shellfish marketing study USDA/CREES MAP aquaculture training program Commencing in the spring Annette Island Aquaculture Development Littleneck clam market study

37 JUST THE BEGINNING Training component now in development Dealing with remoteness Developing cooperative relationships Partitioning the farming activities Marketing with other seafood Developing local infrastructure Value added technology development Continue to work on current regulations Develop BMPs for farming operations

38 Government partners THANK YOU Jackie Timothy ASF&G mariculture coordinator Guyla McGrady DNR aquatic farm program manager John Thiede DNR Aquatic farm disposal program Industry partners Alaskan shellfish growers association Qutekcak shellfish hatchery Alaska legislature John Torgerson Alaska governor s office and administration The Communities