Mariculture is the cultivation of marine organisms for food and other products in the open ocean. In Prince William Sound there are two types of mariculture occurring: kelp farming and oyster farming.

Kelp farming in Prince William Sound is a relatively new venture and requires a six step process to grow. First, kelp farmers scuba dive within 30 miles of their farm to harvest wild kelp samples, which are used to seed their farm. Once the samples are collected, they are sent to a lab to be germinated. (Fun fact: Dr. Alysha Cypher, PWSSC, is currently germinating kelp seeds in our lab for future mariculture projects.)

The germination process takes about 6-8 weeks, at which point they are ready to “plant." This is done by putting a grow line (or a thicker line) through a seed spool, a PVC pipe wrapped in thin nylon string covered with tiny kelp seedlings. The seed spool spins like a spool of thread on a sewing machine, wrapping the nylon string around the grow line as it is pulled through the center of the pipe. Once deployed in the water, the farmers wait for the kelp to grow. It does not require fertilizer or any extra care to grow. The growing period starts in the fall and goes through the end of April, which is the month where key growth happens. To harvest the kelp, farmers bring the line up on their boat and whack the kelp off the line.

All this and more was discussed at our last Tuesday Night Talk with Caitlin McKinstry. Check out her talk in the YouTube video above. Caitlin will also be presenting tonight, February 7, on the Native Village of Eyak’s mariculture program.

Tuesday Night Talks occur at the Science Center at 7pm. If you cannot make it in person, they are available to be live-streamed here and can later be viewed on our YouTube channel. Talks are intended for adults; all are welcome to attend. If you would like receive email notifications for upcoming talks, subscribe here.

As the months progress this time of year, we expect the weather to get colder. We hunker down with our tea and our yarn or thread, preparing for a long winter of crafting. However, many are wondering what exactly this winter will bring us.

Changing weather patterns are on a lot of people’s minds lately. These changes can bring about confusion, fear, and even grief. Regardless of our beliefs on the causes of climate change, we share concerns over how it will impact our lives and livelihoods. One way to deal with the intangibility of emotions is to create something solid with your hands. 

The Science Center is proudly hosting a Stitch Your Science exhibit this winter. We welcome fiber artists of all mediums to submit a piece which chronicles their experience with climate change. 

What might this look like? Anything you want it to look like! This is meant to be a creative exercise. See more details and ideas here. The image above is a part of the Adirondack Watershed Institute's Wool and Water exhibit and is titled Ice Fishing Blues by Michael Glennon. It represents the threat to ice fishing from climate change.

Pieces are due by March 15 and will be on display through June.

The Prince William Sound Science Center is a proud member of the Mariculture Research and Restoration Consortium (Mariculture ReCon), a new research program funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. The goal of Mariculture ReCon is to support restoration, habitat enhancement, and economic development through research and partnerships between scientists and seaweed and shellfish farmers. This consortium's activities will enable capacity building and growth of the mariculture industry in the spill affected area, including Prince William Sound, Kodiak Island, and Kachemak Bay. Mariculture ReCon brings together partners from the Prince William Sound Science Center, Alaska Sea Grant, the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, NOAA, ADFG, the Native Village of Eyak, seaweed and shellfish farmers, University of Alaska researchers, and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The program includes restoration components to assess the ecological effects of the mariculture industry in the spill area, as well as farm and business components to enhance the success of the mariculture industry in Alaska. Mariculture ReCon will collaborate with the CORaL Network on education and engagement activities involving the mariculture industry, scientists, and interested communities.