Uncle Sam Maps Fish Farms in Wild Alaska Waters
Published Date: 4/23/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA is exploring new spots in Alaska’s state waters where commercial fish farming could grow. They’ve picked some draft areas and want your thoughts by May 23, 2025. This could boost local seafood businesses and jobs, but they’ll review all feedback before making final decisions.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
NOAA Identified 97 Draft AOA Options
NOAA's marine spatial planning study narrowed candidates to 97 draft Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) Options with high relative suitability scores in southeast, southcentral, and southwest Alaska State waters. These draft options are preliminary and may be used to help identify AOA alternatives for possible evaluation in a draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).
Site Size and Location Limits Defined
The draft AOA Options include areas up to 4,000 acres per study area for subtidal shellfish and seaweed aquaculture and up to 100 acres per study area for intertidal shellfish aquaculture. All draft options are within Alaska State waters (less than 3 nautical miles from shore) and up to 61 meters (200 feet) depth, and meet listed species environmental tolerances and gear thresholds.
Draft AOAs Are Not Pre-Permitted
Neither the draft AOA Options nor any AOAs that may be identified are pre-permitted sites. Any aquaculture project, whether inside or outside these areas, must comply with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations.
Public Comment Opportunity and Deadlines
NOAA invites public comment on the marine spatial planning study and draft AOA Options; written comments are due by May 23, 2025. Two virtual listening sessions for oral comments are scheduled: May 8, 2025 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Alaska Time) and May 16, 2025 (9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Alaska Time).
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