Mariculture Site Assessment Toolkit (SAT)
Technology Summary
The Mariculture Site Assessment Toolkit (SAT) provides the necessary tools for assessing transparency, temperature, nutrient concentration, and currents in the water column as key environmental factors to evaluate potential sites suitable for kelp farming, particularly in Alaska. Accompanied by an illustrated protocol, video, and assessment index table, the SAT makes sampling and assessment easy to understand and accomplish for even the entry-level farmer.
Background
Seaweed farming is a significant and growing industry worldwide as seaweeds, especially kelp, are used for food, medicinal products, additives, and bioremediation. Marine aquaculture sites in Alaska are located in state public waters, requiring approval from both the State of Alaska and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for farm sites and designs. Potential farm sites must possess suitable physical and biological characteristics to ensure good yields and minimize operational costs. Currently, mariculture farmers lack a readily usable and quantitative method to assess a potential site’s suitability for kelp farming prior to applying for a farming permit.
Description & How It Works
The Mariculture Site Assessment Toolkit addresses this gap by offering a streamlined, quantitative framework to evaluate key water column parameters—water transparency, temperature, nutrient concentration, and current speed. By pairing reusable sampling equipment with step-by-step video guidance, an illustrated protocol, and a quantitative site assessment index table, the toolkit allows prospective farmers to collect reliable site data and make informed decisions before submitting formal permit applications.
Applications
- Mariculture / Aquaculture Farmers: Quantitative site evaluation prior to permit application and farm design approval.
- Native Associations: Assessment of regional public waters for sustainable mariculture and kelp farming development.