BUSINESS SUPPORTERS

• Aqua Pacific Wire Mesh & Supply Ltd. : A long term supporter of ASGA and Alaska Farmers Aqua Pacific's Niki Palmer joined us and is always available to work with growers to tailor wire mesh solutions for their farms.
• Hooper's Island Oyster Co.: Purveyors of oyster equipment and gear sent Hexcyl basket samples for interested growers to try out.
• Vitsab Time Temperature Indicators  Developed in collaboration with U.S. FDA and other federal and state organizations according to predictive growth models of Vibrio paraheamolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus supplied by FDA.
  

IN ALASKA

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game Mariculture: The department permits and regulates aquatic farming in the state in a manner that ensures: a. the protection of the state's fish and game resources [and uses of those resources) and b. improves the economy, and well being of the citizens of the state.
• Alaska Department of Natural Resources The Division of Mining, Land, and Water Aquatic Farm Program overseas all leasing for aquatic farms they also maintain the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation:  Overseas all food safety issues and permits for commercial shellfish harvesters, packers, shuckers and shippers. 
•  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District issues required permits for aquatic farm activities.
• Alaska Sea Grant: Many past ASGA Conference presentations and materials are available on the Alaska Sea Grant Aquaculture resources page .
• • For technical assistance, contact Gary Freitag, Marine Advisory Agent, in Ketchikan at (907) 617-8990 or by email at gary.freitag@alaska.edu.
  • For business assistance, contact Quentin Fong, Seafood Marketing Specialist, in Kodiak at (907) 486-1516 or by email at quentin.fong@alaska.edu.
• Alaska Statutes (AS 16.40.100-199): Aquatic Farming Statutes (require legislative action to change)
• Alaska Aquatic Farming Regulations (5 AAC 41 Article 4) (Agency interpretation of statutes, change limited by statutes)  5 AAC 41.200-400  Please refer to the State’s Alaska Administrative Code database in Folio for the most current aquatic farm regulations.
• Alaska Mariculture Revolving Loan Fund: Loans may be made for the planning, construction, andRes operation of a mariculture business.
• Alaska Shellfish Growers Manual: The Alaska Shellfish Growers Manual has not been updated in over 5 years, and growing practices have changed significantly in that time, but it does contain some information relevant to Alaska Growers. 
• Global Ocean Health – Ocean Acidification Report
• OOS Ocean Data Explorer

• Alaska Ocean Acidification Network website (Alaska-specific info on research, monitoring, conditions, partners, events, etc.) and you can read their recent Alaska Ocean Acidification "State of the Science" report for stakeholders (Nov 2018)

• Local Environmental Observer Network:  LEO is a network of local observers and topic experts who share knowledge about unusual animal, environment, and weather events. With LEO, you can connect with others in your community, share observations, raise awareness, and find answers about significant environmental events. You can also engage with topic experts in many different organizations and become part of a broader observer community.

NATIONWIDE

• NOAA Aquaculture: Read more on NOAA Aquaculture priorities  and about the NOAA Sea Grant Program
• Marine Mammal Entanglement Program: Anyone interested in getting training or bringing training to your communities can contact julie.scheurer@noaa.gov
• EPA Fish and Shellfish Program Newsletter: Advisories and information on health and water quality issues impacting fish and shellfish. Send email with "Subscribe" in the subject to fish_advisory@epa.gov
• USDA Farm Service Agency Many shellfish growers have benefited from the FSA's Loan Programs for short and long-term capital to develop their farms, as well as the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) program for rural areas. They have a number of other grants and loan programs that may be useful to shellfish growers. Contact Erin.Sturdivant@ak.usda.gov for more information on resources available to Alaskans.
• USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) just released its Aquaculture Action Plan 2020 document identifying priorities, goals and resources for helping the aquaculture industry - focusing on research that supports the production of quality seafood products for human consumption. 
• FDA Food Facility Renewals: Bienniel renewals are due 12/31/18, required registration for those that have a processing facility
• Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) is the federal cooperative body which manages the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. Formed in 1982 to foster and promote the sanitation of shellfish through the cooperation of state and federal control agencies, the shellfish industry, and the academic community. The ISSC manages three task forces: the Growing Areas task force, the Processing and Distribution task force, and Administration task force. Committees are often appointed to assist task forces in developing recommendations. Delegates from each state shellfish control agency vote on recommendations submitted by the task forces. The National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) 2017 Guide to the Control of Molluscan Shellfish is the Model Ordinance that governs food safety sanitation for shellfish.

NON-PROFIT RESOURCES

• Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation: Long-time supporters and contributors to ASGA, They have spearheaded research and worked closely with the governers office to release the recent Mariculture Task Force Development Plan.
• The Nature Conservancy Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition Ocean Acidification impacts to shellfish growers has gotten a lot of press in the past 10 years, TNC's SGCC is one possible response. Interested shellfish growers can contact Sally McGee smcgee@tnc.org For more background watch the video about the Coalition.
  
• National Shellfisheries Association Sponsors an annual scientific conference; Publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Shellfish Research; Provides members with a print subscription to JSR and online access via BioOne; Produces a Quarterly Newsletter; Interacts with other associations and industry
• Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association Supports ASGA in communicating with legislators. PCSGA works on behalf of its members on a broad spectrum of issues, including environmental protection, shellfish safety, regulations, technology and marketing.
• Pacific Shellfish Institute PSI has included ASGA in a number of research grants supporting growers in Alaska. Their mission: PSI research and educational activities are aimed at supporting sustainable shellfish production and restoration, protecting marine ecosystems, reducing user-conflicts, and informing coastal planning decisions. Most activities focus on publicly-funded research projects to evaluate the ecology, health and diseases of shellfish. They also conduct social research to characterize the status of shellfish production and restoration along the West Coast, including socio-economic assessments of the benefits and costs of shellfish production, and barriers to entry for the shellfish industry.PSI produced this publication Dichotomous Key and Illustrated Guideto the Pests of Bivalve Aquaculture in Washington and Oregon If you are interested in receiving a printed copy (laminated pages) for use on your farm contact bobbi@pacshell.org One research possibility would be to develop a similar guide adding AK species 

RESEARCH

• This article in the Journal of Biofouling references a variety of research papers relevant to aquaculture "The impact and control of biofouling in marine aquaculture: a review"