FAQs: Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska

What are Aquaculture Opportunity Areas?

Aquaculture Opportunity Areas or AOAs are defined geographic areas evaluated through both spatial analysis and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review processes that may be environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate to support multiple commercial aquaculture operations. The size and location for AOAs will be investigated through spatial analysis, Local Knowledge and Traditional Knowledge, and public engagement. This will allow NOAA and the State of Alaska to identify areas that may be appropriate for commercial aquaculture. 

NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science will provide spatial planning support for the Alaska AOA process. Spatial planning will use whole-ecosystem spatial modeling methods aimed at capturing best available data and public input. 

This is a multiyear planning process in which NOAA and the State of Alaska will work together to analyze locations and potentially identify AOAs in Alaska state waters to help sustainably advance aquaculture – also referred to in Alaska as mariculture.

Will permits and leases be required for aquaculture operations proposed within an AOA?

Yes, the federal and state leasing and permitting requirements remain the same within or outside of AOAs. Identification of AOAs does not authorize or permit any specific aquaculture-related activities or individual aquaculture projects. Any future aquaculture operations proposed within an AOA would still be required to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations which may include, among others the Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Compliance may include ESA and EFH consultations, and MMPA authorizations. Site-specific environmental surveys may be required to inform these consultations.

The state manages aquatic farming through a joint agency effort, balancing development with the protection of customary and traditional uses of fish and wildlife resources. Potential impacts to existing uses of proposed sites—including traditional uses—are evaluated under 11 AAC 63.050(5)(A–D).

Will finfish farming be considered when identifying AOAs in Alaska?

No, we will only consider invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumbers, etc.) and seaweed farming when identifying AOAs in Alaska. Finfish farming in Alaska state waters is prohibited by law.

How is NOAA working with the State of Alaska for AOA identification? 

NOAA Fisheries received letters of support to explore AOAs in Alaska state waters from Governor Dunleavy, state agencies, state legislature, Alaska Native Organizations, industry, research institutions and individuals. There is a lot of excitement around co-developing this process.

Alaska State agencies are crucial partners in helping NOAA co-develop an AOA process that best fits the needs of Alaska. NOAA formed an Interagency Working Group with the state and federal agencies responsible for leasing and permitting aquaculture operations in Alaska state waters:

• Alaska Department of Natural Resources
• Alaska Department of Fish & Game
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

This group has helped draft and review the Request for Information and Notice of Availability, identified available state and federal spatial data to aid in the AOA identification process, and helped identify siting constraints and considerations for aquaculture operations.

NOAA will continue to coordinate with the State of Alaska during Atlas development and in publishing the Notice of Intent for preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.

How can members of the public provide input into the AOA identification process?

Public input is essential in the identification of AOAs, and this process will be shaped by public input throughout. We have conducted outreach during multiple stages of the spatial planning process to our stakeholder communities, our state and federal regulatory partner agencies, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, coastal managers, and Alaska Native Tribes and Organizations, as well as the general public to collect best available information to support the AOA identification process and to support transparent and inclusive dialogues. By including Local and Indigenous Knowledge, public comments, and the best available science in identifying AOAs, these areas will expand opportunities for seafood production while minimizing potential user conflicts.

Opportunities for the public and stakeholders to participate in the Alaska AOA identification process, include:

1. Requests for information to gather input on what factors we should consider to refine our prospective AOA study areas, and siting considerations. Complete as of December 2023.
2. Spatial planning workshops to discuss the Alaska AOA process, request input on possible study areas, identify data gaps, and collect data on existing uses in AOA study areas. Complete as of March 2024.
3. Public scoping for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
4. Public comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.

Information on upcoming and past public comment opportunities, transcripts of public meetings, and recorded presentations can be found here.

What is the general process for identifying AOAs in Alaska? 

We developed a roadmap to walk you through each step of this multiyear planning process. More details on each of these steps is below.

• The spatial planning process is anticipated to take up to two years to complete and will conclude with the release of an Alaska AOA Atlas - a technical document providing rigorous peer-reviewed spatial information and geospatial modeling. **We are currently in the second year of the spatial planning phase as of July 2025.
• The environmental review conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is also anticipated to take up to two years to complete and will conclude in the publication of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).
• Upon completion of the NEPA environmental review process, one or more AOAs may be identified in a decision document from NOAA Fisheries. AOAs will not be identified until the decision document is signed, if the agency chooses an action alternative.

Why did NOAA select Alaska as the next region to begin AOA identification?

During a 60-day public comment period in Fall 2020, Alaska received significant interest from the State government and stakeholders in support of AOAs. This, paired with the growth the industry has gone through over recent years, and the potential for future growth, made Alaska stand out as a great place for partnership and AOA identification. 

How will the spatial analysis support identifying AOAs that minimize resource use conflicts?

The final product of the spatial analysis, the AOA “Atlas,” will detail the effort to map a wide array of ocean activities for each region including cultural resources, natural resources, commercial fishing, recreational fishing, shipping, energy extraction, and military areas. The aquaculture suitability models worked to identify the areas that are the most relatively suitable and minimize conflicts with other ocean uses and the surrounding ecosystem. 

What types of data layers were used in the preliminary results of the Alaska marine spatial planning study?

The spatial data inventory can be found in the marine spatial planning study, An Aquaculture Opportunity Analysis for the Gulf of Alaska (Appendix A), which summarizes the methods and analysis used to develop the Draft AOA Options and related suitability modeling efforts. Additional datasets may be added or considered for characterization in the Alaska Atlas development and as public comments are received. The suitability modeling currently includes a total of 95 data layers, categorized as follows:

• Constraints (Table A-1): Bathymetry, marine highways, ferry routes, state parks, harbor seal haulouts, active aquatic operating areas, etc.
• Cultural Resources (Table A-2): Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) Southeast Alaska herring surveys, herring spawning areas, Alaska area plans, Alaska Historic Resources Survey (AHRS), etc.
• Fisheries (Table A-3): Shore fishery leases, hatchery release sites, commercial fisheries landings, ADF&G geoduck survey beds, etc.
• Industry, Transportation, Navigation (Table A-4): AIS vessel traffic, log transfer facilities, harbors, land permits/leases, etc.
• National Security (Table A-5): Formerly used defense sites and munitions/explosives of concern.
• Natural Resources (Table A-6): Essential Fish Habitat, Steller sea lion haulouts/rookeries, ShoreZone mapping, etc.

What information was shared in the Notice of Availability? 

The preliminary results include the identification of approximately 97 discrete areas that have high relative suitability scores. These “Draft AOA Options,” meet the requirements for aquaculture development, minimize to the extent possible interactions with sensitive natural resources, and avoid significant overlap with other ocean users. 

In Alaska, the Draft AOA Options include areas: 

• up to 4,000 acres per study area of subtidal shellfish and seaweed aquaculture; and
• up to a 100 acres per study area for intertidal/shallow subtidal shellfish aquaculture. 

All Draft AOA Options occur within Alaska state waters (less than three nautical miles from shore) up to 200 feet in depth, and meet identified species environmental tolerances and gear thresholds. 

How did NOAA determine the parameters for spatial analysis, such as depth ranges, proximity to existing infrastructure, types of aquaculture, and target acreage?

NOAA consulted with aquaculture industry representatives in Alaska, and the AOA Interagency Working Group (Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the US Army Corps of Engineers) to identify the environmental and other requirements for aquaculture development in state waters. Parameters included, for example, proximity to existing infrastructure, minimal historical ice cover, and maximum depth. 

Why does the marine spatial planning study list areas with current aquaculture operation as having low suitability?

The marine spatial planning study includes active aquatic operating areas as a constraint (i.e., areas that are unsuitable for aquaculture development due to conflicts with existing ocean uses). These areas are considered occupied and therefore not available for new operations, which is why they were flagged as low suitability in the model. 

Will the suitability model results be used to permit aquaculture farms?

The identification of AOAs is not a regulatory or permitting action and does not authorize or permit any specific aquaculture-related activities or individual aquaculture projects. The suitability model is intended to help identify areas that may be appropriate for sustainable aquaculture development. The suitability model results will be used as one source of information to assist the agency in identifying AOAs and could provide useful information to inform future project siting.

Who reviews the Atlas for scientific merit?

The Atlas will undergo a rigorous external peer review through the Center for Independent Experts (CIE). The CIE selects reviewers from a pool of highly-qualified scientists from around the world. The independent process ensures scientific merit and quality, as well as credibility and transparency in NOAA’s scientific products. This is the highest level of peer review in the agency. 

How can I find additional information about the Alaska AOA spatial planning process?

There are numerous resources available:

• Marine spatial planning study: An Aquaculture Opportunity Analysis for the Gulf of Alaska summarizes the methods and analysis used to develop the Draft AOA Options and related suitability modeling efforts.
• NCCOS WebMapper: shows the layers for individual maps contained in the marine spatial planning study as well as the locations of the Draft AOA Options.
• NCCOS Story Map: walks you through the process and the science behind identifying the Draft AOA Options in Alaska.
• Alaska AOA Spatial Analysis webpage: explains how NOAA Fisheries, NCCOS, and the State of Alaska collaborated on the marine spatial planning analysis for the Alaska AOA identification process.

What will the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process entail?

As part of the AOA identification process as directed by Executive Order 13921 (E.O. 13921), “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth” (May 7, 2020), NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region will develop a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). NEPA requires U.S. federal agencies to take a “hard look” at the potential environmental consequences of their actions and the effects on the quality of the human environment. 

Public engagement for NEPA will begin after the publication of a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the PEIS. The NOI will include a request for public comment on alternatives or impacts and on relevant information, studies or analyses with respect to the proposed AOAs. In addition, opportunities for Tribal consultation will commence at the beginning of the NEPA process. The PEIS will evaluate the adverse and beneficial effects of identifying AOAs and siting aquaculture in those locations, which could occur through future proposals and project level review.

How can Alaska Native Tribes and Organizations provide input during the AOA process in Alaska?

Tribal engagement will occur throughout the AOA identification process. NOAA will seek information on subsistence harvest locations, fishing areas, and other traditionally and culturally important locations through the spatial planning process. In addition, NOAA will communicate with Tribal governments and corporations during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. There will be multiple opportunities for Alaska Native Tribes and Organizations to comment on this effort. 

Does the AOA identification process include Tribal consultation and collaboration?

Yes, NOAA Fisheries will use the NOAA Guidance and Best Practices for Engaging and Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge in Decision-Making document (2023) to guide our interactions with Alaska Natives. We encourage, as appropriate and to the extent practicable and permitted by law, the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge in environmental science, policy, and decision making process, to better facilitate consultations as required by E.O. 13175, to inform agency decision making, and build partnerships with Indigenous Peoples. 

However, NOAA will not conduct consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 as part of the AOA identification process because this is a planning exercise without project-specific details and does not permit any aquaculture activity. Site-specific aquaculture projects may require consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer at a later date, when they are proposed.

There are numerous opportunities for Tribal and public engagement throughout the AOA identification process, including but not limited to: requests for information, listening sessions, workshops, meetings, draft AOA options, and public scoping for the programmatic environmental impact statement. 

What are the next steps in the AOA identification process? 

NOAA and the AOA Interagency Working Group will consider comments received through the Notice of Availability process, incorporate any appropriate changes into the model and draft Atlas, and send the draft Atlas for review by the Center for Independent Experts (CIE). Comments received from the CIE review will help further refine and contribute to the scientific merit of the Atlas. 

Following the release of the Alaska AOA Atlas, NOAA Fisheries and NCCOS will provide opportunities for engagement with constituents to communicate Atlas results and provide information on next steps, including the NEPA process as described above. The NEPA analysis will assess the potential impacts of identifying AOAs and of future siting of aquaculture facilities in alternative locations. The decision to identify an AOA will only be made after completion of the NEPA process, including issuing a final decision document.