Alaska Shellfish Farms in Spotlight: Harvest from Ocean to Dining Table
In the heart of Halibut Cove, Alaska, Weatherly and Greg Bates, the family behind Alaska Shellfish Farms, have been making waves in the aquaculture industry. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bates family shifted their focus towards local sales, aiming to increase access to fresh seafood for locals.
Their farm, nestled in the pristine environment of Kachemak Bay, grows oysters, mussels, and varieties of seaweed, including kelp. Kelp not only provides an inviting home for invertebrates such as sea urchins, scallops, worms, fish, and tiger rockfish, but it also plays a crucial role in supporting healthy oyster growth by limiting water acidity through the absorption of carbon dioxide.
Weatherly Bates offers educational workshops to help chefs and seaweed enthusiasts incorporate more kelp into their dishes. The kelp share program allows the farm to give fresh kelp to local vendors for experimentation and new product development, aiming to create a market for kelp that wasn't previously present.
Alaska Shellfish Farms is one of the only aquaculture operations in Alaska that raises native Alaskan blue mussels. Unlike other oyster varieties, Glacier Point Oysters, a Pacific Oyster variety grown for up to 4 years in cold Alaska waters, do not reproduce (spawn), allowing them to retain their refreshing flavor for longer.
The Bates family's focus on local sales and ecosystem stewardship secured their win of the 2020 Alaska Farm Family of the Year award. Other aquaculture operators in Alaska are following a similar path, promoting natural ecosystems and sustainable practices, such as sustainable mussel farms using rope culture methods, which filter and clean seawater while sequestering carbon, and cold-water prawn farms that focus on environmentally responsible harvesting practices.
Here's a recipe to enjoy the flavors of Alaska Shellfish Farms:
Alaskan Seaweed Salad Recipe
Ingredients: - 1 ounce dried kelp - Rice vinegar - Mirin - Sesame oil - Soy sauce - Ginger powder - Garlic powder - Sesame seeds - Chili flakes
Instructions: 1. Rehydrate kelp. 2. Combine ingredients to make a sauce. 3. Toss with seaweed. 4. Marinate. 5. Enjoy.
Alaska Shellfish Farms products are available locally through farm pickup, an honor system stand, and a kelp share program. The unique solutions implemented by the Bates family, such as the honor system boat sale method, have contributed to the growth of their operation and the promotion of sustainable aquaculture practices in Alaska.
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