Mariculture Minute

In this episode, we hear from two Republican Candidates for Alaska Governor: Matt Heilala and Hank Kroll.Vocab Words and Terms!* Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Blooms* Native Corporations* Paella* Food SecurityLinks!Matt Heilala for Governor – Campaign Websitehttps://matt4governor.com/Hank Kroll – Official Websitehttps://hankkroll.com/ACLU of Alaska – Voter Registration Deadline Informationhttps://www.acluak.org/registration-deadline/Alaska Division of Elections – Election Informationhttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/election-information/Wikipedia – 2026 Alaska Gubernatorial Electionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Alaska_gubernatorial_electionAlaska Division of Elections – General Election Informationhttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/election-information/#GENRAlaska Economic Report – “That figure you’ve heard on how much food Alaska imports? It’s not real”https://alaskapublic.org/programs/alaska-economic-report/2025-11-20/that-figure-youve-heard-on-how-much-food-alaska-imports-its-not-realSitka Sentinel – Cruise Passengershttps://sitkasentinel.com/stories/cruise-passengers,36437High Country News – The Terrible Toll of the Cruise Ship Industryhttps://www.hcn.org/articles/ocean-the-terrible-toll-of-the-cruise-ship-industry/KCAW – Sitka at a Tipping Point as Residents Grapple with Impact of Tourismhttps://www.kcaw.org/2024/08/02/sitka-at-a-tipping-point-as-residents-grapple-with-impact-of-tourism/Juneau Empire – Sitka Voters Reject Cruise Ship Limitshttps://www.juneauempire.com/2025/05/28/sitka-voters-reject-cruise-ship-limits/Alaska Business Magazine – Alaska’s Shipshaped Economyhttps://digital.akbizmag.com/issue/april-2019/alaskas-shipshaped-economy/ASMI – Economic Impacts Reporthttps://www.alaskaseafood.org/wp-content/uploads/MRG_ASMI-Economic-Impacts-Report_final.pdfFriends of the Earth – What Is Blackwater?https://foe.org/blog/what-is-blackwater/Cruise Lines International Association – Wastewater Managementhttps://cruising.org/wastewaterAlaska Department of Fish & Game – Wildlife News Articlehttps://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=286Ballotpedia – Alaska Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 2026https://ballotpedia.org/Alaska_gubernatorial_and_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2026Alaska Department of Fish & Game – Hardshell Clams of Alaskahttps://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static-sf/Region2/pdfpubs/HardshellClams.pdfUSDA Climate Hubs – Food Security and Climate Change in Alaskahttps://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/food-security-and-climate-change-alaskaWikipedia – Patrick Swayzehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_SwayzeWikipedia – Seldovia, Alaskahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seldovia,_Alaska This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In this episode, we hop into our time traveling oysters and visit 1830s Boston, Shakespeare’s England, Ancient Rome and the coast of North America thousands of years ago!The article that kicks off this episode is an op-ed essay from the New York Times, “Why Kids Became Picky Eaters” by Helen Zoe Veithttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/opinion/junk-food-picky-eaters.html?searchResultPosition=1And here’s the source I tracked down for kids eating oysters in the 1830s: * A New England Boyhood (Edward Everett Hale, 1900) — HathiTrusthttps://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000021390012&seq=112&q1=oystersI also found this cool story about kids (safely) working on a modern oyster farm: * “Kids Become Oyster Farmers” — East Hampton Starhttps://www.easthamptonstar.com/education/2022113/kids-become-oyster-farmersI didn’t mention this one in the podcast, but here’s a recipe for an ancient Roman oyster dish: * Ancient Roman Oysters and Shellfish with Cumin Sauce — Historical Italian Cookinghttps://historicalitaliancooking.home.blog/english/recipes/ancient-roman-oysters-and-shellfish-with-cumin-sauce/Here’s a good article about immigrants and children working in oyster canneries:* “A Forgotten People: Bohemian Oyster Shuckers on the NC Coast”https://ncoystertrail.org/a-forgotten-people-bohemian-oyster-shuckers-on-nc-coastVocab words!* Kelp Highway Hypothesis* “The Kelp Highway Hypothesis” — Academia.eduhttps://www.academia.edu/17182299/The_Kelp_Highway_Hypothesis_Marine_Ecology_the_Coastal_Migration_Theory_and_the_Peopling_of_the_Americas* BeringiaLinks!Indigenous Seaweed Knowledge and Harvest Practices* “Native Voices: Traditional Uses for Seaweed” — The Cordova Timeshttps://thecordovatimescom/2023/12/13/native-voices-traditional-uses-for-seaweed/Children, Oysters, and Early American FoodwaysA New England Boyhood (PDF) — Internet Archivehttps://dn790000.ca.archive.org/0/items/newenglandboyhoo0000hale/newenglandboyhoo0000hale.pdfFood Timeline — American Food History Resourcehttps://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.htmlHistorical Economics ContextUS Inflation Calculator (Value of $1 in 1830)https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/1830?amount=1Constant Dollars — Defense Acquisition University Glossaryhttps://www.dau.edu/glossary/constant-dollarsChildren Working at Maggioni Canning Company in 1912Historic Oyster Cannery Child Labor Photo Story — Beaufort, North Carolinahttps://www.eatstayplaybeaufort.com/youve-probably-seen-this-photo-but-do-you-know-the-story-behind-it/Maggioni Canning Company — Library of Congress Collectionhttps://www.loc.gov/search/?in=&q=Maggioni+Canning+Co&new=trueMaggioni Cannery Photograph — Library of Congresshttps://www.loc.gov/item/2018677425/Maggioni Cannery Photograph — Library of Congresshttps://www.loc.gov/item/2018677430/Oyster Ecology and Sustainability“Oysters Capture Carbon and Support Sustainable Food Systems” — Phys.orghttps://phys.org/news/2025-09-oysters-carbon-ocean-sustainable-food.htmlOysters in Culture and Social History“Oysters: The Tudor Version of Cinema Popcorn” — Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/oysters-the-tudor-version-of-cinema-popcorn-idUSTRE60S4JO/“From Peasant Fodder to Posh Fare” — The Conversationhttps://theconversation.com/from-peasant-fodder-to-posh-fare-how-snails-and-oysters-became-luxury-foods-254299Ancient Roman Oyster Culture“Oyster Culture of the Ancient Romans” — Cambridge University Presshttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/abs/oyster-culture-of-the-ancient-romans/EDB5C165BB46EDD3FA22C95C855325EBIndigenous Oyster Harvest and Deep-Time Fisheries“Indigenous Oyster Harvest Through Time” — Nature Communicationshttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29818-zNeanderthals and Early Human Seafood Diets“Neanderthals Had ‘Surfer’s Ear’” — Smithsonian Magazinehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neanderthals-had-lots-surfers-ear-suggesting-they-were-seafood-180972917/“Neanderthals Ate Crabs and Seafood” — Popular Sciencehttps://www.popsci.com/science/neanderthals-seafood-crabs/“Neanderthals Were Fishing the Ocean” — New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/science/neanderthals-fishing-ocean.htmlSeaweed and Early Human Diets“Early Europeans Ate Seaweed and Aquatic Plants” — Smithsonian Magazinehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/early-europeans-ate-seaweed-and-aquatic-plants-180983102/“First Americans Thrived on Seaweed” — New Scientisthttps://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13861-first-americans-thrived-on-seaweed/“Eating Seaweed in the Americas” — JSTOR Dailyhttps://daily.jstor.org/eating-seaweed-in-the-americas/The Kelp Highway HypothesisCoastal Migration and Kelp Highway Research — USGShttps://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70029934“Ecology of the Kelp Highway” — Gill et al. (PDF)https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kristina-Gill-2/publication/273509712_Ecology_of_the_Kelp_Highway_Did_Marine_Resources_Facilitate_Human_Dispersal_From_Northeast_Asia_to_the_Americas/links/55074dfa0cf26ff55f7cdadf/Ecology-of-the-Kelp-Highway-Did-Marine-Resources-Facilitate-Human-Dispersal-From-Northeast-Asia-to-the-Americas.pdf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In this episode, we talk to Josie about her fall internship, collecting stones from fish ears—otoliths! And then we travel down stream and explore otolith folklore and even get some answers to what exactly fish hear.You might remember Josie’s Oyster Farm. Summer chronicled in a previous episode—Link all the way at the end of the show notes!VOCAB WORDS* Otolith* Indian River* Pink Salmon* Chum Salmon (Keta)* NSRAA* Salmon Enhancement* Sympathetic Magic* Strontium* Nephropathy* Otolith Thermal Marking* Swim Bladder* Lateral Line* CortisolLINKSALASKA & REGIONAL CONTEXTIndian River – Fishing Opportunities (ADF&G)https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ByAreaSoutheastSitka.fishingOpps&fishery=Indian+RiverAlaska’s Private Non-Profit Hatchery Program, ADF&G Wildlife News – Article 775https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=775How Old is That Fish? Fish Aging: The Art of ScienceADF&G Wildlife News – Article 627https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=627How Salmon DO We Fish? 2025 Alaska Commercial Salmon Preliminary Season Summary Tables (ADF&G)https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/fishing/pdfs/commercial/2025_preliminary_season_summary_tables.pdfFun with Otoliths! Rockfish Lifespan (ADF&G Sport Fish PDF)https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/fishing/pdfs/sport/lifespanrockfish.pdfMore information Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA)https://www.nsraa.org/?page_id=22Visit the sites mentioned in this podcast! Sitka Trail Works – Indian River Trailhttps://www.sitkatrailworks.org/indian-river-trail/OTOLITH SCIENCE & FISHERIES BIOLOGYThe Importance of Otoliths in Fisheries Biology (American Fisheries Society)https://habitat.fisheries.org/the-importance-of-otoliths-in-fisheries-biology/Fish Scales and Ear Bones: A Roadmap to the Fish Life Journey (WDFW Medium)https://wdfw.medium.com/fish-scales-and-ear-bones-a-roadmap-to-the-fish-life-journey-637a046a8d53How Salmon Hatcheries Mark Their Fish (Peninsula Clarion)https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/news/a-look-into-how-salmon-hatcheries-mark-their-fish/USGS – Otolith Microchemistry Studyhttps://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20045023Wiley Review – Otolith Researchhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/brv.12162CDFW: Otoliths – Listening to the Life Histories of Fisheshttps://cdfwmarine.wordpress.com/2025/05/20/otoliths-listening-to-the-life-histories-of-fishes/Fish Otoliths and Folklore – Survey (ResearchGatehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/240533616_Fish_Otoliths_and_Folklore_A_SurveyScienceDirect – Otolith Research Articlehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667122001719Canadian Museum of Nature – The Rocks in Fish Heads Tell Amazing Storieshttps://nature.ca/en/the-rocks-in-fishes-heads-tell-amazing-stories/NOAA Fisheries – Fish Otolith Collection Databasehttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/data/fish-otolith-collection-databaseFISH AGE & LONGEVITYThe 230-Year-Old Fish – New Zealand Geographichttps://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-230-year-old-fish/FISH HEARING & ACOUSTICSHow Do Fish Hear? (Ask Dr. Universe – WSU)https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2023/10/06/how-do-fish-hear/Acoustic Particle Motion in Fishes (Wiley PDF)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/j.1749-4877.2008.00132.xSalmon Facts – Pacific Salmon Foundationhttps://psf.ca/learn/salmon-facts/Sounds Produced by Atlantic Salmon (Journal of the Acoustical Society of America)https://pubs.aip.org/asa/jasa/article-abstract/154/4/2665/2918407/Preliminary-examination-of-sounds-produced-by?redirectedFrom=fulltextMUSIC, NOISE & FISH STRESSUltra Music Festival Increased Stress Hormones in Fish (University of Miami Shark Research)https://sharkresearch.earth.miami.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Cartolano-et-al.-2020.pdfEnvironmental Noise & Fish Welfare (MDPI Fishes Journal)https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/11/565Music and Growth in Rainbow Trout (ScienceDirect)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144860913000046Music Tempo & Fish Welfare – Zebrafish & Guppies (ScienceDirect)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425003369CULTURAL & FOLKLORE CONTEXTTooth Amulet (Oxford Museum of Natural History)https://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets/index.php/tooth-amulet4/index.htmlUWA Research Repository – Cultural/Otolith Reference PDFhttps://api.research-repository.uwa.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/331772650/11160_2018_9515_ReferencePDF.pdfSciELO – Brazilian Academy of Sciences Articlehttps://www.scielo.br/j/aabc/a/fXwTXNSQxQBH7hrKFgj4dGq/?format=html⟨=enJosie’s Previous Episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

This is the second episode in our Kelp the Vote series, about Alaska politics and ocean farming. In this episode I’ll read responses I got from a couple current incumbents, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and Rebecca Himschoot who represents my town, Sitka in the Alaska legislature. Register to Vote! https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/U.S. Senator Dan Sullivanhttps://www.sullivan.senate.gov/Voting Record: https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/about/voting-recordNewburg Recipe: https://www.facebook.com/SenDanSullivan/posts/pfbid0YcYBdfqeFcxqPd5wjHZPfPoGcNamt1arYKhMTj3h1yq9xTgz9nBm1xXhkVd7qjBXl?rdid=vIjBWyvASyot24AxAlaska Representative Rebecca Himschoothttps://akleg.gov/legislator.php?id=hmsVoting Record: https://www.billtrack50.com/public/scorecard/legislator/GtBxWUujJEqn68WWtfZ95w/28573Alaska Aquaculture Program at UAShttps://aquaculturesemester.alaska.edu/index.htmlPodcast Resources & LinksOcean Farming and Environmental ImpactWhat Is an Environmental Impact Statement (American Bar Association)https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/publications/teaching-legal-docs/teaching-legal-docs--what-is-an-environmental-impact-statement/Environmental Impacts Study on Aquatic Systems (ScienceDirect)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719355561USDA Aquaculture Overviewhttps://www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/aquacultureSeaweed Genetics Workshop Draws Scientists (Alaska Sea Grant)https://alaskaseagrant.org/2024/04/seaweed-genetics-workshop-draws-scientists/Understanding Aquatic Farming in Alaska (ADF&G)https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/fishing/PDFs/aquaticfarming/2021_understanding_aquatic_farming.pdfAlaska DNR Aquatic Farming Regulation Revisionshttps://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/aquatic/regrevision/Otters!Sea Otters Can Be Money Makers, But Not Everyone Benefits (NPR)https://www.npr.org/2020/06/11/873885445/sea-otters-can-be-money-makers-but-not-everyone-benefitsSea Otters and Kelp: Climate Heroism Explained (World Wildlife Fund)https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/wildlife-climate-heroes/sea-otters-and-kelp-a-tale-of-cute-charisma-and-otterly-amazing-climate-heroism/Sea Otters Help Bolster California’s Kelp Forests (Smithsonian)https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/sea-otters-have-helped-bolster-californias-kelp-forest-180984042/Politics and Info Mentioned on the Show!Senate Bill 93, 119th Congresshttps://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/93/textSoutheast Alaska Legislative District Map (2023)https://www.elections.alaska.gov/doc/maps/area/2023-May-Southeast.pdfAlaska Election District Research Mapshttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/research/district-maps/Alaska Mariculture Clusterhttps://alaskamariculturecluster.org/Build Back Better Regional Challenge (EDA)https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/american-rescue-plan/build-back-betterNOAA Aquaculture Opportunity Areashttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/aquaculture-opportunity-areasBuild Back Better Southeast Conference Finalistshttps://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/american-rescue-plan/build-back-better/finalists/southeast-conferenceAlaska Mariculture Cluster – Abouthttps://alaskamariculturecluster.org/about/Barnacle Foods – Sweet Licorice Swedish Fishhttps://www.barnaclefoods.com/products/sweet-licorice-swedish-fish?_pos=1&_sid=3af7de45b&_ss=rAlaska District 2 Links!Alaska State House District 2 Profilehttps://censusreporter.org/profiles/62000US02002-state-house-district-2-ak/Oyster Farm Summer (The Kelp Show)https://thekelpshow.substack.com/p/oyster-farm-summer This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In this episode we explore mariculture and politics with a focus on the 2026 Alaska Governor’s race. I get perspectives from three candidates (out of the 12? currently running): Tom Begich, Click Bishop and James Parkin.CORRECTION: WHOOPS! In the podcast I mentioned there are two Democrats in the race so far, as I was editing the episode another one joined the race. https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/04/alaskas-governor-race-picks-up-16th-candidate-a-former-state-legislator-from-sitka/Vocab words!* Mariculture - farming in the ocean, uually pertaining to seaweed and shellfish farming.* Kelp - a type of seaweed, such as bull kelp, sugar kelp or macrocystis (giant kelp).* King Salmon (aka Chinook) - the largest Pacific Salmon.* Seaweed - large algae that grows in the ocean.* Serreptitious Recording - I jokingly refer to this in the intro, it means a secret recording that not all parties in a conversation know about.* Subsistence Lifestyle - living off food one harvests on their own from the land and sea.Alaskan Shellfish* Cockles* Clam* ScallopPSP Terms* Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)* Paralytic Shellfish PoisoningLinks!Register to Votehttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/voter-information/#RegAlaska Governor CandidatesTom Begich* In local news: https://www.kcaw.org/2025/11/10/gubernatorial-candidate-tom-begich-tours-southeast-for-community-conversations/* Campaign website: https://www.tombegichforalaska.com/ Click Bishop* In local news: https://sitkasentinel.com/stories/candidate-click-bishop-says-schools-priority,84238* Campaign website: https://www.clickbishopforgovernor.com/James Parkin* In local news: https://www.ktoo.org/2025/07/16/angoon-resident-and-former-teacher-launches-bid-for-alaska-governor/* Campaign website: https://www.jp4gov.org/Alaska Aquaculture Semester at University of Alaska Southeast Sitka Campus* Program and Application Info: https://aquaculturesemester.alaska.edu/index.html* Local news story: https://www.kcaw.org/2026/01/06/uas-applied-fisheries-program-offers-new-class-focusing-on-alaska-aquaculture/Alaska Politicshttps://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2025-11-11/anchorage-state-sen-matt-claman-is-second-democrat-in-alaska-governors-raceAlaska Permanent Fund* https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/alaska-permanent-fund.asp* https://apfc.org/King Salmon* https://www.uaf.edu/news/salmon-body-size-linked-to-declines.php* https://alaskapublic.org/news/2024-05-10/southeast-alaska-not-ready-for-a-hatchery-only-king-fishery-study-finds* https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/another-bust-year-for-yukon-river-king-salmon-returns-sonar-counters-show/* https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=chinook.printerfriendly* https://www.usgs.gov/centers/alaska-science-center/science/heat-stress-alaskas-pacific-salmon* https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/01/27/southeast-alaska-trollers-question-federal-courts-award-to-plaintiffs-in-chinook-suit/Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP)https://ahab.aoos.org/ahab-network/Previous Mariculture Minutes on PSP This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In this episode I talk with Mathew Bate, the author of With a Little Kelp from Our Friends talks to Mariculture Minute. We get into social licensing seaweed, writing about climate change for kids and how Mat got interested in seaweed.Notable People Mentioned in Episode! * Mat Bate - https://www.matbate.com/with-a-little-kelp-from-our-friends* Liz Rowland - https://lizrowlandillustration.myportfolio.com/projects* Paul Hawken (Drawdown)* Julie Decker - https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/aquaculture/julie-decker-explains-mariculture-initiatives-in-alaska-emphasizing-sustainable-efforts* Bren Smith * Rob Kinley (methane & seaweed research)Vocab!* Kelp / Seaweed * Sea Grass * Golden Kelp * 3-D Ocean Farming * Mariculture* Regenerative Agriculture * Sustainability * Social License or Social License to Operate (SLO) - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-license-slo.asp* Greenhouse Gas * MethaneLinks!This was Mat’s original article on Seaweed farming (with illustrations from Liz Rowland) that started it all! From Matters Journalhttps://mattersjournal.com/stories/seaweedfarmingHere’s a link to With a Little Kelp from Our Friends on the Alaska Digital Library. Seaweed, Kelp & Climate* Seaweed & sustainability research (ScienceDirect)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420725000303* Seaweed farms as climate solutions (Australian Museum)https://australian.museum/learn/climate-change/climate-solutions/seaweed-farms/* World Wildlife Fund article: Why seaweed is a climate “jack of all trades”https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/wildlife-climate-heroes/why-seaweed-is-a-jack-of-all-trades-in-the-fight-against-climate-change/* This link helps explain the difference between seaweed and kelp (UNEP)https://www.unep.org/topics/ocean-seas-and-coasts/blue-ecosystems/seaweeds-kelp* IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report (PDF) - The IPCC is the world’s authority on global climate change—you can find some stuff on seaweed and climate change here!https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_FullVolume.pdfKelp Farming & Mariculture* Seaweed Central (Australia) – permitshttps://seaweedcentral.com.au/permit-portal/* AusKelphttps://www.auskelp.net/about* Moonrise Seaweed Co. (WWF)https://www.innovatetoregenerate.wwf.org.au/project/moonrise-seaweed-co* Maine Aquaculture Association – kelp curriculumhttps://www.maineaquaculture.org/kelp_curriculum/* 3-D Ocean Farming (NOAA Ocean Today)https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/fullmoon-3doceanfarming/welcome.html* 3-D Ocean Farming research (OSTI)https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1902759* 3-D Ocean Farming & global food security (PDF)https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abhishek-Chaudhary-28/publication/394467222_3D_Ocean_Farming_-A_Key_to_Challenge_Global_Food_Security_and_Environment_Sustainability/links/689cb8f2fc368579b82fb428/3D-Ocean-Farming-A-Key-to-Challenge-Global-Food-Security-and-Environment-Sustainability.pdfArticles, Essays & Media* With a Little Kelp From Our Friends – Mat Batehttps://www.matbate.com/with-a-little-kelp-from-our-friends* With a Little Kelp From Our Friends – GMRIhttps://gmri.org/projects/with-a-little-kelp-from-our-friends/* A Cry for Kelp – MAD Agriculturehttps://madagriculture.org/journal/a-cry-for-kelp* Little Big Stories – Climate Councilhttps://www.climatecouncil.org.au/little-big-stories-little-big-people/* Algae vs. seagrass – Smithsonianhttps://ocean.si.edu/holding-tank/images-hide/algae-vs-seagrassSustainability, Policy & Social Context* Regenerative agriculture (Wikipedia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenerative_agriculture* Sustainability (Investopedia)https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sustainability.asp* Social License to Operate (SLO)https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-license-slo.asp* Social license & kelp farming (UW SMEA)https://smea.uw.edu/currents/a-farm-next-to-a-campground-an-exploration-of-social-license-and-kelp-farming/* United Nations – Sustainabilityhttps://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/sustainabilityAlaska Aquaculture at University of Alaska Southeast* UAS Applied Fisheries & Alaska aquaculture on the radio! (from KCAW)https://www.kcaw.org/2026/01/06/uas-applied-fisheries-program-offers-new-class-focusing-on-alaska-aquaculture/Additional Cool Stuff* Irish Seaweed Associationhttps://www.c-faarer.eu/irish-seaweed-association* Why “sick” means “great” (linguistics aside)https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/75017/origin-of-current-slang-usage-of-the-word-sick-to-mean-great* Seaweed Evolution Gamehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/185--5ihFA5a_u27K0A9nrhLTpB6uuv-FrwkrSfAzsEI/edit?tab=t.0 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

First check out these Northern Lights in Sitka! It’s usually too cloudy—but we got the full experience this week.In this episode we explore if oysters—those cuddly, delicious bivalves—are vegan. It’s an interesting debate which teaches us about oyster anatomy, oyster farming and more.Here are some vocab words and links!Vocab!* Animal liberation (Peter Singer)* Dead Zones* Nitrogen* Oyster dredging* Oyster sauce (vegan alternatives)* Ostroveganism* Phil Collins / Genesis: In Concert* Phosphorous* Scallops* Selenium* Speciesism / speciesist* Vegan* Vitamin B-12* ZincLinks!Oyster Habitat, Farming & AnatomyOyster Reef Habitat – NOAA Fisherieshttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/oyster-reef-habitatSustainable Pacific Oyster Farming – NOAA Fisherieshttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sustainable-pacific-oyster-farmingOyster Life Cycle & Anatomy – Florida State University Marine Labhttps://marinelab.fsu.edu/absi/community-engagement/aboutoyster/lifecycle_anatomy/Environmental Benefits of Shellfish Aquaculture – Connecticut Dept. of Agriculturehttps://portal.ct.gov/doag/aquaculture1/aquaculture/environmental-benefits-of-shellfish-aquaculture?language=en_USDo Oysters Feel Pain? / Sentience & BiologyDo Oysters Feel Pain? – Biology Stack Exchangehttps://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/77246/do-oysters-feel-painSomewhere Between (On Animal Sentience)https://metazoan.net/61-somewhere-between/Do Oysters Feel Pain? – The Naked Scientistshttps://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/do-oysters-feel-painBivalve Nervous Systems & Behavior (Scientific Paper – PMC)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3040303/Blurring the Line Between Plants and Animals – Ask A Biologist (ASU)https://askabiologist.asu.edu/plosable/blurring-line-between-plants-and-animalsPsychological Perspectives on Animal Sentience – Frontiers in Psychology (2022)https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.848434/fullBiology of Mollusks – National Academies of Scienceshttps://www.nationalacademies.org/read/10796/chapter/5#63Veganism, Ostroveganism & Ethics“Oysters Are Vegan – Change My Mind” (Reddit Debate)https://www.reddit.com/r/DebateAVegan/comments/n3zm6x/oysters_are_vegan_change_my_mind/Oyster Mushrooms vs Oysters – Ethical Debate (Reddit)https://www.reddit.com/r/DebateAVegan/comments/oxggaq/whats_more_ethical_oyster_mushrooms_or_oysters/Is It OK to Eat Oysters? (Reddit Discussion)https://www.reddit.com/r/DebateAVegan/comments/zkybd2/i_think_its_ok_to_eat_oysters/It’s OK for Vegans to Eat Oysters – Slatehttps://slate.com/human-interest/2010/04/it-s-ok-for-vegans-to-eat-oysters.htmlDefinition of Veganism – The Vegan Societyhttps://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganismScallopsAre Scallops Vegan? – VICEhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/are-scallops-vegan/Nutrition: B-12, Zinc, Selenium & HealthVitamin B12 in Aquatic Foods – ScienceDirect (Aquaculture Journal)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848622008298Vitamin B-12 Content of Foods – USDA (PDF)https://www.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/files/page-files/Vitamin%20B-12.pdfAre Oysters Good for You? – WebMDhttps://www.webmd.com/diet/oysters-good-for-youOysters, Zinc, and Coronavirus – Gothenburg Healthhttps://www.gothenburghealth.org/oysters-zinc-and-coronavirusOysters: Nutrition & Health Benefits – APENutritionhttps://apenutrition.co.uk/blogs/blog/oyster-article?srsltid=AfmBOop9GXgcuJF6OC6DuBeFH2YyqbQnG3orTjH_5R-oWp7WtNeIFR_1Seasonal Selenium Variations in Mussels and Oysters – ResearchGatehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/279363258_Seasonal_Selenium_Variations_in_Mussels_and_Oysters_from_a_French_Marine_FarmOysters & Pollution / Dead ZonesOysters and Pollution Tolerance – NOAA Coastal Sciencehttps://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/oysters-can-handle-some-but-not-all-pollution-we-dump-into-the-nations-estuaries-al-com/Dead Zones in the Chesapeake Bay – Chesapeake Bay Foundationhttps://www.cbf.org/issues/dead-zones/Animal Rights, Speciesism & Key FiguresSave the Animals – Ingrid Newkirk (Archive.org)https://archive.org/details/saveanimals101ea00newkPeter Singer Renews Fight for Animal Rights – Princetonhttps://paw.princeton.edu/article/bioethics-professor-peter-singer-renews-his-fight-animal-rightsAnimal Liberation – Peter Singer (Archive.org)https://archive.org/details/animalliberation00sing/page/n7/mode/2upA Conversation with Peter Singer – Nautilushttps://nautil.us/a-conversation-with-animal-rights-pioneer-peter-singer-307372/Ingrid Newkirk – Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_NewkirkOyster Sauce (Vegan Context)Is Oyster Sauce Vegan? – PETAhttps://www.peta.org/living/food/oyster-sauce/Sound & Music ReferencesBoxing Bell “Ding Ding” Sound Effect – Sample Focushttps://samplefocus.com/samples/harsh-boxing-bell-fx?search_id=186079525Genesis: In Concert – Wikipedia (Phil Collins era)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis:_In_ConcertJeremiah’s Investigative Reporting Tip of the Day!How to Get Around Paywalls – Life Pro Tips (Reddit)https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/3o0m7v/lpt_you_can_get_by_the_paywalls_for_online/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

I just completed the Alaska Aquaculture semester here in Sitka and I wanted to talk to Aldo because he did it all. He drove the vans, managed tons of logistics, taught us boating skills and how to tie knots. He prepared farming gear for both shellfish and seaweed, taught us how to culture algae, made sure our wetsuits were the right size. He even got us ice cream. I wanted to hear more of Aldo’s experience in mariculture. We talk about FLUPSYs, how the smells of mariculture compare and more!Vocab words!* Down South - In Alaska “down south” refers to the lower 48 (all states beside Alaska and Hawaii).* Finfish – Fish with fins (e.g., salmon, cod, halibut) as opposed to shellfish (aquatic animals with exoskeletons—like oysters, lobsters and abalone.* FLUPSY (Floating Upweller System) – Not a Beatrix Potter character. A floating platform used in oyster nurseries to grow young shellfish using water flowing upwards.* NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) – Opposition to development in one’s local area. George Carlin had a bit.* Off the Road System – Communities only accessible by boat or plane (e.g., Sitka)* On the Road System – Communities accessible by road to the rest of North America.* Oyster Bags – Mesh bags used to hold and grow oysters in farms.* Pseudofeces – Rejected food particles expelled by filter feeders like oysters.LINKS!Aquaculture & Alaska Programs* Aquaculture Semester Alaska (highly recommended!)https://aquaculturesemester.alaska.edu/index.html* Differences Between Fish Farms & Hatcheries (Tanana Chiefs)https://www.tananachiefs.org/the-differences-between-fish-farms-hatcheries/* Political Economics of U.S. Marine Aquaculture (PDF)https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/bitstream/handle/11122/4167/2010_10-PoliticalEconomicsUSMarineAquaculture.pdf?sequence=1Oysters & Shellfish FarmingNursery / Gear / Methods* Oyster Nursery (FLUPSY info)https://alaska.seaweedinsights.com/oysters/nursery* Oyster Bags / Farming Methods (NOAA story)https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/hollings-scholarship/stories/shucking-my-way-to-exciting-innovations-my-internship-researching-new-methods-of-oyster-farming-in* FLUPSY articlehttps://www.fukuina.com/articles/nov_dec97.htmEnvironmental Impact & Ecosystem Services* Oysters as a “Blue Food” climate solutionhttps://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2025/05/more-evidence-that-oysters-are-a-blue-food-win-for-climate-and-coastal-pollution/* Sustainable Pacific Oyster Farming (NOAA)https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sustainable-pacific-oyster-farming* Oyster Filtration Calculatorhttps://oceanwealth.org/tools/oyster-calculator/* Ecosystem Services – Filtrationhttps://oceanwealth.org/ecosystem-services/filtration/?utm_source=chatgpt.com* Oysters & Eelgrass + Ocean Acidification (UW)https://fish.uw.edu/2018/07/oysters-and-eelgrass-help-each-other-out-under-increasing-carbon-dioxide-levels/Scallops!* Atlantic Sea Scallop Aquaculture Cost Study (University of Maine)https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2025/08/04/umaine-research-compares-most-cost-effective-methods-for-atlantic-sea-scallop-aquaculture/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

How practical is the mouse bio assay for shellfish? It’s saved some human lives. But in this episode we take a look at its practicality and future in the state of Alaska.We continue our chat with Shannon Cellan the Environmental Lab Manager at the Sitka Tribe of Alaska about the mouse bioassay and shellfish. I also go off on some tangents—sifting through legislative documents, taking a peek into some old spycraft and looking back at some old reports on portable tests for paralytic shellfish toxin.Vocab!MicrogramMouse UnitLitmusADECHigh-Pressure Liquid Chromatography-Post Column Oxidation (HPLC-PCOX) methodLinks!Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Labhttps://sitkatribe.org/our-services/resource-protection-programs/sta-environmental-research-lab/Vintage PST Reports Mentioned in Episode (I scanned them—they’re all public documents so I don’t think there’s any copyright issues)https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15sGFa7apQQR2bk40QXLM8wEJ4kLwczVO?usp=drive_linkFrom the CIA Reading Room…https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00806R000201180060-3.pdfGovernment Budget & Agency Resources (Alaska)* Alaska Legislature — DEC Budget Comparison (Senate Enacted)https://www.legfin.akleg.gov/BudgetReports/LY2025/Operating/Enacted//DEC-TransactionCompare-Senate-Enacted-wD.pdf?1757971239* State of Alaska FY2025 Governor’s Operating Budget: Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Health RDU/Component Budget Summaryhttps://omb.alaska.gov/ombfiles/25_budget/DEC/Proposed/7_comp3202.pdfShellfish Safety & Monitoring (Public Health / DEC)* DEC Shellfish Biotoxin Monitoring Planhttps://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/shellfish/resources/bivalve-shellfish-biotoxin-monitoring-plan/* DEC Shellfish Permitting Guidehttps://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/shellfish/resources/permit-guide/Scientific Methods & Research* PubMed: High Pressure Liquid Chromatography–Post Column Oxidationhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21919349/* NOAA Coastal Science — Receptor Binding Assay for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoninghttps://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/advancing-the-receptor-binding-assay-for-multi-species-monitoring-of-paralytic-shellfish-poisoning/Health & Toxicology* EMRA — Shellfish Poisoning Overviewhttps://www.emra.org/emresident/article/shellfish-poisoning* UAA Fact Sheet — Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)https://accscatalog.uaa.alaska.edu/sites/default/files/Fact%20sheet%20PSP%20-%20Public%20Health.pdf* Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin Newsletter - Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Update ― Alaska, 1993–2021https://epi.alaska.gov/bulletins/docs/b2022_05.pdfOther / Contextual* Alaska Public — Article on Spy Stuff and Shellfishhttps://alaskapublic.org/news/2021-04-26/alaskas-secret-cold-war-export-shellfish-toxin-for-the-cia* Reddit Discussion — Source of MilliporeSigma’s Porcine Productshttps://www.reddit.com/r/labrats/comments/1pfymyt/what_is_the_source_of_milliporesigmas_porcine/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In this episode we talk about the details of testing shellfish for paralytic shellfish toxin. We continue our discussion with Shannon Cellan, the environmental lab manager for the Sitka Tribe of Alaska.For more information visit: seator.orgThe Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Lab: https://seator.org/lab/Vocab, Links and More!Bioassay - https://www2.latech.edu/~wakeman/biomon/bioassay.htmFunctional Groups - https://kids.kiddle.co/Functional_groupHomogenize - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homogenizeHigh Pressure Liquid Chromatography - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-performance_liquid_chromatographyMicrobeta Scintillation Counter - https://biotech.ug.edu.pl/sites/default/files/_nodes/strona-biotechnologia/62586/files/instrukcja_-_mikrobeta_instrument_manual.pdfNinety Six Well Plate - https://www.azerscientific.com/96-Well-Plate-PS-U-Bottom-Clear-Non-Sterile-300-l?quantity=1&custcol_azer_ts=0.09Receptor Binding Assay - https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/advancing-the-receptor-binding-assay-for-multi-species-monitoring-of-paralytic-shellfish-poisoning/Radioactive Content of Banana- https://livinglfs.org/mutants-vs-radiation-trying-to-understand-radiation-in-lfs/Saxitoxin - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12300590/Shuck - https://mvmagazine.com/news/2007/05/01/shucking-shellfishSodium Ion Channel - https://www.bme.jhu.edu/news-events/news/all-in-the-family-sodium-and-calcium-ion-channels-share-common-roots/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - https://archive.org/details/turtlescomicsscene This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In this episode I talk with Shannon Cellan about paralytic shellfish toxins and her work at the Sitka Tribe of Alaska.Links!Shellfish Testing Data: https://seator.org/data/Shellfish Testing Map: https://ahab.portal.aoos.org/#mapSitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Lab (how to submit shellfish for testing): https://seator.org/lab/Vocab!Action Potential - https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/ap.htmlAlexandrium - https://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/wp-content/uploads/NOAA-PMN-Factsheet-Alexandrium_spp..pdfCyanobacteria - https://asm.org/articles/2021/september/cyanobacteria-blankets-of-doom-causes-and-effectsHarmful Algal Bloom (HAB) - https://www.noaa.gov/what-is-harmful-algal-bloomParalytic Shellfish Poisoning - https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/shellfish/paralytic-shellfish-poisoning/Poison vs. Toxin - https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/364-poisons-and-toxinsPhytoplankton - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/phyto.htmlSaxitoxin - https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/SaxitoxinSodium Ion Channel - https://kids.kiddle.co/Ion_channel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

At a talk on Whale Entanglement—that’s where whales get caught in fishing gear—I asked researcher Michelle Dutro, during the audience Q&A, if kelp farms pose a risk to whales.Spoiler Alert: there have been no issues with whales and Alaska kelp farms.Resources MentionedMichelle Dutro’s Page on Whalefesthttps://sitkawhalefest.org/speakers/3927/Report Marine Mammal Entanglements in Alaska (phone numbers)https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact/alaska-marine-mammal-stranding-network-24-hour-hotlineJournal article about using fiberglass rods in seaweed farm gearhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144860924000244From Michelle Dupro’s Lecture – a story about rescuing a humpback from entanglement in Alaskahttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/successful-effort-rescue-entangled-humpback-whale-alaskaAlso from Michelle Dupro’s Lecture (contains info on how to respond to an entanglement)https://alaska-training.whaledisentanglement.orgSitka WhaleFest – Official Websitehttps://sitkawhalefest.org/NOAA: Approved Weak Inserts for Large Whale Take Reductionhttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-mammal-protection/approved-weak-inserts-atlantic-large-whale-takeStudy of Fish Farm Entanglements in British Columbia https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10954164/Sitka WhaleFest 2024 Lecture Videos (the theme was climate change) https://www.youtube.com/@sitkascience/videosWorld Wildlife Fund: Seaweed Farming and Whale Entanglement Riskshttps://www.worldwildlife.org/our-work/oceans/sustainable-seafood/farmed-seafood/farmed-seaweed/seaweed-farming-avoiding-the-potential-risk-of-entanglement/Ropes vs. Lines – Explainedhttps://www.boatingwithdawsons.com/blog/difference-rope-line/TheFishSite.com article about preventing entanglements with mussel farmshttps://thefishsite.com/articles/aquaculture-2016-preventing-entrapments-in-mussel-farming-gearExplanation of Wood Stock Referencehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In this episode Josie talks to us about her summer internship at an Oyster Farm. Josie is a student at the University of Alaska Southeast’s Alaska Aquaculture program.Here’s a video of the FlipFarm baskets in action.Here some links referenced in the show:FlipFarm — Josie talks about working with this gear: https://www.flipfarmusa.com/Listen to a podcast with Eric Wyatt, Josie’s Boss: Oyster-ology, Episode 24.Some information on Oyster Farming from Alaska Department of Fish and Game:https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingaquaticfarming.mariculturefaqBlue Starr Oyster’s website: https://bluestarroysters.comMore information from NOAA Fisheries: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sustainable-pacific-oyster-farming This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

We talk about product development, marketing, employment and other kelp things. I really appreciate Kathryn taking the time to talk to Mariculture Minute! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com

In today’s episode we hear from an Anna, an aquaculture intern from UAS Sitka. Anna tells us what it’s like to work at Medvejie Hatchery. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thekelpshow.substack.com