Aquaculture Opportunity Area Identification in Alaska State Waters

In June 2023, NOAA announced the beginning of the process to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters, in partnership with the State of Alaska. An AOA is a defined geographic area that NOAA has evaluated through both spatial analysis and the programmatic National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and may be environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate to support multiple commercial aquaculture operations. Final suitability will be determined with project-specific details.
This is a multi-year planning process through which NOAA intends to maximize the compatibility of AOAs with other ocean uses while maintaining our commitment to ocean stewardship and our marine resource conservation responsibilities. There are multiple opportunities for stakeholders and tribal communities to provide input to help shape our decisions throughout the process.