Alaska Oysters Showcased at DRINK Las Vegas: Expanding Visibility and Opening New Pathways

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Alaska Oysters took center stage at the inaugural DRINK Las Vegas, a four-day food and drink festival held across MGM Resorts’ most iconic properties. The goal was to build strong awareness of Alaska as a source of exceptional cold‑water oysters, and to create direct connections between interested chefs and Las Vegas seafood buyers with Alaska oyster farmers who have reliable, large-scale distribution in Las Vegas and other Lower 48 markets. 

As the premier partner, Alaska Oysters were the only oysters featured across the festival with more than 2,250 Alaska oysters served at six events to thousands of guests. Each tasting included signage and handouts with a QR code linking to AlaskaOysters.org and the Alaska Oyster sourcing guide, giving attendees an immediate path to learn more about Alaska Oysters and farmers. 

The event introduced Alaska Oysters to chefs and buyers who influence purchasing for major restaurant groups, including the seafood buyer for all MGM properties – a program that serves roughly 1,000 oysters per day. 

This combination of high‑visibility tastings and direct chef engagement built meaningful awareness and laid the groundwork for follow‑up conversations that will link buyers with Alaska farms interested in supplying restaurants in the Lower 48. 

Event Highlights

  • Three Nights of VIP Tastings – Aria
    • In addition, Chef Jamie Bissonnette featured Alaska Oysters in his signature dish – Somaek Oyster Muchim, pickled oyster with soju and sesame leaf muchim. Chef Jamie owns five restaurants across Boston and is very interested in sourcing Alaska Oysters moving forward. 
  • Private Dinner with Andrew Zimmern and Tom Holland, Bellagio 
    • This co-hosted dinner by Chef Andrew Zimmern and actor Tom Holland featured elevated dishes and non-alcoholic beer brand – BERO. Chef Zimmern shucked the oysters and personally introduced them to guests. He shared the experience on Instagram with his 1.2M million followers, and looks forward to connecting with Alaska oyster farmers for future restaurant use and his broader work in supporting U.S. seafood.
  •  Caviar and the Classics, Bellagio
    • An intimate high‑end tasting where Alaska Oysters were served alongside caviar and refined passed bites for a memorable experience.
  • The Palate Deception Dinner, Cosmopolitan 
    • Alaska Oysters served as the first course of an upscale dinner for 100 guests hosted by Chef Eric Adjepong, Chef Timothy Hollingsworth and Mixologist Jason Asher.

Next Steps

The next phase is direct follow‑up with these chefs and buyers to connect them with individual Alaska farms ready to serve Las Vegas and additional Lower 48 markets.

Immersed in Alaska Mariculture: Inside the Exclusive Kodiak Familiarization Experience

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At the end of August, the Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) hosted a press trip to Kodiak for Forbes reporter Esha Chhabra who covers climate solutions, business and sustainability. Coordinated closely with the Kodiak Ocean Growers Cooperative, the visit highlighted Alaska’s kelp sector and Kodiak’s role as a passionate, collaborative hub driving its growth.

 

The trip opened at the Kodiak Seafood & Marine Science Center, where Allie Conrad shared a tour of the kelp nursery and ongoing innovations in seed production. A kelp-forward lunch and meet‑and‑greet followed, hosted by Missy Good of Alaska Sea Grant and joined by local kelp farmers Alf and Lexa Prior, Chloe Ivanoff and Nick Mangini. In a discussion after lunch the farmers shared insights and challenges of kelp farming and the ways they support each other to build the industry in Kodiak.

The visit continued at Kodiak Island WildSource, the seafood processor owned by the Sun’aq Tribe. CEO Chris Sannito and Stacey Simmons of Koniag Region Investments provided background on the processing plant modifications and project, regional processing capacity and insight into tribally led investments. The waterfront setting and tour underscored how the existing maritime infrastructure is compatible with the new mariculture industry. 

Throughout the visit, multiple farm tours offered a close look at Kodiak’s community, including visits with Alf Pryor of Alaska Ocean Farms and Nick Mangini of Kodiak Island Sustainable Seaweed. The reporter also enjoyed an excursion to Uganik Island for a visit and lunch with Tollef Monson and Adelia Myrick of Alaskan Sea Greens. A scenic road‑system tour added context on Kodiak’s working waterfront — and delivered memorable bear sightings that underscored the wild, uniquely Alaska setting.

This exclusive trip offered rare, firsthand access to Kodiak’s mariculture community — an opportunity designed to showcase the industry’s potential up close and understand the people and places driving its growth. The reporter closed the visit by sharing her enthusiasm and noting she “can’t wait to advocate for the industry” in upcoming articles. 

Collage of several images showcasing people and kelp during the familiarization tour.

Mariculture Nerd Nite: Baby Kelp! 🌿 | Angela Korabik, Prince William Sound Science Center

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Baby kelp, do do do do do do! Is it stuck in your head yet? If so, you might as well dive into the fascinating world of kelp hatcheries! Join Dr. Angela Korabik of the Prince William Sound Science Center as she takes us on a wet and wild journey through the kelp lifecycle, from microscopic “babies” in the hatchery to elegant, flowing blades swaying on Alaska’s kelp farms.

Mariculture Nerd Nite: Baby Kelp! 🌿 | Angela Korabik, Prince William Sound Science Center

This video is part of our Mariculture Nerd Nite series, a collection of public talks by mariculture scientists, farmers, and other experts celebrating all things mariculture! Special thanks to Rising Tide Communications and Landsick Media for making our Mariculture Nerd Nite series possible.

Mariculture Nerd Nite: Harmful Algal Blooms 🔬 | Bobbi Hudson, Pacific Shellfish Institute

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What do microscopic algae, shellfish, and public health have in common? 🦪🔬

Bobbi Hudson, Executive Director of the Pacific Shellfish Institute, joined us for Mariculture Nerd Nite to discuss harmful algal blooms, their impacts on shellfish and human health, and the science behind keeping Alaska’s commercial shellfish harvests safe.

Mariculture Nerd Nite: Harmful Algal Blooms 🔬 | Bobbi Hudson, Pacific Shellfish Institute

This video is part of our Mariculture Nerd Nite series, a collection of public talks by mariculture scientists, farmers, and other experts celebrating all things mariculture! Special thanks to Rising Tide Communications and Landsick Media for making our Mariculture Nerd Nite series possible.

Mariculture Nerd Nite: The Biology Behind Every Bite 🦪 | Margo Reveil, Jakolof Bay Oyster Co.

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They may be small, but oysters are surprisingly strong! 🦪

In the first installment of our Mariculture Nerd Nite series, Margo Reveil from Jakolof Bay Oyster Co. joined us to talk about all things oyster biology and the surprisingly tough shellfish that so many of us enjoy on our plates. Head over to our YouTube channel to watch the full talk!

YouTube – Mariculture Nerd Nite: The Biology Behind Every Bite 🦪 | Margo Reveil, Jakolof Bay Oyster Co.

We’re grateful to Margo for sharing her time, knowledge, and expertise with us, and we’re excited to finally start sharing this series with you all.

Special thanks to Rising Tide Communications and Landsick Media for helping make our Mariculture Nerd Nite series happen!

Immersed in Alaska Mariculture: Inside the Cordova FAM Experience

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In mid-May the AMC marketing program welcomed a group of four journalists to Cordova for our second familiarization (FAM) trip—an immersive experience connecting these writers directly with Alaska’s mariculture industry. Through farm visits, product tastings, a hatchery tour and the  Sheridan Glacier Lake trail hike, participants from AgTech Navigator, Delish and two contributors that write for National Geographic, Martha Stewart, The Kitchn and Eater gained a firsthand understanding of Alaska’s unique, and growing, industry.

Robust Education in All Aspects of Alaska Mariculture

The Cordova visit kicked off with a dinner hosted by AMA’s Jason Lessard and several industry representatives discussing how Cordova is embracing and developing mariculture. Attendees included representatives from the Prince William Sound Economic Development District (EDD), University of Alaska Fairbanks, Native Village of Eyak, Prince William Sound Science Center, Alaska Blue Economy Center (ABEC) and farmers from Noble Ocean Farms, Royal Ocean Kelp Company, Safety Cove Oyster Farm, Simpson Bay Oyster Company and WildBlue Mariculture. The group stayed at the Orca Adventure Lodge where Captain Kris Ranney took them on a tour to see three working farms (and many, many sea otters): Royal Ocean Kelp Company to observe the harvest, Noble Ocean Farms where they touched and tasted bull kelp directly from the water and Simpson Bay Oyster Company for a primer on oyster farming. 

The trip gave a window into how Cordova kelp farmers collaborate, including coordinating their farms’ harvests. In addition to selling to local consumers, local kelp farms share a common buyer, Cascadia Seaweed, a BC-based biostimulant company. Biostimulant is a soil additive that can enhance crop yields, quality and resilience. The two oyster farms in Cordova sell to the local Alaska market. The final day in Cordova included a trip to the Prince William Sound Science Center for a deep dive into the kelp hatchery. Ecologist and researcher Angela Korabik underscored the unique opportunity of kelp farming in Alaska. The guests then saw various ways kelp is processed, including an introduction to the new dryer – a collaborative project supported by the Prince William Sound EDD, the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, Greenwave, local farmers and others that was years in the making.=

Experiencing the Uniquely Alaska Sights and Tastes

Upon arrival in Cordova, the group immediately hiked the Sheridan Glacier Lake trail – an amazing experience reinforcing the cold, pristine waters of Alaska mariculture. The Cordova trip was bookended with overnights in Anchorage with dinners highlighting Alaska oysters and kelp in the menus at the Crow’s Nest and Pearl. Our guests were also able to see, and taste, Alaska-grown kelp used in consumer products, including the Cordova Brewing Company’s Sour Sea Witch beer and a tour and tasting at Chugach Chocolate Factory where they were treated to a private demonstration of how the Chugach Dark Chocolate with Alaskan Kelp & Cayenne is made. 

What’s next: 

The AMC marketing team is working with these journalists on stories; more will be shared as they publish. Two additional FAM trips are planned this summer to Juneau and Ketchikan/Prince of Wales, as well as other activities to support the industry across the state. 

Alaska Mariculture Debuts at Seafood Expo North America

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Through the AMC Marketing Program, Alaska Mariculture exhibited at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) for the first time, marking a significant step for the state’s growing oyster and kelp sector. The Alaska Mariculture booth – staffed by AMA Executive Director Jason Lessard and SEC representatives alongside Alaska oyster grower Erik Obrien of Kodiak Ocean Bounty – welcomed thousands of attendees from across the seafood supply chain and introduced many to the quality, diversity, and potential of Alaska-grown oysters and kelp.

Showcasing Alaska Kelp 

Visitors learned about Alaska kelp and sampled an array of kelp foods to illustrate the story of farmers cultivating nutrient-rich kelp in cold, pristine waters and the local businesses transforming that harvest into innovative, value‑added products. Alaska companies and products featured:

  • Kachemak Kelp
  • Barnacle Foods
  • Chugach Chocolates

Experiencing Alaska Oysters 

Alaska Mariculture hosted an oyster showcase in the Wave Maker featured stage area of the show highlighting the distinct merroir of each region, while underscoring the diversity and quality of Alaska oysters. Show goers tasted oysters from:

  • Alaska Shellfish Farms
  • Kodiak Ocean Bounty
  • Seagrove

Debuting New Branding & Booth 

SENA marked a public unveiling of Alaska Mariculture’s unified brand identity, booth design, and supporting collateral. The look provided a clear, premium introduction of the industry to buyers, distributors, processors, and media.

The Alaska Mariculture booth was positioned near other Alaska seafood companies and organizations, reinforcing the strength of the state’s seafood economy and ensuring oyster and kelp farmers were represented within the broader Alaska story.

Building Connections & Awareness

In addition to generating new industry leads that are now being followed up on, Alaska Mariculture coordinated on-site media interviews that will extend the industry’s reach to consumer and trade audiences, including:

This was a successful first appearance at SENA, and the AMC Marketing Program will build on the exposure and relationships to further advance the industry.

AMC: “Shuck & Tell” Event Showcased Alaska Oysters and Farmers

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The Alaska Mariculture Cluster marketing program hosted a private “Shuck & Tell” industry tasting March 9 in Anchorage, bringing oyster farmers together with local chefs, restaurateurs, tourism partners, and media. Farmers from Alaska Shellfish Farms, Blue Starr Oyster Co., Seagrove, Shinaku Shellfish, and Tomasso Shellfish shared their oysters – and their stories – with more than 50 guests.

Guests sampled oysters from each farm while hearing directly from the growers about their operations, growing regions, and unique merrior. Passed oyster and kelp dishes, featuring kelp from Kachemak Kelp, also circulated, highlighting the versatility of Alaska mariculture.

With farmers at the center, the event fostered meaningful face-to-face connections with chefs, buyers, and writers, building awareness, strengthening relationships, and adding momentum for Alaska’s growing oyster industry.

Introducing a unified brand for Alaska Mariculture

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The Alaska Mariculture Cluster (AMC) is proud to roll out a new logo and brand system implemented by the AMC Marketing Program to help Alaska oysters and kelp stand out and generate awareness in the marketplace.

Inspired by the motion of waves—from tidal ripples to boat wakes— the logo reflects Alaska’s pristine waters and masterful stewardship that goes into growing world-class mariculture products. The design is intentionally minimalist, positioning the brand as premium, modern and forward-looking. The branding brings the industry together under one identity, while giving Alaska Oysters and Alaska Kelp their own distinct representations.

The full brand system, including colors, fonts, and photography, will be utilized across AMC marketing efforts, from websites and trade shows to PR, marketing materials, and more. Just as importantly, it’s available for farmers and industry members to use alongside their own logos to reinforce Alaska origin and credibility.

KTOO: Mariculture workshop in Juneau highlights growth potential for Alaska oyster farms

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At the end of a dock in Auke Bay, an oyster farmer lifted a creaky hatch door on an unassuming floating platform. Inside were bins holding thousands of young oysters, called spat.

The platform is called a floating upweller system, or FLUPSY, and it’s one way oyster farms can keep more stock.

“This is just a cheaper way to buy spat in a smaller size, much bigger quantity,” said Maranda Hamme, owner of Shinaku Shellfish Company, a small, family-run Pacific oyster farm in Klawock. Hamme was part of a small group that visited Juneau for a day-long mariculture workshop organized by Alaska Sea Grant and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska last week. See the full article here.

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