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 Security

Links!

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_election

Alaska Division of Elections – General Election Informationhttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/election-information/#GENR

Alaska 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-real

Sitka Sentinel – Cruise Passengershttps://sitkasentinel.com/stories/cruise-passengers,36437

High 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.pdf

Friends of the Earth – What Is Blackwater?https://foe.org/blog/what-is-blackwater/

Cruise Lines International Association – Wastewater Managementhttps://cruising.org/wastewater

Alaska Department of Fish & Game – Wildlife News Articlehttps://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=286

Ballotpedia – Alaska Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 2026https://ballotpedia.org/Alaska_gubernatorial_and_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2026

Alaska Department of Fish & Game – Hardshell Clams of Alaskahttps://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static-sf/Region2/pdfpubs/HardshellClams.pdf

USDA Climate Hubs – Food Security and Climate Change in Alaskahttps://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/food-security-and-climate-change-alaska

Wikipedia – Patrick Swayzehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Swayze

Wikipedia – 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=1

And 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=oysters

I 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-farmers

I 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-coast

Vocab 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

* Beringia

Links!

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 Foodways

A New England Boyhood (PDF) — Internet Archivehttps://dn790000.ca.archive.org/0/items/newenglandboyhoo0000hale/newenglandboyhoo0000hale.pdf

Food Timeline — American Food History Resourcehttps://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.html

Historical Economics Context

US Inflation Calculator (Value of $1 in 1830)https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/1830?amount=1

Constant Dollars — Defense Acquisition University Glossaryhttps://www.dau.edu/glossary/constant-dollars

Children Working at Maggioni Canning Company in 1912

Historic 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=true

Maggioni 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.html

Oysters 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-254299

Ancient 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/EDB5C165BB46EDD3FA22C95C855325EB

Indigenous Oyster Harvest and Deep-Time Fisheries

“Indigenous Oyster Harvest Through Time” — Nature Communicationshttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29818-z

Neanderthals 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.html

Seaweed 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 Hypothesis

Coastal 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

* Cortisol

LINKS

ALASKA & REGIONAL CONTEXT

Indian River – Fishing Opportunities (ADF&G)https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=ByAreaSoutheastSitka.fishingOpps&fishery=Indian+River

Alaska’s Private Non-Profit Hatchery Program, ADF&G Wildlife News – Article 775https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=775

How 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=627

How 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.pdf

Fun with Otoliths! Rockfish Lifespan (ADF&G Sport Fish PDF)https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/fishing/pdfs/sport/lifespanrockfish.pdf

More information Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA)https://www.nsraa.org/?page_id=22

Visit the sites mentioned in this podcast! Sitka Trail Works – Indian River Trailhttps://www.sitkatrailworks.org/indian-river-trail/

OTOLITH SCIENCE & FISHERIES BIOLOGY

The 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-637a046a8d53

How 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/sir20045023

Wiley Review – Otolith Researchhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/brv.12162

CDFW: 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_Survey

ScienceDirect – Otolith Research Articlehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667122001719

Canadian 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-database

FISH AGE & LONGEVITY

The 230-Year-Old Fish – New Zealand Geographichttps://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-230-year-old-fish/

FISH HEARING & ACOUSTICS

How 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.x

Salmon 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=fulltext

MUSIC, NOISE & FISH STRESS

Ultra 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.pdf

Environmental Noise & Fish Welfare (MDPI Fishes Journal)https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/11/565

Music and Growth in Rainbow Trout (ScienceDirect)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144860913000046

Music Tempo & Fish Welfare – Zebrafish & Guppies (ScienceDirect)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425003369

CULTURAL & FOLKLORE CONTEXT

Tooth Amulet (Oxford Museum of Natural History)https://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets/index.php/tooth-amulet4/index.html

UWA Research Repository – Cultural/Otolith Reference PDFhttps://api.research-repository.uwa.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/331772650/11160_2018_9515_ReferencePDF.pdf

SciELO – Brazilian Academy of Sciences Articlehttps://www.scielo.br/j/aabc/a/fXwTXNSQxQBH7hrKFgj4dGq/?format=html&lang=en

Josie’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=vIjBWyvASyot24Ax

Alaska Representative Rebecca Himschoothttps://akleg.gov/legislator.php?id=hmsVoting Record: https://www.billtrack50.com/public/scorecard/legislator/GtBxWUujJEqn68WWtfZ95w/28573

Alaska Aquaculture Program at UAShttps://aquaculturesemester.alaska.edu/index.html

Podcast Resources & Links

Ocean 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/S0048969719355561

USDA Aquaculture Overviewhttps://www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/aquaculture

Seaweed 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.pdf

Alaska 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-benefits

Sea 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/text

Southeast 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-better

NOAA Aquaculture Opportunity Areashttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/aquaculture-opportunity-areas

Build Back Better Southeast Conference Finalistshttps://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/american-rescue-plan/build-back-better/finalists/southeast-conference

Alaska 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=r

Alaska 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

* Scallop

PSP Terms

* Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)

* Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Links!

Register to Votehttps://www.elections.alaska.gov/voter-information/#Reg

Alaska 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 Politics

https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/alaska-legislature/2025-11-11/anchorage-state-sen-matt-claman-is-second-democrat-in-alaska-governors-race

Alaska 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

* Methane

Links!

This was Mat’s original article on Seaweed farming (with illustrations from Liz Rowland) that started it all! From Matters Journalhttps://mattersjournal.com/stories/seaweedfarming

Here’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.pdf

Kelp 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.pdf

Articles, 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-seagrass

Sustainability, 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/sustainability

Alaska 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

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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

* Zinc

Links!

Oyster Habitat, Farming & Anatomy

Oyster Reef Habitat – NOAA Fisherieshttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/oyster-reef-habitat

Sustainable Pacific Oyster Farming – NOAA Fisherieshttps://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sustainable-pacific-oyster-farming

Oyster 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_US

Do Oysters Feel Pain? / Sentience & Biology

Do Oysters Feel Pain? – Biology Stack Exchangehttps://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/77246/do-oysters-feel-pain

Somewhere 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-pain

Bivalve 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-animals

Psychological Perspectives on Animal Sentience – Frontiers in Psychology (2022)https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.848434/full

Biology of Mollusks – National Academies of Scienceshttps://www.nationalacademies.org/read/10796/chapter/5#63

Veganism, 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.html

Definition of Veganism – The Vegan Societyhttps://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism

Scallops

Are Scallops Vegan? – VICEhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/are-scallops-vegan/

Nutrition: B-12, Zinc, Selenium & Health

Vitamin B12 in Aquatic Foods – ScienceDirect (Aquaculture Journal)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848622008298

Vitamin B-12 Content of Foods – USDA (PDF)https://www.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/files/page-files/Vitamin%20B-12.pdf

Are Oysters Good for You? – WebMDhttps://www.webmd.com/diet/oysters-good-for-you

Oysters, Zinc, and Coronavirus – Gothenburg Healthhttps://www.gothenburghealth.org/oysters-zinc-and-coronavirus

Oysters: Nutrition & Health Benefits – APENutritionhttps://apenutrition.co.uk/blogs/blog/oyster-article?srsltid=AfmBOop9GXgcuJF6OC6DuBeFH2YyqbQnG3orTjH_5R-oWp7WtNeIFR_1

Seasonal Selenium Variations in Mussels and Oysters – ResearchGatehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/279363258_Seasonal_Selenium_Variations_in_Mussels_and_Oysters_from_a_French_Marine_Farm

Oysters & Pollution / Dead Zones

Oysters 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 Figures

Save the Animals – Ingrid Newkirk (Archive.org)https://archive.org/details/saveanimals101ea00newk

Peter Singer Renews Fight for Animal Rights – Princetonhttps://paw.princeton.edu/article/bioethics-professor-peter-singer-renews-his-fight-animal-rights

Animal Liberation – Peter Singer (Archive.org)https://archive.org/details/animalliberation00sing/page/n7/mode/2up

A Conversation with Peter Singer – Nautilushttps://nautil.us/a-conversation-with-animal-rights-pioneer-peter-singer-307372/

Ingrid Newkirk – Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Newkirk

Oyster Sauce (Vegan Context)

Is Oyster Sauce Vegan? – PETAhttps://www.peta.org/living/food/oyster-sauce/

Sound & Music References

Boxing Bell “Ding Ding” Sound Effect – Sample Focushttps://samplefocus.com/samples/harsh-boxing-bell-fx?search_id=186079525

Genesis: In Concert – Wikipedia (Phil Collins era)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis:_In_Concert

Jeremiah’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/

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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=1

Oysters & Shellfish Farming

Nursery / 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.htm

Environmental 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/

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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!

Microgram

Mouse Unit

Litmus

ADEC

High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography-Post Column Oxidation (HPLC-PCOX) method

Links!

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_link

From the CIA Reading Room…https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00806R000201180060-3.pdf

Government 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 Summary

https://omb.alaska.gov/ombfiles/25_budget/DEC/Proposed/7_comp3202.pdf

Shellfish 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.pdf

Other / 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/

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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.org

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Lab: https://seator.org/lab/

Vocab, Links and More!

Bioassay - https://www2.latech.edu/~wakeman/biomon/bioassay.htm

Functional Groups - https://kids.kiddle.co/Functional_group

Homogenize - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homogenize

High Pressure Liquid Chromatography - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-performance_liquid_chromatography

Microbeta Scintillation Counter - https://biotech.ug.edu.pl/sites/default/files/_nodes/strona-biotechnologia/62586/files/instrukcja_-_mikrobeta_instrument_manual.pdf

Ninety Six Well Plate - https://www.azerscientific.com/96-Well-Plate-PS-U-Bottom-Clear-Non-Sterile-300-l?quantity=1&custcol_azer_ts=0.09

Receptor 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-shellfish

Sodium 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

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