Spring break fun: making kelp pasta and seaweed salad!
by V. Heisser |
What a fantastic and educational way to spend spring break! The Introduction to Mariculture Methods class traveled to Seward, Alaska, to collaborate with partners at the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute APMI.
On Day 1, the students began with a tour of the institute’s facilities. They prepared kelp for spore release, tested the hatchery tank water for bacteria, and worked together to make kelp pasta and seaweed salad!
On Day 2, the students explored research aimed at improving kelp seeding efficiency, sampled water for herring DNA, gained insights into the operations of a shellfish hatchery, and analyzed water samples for harmful algal species.
On the final day of the class, they learned about clam garden projects in Alaska. The students monitored the hatchery population of butter clams from Seldovia by counting and measuring samples. They also toured the hydroponics unit to learn about community food sovereignty projects and participated in a career question-and-answer session with ten staff members from APMI. The day concluded with a visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center.
A huge thank you to our friends at the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute for hosting our class again this year! Everyone learned so much!