Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water ADL 107075

Aquatic Farm Lease Renewal for Alaska Longneck Farms, LLC

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water, Southcentral Regional Land Office, is the government buyer responsible for renewing an aquatic farm lease for Alaska Longneck Farms LLC. The lease covers 7.41 acres of state-owned tide and submerged lands near Ketchikan, Alaska, specifically within the NW1/4 of Section 14, Township 77 South, Range 94 East, Copper River Meridian. The lease is for commercial cultivation and harvest of Pacific geoduck (Panopea generosa). AKLF is the awardee and lessee. The lease renewal is for a 20-year term starting July 1, 2026, with a review of lease productivity and utilization at year 10. The lease area is a rectangular parcel measuring approximately 375 feet by 861 feet. The farm operates on a rotational cycle with geoduck requiring seven years to reach marketable size. Infrastructure includes minimal facilities, four corner boundary markers, and seasonal predator netting with 2-inch mesh secured to the ocean floor. The lessee has faced challenges including seed stock shortages, growth variability, and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). To address seed shortages, AKLF obtained a 10-year Hatchery Operations Permit (DFG-2024-18-HA-SE) issued to Shellfish Growers Coop Hatchery to produce local Pacific geoduck spat. The lease requires annual rental payments totaling $1,325.00 based on the acreage, a performance bond of $1,250.00, and proof of liability insurance naming the State of Alaska as a named insured. The lease stipulates compliance with annual reporting to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) by January 31 each year and adherence to the Development and Operation Plan. Failure to comply with lease terms may result in termination. The renewal supports the State's mariculture goals and allows time for hatchery productivity to improve farm utilization.

Description

Renewal of a 20-year aquatic farm lease for 7.41 acres of state-owned tide and submerged lands for commercial growth and harvest of Pacific geoduck near Ketchikan, Alaska. The lease renewal is issued by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water, Aquatic Farm Leasing Program. The lease term begins July 1, 2026, and includes conditions such as proof of liability insurance and annual rent payment of $1,325.00. The renewal supports the development of a local hatchery to provide reliable seed stock for geoduck farming.

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