Cultivating Nutritious Alaskan Kelp for Your Health & the Ocean’s
In the heart of Prince William Sound, Noble Ocean Farms strives to live in devotion to the ocean through responsible kelp mariculture. Founded by Skye Steritz and Sean Den Adel, this regenerative kelp farm in Cordova, Alaska, is dedicated to enhancing food security and ocean health.
On their 22-acre aquatic farm, they cultivate sugar kelp — a marine superfood rich in vitamins, minerals, and flavor. By growing native seaweed, they are actively supporting marine biodiversity through habitat creation and mitigating local ocean acidification.
As a majority female-owned business in an emerging industry, Noble Ocean Farms faced challenges in financial planning and scaling operations sustainably. To navigate these challenges, the Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC) stepped in with critical business support and financial expertise. With the guidance of business advisor Ruth Wolfe and technical assistance from Casey Pape, Noble Ocean Farms developed financial projections to support decision-making, created a strategic business plan, received assistance in securing a grant to fund future growth, and gained valuable industry insights and market research to refine their sales strategy.
With SBDC’s expert advising, Noble Ocean Farms successfully secured funding that is fueling their next stage of growth. “The Alaska SBDC, and especially Ruth Wolfe and Casey Pape, have been invaluable in helping us navigate the financial complexities of expanding Noble Ocean Farms. We are so grateful for their support!” – Skye Steritz, Co-Founder, Noble Ocean Farms
As they grow, Noble Ocean Farms is engaging local communities through educational workshops, kelp tasting events, and public outreach initiatives. By making seaweed more accessible and promoting its nutritional and environmental benefits, they are helping Alaskans embrace kelp as a sustainable, homegrown food source. Additionally, they are reducing their environmental footprint by using recycled materials when possible.
With their strong community-driven approach, Noble Ocean Farms is shaping the future of regenerative mariculture in Alaska. By harnessing the power of kelp farming, they are nourishing communities and diversifying the local economy.
Stay connected with Noble Ocean Farms on their website at nobleoceanfarms.com or on Facebook (@NobleOceanFarms) and Instagram (@Noble_Ocean_Farms).
