As one of the first kelp farmers from Alaska, I’ve had a front-row seat to Alaska’s emerging kelp industry and the remarkable evolution of its farmera. This presentation traces the history of kelp cultivation in Alaska—from its early experimental stages in the 2016, when a handful of us worked with rope, buoys, and a lot of optimism, to the thriving network of farms now spanning coastal communities from Ketchikan to the Aleutians. I’ll share how traditional knowledge, local fisheries expertise, and partnerships with scientists shaped the industry’s foundation, as well as the regulatory and logistical hurdles we faced in the early days. Through personal stories and community perspectives, I’ll explore how kelp farming has become not only a sustainable economic opportunity but also a tool for environmental resilience and a way for our fisherman to diversify. This talk offers a firsthand look at how a small coastal experiment grew into a defining chapter of Alaska’s maritime future.