Commercial mariculture of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Alaska has developed rapidly over the past decade yet many industry methods remain unmodified or adapted to Alaskan challenges. Currently, commercial hatcheries sell farmers petroleum-based line seeded with juvenile kelp that has been reared in sea water supplemented with fertilizer solutions. This seeded line is the single largest annual expense for kelp farmers and the most significant source of plastic waste from kelp farms. With the goal of reducing plastic waste, labor, and expense for both kelp farmers and hatchery operators, several natural fibers and fertilizer solutions were tested against industry standards. Trials mirrored the commercial process, with monitoring and measurements taken throughout hatchery and field deployment over three annual growing seasons. Cotton and hemp fibers produced quality yield (cotton cord average 7.26 kg/m, hemp cord 4.83 kg/m) with string remaining at time of harvest, while silk thread had good yield (average 4.96 kg/m) and all string absent at time of harvest. Jack’s High Performance 25-5-15 had yields equal to or greater than half strength Provasoli’s Enriched Seawater with Iodine (PESI) and F/2.