Transition to Organics (NWTOPP), partner spotlight & events
August 31, 2026
Royal Ocean Kelp Company: Growing Opportunity from Alaska’s Waters
Our blog is a space for sharing and learning about various food systems topics across Alaska. We occasionally have Guest Blogs that highlight particular issues and stories of interest. The views in our Guest Blogs are not reflections of APFC positions. If you are interested in writing a Guest Blog, please contact info@alaskafoodpolicycouncil.org to discuss your idea!
By Alex & Matt Lowber, LOBO Brand Shop
In the protected waters near Cordova, Alaska, Royal Ocean Kelp Co. is helping shape one of the state’s newest agricultural industries. Co-owned by Thea Thomas and Cale Herschleb, the farm produces ribbon kelp and sugar kelp while demonstrating the potential of mariculture to support local economies, food security, and sustainable food production.
The farm’s story began in 2019 when Thea started the lengthy permitting process to establish a kelp farm. As a longtime commercial fisherwoman, she saw kelp farming as a natural complement to Alaska’s salmon industry. “My salmon season starts in May and ends in September,” Thea explains. “With kelp, we outplant in October and harvest in late April and early May.” Looking for a year-round Cordova resident to help manage the farm through the winter months, she partnered with Cale Herschleb and his family. The two became equal co-owners, planting their first crop in 2021.
Today, Royal Ocean Kelp operates a six-acre lease area with approximately 9,600 feet of grow line. While that may sound substantial, both owners emphasize that kelp farming remains a young industry built on constant learning. “We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into when we started,” Cale says. “It’s been a huge learning curve.”
Each summer, the team collects wild kelp from local waters to gather spores for the next generation of crops. The spores are cultivated in a nursery before being transferred to grow lines in the ocean each fall. Through the winter and early spring, the kelp grows rapidly in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Prince William Sound before harvest begins in late April. The harvest season is short and intense. Using fishing boats originally designed for Alaska’s salmon fleet, the team harvests thousands of pounds of kelp over just a few weeks.
When they first started, finding buyers proved challenging. The farm often produced kelp without a market ready to purchase it. Today, that is changing. Royal Ocean Kelp now supplies multiple markets, including food-grade kelp for culinary products and kelp used in agricultural biostimulants. They are also seeing growing opportunities in value-added products, including smoked kelp, which Cale believes could someday become as recognizable as Alaska smoked salmon.
Organic certification has been an important step in the farm’s development. Royal Ocean Kelp earned its certification through Oregon Tilth and is now in its second year of maintaining that status. The certification helps provide transparency, ensures traceability throughout production, and gives customers confidence in the product they are purchasing.
“It just adds to the value of the product,” Thea says. “It tells the consumer that this is a pristine product.” The certification process required months of documentation, inspections, and recordkeeping, but both owners believe it was worthwhile.
For both Thea and Cale, kelp farming represents more than a business opportunity. It is a chance to build a new industry in Alaska while creating economic opportunities for coastal communities. “I’ve never been part of an industry starting from the very beginning,” says Thea. “It’s really fun to watch the evolution of the industry.” As markets continue to grow and consumers discover new uses for kelp, Royal Ocean Kelp remains focused on producing a sustainable, locally grown food source while helping shape the future of Alaska mariculture.
