State of Alaska
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land & Water
Southcentral Regional Land Office
550 W. 7^th Ave., Suite 900C
Anchorage, AK 99501-3577

Public and Agency Notice: Aquatic Farmsite Lease
ADL 234663
Pacific Kelp Company, Inc.
Felice Strait, Mary Island (USGS Quad Map Ketchikan A-4)

Pursuant to AS 38.05.945

Pursuant to AS 38.05.083, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land, and Water (DMLW) has made a Preliminary Decision to offer a 10-year aquatic farm lease to Pacific Kelp Company, Inc. The proposed lease would authorize the installation of a submerged longline culture system for commercial growth and harvest of four species of kelp: giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima), ribbon kelp (Alaria marginata), and bull kelp (Nereocystis leutkeana). The proposed lease consists of 102 acres, more or less, of state-owned tide and submerged lands located within Felice Strait, southwest of Mary Island, and northeast of Duke Island, approximately 25 miles southeast of Ketchikan, Alaska. The location of the project area is further described as being within the SE1/4 of Section 33 and the SW1/4 of Section 34, Township 78 South, Range 94 East, and the NW1/4 of Section 3, Township 79 South, Range 94 East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska.

The public and agencies are invited to review and comment on this proposed project. Please direct written comments to Jen Kopnicky via email to jen.kopnicky@alaska.gov, or send written comments to the mailing address listed above, “ATTN: Jen Kopnicky,” no later than 11:59PM on June 24, 2026. All comments must be received in writing at the mailing address or by email by the Public Notice end date.

If you have any questions, please contact Jen Kopnicky at (907) 269-8618 or via email. To be eligible to appeal DNR’s Final Finding and Decision, under AS 38.05.035(i)-(m), a person must have submitted written comments during this comment period. 

The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, complies with Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Individuals with audio impairments that have questions concerning this PD may call Relay Alaska at 711 or 1-800-770-8973 for assistance at no cost.