State of Alaska
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land & Water
Southcentral Regional Land Office
550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 900C
Anchorage, AK 99501-3577
Public and Agency Notice: Aquatic Farmsite Lease Amendment
ADL 232886
Sitka Oyster Co LLC
Krestof Sound (USGS Quad Map Sitka A-5)
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), Aquatic Farm Leasing Program has made a Preliminary Decision to amend a 10-year aquatic farm lease, ADL 232886, authorized to Sitka Oyster Co LLC. The proposed lease amendment would authorize the lessee to change the oyster cultivation gear and site plan configuration within the existing lease boundary, using OysterGro© floating cages in an anchored longline system, instead of the currently authorized oyster grow-out raft convoy system. The proposed lease consists of 182 acres, more or less, of state-owned tide and submerged lands located in Krestof Sound, approximately 13 miles northwest of Sitka, Alaska. The location of the project area is further described as being within the W1/2 of Section 3 and the E1/2 of Section 4, Township 54 South, Range 62 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 above with "Attn: Jen Kopnicky," no later than 11:59PM on December 10, 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.
DNR–DMLW complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids, services, or special modifications to participate in the commenting process should contact Alaska Relay at 711 or 1-800-770-8973 (TTY).
DNR reserves the right to waive technical defects in this publication.