This is Mariculture Minute with another edition of Kelp the Vote! Alaska’s Senator Dan Sullivan is up for re-election. He’s running against Mary Peltola and another candidate who just happens to be another Dan Sullivan. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., from Petersburg is on the ballot–he has a different middle initial from Senator Sullivan and on the ballot his name doesn’t say Incumbent next to it. As an Irish guy myself, these two names seem different enough to me, but some may argue otherwise. Just like Senator Sullivan and Mary Peltola, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. responded to Mariculture Minute’s brief survey on ocean farming in Alaska and I will now read his responses (in italics).
1) If elected, would you do anything to promote kelp production in Alaska?
ANSWER: While that scenario is unlikely, I certainly feel kelp production has an important and growing role in Alaska’s seafood industry.
2) Would you support a statewide program to monitor coastal waters for paralytic shellfish poisoning blooms?
ANSWER: Yes I would. I would also work to re-establish Alaska’s Coastal Zone Management program and Ocean Rangers Program. I also believe that expanding sea otter populations need to be addressed.
3) What’s your favorite shellfish or seaweed dish?
ANSWER: Back in the day, abalone was quite a treat. Dungeness crab is my go to staple, and kelp wise, anything Barnacle makes is superb. If you mean a specific recipe, crab tortillas make my mouth water.
4) Can you shuck an oyster?
Yes, I learned to shuck on Gulf Coast oysters with the traditional saltine & Tabasco. It’s hard to get oysters here on Mitkof Island but I have had occasional luck with the farm down at Blas[h]ke Islands.
Regards,
Dan
**I thought those were really interesting responses. This is my first time hearing about the Ocean Rangers program in Alaska. And it sounds pretty cool–Ocean Rangers, if I got this right were in the water monitoring waste disposal by cruise ships–making sure it was legal. The current governor, Dunleavy, scuttled the Ocean Ranger budget and the program is basically dead. I’ll add a link in the shell notes to a Duke Law article about it all.
And I’ll have some info on the Alaska Coastal Zone Management Program which was another cool program that is now defunct.
I’ll also add a link about growing Sea Otter populations in Alaska. I love those guys–but what do they mean for shellfish farmers? Because sea otters love eating shellfish.
And of course, I’ll some links for more information on Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.
Wow, the real winner this election might be Barnacle Seafoods–a lot of the politicians have been mentioning them with my question about favorite seaweed dish.This has been Kelp the Vote! A production of Mariculture minute–your source for Alaskan mariculture politics. Elections are on November 3. You can find Mariculture Minute on Instagram at kelpshow, on all the podcast places and always at kelpshow.com.
SHELL NOTES!
Dan J. Sullivan Jr. and the Senate race
* INTERVIEW: Petersburg’s Dan J. Sullivan will be on the ballot for U.S. Senate. What are his policies? — KFSK / Alaska Public Media, Aug. 3, 2026
* INTERVIEW: To the GOP, he’s a sham candidate. At home, he’s Mr. Sullivan — AP, July 11, 2026
* WHAT’S IN A NAME? Petersburg’s Dan J. Sullivan stays on Alaska’s U.S. Senate ballot after third-place primary finish — Alaska Public Media / Alaska Beacon, Sept. 1, 2026
* THREE DAN SULLIVANS??? Sullivan endorses Sullivan against Sullivan in Alaska — WLNS
Otters, Ocean Rangers and Alaska’s Coastal Zone Management Program
* Investigating the interactions between sea otters and oyster farms — Alaska Sea Grant, April 2023
* Law Thrown Overboard: Direct Democracy and the Alaska Ocean Rangers — Hannah Rogers, Alaska Law Review, 2023
* Alaska’s Coastal Ecology and Infrastructure — UAF International Arctic Research Center, Alaska’s Changing Arctic policy series
