New funding supports commercial fishing and processing training

Alaska Sea Grant has received funding to support five new and continuing workforce development programs in the areas of seafood harvesting and processing, as part of the state’s Technical and Vocational Education Program (TVEP).

The projects include three Alaska Seafood School programs focused on training workers in Alaska’s commercial seafood processing industry. These programs provide coordination and training in food and processing regulations and safety, automated processing and refrigeration equipment, and processing plant management.

Two TVEP-funded projects support commercial seafood harvesters. The Skipper Apprentice program in Bristol Bay provides training and mentorship to beginning commercial fishermen, while a new “Scaled Seafood” project provides fisheries business training that will start this fall to fishermen in regions throughout Alaska.

The statewide Alaska Technical Vocational Education Program was established in 2000, allowing industry and state agencies to work together to provide a comprehensive and unified response to Alaska’s training needs. Alaska Sea Grant received a portion of the funding allocated to the University of Alaska.

“Support from TVEP is instrumental for Alaska Sea Grant to support Alaska’s seafood workforce,” said Gabe Dunham, fisheries specialist and leader of Alaska Sea Grant’s Marine Advisory Program. “It allows us to leverage the talent of our extension agents and specialists with partners, respond to training needs, and create impacts that benefit Alaskans.”

The $6 billion seafood industry is the state’s largest private employer, with more than 26,000 Alaskans working in the industry. For more than 50 years, Alaska Sea Grant has provided workforce development assistance and training to Alaska’s coastal industries and communities. In recent years, Alaska Sea Grant’s TVEP funding has expanded training opportunities for Alaska’s coastal workers. Last year, Alaska Sea Grant provided training to more than 600 workers, contributing to an economic benefit of more than $17 million.

“Supporting coastal communities and economies is central to the work that we do, and the support from TVEP allows us to serve the people that live and work there,” Dunham said.