commercial fishing
New law supports training for young fishermen
The “Young Fishermen’s Development Act” was signed into law on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. The goal of the act is to “preserve United States fishing heritage through a national program dedicated to training and assisting the next generation of commercial fishermen.” The bill received bipartisan support and was championed by Reps. Young (AK), Moulton (MA),…
Read MoreGearing up for summit of young fishermen
The eighth Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit (AYFS) is coming soon. Sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant, the three-day networking and skill-building conference is aimed at new entrants in Alaska’s commercial fishing industry to help them manage and grow their businesses. Next month, it’ll be held at the Westmark Baranof Hotel in downtown Juneau, January 21–23, 2020.…
Read MoreCordova Times: CDFU scholarships send fledgling fishermen to college
An Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit $500 scholarship, established by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, will help send recipients to a three-day crash course in fisheries management.
Read MoreUnsolved mystery: the case of the weathervane scallop
Prized by five-star chefs and seafood connoisseurs, weathervanes are a bit of a mystery animal. Major gaps exist in our understanding of the tasty mollusks, which are native to Alaska.
Read MoreCordova uses friendly competition to promote marine safety
The Prince William Sound fishing community of Cordova celebrated its 58th annual Cordova Iceworm Festival this winter, and as usual, Alaska Sea Grant was there to help. One of the festival’s main events is the survival suit race, where teams of four people run down a dock to where their suits are placed. They don…
Read MoreCordova urges support for Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
Cordova’s mayor is expressing strong support for the continued presence of an Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory agent in the Prince William Sound fishing community. Mayor Clay Koplin, in a column published this week in The Cordova Times, said the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program has had a presence in Cordova and the greater…
Read MoreUnalaska uses teamwork and technology to save whales
Humpback whale sightings are becoming increasingly common in Unalaska, and so are whale entanglements. In late October 2018, Alaska Sea Grant’s Melissa Good helped coordinate efforts to successfully free a humpback that had been caught in commercial fishing gear. Good is the regional lead responder for the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Network. She said…
Read MoreGraying of the Fleet research wins national award
Alaska Sea Grant-supported researchers won a national award at Sea Grant Week in Portland, Ore., this month for a study on how to boost access to Alaska commercial fisheries by young and rural residents. The Sea Grant Association, comprised of Sea Grant program directors from 33 coastal universities, presented its Research to Application award to…
Read MorePopular online direct marketing class returning this fall
The popular class, Introduction to Starting and Operating a Seafood Direct Marketing Business, taught via distance delivery is being offered again by Alaska Sea Grant over two weeks in October and November 2018. The course, designed for fishermen who may have no previous experience in direct marketing their catch, teaches the development and management of a…
Read MoreFall classes set to begin
Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes a new suite of classes offered by Alaska Sea Grant. The Alaska Seafood School offers trainings and classes for fishermen, seafood processing employees and all Alaskans who like to smoke fish and can food. They’re listed on our website and below. Most are offered by…
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