news
Alaska Sea Grant survey reveals challenges to mariculture industry caused by COVID-19 pandemic
Alaska Sea Grant recently surveyed the Alaska mariculture industry to shed light on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and response on their businesses in February and March. Survey respondents reported that revenue was down, with 43 percent reporting losses of more than half of their revenue. More than a third had laid off employees. …
Read MoreNew training program for aspiring fishing crew in Western Alaska
Alaska’s commercial fishing industry employs more people than any other industry in the state. Yet fewer young people are entering the industry, and resources are scarce to help aspiring crew members succeed, a concern that Alaska Sea Grant has addressed with the development of a new “Crew Class” training program. The industry has traditionally relied…
Read MoreYoung fishermen learn the business and management side of commercial fishing operations
Fifty fishermen from around the state gathered in Juneau in January for the eighth Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit (AYFS) for three days of training, networking and interacting with the Alaska State Legislature. Participants of the Alaska Sea Grant event were self-selected or sponsored by their fishing organization, skipper or CDQ group and came from Atka,…
Read MoreChange in reporting structure for Alaska Sea Grant
The University of Alaska Fairbanks recently announced change in reporting structure for Alaska Sea Grant.
Read MoreMourning the loss of UAF graduate Sean Brennan
Alaska Sea Grant’s faculty and staff are mourning the loss of Sean R. Brennan, a PhD graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. A father of three, Brennan was killed in a ski accident in Alta, Utah, on January 2, 2020. The Seattle resident was 37. At UAF, Brennan focused his PhD research on tracing…
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 MoreRecord low level of Bering Sea ice causes profound, widespread impacts
“This is an extreme event with immediate and long-lasting repercussions. It’s indicative of very rapid change in the entire northern Bering Sea ecosystem. It has ramifications for everyone in the region,” said lead author Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Read MoreLooking to start a seaweed farm in Alaska?
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) and partners, including Alaska Sea Grant, are excited to announce a new training program for people interested in starting a seaweed farm. The program will be held in Kodiak, Ketchikan and Sitka in February 2020. Applications are due by December 20, 2019. The training is part of the Alaska Mariculture Initiative and is intended…
Read MoreReport suggests how to prepare for Arctic oil spills
A new report is out on how communities can anticipate, plan for and build resiliency around oil spills. The report is the product of regional workshops in Anchorage, Alaska; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Santa Barbara, California; and Mobile and Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The Sea Grant Oil Spill Science Center and the Gulf Research Program of…
Read MoreVigilance advised after saxitoxin found in clams
Scientists have detected toxic algae in clams from the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea regions of northern and western Alaska, according to a new bulletin. It’s an indication that ocean warming is moving northward, allowing the growth of Alexandrium catenella, a type of algae that can produce saxitoxin. If ingested, saxitoxin targets the nervous system…
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