workforce development
Seaweed processing and handling workshop provides workforce training
Seaweed farming is a major industry worldwide, and the United States imports more than 95%—19 million tons—of its edible seaweed. Alaska has an ideal environment for producing home-grown seaweed to meet a greater share of the domestic market and as a potential export to meet international demand. Interest in seaweed farming is growing in Alaska,…
Read MoreSupervisor training for seafood processors
Alaska Sea Grant and the Applied Business program at the UAF Community and Technical College are collaborating to offer leadership and supervisory skills training for workers in the seafood processing industry. The first workshops were hosted at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center in April. Nineteen participants attended the initial trainings, which covered the…
Read MoreState Fellow Spotlight — Kyle Neumann
Jesse Gordon contributed to this story Kyle Neumann is an Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow with the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center Genetics Program in Juneau. He is working to develop new technologies that will allow for autonomous collection of environmental DNA (eDNA) samples. Kyle explained that the genetics lab is developing “eDNA sampling robots…
Read MoreIdentifying training needs of new Alaska fishermen
Alaska’s seafood industry is the economic backbone of many coastal communities. Seafood harvesting jobs pay well, and yet getting into the business is not easy. Commercial fishing demands a range of skills from business know-how to mechanics and an understanding of regulatory and safety requirements. The success and sustainability of the fishing industry depends on…
Read MoreTheresa Peterson to keynote Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit
Alaska Sea Grant will host the ninth Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit (AYFS) from December 6–9. Theresa Peterson will provide the keynote address. Peterson is an active subsistence and commercial fisherman and long-time resident of Kodiak. Her experience includes pot fishing, set netting, seining, drift netting, longlining, and jigging. She is the Fisheries Policy Director at…
Read MoreState Fellow spotlight: Tav Ammu
Jesse Gordon contributed to this story. Tav Ammu grew up commercial fishing in Dillingham. After completing a B.A. in English literature in 2007 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, he explored the world and a variety of professions. He taught English in France and Turkey, and volunteered with the Peace Corps in Kyrgyzstan. He also…
Read MoreApplications open for Knauss Fellowship
The John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is a competitive paid professional opportunity for graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. Alaska Sea Grant nominates graduate students from Alaska schools who are interested in the fellowship. Named after a Sea…
Read MoreState Fellow spotlight: Ashley Bolwerk
Jesse Gordon contributed to this story. Ashley Bolwerk describes her professional path as one that has “meandered between science and education.” After spending six years working for the Sitka Sound Science Center as education manager and contributing to various research projects, Bolwerk decided that she wanted to focus on a science-driven career. She hopes to…
Read MoreMarine Advisory Program’s Gabe Dunham taking statewide role
A few changes are taking place within Alaska Sea Grant’s Marine Advisory Program (MAP). Gabe Dunham, the MAP agent in Dillingham, will shift his focus from regional to statewide and is moving to Juneau. Alaska Sea Grant is recruiting a new Dillingham MAP agent to fill the vacancy Dunham will leave in Bristol Bay. As…
Read MoreKodiak local gets research experience through new internship
Increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in coastal and marine science, education, policy and decision-making is an important priority for Alaska Sea Grant. One way we are advancing this priority is through the Community Engaged Internship program (CEI), a 10-week paid summer internship for undergraduate students from underrepresented and Indigenous communities. The program provides training and…
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