Alaska Marine Policy Forum — July 2020
2020-07-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Anchorage)
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on July 20. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
May 2020 forum summary • previous forum summaries

Bristol Bay marine safety training presentations
2020-08-13 - 2020-08-14 | Online
The Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC), Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA), and Alaska Sea Grant are offering a two-day online safety training for resident or part-time Bristol Bay fishermen and watercraft users.
Part one of this AMSEA water safety workshop, Thursday, August 13, will include lessons on the 7 steps to survival, survival kits, effects of alcohol on boating safety, and cold water drowning prevention.
Part two, Friday, August 14, includes lessons on cold water survival skills, personal flotation devices (PFDs), immersion suits, and hypothermia prevention and treatment.
This free training will be conducted by Zoom video conference, 10 a.m.–noon each day, and pre-registration is required. You can attend one or both 2-hour sessions.
For BBEDC program recipients, this training qualifies toward BBEDC training requirements.
Register for the training
This event is sponsored by the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation.

Alaska Marine Policy Forum — September 2020
2020-09-16 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on September 14. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
July 2020 forum summary • previous forum summaries

Emergency Preparedness for Alaskans
2020-09-28 - 2020-10-01 | Online
September is National Preparedness Month with a focus on promoting family and community disaster planning. Learn from a team of experts what to do before, during and after an emergency. Sign up once for this FREE event, hosted by the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and attend any or all of the classes in the series via Zoom.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — October 2020
2020-10-15 09:00 - 16:00 | Online
Alaska Sea Grant is now offering Seafood HACCP Segment 2 practical training session via online video conferencing, conducted at the specified time with a live instructor.
The class will cover the principles of HACCP and provide the tools and training to create a seafood HACCP plan. Students will need to register for and complete the Segment 1 training online prior to October 15 through the National Seafood HACCP Alliance for Training and Education. The Segment 1 training has a separate registration and fee.
You can register here for your Segment 2 training using the button below, prior to completing Segment 1, just be sure to complete the Segment 1 training before October 15.
This course meets the requirement for HACCP Segment 2. Participants will attend this HACCP training live, using online video conferencing to complete the practical training session. The training will be conducted October 15, 2020, from 9 am to 4 pm.
All seafood processors in Alaska are required to have an approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. This class prepares the participant to develop this plan. A basic HACCP certificate issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials is awarded upon completion of the class.
Register for HACCP

Smoked Seafood School — October 2020
2020-10-30 09:00 - 15:00 | Online
This online workshop is for anyone interested in smoking and processing fish, including fish–smoking enthusiasts, small smokehouse operators, fishermen interested in direct marketing their fish, and commercial operators.
Seafood scientists at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center will cover the principles of fish smoking, modern smoke oven operation, safety of smoked products, brining, cold smoking, hot smoking, salmon jerky production, and preparation of fish sausage.
Smoked Seafood School 2020 will take place online, and will include discussion and live presentations from representatives of food processing equipment manufacturers.
This workshop is a partnership between Alaska Sea Grant and the Manufacturing Alaska Extension Partnership, part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology national network.

Register for the course

Alaska Marine Policy Forum — November 2020
2020-11-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on November 16. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
September 2020 forum summary • previous forum summaries

Introduction to Starting and Operating a Seafood Direct Marketing Business — Fall 2020
2020-11-30 - 2020-12-09 | Online
Introduction to Starting and Operating a Seafood Direct Marketing Business is a five-session online workshop for those considering or currently involved in direct marketing of seafood in Alaska. Topics include

regulations
marketing
business planning
quality
discussion with direct marketers

Presenters include seafood marketing and quality specialists, regulatory officials, and experienced direct marketers. The workshop, limited to 20 participants, will be conducted online via Zoom and take place over five sessions. Sessions will be held in the evenings of November 30, December 2, 4, 7, and 9. Each 2–3 hour session will begin at 5:30pm, and will consist of lecture and discussion. Prior to each session, registrants will receive class materials and instructions to log in. The class will conclude on December 9 with an open discussion with invited direct marketers.
Due to the limited number of seats, priority will be given to residents of Alaska. If you live outside Alaska but wish to participate, instead of registering, please contact Gabe Dunham (information below) to be added to the space-available interest list.
Register online

Alaska Aquaculture Opportunity Areas information session
2020-12-02 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Please join us for an information session to learn more about designating Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs), and how you can help identify potential areas within Alaska that will become a focus for commercial aquaculture development. Registration for the information session is required.
With the help of stakeholder input, NOAA will select 10 geographic regions nationwide. Once selected, NOAA will use a combination of spatial mapping, scientific review, and additional public engagement to identify areas within the geographic regions for siting AOAs that are the most environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate for commercial aquaculture. This rigorous and collaborative analysis will identify areas where aquaculture projects are most likely to thrive.
Stakeholder input will be an important part of the selection process. This information session will prepare you to better understand and influence which areas may receive future AOA designation. We’ll share information about the AOA process, benefits, and concerns, and take questions.
If you’re interested in reviewing NOAA’s AOA information prior to this information session, visit Aquaculture Opportunity Areas | NOAA Fisheries. We look forward to seeing you.
Register now

What is an AOA?
AOAs are called for in the May 2020 Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. They are defined as geographic areas (state waters, federal waters, or a combination of both) that have been evaluated for their potential for sustainable commercial aquaculture. Selected areas are expected to support multiple aquaculture farm sites of varying types including finfish, shellfish, and/or seaweed. In Alaska, finfish farming is banned in state waters per Alaska Statute 16.40.210. Thus, AOAs for state waters would apply to aquaculture operations for seaweed, shellfish, and/or other pertinent species.
This information meeting may be recorded and shared for informational purposes, and may incidentally include participant names, faces, comments, and questions.
Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the aquaculture announcements list.

Alaska Marine Policy Forum — postponed to February
2021-01-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Please note: The January 20, 2021 meeting has been rescheduled.
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on February 15. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
November 2020 forum summary • previous forum summaries

Smoked Seafood School — January 2021
2021-01-28 - 2021-01-29 | Online
Time: 1–4 pm AKST

This two-day online workshop is for anyone interested in smoking and processing fish, including fish–smoking enthusiasts, small smokehouse operators, fishermen interested in direct marketing their fish, and commercial operators.
Seafood scientists at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center will cover the principles of fish smoking, modern smoke oven operation, safety of smoked products, brining, cold smoking, hot smoking, salmon jerky production, and preparation of fish sausage.
The January 2021 Smoked Seafood School will be held online over two days, three hours each day, and will include discussion and live presentations from representatives of food processing equipment manufacturers. The class is limited to 20 participants.
This workshop is a partnership between Alaska Sea Grant and the Manufacturing Alaska Extension Partnership, part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology national network.

Register for the course

Seaweed Farm Start-up Training Program
2021-02-02 16:00 - 18:00 | Online
Alaska Sea Grant and partners are excited to announce the 2021 Seaweed Farm Start-up Training Program to be held for Alaska residents interested in starting their own seaweed farm in Alaska. In 2020, this program was held in Kodiak, Ketchikan, and Sitka as part of Phase 2 of the Alaska Mariculture Initiative. In February of 2021, this program will be held again for a new cohort of participants, and will be conducted online via Zoom due to COVID-19 health and safety mandates. This virtual format will allow more participants to access the training program, from 48 participants in 2020 to potentially more than 100 in 2021. Registration for the training program will be completed in two parts:

All interested Alaska residents are invited to register for a 2-hour webinar to be held at 4:00 pm on February 2, 2021. Registration closes February 1, 2021.
Webinar attendees will then be eligible to register for a series of in-depth, virtual, technical, multi-day workshops over one week, beginning on February 22. Each session will be 2–3 hours.

The goal of this program is to provide the tools and training necessary for Alaskans to start their own seaweed farm. The program is targeted towards commercial fishermen, Alaska Natives, and fishing communities. The program will be completed in four sections:

online webinar on February 2, 2021
series of virtual technical multi-day workshops over one-week beginning on February 22, 2021
one-on-one mentoring for high-performing participants
potential in-person hands-on field training in Spring/Summer 2021 (COVID-19 permitting).

Participants will be required to attend the February 2nd webinar in order to register for the series of technical workshops. Although there is no expected cap on the number of participants for the webinar, participation for the series of technical multi-day workshops is expected to be capped at 150 participants. Registration will be first-come first-serve for eligible participants. Registration for the series of technical multi-day workshops will be open from February 3 to February 10. Materials, final workshop dates/times, and workshop information will be distributed to registered participants prior to both the webinar and technical workshops.
Topics covered will include identification of seaweed species, lifecycles of seaweed, the hatchery process, site evaluation, use of the Mariculture Map, farm gear and equipment, business plan development, farm loans available, state lease application process, gear deployment, seeding and harvesting techniques, quality handling, and safety considerations. Information and instruction will be provided by GreenWave, Alaska Sea Grant, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Blue Evolution, OceansAlaska, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation Inc., Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, seaweed farmers, and others.
Register now to learn more about what it takes to become a seaweed farmer in Alaska. Please visit the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation website for more information about the training program.
Register online

Alaska Marine Policy Forum — February 2021
2021-02-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on February 15. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
November 2020 forum summary • previous forum summaries

Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — February 2021
2021-02-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Online
Alaska Sea Grant is now offering Seafood HACCP Segment 2 practical training session via online video conferencing, conducted at the specified time with a live instructor.
The class will cover the principles of HACCP and provide the tools and training to create a seafood HACCP plan. Students will need to register for and complete the Segment 1 training online prior to February 19 through the National Seafood HACCP Alliance for Training and Education. The Segment 1 training has a separate registration and fee.
You can register here for your Segment 2 training using the button below, prior to completing Segment 1, just be sure to complete the Segment 1 training before February 19.
This course meets the requirement for HACCP Segment 2. Participants will attend this HACCP training live, using online video conferencing to complete the practical training session. The training will be conducted February 19, 2021, from 9 am to 4 pm.
All seafood processors in Alaska are required to have an approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. This class prepares the participant to develop this plan. A basic HACCP certificate issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials is awarded upon completion of the class.

Register for HACCP

Better Process Control School — March 2021
2021-03-24 - 2021-03-25
Thank you for your interest in the Better Process Control School. At this time, we are postponing this class until we are able to meet safely in person. To be added to the waitlist, please fill out the BPCS waitlist form. When a date and location is determined, you will be sent an email for early registration.
This two-day class teaches principles of thermal processing, equipment requirements, container closure evaluation, and record keeping for glass jars and cans. It is designed for retort operators, quality assurance technicians, and home canners, and will be useful for personnel in plants that pack and thermally process low acid foods and acidified foods in hermetically sealed containers.
The course addresses both flexible pouch and traditional can retort operations, and includes hands-on training with thermal processing equipment.
This class satisfies FDA requirements. Attendees will receive a certificate on successful completion.

Sanitation Control Procedures for Seafood Processors
2021-04-02 08:30 - 16:30 | Online
Seafood processors are required to monitor sanitary control procedures used during processing, to document conformance with proper sanitary conditions and practices. This one-day Sanitation Control Procedures for Seafood Processors online workshop teaches people in the seafood industry how to develop and implement FDA-mandated sanitation control procedures, covering the basic eight points of sanitation and documentation requirements.
The workshop includes demonstrations of using test kits to monitor common sanitizer residuals.
This training is provided through a partnership between Alaska Sea Grant and the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership which is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology national network.
Register now

Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — April 2021
2021-04-16 09:00 - 16:00 | Online
Alaska Sea Grant is now offering Seafood HACCP Segment 2 practical training session via online video conferencing, conducted at the specified time with a live instructor.
The class will cover the principles of HACCP and provide the tools and training to create a seafood HACCP plan. Students will need to register for and complete the Segment 1 training online prior to April 16 through the National Seafood HACCP Alliance for Training and Education. The Segment 1 training has a separate registration and fee.
You can register here for your Segment 2 training prior to completing Segment 1; just be sure to complete the Segment 1 training before April 16.
This course meets the requirement for HACCP Segment 2, and is limited to 20 participants. Participants will attend this HACCP training live, using online video conferencing to complete the practical training session. The training will be conducted April 16, 2021, from 9 am to 4 pm.
All seafood processors in Alaska are required to have an approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. This class prepares the participant to develop this plan. A basic HACCP certificate issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials is awarded upon completion of the class.

Register for HACCP

Kodiak Area Marine Science Symposium 2021
2021-04-19 - 2021-04-23 | Online
Updated April 29: download the PDF Agenda/Schedule and Abstract Book.
Updated April 18: see below for new listing of partnered activities for children and adults.
Updated April 19: The poster presentations are now available to view.
Registration
Registration is free and open to the public.
Register for KAMSS

Poster presentations
The poster presentations are available to preview and download on the KAMSS 2021 Poster Session page.
Partnered activities
Kodiak 4-H Marine Debris Fish Project
on display April 19–23
Kodiak 4-H partnered with Alaska Sea Grant to bring Kodiak youth the opportunity to come together, clean up our beaches and make a statement with their art during the Kodiak Area Marine Science Symposium and for Earth Day. The art will be displayed during the entire week of KAMSS (April 19-23) downtown at the Kodiak History Museum and the Kodiak Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Photos of the display will be shared through the KAMSS 2021 Poster page and on the 4-H event page. Join us in celebrating our youth advocacy.
Buskin Beach Cleanup
Friday, April 23, 4–6 pm
Sponsored by Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Alaska Sea Grant, and Island Trails Network
In celebration of Earth Day 2021 the Suna’q Tribe of Kodiak and Alaska Sea Grant are organizing a beach cleanup. Meet at Buskin Beach Parking Lot and check in at 4:00 pm. Dress for the weather and bring a pair of gloves. Trash bags and hand sanitizer will be provided. Volunteers can assist with cleanup or help sort the debris for recycling. We will encourage social distancing and recommend masks as appropriate if you will be working alongside others. Day use parking fee will be waived for this event.
Kodiak Public Library
April 19–23
The Kodiak Public Library will be sharing marine resources and activities throughout the week. A children’s Glow in the Dark Jellyfish craft event will be held Tuesday April 20th at 4:00 pm on Zoom; packets are ready for pick up. Join us outside for story walk featuring Baby Whale’s Journey and sea poems. A display of children’s books about whales and sea life is available in the children’s room and YouTube StoryTime will feature Humphrey The Lost Whale. Please visit the Kodiak Public Library website for details.
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
April 19–23
The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge will be sharing marine fun facts, photos and art activities. Check out the Kodiak Refuge Facebook page during the week. Art supplies for take-home activities are available at our door and the Kodiak 4-H marine debris exhibit will be displayed. Find us at the Kodiak Refuge Visitor Center on 402 Center Avenue.
Event description
We are pleased to continue the Kodiak Area Marine Science Symposium (KAMSS) as a virtual event in 2021. Last year KAMSS was canceled due to COVID-19. This year we are happy to come together in April 2021 through our virtual event. KAMSS 2021 will be the 4th regional symposium that connects the Kodiak community to the marine science research around them.
Hosted by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program with support from regional partners and contributors, KAMSS provides a forum for researchers to share findings within the research community and to the general public. The symposium offers opportunity for stakeholders to engage and understand how Kodiak’s marine environment and resources function, change, and affect our lives and livelihoods and offers a venue for researchers to plan for integrated, cooperative and community-inspired marine research.
Patterned after the preceding symposiums, KAMSS 2021 oral and poster presentations will span a variety of marine science and related fields pertinent to our healthy coastal community. Sessions will be organized thematically and delivered over the course of the week via Zoom. The sessions will be based on abstracts submitted for KAMSS 2020.
Details from previous KAMSS events, including links to the programs and abstracts, can be viewed by visiting KAMSS 2017.
Keynote
Dr. Steven Barbeaux
Monday, April 19 • 6pm
Dr. Steven Barbeaux
Heatwave impacts on the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod
Pacific cod has been an important food and economic resource in Alaska for millennia. The population declined through the mid-2000s, however a series of high recruitments starting in 2006 helped the stock recover. In the beginning of 2014, the future for Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) looked bright, with the fishery earning on average $103 million. From 2014–2016, an unprecedented warming event triggered changes in the GOA ecosystem, and continued declines resulted in the closure of the fishery in 2020. This talk will describe how changes in the ecosystem during the heatwave affected the GOA Pacific cod stock and how this stock may fair in a warming world.
A graduate of the University of Washington School of Fisheries, Dr. Barbeaux works as a research fisheries biologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, and is the lead stock assessment author for the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod stock. Steve was raised in a fishing family on the Great Lakes, and still has close family fishing there. He began his career with NOAA as a contracted fisheries observer in Alaska in 1996, and has been employed as a research fisheries biologist with the Status of Stocks and Multispecies Assessment Program since 2002.
Call for abstracts
KAMSS 2021 will feature presentations submitted under the 2020 Call for Abstracts.
Steering committee

Julie Matweyou (chair), University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Kodiak
Julie Bonney, Alaska Groundfish Data Bank, Kodiak
Robin Corcoran, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kodiak
Brian Himelbloom, University of Alaska Fairbanks (retired), Kodiak
Tyler Kornelis, Kodiak Area Native Association, Kodiak
Mike Litzow, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Kodiak
Jo Ellen Lottsfeldt, Resident and MA student through Miami University, Kodiak-Anchorage
Molly Odell, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak
Theresa Peterson, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Kodiak
Nick Sagalkin, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kodiak
Cindy Trussell, University of Alaska Anchorage, Kodiak College, Kodiak
Matthew Van Daele, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Kodiak
Nathan Weber, Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association, Kodiak

Alaska Marine Policy Forum – April 2021
2021-04-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on April 19. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
February 2021 forum summary • previous forum summaries

COVID-19 webinar: Federal and State guidance and mandates for the Alaskan commercial fishing and seafood processing industries
2021-04-28 12:00 - 14:00 | Online
As Alaska gears up for another fishing season in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska Sea Grant is assisting seafood processors and commercial fishing operations with accessing and understanding current safety operations guidance and mandates.
This webinar will feature presentations from the CDC/NIOSH, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and the State of Alaska COVID-19 Unified Command. The event will include the most up-to-date science and guidelines, which have changed since the summer of 2020.
CDC/NIOSH will present current guidance for land-based seafood processors. Topics addressed will include

review of the CDC’s federal guidelines related to workplace safety
close-contact workplace safety and how to remain safe when you must work less than 6 feet apart
control measures such as elimination, engineering, work policies/procedures, vaccinations, and the proper use of PPE
the science of vaccines and why vaccinations are important for people who are working in close quarters who can’t socially distance

The Department of Health and Social Services, and State of Alaska COVID-19 Unified Command will focus their presentations on workplace measures to promote safety, vaccine availability, how to schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine in Alaska, and any current statewide health or travel mandates. State mandates and vaccine availability have changed since the summer of 2020.
Registration is required to attend the webinar.
There will be limited time for questions at the end of the webinar. Registrants are encouraged to submit questions in advance during the registration process. This will enable the presenters to address questions during their presentations.
Register now
For additional information about managing COVID-19 risk, including state and federal guidance and how to apply for relief, visit Alaska Sea Grant’s COVID-19 resources.

Introduction to Marine Refrigeration
2021-05-07 - 2021-05-09 | UAF Bristol Bay Campus, 527 Seward St, Dillingham, AK, 99576, United States
Dates: May 7–9, 2021
Times: Friday, May 7: 6-8pm; Saturday, May 8: 9am–5pm, Sunday, May 9: 9am-3pm
The Refrigerated Sea Water workshop is a 2.5 day in-person event to teach RSW system owners and operators operation, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting.
The Refrigerated Sea Water workshop covers heat theory, basic refrigeration theory, and control systems and applies this knowledge to Refrigerated Seawater (RSW) systems. The event instructs students in the operation, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting of RSW systems. This is an entry level class and assumes no previous knowledge of refrigeration and control systems. This class will also include a module and discussion on hydraulic system requirements for hydraulic-drive RSW systems.
Register for Intro to Marine Refrigeration

Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — May 2021
2021-05-07 09:00 - 16:00 | Online
Alaska Sea Grant is now offering Seafood HACCP Segment 2 practical training session via online video conferencing, conducted at the specified time with a live instructor.
The class will cover the principles of HACCP and provide the tools and training to create a seafood HACCP plan. Students will need to register for and complete the Segment 1 training online prior to May 7 through the National Seafood HACCP Alliance for Training and Education. The Segment 1 training has a separate registration and fee.
You can register here for your Segment 2 training using the button below, prior to completing Segment 1, just be sure to complete the Segment 1 training before May 7.
This course meets the requirement for HACCP Segment 2. Participants will attend this HACCP training live, using online video conferencing to complete the practical training session. The training will be conducted May 7, 2021, from 9 am to 4 pm.
All seafood processors in Alaska are required to have an approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. This class prepares the participant to develop this plan. Class size is limited to 20 participants. A basic HACCP certificate issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials is awarded upon completion of the class.

Register for HACCP

13th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference and Forum
2021-05-13 - 2021-05-14 | Online
The 13th annual Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC) aims to bring together local and indigenous knowledge of subsistence–based communities and other scientific research relevant to Western Alaska; including economic, ecological, social, and health issues important to rural communities. This year’s conference focuses on the future threats and opportunities in the face of a changing climate.

Alaska Shellfish and Seaweed Festival
2021-05-17 - 2021-05-20 | Online
We are pleased to announce the Alaska Shellfish and Seaweed Festival, taking place virtually on Zoom and streamed live on Facebook from coastal communities around the state. Leading up to the event and during the week of the festival, if you order seafood products from participating businesses, you’ll receive a special gift package that includes recipe cards, a shucking knife, and other mariculture related goodies.
Hosted by the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, the Alaska Shellfish and Seaweed Festival celebrates and raises awareness of the sustainably grown and harvested seafood products available right here in Alaska. Mariculture is an emerging industry in Alaska, and this festival provides an opportunity to learn about what it’s like to run an oyster or seaweed farm, where to find quality shellfish and seaweed products in your communities, and interesting and delicious ways to cook Alaska’s fresh, locally grown mariculture foods.
The Alaska Shellfish and Seaweed Festival is free and open to the public. Registrants will receive a reminder email with online participation information and the schedule of events.
Register now
Is your business interested in participating in this event or being added to our Alaska-grown shellfish and seaweed directory? Please contact Hannah Wilson (information below).
The event kicks off with an introduction to mariculture from Melissa Good, Alaska Sea Grant’s mariculture specialist. Lexa Meyer, Alaska Sea Grant’s seafood workforce development coordinator and Alaska Mariculture Manager at Blue Evolution, will give an overview of seaweed farming. James Greeley, operations manager and oyster farmer at Tommaso Shellfish, will share information about oyster farming.
The second and third days of the event will feature video tours of Alaska oyster and seaweed farms, and live online cooking demonstrations. Festival attendees can watch from the comfort of their own homes to learn how Alaska grown oysters and kelp are grown, harvested, and transformed into delicious entrees and condiments.
The final day of the event will feature discussions about the market for shellfish and seaweed, the future of mariculture in Alaska, and how communities and individuals can get involved. Marine aquaculture creates jobs, supports resilient working waterfronts and coastal communities, and provides new international trade opportunities. As global demand for seafood continues to grow, mariculture offers an economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable complement to Alaska’s wild fisheries.
Schedule of Events
Subject to change, all times Alaska.
Monday, May 17, 6:00–7:30pm

6:00–6:30 Introduction to mariculture with Melissa Good, Alaska Sea Grant
6:30–6:50 Seaweed Farming 101 with Lexa Meyer, Blue Evolution
6:50–7:10 Oyster Farming 101 with Anthony Lindoff, Kaawu Shellfish Co.
7:10–7:30 Q&A with farmers

Tuesday, May 18, 6:00–7:30pm

6:00–6:20 Oyster farm tour, video presentation with Bonfire Bay
6:20–6:30 Bivalve identification game and seaweed quiz
6:30–6:50 Seaweed farm tour with Alf Pryor, Kodiak Kelp Co.
6:50–6:55 Meet an Alaska shellfish farmer, video presentation
6:55-7:30 Q&A with farmers

Wednesday, May 19, 6:00–8:00pm

6:00–6:45 Wine and oyster pairing workshop with Telesomm
6:45–6:55 How to shuck an oyster video with James Greeley, Tommaso Shellfish
6:55–7:40 Brewing oyster stout presentations with Grace Ridge Brewing, Odd Man Rush Brewing and 49th State Brewing Company
7:40–8:00 Blue Evolution seaweed cooking demo videos

Thursday, May 20, 6:00–8:0pm

6:00–6:30 Wild seaweed restoration with Dr. Schery Umazor
6:30–6:40 A new generation of farmers videos
6:40–7:00 Running the Bates family farm with Weatherly Bates, Alaska Shellfish Farms
7:00–7:30 Traditional seaweed processing with Vivian Mork, Planet Alaska
7:30–8:00 The future of mariculture in Alaska with Julie Decker

Participating Businesses
Buy mariculture products from these participating Alaskan businesses the week of the festival to get some free swag* including an oyster-shucking knife with your purchase:
*Please confirm with individual businesses when ordering. Check back for additions to this list.
Oysters
Shikat Bay Oysters — nationwide shipping
Tommaso Shellfish — nationwide shipping
Fish from Trish — nationwide shipping
Haines Packing Company — pick up in Haines
Alaska Shellfish Farms — pick up in Homer, nationwide shipping
59 North Ocean Specialties, 907-252-5698, clamgulchseafoods@gmail.com (Kenai Peninsula Deliveries)
Island Seafoods — pick up in Kodiak
Naukati Connection, 907-629-4104 — pick up Naukati Bay, Prince of Wales Island
Kaawu Shellfish Company, 907-209-7928 — pick up in Juneau
Beer
49th State Brewing Company — oyster stout available at Anchorage taproom
Kodiak Island Brewing Company — kelp beer available at Kodiak taproom
Baleen Brewing — beers to pair with oyster and kelp dishes, available at Ketchikan taproom
Grace Ridge Brewing — oyster stout available in Homer taproom and for curbside pickup
Restaurants and Food Carts Serving Oyster and Seaweed-focused menu items
Million Recipes — dishes featuring oysters and seaweed in Kodiak
Find more Alaskan businesses selling oyster and seaweed products in our Alaska Mariculture Directory.

Alaska Marine Policy Forum – June 2021
2021-06-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, June 16, 2021, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on June 14. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
April 2021 forum summary • previous forum summaries

Alaska Marine Policy Forum – August 2021
2021-08-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
This meeting will be conducted via Zoom, with a telephone call-in option. The meeting link and password and call-in information will be sent in an email announcement on June 14. Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email kent@aoos.org.
previous forum summaries

Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — September 2021
2021-09-17 09:00 | Online
Alaska Sea Grant offers Seafood HACCP Segment 2 practical training via online video conferencing, conducted at the specified time with a live instructor.
The class will cover the principles of HACCP and provide the tools and training to create a seafood HACCP plan. Students will need to register for and complete the Segment 1 training online prior to September 17 through the National Seafood HACCP Alliance for Training and Education. The Segment 1 training has a separate registration and fee.
You can register here for your Segment 2 training using the button below, prior to completing Segment 1, just be sure to complete the Segment 1 training before September 17, 2021.
This course meets the requirement for HACCP Segment 2. Participants will attend this HACCP training live, using online video conferencing to complete the practical training session. The training will be conducted September 17, 2021, from 9 am to 4 pm.
All seafood processors in Alaska are required to have an approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. This class prepares the participant to develop this plan. Class size is limited to 20 participants. A basic HACCP certificate issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials is awarded upon completion of the class.
Register for HACCP

Smoked Seafood School — October 2021
2021-10-14 - 2021-10-15 | Online
1:00–4:00 pm Alaska Time, each day
This two-day online workshop is for anyone interested in smoking and processing fish, including fish–smoking enthusiasts, small smokehouse operators, fishermen interested in direct marketing their fish, and commercial operators.
Seafood scientists at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center will cover the principles of fish smoking, modern smoke oven operation, safety of smoked products, brining, cold smoking, hot smoking, salmon jerky production, and preparation of fish sausage.
The October 2021 Smoked Seafood School will be held online over two days, three hours each day, and will include discussion and live presentations from representatives of food processing equipment manufacturers. The class is limited to 30 participants.
This workshop is a partnership between Alaska Sea Grant and the Manufacturing Alaska Extension Partnership, part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology national network.

Register for the course

Alaska Marine Policy Forum – October 2021
2021-10-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Join us for the Alaska Marine Policy Forum conference call, sponsored by Alaska Sea Grant and Alaska Ocean Observing System. Every other month we host a one-hour conference call with participants across the state interested in marine policy in Alaska. Hear the latest about state and federal marine funding, legislation and policy issues.
Next call: Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 1 pm AK time (5 pm Eastern, 2 pm Pacific)
Please email Dawn Montano to be added to the announcement list.
If you would like to speak on the call or have ideas for topics, please email Ginny Eckert.
previous forum summaries

NEW FOR OCTOBER
Use the button below to register and receive your personalized link to join the Zoom meeting. You will have the option to add this to your calendar.

Register for October Meeting

Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — November 2021
2021-11-05 09:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Alaska Sea Grant offers Seafood HACCP Segment 2 practical training via online video conferencing, conducted at the specified time with a live instructor.
The class will cover the principles of HACCP and provide the tools and training to create a seafood HACCP plan. Students will need to register for and complete the Segment 1 training online prior to November 5 through the National Seafood HACCP Alliance for Training and Education. The Segment 1 training has a separate registration and fee.
You can register here for your Segment 2 training using the button below, prior to completing Segment 1, just be sure to complete the Segment 1 training before November 5, 2021.
This course meets the requirement for HACCP Segment 2. Participants will attend this HACCP training live, using online video conferencing to complete the practical training session. The training will be conducted November 5, 2021, from 9 am to 4 pm.
All seafood processors in Alaska are required to have an approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. This class prepares the participant to develop this plan. Class size is limited to 20 participants. A basic HACCP certificate issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials is awarded upon completion of the class.

Register for HACCP
