News
The latest blog posts and news releases from Alaska Sea Grant
Seaweed processing and handling workshop provides workforce training (5/24/2022) - 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,…
Supervisor training for seafood processors (5/23/2022) - 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…
Conference shares science in Western Alaska (5/20/2022) - The annual Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC) was held last month, hosted by Alaska Sea Grant and the UAF Bristol Bay Campus. The 14th installment drew online participation from around the region and state, with 43 presentations across five sessions: Education in Rural Communities; Sustainable Energy; Climate, Environment and Influences on Society; Natural Sciences…
Alaska aquaculture permitting support bolsters new aquatic farm applications (5/18/2022) - Alaska’s burgeoning mariculture industry, which includes shellfish and seaweed farming, has substantial economic potential for coastal communities. The path to establish an aquatic farm is challenging, as prospective farmers are required to file multiple permits with four or more state and federal agencies. This confusing and time-consuming multi-agency permitting process was identified by the state’s…
Alaska Sea Grant accepting applications for associate director (5/10/2022) - Alaska Sea Grant is now accepting applications for an associate director to lead its successful research and fellowship programs and join the program’s management team. The associate director will help represent Alaska Sea Grant at local, state and national levels; develop new program ideas, strategies and funding; and ensure program integrity and compliance. This position,…
Collaborating to support marine science outreach and education in Unalaska (4/27/2022) - Alaska Sea Grant is collaborating with the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska to support marine science outreach and education in a unique new partnership. Jenny Renee, who works for the Qawalangin Tribe as a Fisheries and Outreach Coordinator, monitors and manages priority subsistence fisheries and spends a quarter of her time on marine science education and…
Storm-related data help Bristol Bay communities plan for change (4/26/2022) - Coastal communities across the Bristol Bay region are facing significant environmental change as the climate warms. For many west and northwest Alaska coastal communities, long, cold winters produce a barrier of sea ice along the coast, protecting against erosion and damage to infrastructure. With a warming Arctic resulting in less solid sea ice and longer…
Mariculture conference advances efforts to grow industry (4/21/2022) - “The sun is rising over the emerging mariculture industry in Alaska” was a theme that resonated throughout the recent three-day conference on mariculture in Juneau. Participants included policymakers, industry representatives from around the world and Alaska, tribal leaders, regulators, researchers and training experts, nonprofit organizations, shellfish and seaweed farmers, students, and others. The conference, sponsored…
Planning for extreme climate events in Southeast Alaska (4/19/2022) - Residents of Southeast Alaska are used to lots of rain and snow. Although precipitation varies greatly across the region, less than 30 inches of precipitation a year is highly unusual. As the climate changes, however, the region has experienced hotter and drier conditions, as well as other unusual weather events. Extreme heat and drought conditions…
Research investigates toxins in Arctic food webs and marine mammals (4/14/2022) - A new bulletin published by Alaska Sea Grant summarizes research to inform the public and help them understand the risk of paralytic shellfish toxins in Arctic Alaska food webs and marine mammals. Paralytic shellfish toxins—also called saxitoxins—are produced by microscopic marine algae and can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) when people consume shellfish or marine…