News
The latest blog posts and news releases from Alaska Sea Grant
Record low level of Bering Sea ice causes profound, widespread impacts (12/10/2019) - “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
Looking to start a seaweed farm in Alaska? (11/27/2019) - 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…
Report suggests how to prepare for Arctic oil spills (11/21/2019) - 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…
Vigilance advised after saxitoxin found in clams (11/19/2019) - 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…
Kodiak workshop helps fishing community build resilience (11/7/2019) - More than 70 people gathered in Kodiak recently for a workshop to address how the island community can build resilience and adaptability in the face of climate change. The October 24–25, 2019 workshop focused on four topics identified by a local steering committee: fisheries futures, food security and subsistence, infrastructure and energy, and culture and…
Research will help seaweed farming and traditional aquaculture (9/27/2019) - Alaska Sea Grant has received new federal funds to help develop aquaculture projects in Alaska and to work with partners on regional and national priorities. It’s part of a $16 million award from National Sea Grant that will fund 42 collaborative aquaculture projects across the country. Alaska Sea Grant and the Aleutians East Borough will partner on a project to launch a…
New York Times publishes op-ed, co-authored by Gay Sheffield, on how sea ice loss imperils life in Alaska (9/25/2019) - The New York Times published a column by Vera Trainer, Rick Thoman and Gay Sheffield today about the dramatic extent of sea ice loss in Alaska and how it is affecting everything from plankton to whales and the residents who rely on marine resources for their wellbeing. Read the New York Times op-ed here. It…
Marine educator retires after years of training teachers and students about Alaska’s seas and watersheds (9/13/2019) - Marilyn Sigman, Alaska Sea Grant’s longtime marine education specialist, recently completed her last day on the job and is now enjoying retirement in Homer. The faculty, staff and many collaborators miss her already. Sigman joined Alaska Sea Grant in 2009 and led marine education and literacy efforts across the state. While with Alaska Sea Grant,…
New handbook on boatyard hazards aims to improve safety (9/12/2019) - Building, repairing and maintaining vessels can be hazardous work. The rate of injury and illness on ships and in boatyards is more than double those of construction and general industry, according to federal officials. Alaska Sea Grant has a new online booklet aimed at making boatyards safer by explaining the risks and recommending ways that boat…
Mariculture workshop kicks off in Kodiak (9/9/2019) - The Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute is offering a free, two-day workshop “Introduction to Mariculture in the Kodiak Region,” funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the past three years, the institute has worked with partners to establish small farms in the communities of Larsen Bay, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie and Port Lions. The…