Vol. 27, No. 6
June 2007
SFOS graduate student Seanbob Kelly has been selected as a 2008 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow. Kelly hopes to get a fellowship position in the executive branch in Washington, D.C., to gain the agency experience he needs to effectively work on sustainable management of Alaska fisheries. In his work with subsistence fishermen, Kelly gained insights into the importance of traditional knowledge in policy making, and the necessity for clear communication among all parties, including Native and non-Native groups. He has a strong interest in building on this perspective during his fellowship and in fisheries management work.
Kelly will get his master's in fisheries oceanography, working with Brenda Norcross, in fall 2007. His thesis research is on past habitat use of Pacific herring in Prince William Sound. He has also worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association, and volunteer tutored at Lathrop High School. He was selected as UAF outstanding fisheries undergraduate in 2004 and 2005.
The 2008 International Polar Year edition of the award-winning Alaska Coastal Calendar features stunning color photographs of Alaska's coastal wildlife and scenery, and information about how a warming climate is affecting the Last Frontier. Price is $12.00.
Biology, Assessment, and Management of North Pacific Rockfishes, edited by J. Heifetz, J. Dicosimo, A.J. Gharrett, M.S. Love, V.M. O'Connell, and R.D. Stanley, is the proceedings of the 2005 Wakefield Fisheries Symposium. The audience for the peer-reviewed book is fisheries researchers and managers and those involved with fisheries oceanography, genetics, and stock assessment. The research articles will bring you up to date, and can enhance management and conservation of rockfish. Price is $50.00.
In Monitoring Changes in Alaska's Coastline, edited by Reid Brewer and Deborah Mercy, read about how to set up a coastal monitoring program in your community, based on the experiences of successful organizers. Illustrated with photos, vol. 3 of Alaska Seas & Coasts features organizations that oversee monitoring, from citizen beach cleaner/observers to an online database of weekly sea surface temperatures. Observer data can help determine impacts to coastal ecosystems, and is important to marine resource users. Online or paper copy, free at Sea Grant or MAP offices or available by mail for $3.00 shipping.
The spring 2007 issue of Charter Log, edited by Terry Johnson, includes articles on halibut charter regulations, alcohol testing, boater education for women, EPIRBS, license renewal, river pollution, and more. Online or paper copy, free.
Marla Brownlee has joined the Alaska Sea Grant staff as education specialist. In her new position, she is coordinating the Alaska Seas and Rivers Project, a three-year grant awarded to Alaska Sea Grant from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, to revise and update the Alaska Sea/River Week curriculum.
Brownlee most recently served as director of the Professional Education Center at UAS in Juneau. During her 25 years in education in Alaska, she has worked as a classroom teacher, K–8 principal, media center specialist, computer coordinator, and UAF assistant professor.
Ben Daly joined Alaska Sea Grant in May as a research biologist for the Alaska King Crab Research, Rehabilitation and Biology program (AKCRRAB) to manage crab husbandry and assist with research. Daly received his master's in marine biology in 2007 from UAF, working with Brenda Konar.
Daly reports that 15 female blue king crabs began hatching in late April at the Seward Marine Center. He is working on a rearing study using three different larvae densities in nine tanks. All the larvae are in the zoea 4 stage. Another study is determining if a carbon filter at the water intake point is effectively removing hydrocarbons. The 15 brood stock crabs are being dissected for pathology studies to be done by ADFG.
On June 1, staff from the offices of Senator Ted Stevens, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young hosted some of the International Whaling Commission delegation on a visit to the Seward Marine Center and Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery. The visitors learned about the Alaska King Crab Research, Rehabilitation and Biology program. Todd Bertoson and Mark Robbins, staff of Sen. Stevens, were there, as well as Dave Whaley of the House Natural Resources Committee and Amy Fraenkel and Amanda Hallberg of the Senate Commerce Committee. Attending from NOAA Fisheries were Bill Hogarth, assistant administrator; John Oliver, deputy assistant administrator for operations; and Doug DeMaster, science director, Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Also present were John Hilsinger, director of ADFG Division of Commercial Fisheries; Jim Seeb, chief of research for anadromous fish, ADFG Division of Commercial Fisheries; and others.
Brian Allee thanked all for their partnership and current contributions to the project. The goal of the project is to mass-culture wild blue and red king crabs and refine techniques, to one day rebuild stocks and boost commercial fishing in Kodiak and Pribilof Islands communities.
Alaska Sea Grant has two new summer workers, both UAF Summer Sessions students. Office assistant Kareston Robinson, supervised by Adie Callahan, is doing data entry and clerical work and running errands. Kunyi Li is helping Carol Kaynor with Web updates.
UAF invites applicants for the assistant professor extension agent position in Ketchikan, a 12-month tenure track teaching and extension position.
The Alaska Sea Grant MAP position provides marine extension and education to the residents of communities in southern southeastern Alaska, including Prince of Wales Island, Annette Island, and north to Wrangell. The position provides informal education, technical assistance, and information to the public in commercial fisheries development, marine safety, marine recreation and tourism, marine business management, subsistence education, aquaculture, and marine education.
The job requires a master's degree or higher in fisheries, natural resources management, marine affairs, or a related field, with skills in writing and public speaking. For further information see www.sfos.uaf.edu/employment.