Vol. 27, No. 9
September 2007
Funding for the Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute 2008 was awarded to MAP from the Alaska Department of Labor, for $165,000. The ASPLI grant application was submitted by Paula Cullenberg, Glenn Haight, Angela Camos, and Chuck Crapo. ASPLI 2008 training will run from February to October. Promising leaders in the seafood processing industry will be identified and receive advanced training in seafood processing, marketing and logistics, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification. See www.marineadvisory.org/aspli.
Alaska Sea Grant MAP hosted congressional and NOAA staff on a tour of the Moss Island Oyster Farm in Peterson Bay near Homer last month. The group, including Lauren Lugo and Eric Webster, NOAA; William Todd, staff for Sen. Cochran (MS); Jed Bullock, staff for Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (GU); David Whaley and Megan Massen, House Resources; Kristine Lynch, Senate Commerce; and Thomas Michels, staff for Sen. Landrieu (LA), toured the NOAA-UAF marine lab at Kasitsna Bay. They were joined by Paula Cullenberg; Ray RaLonde; Dean Denis Wiesenburg; Kris Holdereid from the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; Clem Tillion, former NPFMC chair; and others. In addition, Cullenberg met with the group for breakfast at the Anchorage MAP office, for an introduction to Alaska Sea Grant MAP.
Nome MAP agent Heidi Herter served as community outreach coordinator for the Bering Strait Region, onboard the RV Oshoro maru from Dutch Harbor to Nome. She was invited on the July 22–August 3 cruise by Kawerak, Inc., and was funded by AYKSSI (Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative). Following the cruise, on August 4, an International Polar Year mini-symposium was held in Nome, where scientists from the research cruise reported on climate changes affecting the Chukchi and Bering seas. Most of the presenting scientists were Japanese master's degree students, who gave reports on their research in English.
Heidi Herter and UAF Northwest Campus faculty member Claudia Ihl taught a new two-credit, weeklong field biology course through the Northwest Alaska Career and Technical Center in August. Five high school students, from Nome and Teller, studied salmon life cycle, fish anatomy, muskox behavior, plant family identification, mushrooms, and other topics. SFOS fisheries graduate student Lorna Wilson took students out in a canoe to look at light penetration, dissolved oxygen, and zooplankton.
Herter also taught an "Ocean Explorers" section with the Norton Sound Health Corporation's CAMP/Summercise program. She led field trips to local beaches, rivers, and wetlands for youth aged 8–12. Students learned about fish and other aquatic animals, life cycles, food webs, and community structure. Five to ten students attended each field trip.
Terry Reeve worked with Bob Dittrick of Wilderness Birding Adventures, former MAP agent Craig Wiese, Odin Brudie of the Alaska tourism office, and others to assess bird tourism in Chevak, Hooper Bay, and Kokechik Bay. The birders have given very positive feedback.
Reeve also worked with ADFG in Bethel and the Kuskokwim Fisheries Management Group to open the fishery specifically for catcher/seller harvesters. Since bigger buyers are limited in the Bethel area, this allows individual fishermen to harvest salmon. Two fishermen have taken part in fresh fish sales at the local Saturday market.
Torie Baker oversaw the design and funding of 760 T-shirts and a Cordova city proclamation expressing appreciation for the processing and transportation workforce's role in bringing to market the 64 million–plus record salmon runs. Baker was joined in the presentations by the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Cordova, Cordova District Fishermen United, an electric cooperative, and others.
Reid Brewer hosted UAF Chancellor Steve Jones and SFOS Dean Denis Wiesenburg for three days in Unalaska. They met with several processors, Unalaska school staff, tribal members, fishermen, and city council members to discuss UAF's presence in Unalaska and to encourage future partnerships.
Alaska Sea Grant produced and distributed more than 3,000 copies of the Clean Boating issue of Alaska Seas & Coasts, written by Alan Sorum and edited by Terry Johnson. The 12-page publication brings boaters and harbormasters up to speed on preventing pollution and keeping vessels and harbors in good condition.
Kurt Byers attended a NOAA regional Integrated Services Assessment workshop at the Kasitsna Bay Laboratory in August. He gave a presentation about Alaska Sea Grant outreach capabilities. The meeting was in response to Adm. Lautenbacher's directive that NOAA offices increase collaborations in research and outreach/education within NOAA and with stakeholders.
In addition to Alaska Sea Grant, NOAA partners at the meeting were the National Undersea Research Center, ADFG, Alaska Ocean Observing System, SFOS/IMS, Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research, UAA School of Engineering, U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Eskimo Walrus Commission, Alaska Intertribal Council, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Marine Exchange, Alaska Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. National NOAA officials also attended.
Liz Brown has taken an extension position with Georgia Sea Grant. Brown served as Alaska Sea Grant MAP agent in Dillingham for four years, providing fisheries and marine technical assistance and education to commercial and subsistence fishermen in over 30 communities in Southwestern Alaska. She led numerous workshops on seafood processing and other topics, and authored seven Sea Grams on common mistakes in HACCP. Brown, who is currently traveling in South America, will start her new job at Georgia Sea Grant next month.
National Estuarine Research Reserve Fellowships focus on coastal management, with the majority of the master's and Ph.D. students working on nonpoint source pollution and habitat conservation and restoration. The application deadline is November 1, 2007. For more information see www.nerrs.noaa.gov/Fellowship/welcome.html.
Students with NMFS–Sea Grant Fellowships in Population Dynamics and NMFS–Sea Grant Fellowships in Marine Resurce Economics work on problems of public interest at NMFS science centers and laboratories. The application deadline is January 25, 2008. For details see www.seagrant.noaa.gov/funding/rfp.html.
National Sea Grant invites research and outreach proposals that address the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. The National Sea Grant Office will make twelve awards between $30,000 and $300,000 for 2008 and 2009. Preproposals must be submitted to the Alaska Sea Grant office by noon, October 11, 2007. For details see http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/funding/rfp.html#ais.
An invitation is also open for demonstration projects and innovative research for marine aquaculture in nearshore, open water, and terrestrial environments. Preproposals are due at NOAA by 4 pm EDT October 18, 2007. See www.grants.gov. OAR-SG-2008-2001200 is the invasive species funding number; OAR-SG-2008-2001205 is the aquaculture funding number. Information can also be found on the National Sea Grant Web site at http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/funding/rfp.html#aquaculture.