Alaska Sea Grant Current Projects

Integrating emerging technologies with community-based observations to assess spotted seal ecology at terrestrial haul-outs in Arctic Alaska [R/2024-01]

• Donna Hauser, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Andrew Von Duyke, Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough

Too big to ignore: Foraging strategies and competition between marine top predators in a rapidly changing Bering Sea [R/2024-02]

• Amy Bishop, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage
• Benjamin Barst, Water and Environmental Research Center , University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Lauren Divine, Ecosystem Conservation Office, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island

Evolutionary underpinnings of stress response in Pacific oysters [R/2024-03]

• Jessica Glass, Department of Fisheries, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Schery Umanzor, Department of Marine Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Morag Clinton, Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Quantifying the influence of environmental conditions on potential trophic interactions and growth of juvenile sockeye salmon and threespine stickleback within Iliamna Lake [R/2024-04]

• Curry Cunningham, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Thomas Quinn, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington

Development of a non-lethal genetic-based method for aging Pacific halibut [R/2024-05]

• Nathan Wolf, Alaska Pacific University
• Josep Planas, International Pacific Halibut Commission
• Wes Larson, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries

Nature-based and community-engaged Arctic coastal protection [R/2024-06]

• Tom Ravens, College of Engineering, University of Alaska Anchorage
• Joey Yang, Civil Engineering, University of Alaska Anchorage

Southeast Alaska trolling vessel ocean measurement program [R/2022-01]

• Tyler Hennon, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Harper Simmons, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Allison Rice, Marine Advisory Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• James Moore

Understanding of oceanographic conditions and the impact of environmental variability and long term changes on local communities in remote areas of Alaska requires observational data at spatial and temporal scales only community observers can provide with their year-round presence on the water and long term awareness of conditions. Such critical high-resolution environmental data are important not only for the local communities and fisheries, but addresses needs for stakeholders and fisheries management agencies as well. This project will establish year-round ocean monitoring of temperature and salinity in Southeast Alaska by engaging local community observers, specifically the Alaska Trollers Association. Partnering with ATA helps to overcome one of the major hurdles of any oceanographic field program, namely affordable ship time. Their widespread presence around Southeast Alaska will enable an unprecedented set of regular and systematic observations that will help to fill in critical gaps in marine environmental variability.

Pink Arctic: patterns, processes, and consequences of increasing Pacific Salmon in the high north [R/2022-02]

• Peter Westley, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Andrew Seitz, Fisheries Division, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
• Donna Hauser, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Todd Sformo, North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management
• Leandra de Sousa, North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management
• Karen Dunmall, DFO Canada

The aim of this project is to harness the best available western and Indigenous knowledge to better understand what the increasing occurrence of Pacific salmon in the Arctic may mean from the perspective of the salmon, the native fishes, and the people of the region. We will meet this goal with a co-production approach, working authentically with Arctic residents to shape the direction and focus of the PhD student dissertation and burgeoning research program as a whole. We will also carry out pilot field work to confirm a set of candidate locations that are suitable for addressing community concerns regarding Arctic salmon.

A transformative approach to rapidly assess critical life history and energetic responses of fish to environmental change [R/2022-03]

• Franz Mueter, Fisheries Division, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Esther Goldstein, Resource Ecology and Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
• Charles Waters, Auke Bay Laboratories, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
• Benjamin Laurel, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
• Johanna Vollenweider, Auke Bay Laboratories, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

The goal of this project is to develop physiological and life history indices for fisheries management. To contribute to this long-term goal, we will develop innovative, cost-effective, and efficient approaches for measuring life history attributes of important fisheries species based on the chemical structure of fish tissues and hard parts inferred from spectroscopy.

Spectroscopy methods, indices, and habitat information from this study will contribute to long-term monitoring in support of fisheries management. Spectroscopy approaches are transferable to ongoing monitoring efforts and will facilitate the collection of important data to assess the impacts of changing conditions on fisheries species. Assessing habitat heterogeneity that impacts body condition and growth will help to identify important nurseries and develop strategies to incorporate spatial variability into monitoring. This work impacts Alaskan communities by advancing management to support sustainable fisheries, enhancing knowledge of important nearshore nursery habitats, and by developing cost-effective and efficient monitoring tools that can be adopted and implemented by federal, state, and local agencies.

Development of cultivation protocols for the red seaweed, dulse, to support traditional food systems in Southeast Alaska [R/2022-04]

• Schery Umanzor, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Justina Hotch, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Michael Stekoll, Fisheries Division, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks

We seek to merge indigenous knowledge with academia to develop, implement, and disseminate reliable cultivation methods for dulse in tumble culture. Dulse (commonly referred to as red ribbon seaweed) is a culturally valuable resource sitting at the heart of indigenous communities in Southeast Alaska. In 2016, an investigation found widespread contamination originating from the former Haines Tank Farm and Fuel Terminal that potentially harmed a traditional dulse harvest site. Increasing concern on reducing natural harvest sites motivates the development of viable and replicable cultivation protocols as an alternative to relieve pressure on natural populations and eventually grow dulse for income without supplanting or diminishing the traditional use of wild populations.

The relationship between oyster farms and their environment, a sea otter’s perspective [R/2022-05]

• Brenda Konar, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Weatherly Bates, Alaska Shellfish Farms

This project will examine sea otter interactions with oyster farms and the relationship of these interactions with environmental parameters. Sea otter behavioral observations (activity and foraging) in and around oyster farms will be compared with observations where oyster farms do not exist or are not active. Environmental parameters that may influence sea otter behavior will also be examined as part of this study and will include benthic community structure, benthic habitat structure (substrate type, rugosity, and slope), static attributes (such as protection from storms, and water depth) and hydrographic attributes (turbidity, conductivity, salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen). Fouling organisms on the oyster cages themselves may also influence sea otter interactions with farms. This project will be tightly linked with the long-term monitoring Gulf Watch Alaska Program and the pending Mariculture Research and Restoration Consortium Program. Data collected in this proposed Sea Grant project will contribute data to these other programs and data collected by the other programs will contribute to the data needs of this project.

Applied Research for a New Seaweed Aquaculture Industry in Alaska [R/40-09]

• Michael Stekoll, Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast

The proposed research has the objective to address major constraints that limit the development and progress of developing seaweed aquaculture in Alaska. There has been increasing interest in seaweed aquaculture in the state. But currently, there is no commercial production of seaweed by any of the aquaculture farms in Alaska. The species that is most likely to have a ready market is the sugar kelp, Saccharina latissima. Although kelps have been under artificial culture for decades in other countries, little work has been accomplished on kelps in northern latitudes. The research proposed here addresses some critical questions, the answer to which will help create a viable seaweed aquaculture industry in the state. The objectives under this proposal are 1) to determine the timing of fertility of parent plants used to create seed, 2) to investigate ways to slow down the normal life cycle of the kelps to control the timing of outplanting, 3) to determine the best season, depth and location for outplanting the seeded lines, 4) to determine how to grow the kelps for the optimal quality, and finally 5) to determine whether strain selection is feasible with this species. The research involves both field and lab work. Fertility will be determined on plants collected by scuba throughout the year. Plants on seeded lines will be placed in the ocean throughout the year and at different depths. Oceanographic data will be collected and plant growth and quality monitored. Research on the alternate generation, gametophyte, will entail subjecting the microscopic plants to various conditions of light, temperature and nutrients to find ways to retard growth and reproduction. Strain selection will be examined using both parent plants and by making crosses using cloned gametophytes. Results of this research will be disseminated to interested parties by various means.

Project news can be found in the 2016 stories “University of Alaska professor receives Sea Grant funding for seaweed aquaculture research” from Alaska Sea Grant, “Investors bet on farmed kelp being Alaska's next seafood export” from Alaska Dispatch News, and “Southeast to begin seaweed farming soon” from Capital City Weekly.

Geoduck Spawning, Nursery Techniques, Seed Security and Technology Transfer for Alaska [A/152-41]

• Gary Freitag, Marine Advisory Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Conor Eckholm, Oceans Alaska
• Jeff Hetrick, Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery
• Kate Sullivan, Southeast Alaska Dive Fisheries Assoc

This project will provide Alaska geoduck farmers with Native Alaska geoduck seed to provide farmers with access to seed to grow and expand their farms. Broodstock for the hatcheries will be provided by Alaskan divers. The spawning and nursery project will take place on land based facilities that will not impact the environment. The seed produced will be planted by farm sites that have already been approved by the State of Alaska.

MaricultureMap - Development of a GIS Tool to Inform Mariculture Expansion in Alaska [A/152-42]

• Julie Decker, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
• Allison Rice, Marine Advisory Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Development of mariculture in Alaska has been restricted to date by a lack of information needed to assess the profitability of mariculture investments, which depends upon key environmental and social variables. This project will define and prioritize parameters important to mariculture development, identify existing data sets related to these parameters, and collect, analyze/process and layer existing data into a GIS tool which can be used by investors and regulators to better inform and focus investment in mariculture development in Alaska.

Assisting Alaska Shellfish Managers to Avoid Emergency Rainfall Closures [A/152-43]

• Bobbi Hudson, Pacific Shellfish Institute
• Dan Cheney, Pacific Shellfish Institute
• Kimberly Stryker, Food Safety and Sanitation Program, Department of Environmental Conservation

The project will create a highly-detailed dataset characterizing key water quality and microbiological conditions at remote farm and harvest sites currently subject to closures due to storm and rainfall events. Project staff will conduct baseline water profiles for currents, temperature and salinity while collecting bacteriological samples at an Alaska oyster farm site currently subject to rainfall closure conditions. A real-time instrument for bacteria indicator organisms will also be deployed at the farm, and spot samples will be collected at nearby geoduck harvest sites. These observations will be compared with the historical and current bacteriological sampling regimes. Project partners—including shellfish growers, harvesters and regulators—will then review the findings to assess current water quality monitoring and management procedures and recommend new ones.

This project aims to address a significant impediment to shellfish production in Alaska, provides critical support to ADEC, fulfills regional shellfish grower objectives, and contributes to the national need for sustainable seafood production. Efficiency of farm and wild harvest in Alaska will be increased through reduced water quality closures. The results of this project will effectively increase production of safe shellfish to meet growing domestic and international demand.