Unalaska, AK – The Aleutian Islands Risk Assessment management team is looking for advisory panel members to help identify maritime hazards in the region. The panel will work independently from the management team, which consists of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation.

"We're looking for that local knowledge and ideas on how to mitigate hazards, how to mitigate the risks from maritime transportation," said Leslie Pearson, who is helping co-facilitate the panel for Nuka Research and Planning Group.

The panel will include stakeholders from many different sectors, including the shipping industry, local subsistence users, land managers, local government representatives, and the fishing industry. The panel will work with other experts over the next two years to help develop a risk mitigation plan for the region.

"We anticipate having to bring in people with expertise in certain specialized areas where we may just need to plug them in for certain topic areas as well," Pearson said.

The 12 member panel will meet eight times over the next year in person and via teleconference then four more in the following year. Applications are due by April 15, including references and a letter of interest. You can follow a link to the application here.

The risk assessment was prompted by the Selendang Ayu grounding in December of 2004. When the vessel split in half it spilled 336,000 gallons fuel near Unalaska Island and garnered a government response. More than 4,800 ships transit through the area each year that does not include fishing vessels or other local vessels.