Unalaska, AK – State scientists from Alaska and Washington are meeting to discuss the National Marine Fisheries Service's biological opinion on Steller sea lions.
The biological opinion - or BiOp - concluded that the western stock of sea lions' population was weak and that restrictions on commercial groundfish fisheries in the western Aleutian Islands were needed to boost their numbers. Now, scientists from the Alaska and Washington Departments of Fish and Game have scheduled to meet in Seattle on June 2 to discuss the scientific basis of the biop. David Bernard, Steven Jeffries, Andrew Trites, Gunnar Knapp will make up the panel.
Unalaska, AK – Local bartenders, grocery clerks, and gas station attendants are all looking at their customer's cash a little more closely. KUCB's Alexandra Gutierrez explains why.
For more information on spotting fake bills, a free seminar on counterfeit protection will be held on May 28 at the Shishaldin Room at the Grand Aleutian at 9am.
Unalaska, AK – Two new maintenance projects are now underway in Unalaska.
Starting today, the Department of Public Utilities will be adjusting the generator governors at the powerhouse.
"The job consists of Wartsila technicians coming in and hooking computers up to our electronic system for the governors," says Public Utilities director Dan Winters.
He says that these adjustments should result in better service to the community.
Unalaska, AK – The re-staffing of Iliuliuk Family and Health Serivces' behavioral health services is currently underway. Last week, the clinic hired a new director of the department last week, and the decision was announced at Tuesday's city council meeting.
Elizabeth Weeks will be moving from New Hampshire with her husband to lead the behavioral health services section.
"They made a list of the states they wanted to work in, and Alaska was at the top of their list," says IFHS executive director Sonia Handforth-Kome.
Unalaska, AK – The Alaska Board of Fisheries has a new executive director. Commissioner Cora Campbell has announced that Monica Wellard will be filling the position after current director Jim Marcotte retires next week. Wellard has previously served as the assistant director of the Division of Sport Fish, and has also worked in the Division of Commercial Fisheries.
Additionally, Campbell also announced that Hazel Nelson has been named the new director of the Division of Subsistence. Nelson's background includes stints with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation.
Unalaska, AK – Alaska's seafood exports boomed in 2010.
The total value of the state's seafood exports was $1.8 billion, making it the state's biggest export. According to the Alaska Office of International Trade, there was a 12% increase over the previous year.
Japan and China continue to be the biggest importers of Alaskan seafood. Japan brought in $523 million worth, and China purchased $516 million. The market for Alaskan seafood especially grew in China, increasing 23%.
Unalaska, AK – Alaska's seafood exports boomed in 2010.
The total value of the state's seafood exports was $1.8 billion, making it the state's biggest export. According to the Alaska Office of International Trade, there was a 12% increase over the previous year.
Japan and China continue to be the biggest importers of Alaskan seafood. Japan brought in $523 million worth, and China purchased $516 million. The market for Alaskan seafood especially grew in China, increasing 23%.
Unalaska, AK – This week's city council meeting saw heated debate about the status of the community support program.
While most other aspects of the budget have been settled, council was split on how non-profit funding should be doled out. This year, available non-profit funding has dropped from $960,000 to $790,000. Additionally, one non-profit, Iliuliuk Family and Health Services has faced scrutiny of their grant request because of financial management and hiring and licensure issues. IFHS's behavioral health services department has traditionally received approximately $150,000 from the city for staffing costs. But now, the department is without a full-time clinician, and the department's director resigned after public complaints were made about his lack of an Alaska license to practice.
Unalaska, AK – It's been two months since a major earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan's eastern coast and severely disrupted the nation's fishing. In Alaska, fishermen continue to try to raise money to repair the country's damaged fleet.
The Alaska Fishing Industry Relief Mission (AFIRM) has brought together various industry leaders to coordinate fundraising efforts to help their Japanese counterparts.
