SFOS Newsletter
Fall 2008
Marine Advisory Program
by Paula Cullenberg, MAP Leader and Sea Grant Interim Director
Alaska's coastal communities, from Ketchikan to Nome and Juneau to Unalaska, are widely diverse and geographically and culturally distinct, but also share many characteristics. Coastal Alaskans interact with and depend on their marine resources at a level unparalleled in the rest of the United States.
Marine resources are the economic backbone of these coastal towns and villages. Coastal residents rely on these resources for commercial harvest, subsistence use or for drawing visitors to their community. As a result, coastal Alaskans care deeply about the well-being of their resources and are actively engaged in conserving and making informed decisions about maintaining the marine environment in their backyards.
The Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program (MAP) bridges the gap between the local users of Alaska's marine resources and the scientists who study those resources. With 15 coastal agents and specialists in 10 coastal communities across the state, MAP is the extension arm of Alaska Sea Grant and the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
MAP agents are university faculty who live and work in Ketchikan, Petersburg, Juneau, Cordova, Kodiak, Unalaska, Anchorage, Dillingham, Bethel and Nome. As the face of the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and the university in many of these communities, MAP is one of the most visible, responsive and geographically far-reaching units in the University of Alaska system.
MAP's mission is to enhance the sustainable use, conservation, understanding and enjoyment of seas and coasts by developing and disseminating science-based information to the broad array of Alaska's marine resource users. The program provides an interface between science and Alaskans and works in areas of resource conservation, marine education, economic development and capacity building.
MAP agents are a valuable source of education, information and assistance to Alaskans on issues such as marine resource use, conservation and management, seafood processing, tourism, aquaculture, boating safety and fisheries business and marketing.
Some current MAP initiatives include:
•The Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit
•Linking Science to Communities
•Marine Safety Training
•Seafood Safety and Quality Training and Business Development Assistance
•Marine Stewardship
Read more about MAP at seagrant.uaf.edu/map/.
Paula Cullenberg is the interim director of Alaska Sea Grant and the leader of the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program. Alaska Sea Grant and MAP are part of the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
- Back to Fall 2008 Newsletter