Kodiak’s seaweed industry is growing, partly thanks to the investment of one company. Blue Evolution, which is based in the Lower 48 and turns kelp into pasta products, successfully completed harvest in May with a local fisherman in the City of Kodiak.
Oceans
Entangled: Making the sea safer for whales
More than 30 times this year, the federal government has received reports of whales tangled in fishing gear along the West Coast. Sometimes the whales manage to wriggle free. Other times you see heart-rending pictures on the news or a rescue mission.
One Arctic species is listed, one isn’t. Did politics play a role?
Two of the Arctic’s most iconic animals, polar bears and walrus, face challenges with retreating sea ice. But they haven’t been granted the same federal protections.
Tribal advocacy group calls for reinstating Northern Bering Sea climate resilience area
The national tribal advocacy group passed a resolution urging the federal government to restore the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area as originally issued and to incorporate traditional knowledge “into all federal decision-making that would affect the northern Bering Sea region.”
Alaska Native tribes unite to oppose mega-mines
Tribal groups from opposite ends of the state have formed an alliance to fight mines they say threaten traditional fisheries.
As king runs lag, fishers consider cause and prevention
Concern over poor king salmon runs across the state drew a panel of fisheries experts together at a recent meeting in Anchorage. The event focused mainly on a better understanding of the science behind population declines.
Ask a Climatologist: La Nina could make winter feel like winter in Alaska
La Nina typically brings cooler and drier conditions to Alaska. And because of global warming, that may mean a more typical winter for much of the state.
Kodiak’s sea cucumber fishery a dive into dangerous, but prosperous market
Sea cucumbers sell for high prices on the Asian market and are valued for more than taste. According to some, they have cancer fighting properties and could boost fertility, among their other possible benefits. It’s common for people overseas to buy dried sea cucumber, according to one diver. Sometimes as a base for soup.
New research at LeConte Glacier predicts record retreat
Glaciologists have wrapped up two years of research on LeConte glacier near Petersburg. Their preliminary findings show that the glacier could reach a record retreat by the end of the year. And it could be an indicator for what’s going to happen in Greenland.
New lava dome forms on Cleveland Volcano
Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory observed that a new lava dome formed in the summit crater over the weekend, and lava is trickling out. The dome is about 4,200 square meters, a little smaller than 10 NBA basketball courts.