Progress 09/01/06 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Outputs include completed education and training needs assessments for the private non-profit salmon enhancement industry and the shellfish farm industry. The assessments were completed by industry members to assess what they felt were key training and education needs in their respective industry. The assessment findings have been shared with industry as well as other education and training entities who may be able to help meet identified needs. The assessments also led to the following curricular outcomes: creation of a new class in applied fisheries statistics (being delivered in spring 2012); creation and offering of a new class in salmon culture techniques, a hands-on short term class scheduled to meet identified times best for industry; creation and offering of applied shellfish biology for shellfish farmers, another hands-on short term class; creation and delivery of six workshops related to shellfish safety and phytoplankton monitoring geared at industry, researchers and managers in Alaska. Outputs of the shellfish safety workshops include increased awareness of shellfish toxicity; increased knowledge of phytoplankton as both an important food source and potential market barrier (toxin producing phytoplankton); increased understanding of various toxin analysis methods including training in ELISA (Abraxis method), Jellett rapid field tests, mouse bioassay and toxin detection of plankton. Other outputs involved student experiential learning opportunities. Over the course of the project over 1,000 rural and Native Alaskans participated in fisheries outreach and education activities aimed at increasing student awareness of and interest in fisheries and aquaculture education and careers. Twenty students participated in formal undergraduate internships with fisheries and aquaculture entities in Alaska. To support school outreach and education two fisheries education modules were created including a dichotomous key activity and a fresh water fish health assessment module. These have been piloted and are available on our website for teacher and student use. Outputs include new articulation agreements and partnerships across Alaska. The FT AAS is now articulated to the University of Alaska Fairbanks BS and BA in Fisheries. This provides an important pathway for students to continue in their education. Articulated delivery of the degree has been formalized through creation of MOUs with other University of Alaska rural campuses which will allow us to support students in other regions of the state. A new class entitled the Fisheries of the Prince William Sound region has been created and delivered to support regional delivery of the AAS in rural communities around Prince William Sound. All classes in the Fisheries Technology AAS and Certificate are distance delivered, allowing students to access the degrees from across Alaska. MOUS have been signed with community organizations to collaborate on education, training and research initiatives. Enrollment grew from 7 students in the first project year to over 40 currently. 100% of graduates work in fisheries related fields in Alaska or are pursuing bachelors and graduate degrees. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who worked on the project include the Project Director, Kate Sullivan, Assistant Professor of Fisheries Technology Jim Seeland, Program Coordinator Barbara Morgan (July 2007-April 2011). Kate Sullivan conducted collaborative research with shellfish farmers, led shellfish safety class with collaborators, developed curriculum and taught classes, mentored students conducting applied research and internships, presented at professional meetings and assured overall project progress. Jim Seeland conducted the salmon aquaculture needs assessment, developed and delivered new aquaculture classes, conducted outreach to secondary rural schools, and presented information about the program at professional meetings. Barbara Morgan advised students and conducted outreach and recruitment activities, and assisted with classes and workshop coordination. Jess Davila worked in the capacity of student worker and she assisted with lab management, equipment ordering and maintenance, outreach activities to secondary schools and other general program activities. Colleen Ianuzzi, Assistant Professor of Math, developed the curriculum for the applied fisheries statistics class (3 semester credits) and also did statistical analysis for the oyster shelf life study. Eric Wyatt, owner of Alaskan Blue Starr Fisheries, co-led the oyster shelf life research project. Tommy Sheridan developed the Fisheries of Prince William Sound region (3 semester credits) class. Partner organizations include NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Center for Coastal Health and Biomolecular Research, University of Oslo, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fisheries Division, Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association, Sitka Sound Science Center, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, United States Forest Service, Alaskan Blue Starr Oyster Co, Rocky Bay Oyster Co, Sealaska Native Corporation, Alaska Oyster Cooperative, Alaska Shellfish Growers Association, Alaska Sea Grant, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association, Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Valdez Fisheries Development Association, Prince William Sound Community College, Icicle Seafoods. We provided formal and informal training and education for undergraduate students, high school students, K-12 teachers, faculty, managers and researchers, shellfish farmers, salmon culture industry, community members. Mary Lou Madden provided consultation and project evaluation for the period 2009-2011. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for this project were many and varied. Shellfish farmers and salmon aquaculture businesses were served with training, education, equipment and materials support and collaborative applied research. Commercial fishing sectors in Southeast Alaska such as Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association and salmon fisheries were provided with training and education. Fisheries agencies personnel at the federal and state level, other UA system researchers and educators, and community leaders attended training sessions and workshops. Alaska native and rural students were targeted with outreach. Communities receiving outreach included Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Pelican, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Angoon, Hoonah and Juneau. Many of these communities are native with limited work opportunities. Formal classroom instruction was provided for fisheries and aquaculture, fisheries biology and applied fish culture lab sessions were delivered, field methods instruction for fisheries monitoring and research were convened. Informal education included lectures and workshops, participation in science activities such as science fair judging, introducing high school students to fisheries techniques, and phytoplankton and harmful algal bloom education and training. Internships were undertaken throughout the project period and students participated in applied research projects. Examples include development of a gonad index for commercially targeted sea cucumbers to aid in timing of experiments related to enhancement and identifying alternative methods for processing oysters. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Outcomes/impacts were documents for undergraduate students, elementary and secondary students, and industry sectors in salmon aquaculture and shellfish culture. Shellfish farmers have applied their new understanding of phytoplankton and routinely monitor to better understand period of high growth as well times of potential shellfish toxicity. A total of 8 shellfish farms have incorporated this method. ELISA (Abraxis method) for shellfish toxin detection was taught to 16 researchers, managers and community members. Outcome of the workshop is effective transfer of this technology from researchers to industry and researcher community. Two Alaska communities are seeking funds to build ELISA labs to assess shellfish toxicity. This is a direct result of the training we provided. This could greatly increase shellfish safety and protect human health in rural and Native Alaskan communities who rely on shellfish for subsistence consumption. Training and incorporation of routing plankton monitoring has allowed us to detect potential toxic blooms before disease outbreaks occur; this ability has led the Alaska regulatory agency to assess adding this monitoring into the formal state biotoxin contingency plan for shellfish management. Impacts for the salmon aquaculture industry include more precise training of current and future workers. Currently 50% of program students are employed in salmon culture industry; 70% of program graduates work in full time benefitted positions in this industry sector. Evaluation of shellfish farm workshops indicate an improved relationship/understanding between industry members and the regulatory agency; evaluation of rural school outreach indicate that students awareness of career opportunities and interest in learning more about fisheries increased substantially through outreach; evaluation of new salmon culture classes indicates we are providing industry with training better aligned to their needs, leading to more efficiency in the workplace. We have four tech prep agreements with 4 rural communities in SE Alaska. Although still new the longest established agreement indicates that this may be successful in encouraging students to go on to college. Of the first 10 students enrolled in fisheries classes through Tech Prep in Petersburg, one has enrolled in college as a result.
Publications
- Abstracts: Litaker, W., Sullivan, K. Eckert, G. et al. 2012. Identifying the organisms responsible for causing paralytic shellfish poisoning in Alaska. Alaska Marine Science Symposium Program and Abstract Book Annual Meeting , Anchorage Alaska. Articles: UA Corporate Programs. 2006. UAS fisheries and aquaculture grant to help grow shellfish farming industry. In UA at Work. Winter 2006 No. 9. P.10.
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Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09
Outputs
The University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan Campus is on track with the CSREES funded project and will be completed by August 2008. There are several accomplishments this year. Adjunct faculty and faculty continue to teach Fisheries Technology course work in an online environment utilizing a course delivery system called Eluminate. Courses are delivered from Ketchikan and Sitka while students participate from all over the State of Alaska. During this fiscal year of the grant, UASK provided $14,675 in student aid to assist both Alaska Native and rural Alaskan students in paying for the course work that will lead to a Fisheries Technology degree for the students. In addition, the grant paid for four students to travel to Ketchikan to complete lab studies which were not available via distance. Two more workshops aimed at the shellfish industry were successfully offered, to about 30 participants. The coordinator has undertaken outreach efforts to outlying communities, promotion of the Fisheries Technology program, identification and tracking of student participation, facilitation of course curriculum development, and other duties regarding various facets of the grant as directed by the PI. In terms of the areas that have been delayed due to lag in hiring a coordinator, the following established accomplishments have not been met or not met entirely as of this report: -Development of week-long field lab and training for students has started but is not complete. -Creating articulations agreements between institutions is ongoing. -Development and revision of two modules aimed at high school students near completion. -Updating the internship handbook is ongoing. PRODUCTS: Products for the project include two modules for high school students with fisheries content, an orientation packet specific to students in the fisheries technology program, flyers detailing Spring and Fall 2009 course offerings and a bulk mailing to distribute them, continued work on the draft of articulation agreement with UAF Fisheries degrees, finalized PowerPoint presentation for outreach to students in Rural and Alaska Native communities, updating of Fisheries Technology website, and support and tracking of students in the FT Program. OUTCOMES: Objective I: During this reporting period, ongoing curriculum improvement occurred as needed by faculty and adjunct faculty. A Fisheries Statistics course is under development and will be offered to students Fall 09. Objective II: Training for the aquatic farm industry continues. A phytoplankton identification and assessment workshop was offered in October 2008 and Spring 2009. First round of trials for superchilling research have been done in cooperation with a with Starr Fisheries and FITC. On beach grow-out research planning underway with another regional oyster grower. Partial funding was awarded to three growers for visits to farms in the Pacific Northwest and the FITC. Each will share the information with industry as planned. Objective III: A draft transfer/articulation agreement with University of Alaska - Fairbanks is under internal review. Conversations with University of Alaska Southeast - Juneau related to articulation with the BS/BA in biology and the creation of an AS transfer FT degree have been postponed due to leadership changes in the School of Arts and Sciences. Work on these projects will resume when a new Dean is hired. Objective IV: Outreach has continued with refinement of informational materials about the program and opportunities in the fisheries field presented in scheduled classroom visits. About 900 rural and Native students were contacted. Two fisheries modules for use in high schools are currently in development with field testing conducted Spring 09. Two marine biology classes at Ketchikan High School participated in hands-on science field trips on board the F/V Jack Cotant. Objective V: Two student internships are underway summer of 09. Planning and development of research projects working with students and the shellfish industry is underway. Student work on a shellfish resource website is underway, in partnership with the Alaska Shellfish Grower's Association. Objective VI: The Program Coordinator and one adjunct faculty have traveled to Prince of Wales Island (Thorne Bay, Naukati and Kasaan), Juneau, Sitka, Angoon, Kake, Petersburg and Wrangell, testing two new science modules, making presentations and meeting with potential students. One of the adjunct faculty was a presenter at a state-wide assessment of the shellfish industry. UAS-K has increased outreach to rural areas and encouraged schools to test science modules once they were created. UAS-K has targeted students through mailings and email for program, class and special training opportunities. UAS-K has provided $14,675 in tuition to 12 students as well as travel assistance to four rural and Native Alaskan students. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Several dissemination activities have been accomplished. An orientation packet with information specific to students in the fisheries technology program was developed and emailed to all students in the FT Program. Flyers detailing Fall 2008 and 2009 course offerings were created and a bulk mailing was used to distribute them to industry and educational entities. A finalized version of PowerPoint presentation for outreach to students in Rural and Alaska Native communities has been prepared and used in nine regional towns and communities. The Fisheries Technology website has been updated. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Upon completion of the grant, UASK Fisheries Technology Degree Program intends to maintain outreach activities to Alaska Native and rural Alaskan students via distance delivery of Fisheries Technology courses. In addition to fisheries industry education needs, UAS-K will respond to the education needs of the shellfish and mariculture industry. On-site training and distance delivered workshops will be explored for the shellfish farmers who are unable to take full-semester course work. Articulation agreements will be pursed with universities that have four-year biology and fisheries programs. These efforts will be a benefit to students completing the two-year Associate of Applied Science in Fisheries Technology and desiring to continue with a four-year biology or fisheries degree. Through the outreach efforts of this grant, the Fisheries Technology Degree Program will sustain a student base while educating a future workforce in Fisheries Technology as demand warrants which in turn will provide career opportunities for both Alaska Natives and rural Alaskans.
Impacts
Twenty-one students were enrolled in the Fisheries Technology Degree Program. Several other students, not currently in the Fisheries Technology Degree Program are taking Fisheries Technology course work. One student graduated with the degree of Associate of Applied Science in Fisheries Technology, and continues to work in the industry in a job he had during completion of course work. The students plans to pursue a Bachelors of Science degree in the future. Eleven new students enrolled in the Fisheries Technology Degree Program during this reporting period.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08
Outputs
The Fisheries Technology Program (FT) made significant progress in meeting the stated goals and objectives of "Building Fisheries Technology Program Capacity Through Outreach and Program Expansion." Goals and objectives met were related to outreach to rural and Native schools; providing support to rural/Native Alaskan students; refining and enhancing teaching methods and materials to support on-line delivery; offering of training opportunities for the aquatic farm industry; and formalizing articulation agreements.The program outreach coordinator (hired in July 2007 is a rural Alaskan raised in a commercial fishing family and was the sole high school graduate of Edna Bay and later went on to earn a BS degree in Biology and a M.A.T. During the project period, the coordinator visited 7 rural communities and presented information to 141 students. The outreach content included: information about Fisheries workforce possibilities, and the UAS program options available to them that can meet that educational requirement, focusing on the UAS-K Fish Tech program. Support was provided to 16 students for tuition assistance; to 5 students for travel to attend required lab and field sessions; to 7 students to attend a phytoplankton workshop. The FT program is fully distance delivered with two on-site sessions for lab and field training. Distance delivery requires well designed courses with excellent teaching visuals and graphics. During the project period, FT 122 and FT 222, a 1-year course sequence that teaches students about Alaska specific Salmonid culture practices, was completely upgraded with new video footage, digital pictures and oral recordings by industry experts. The classes now require students visit local hatchery facilities throughout the year to observe and collect data. Several distance lab modules for the fish biology class were revised. One activity not completed was collection of specimens and good digital still and moving imagery of fishes from the region. We will try to do this in summer 2009.The FT program conducted a needs assessment of the aquatic farm industry. Key needs identified for this industry include applied research; technology transfer; streamlined, coordinated regulatory system; proper site assessment and selection assistance; a clearinghouse for all information; short courses related to business, ecology, biology, and processing of shellfish; and assistance with resolving marketing and market access issues. The program partnered with NOAA to deliver a hands-on phytoplankton workshop. Workshop participants learned about phytoplankton ecology and how to identify both good food source phytoplankton and potentially harmful phytoplankton. Growers were provided with microscopes and nets and monitor phytoplankton at their sites. Growers can see when good growth periods are occurring based on presence of certain phytoplankton. We also began development of an intensive shellfish biology and ecology class for offer in winter 2009. Work progressed on a formal articulation agreement with the BS and BA programs in Fisheries at UAF to ensure students have a clear path from the AAS degree to a 4-year degree. PRODUCTS: PowerPoint presentations created include a Fisheries Workforce PowerPoint describing types and availability of various fisheries jobs, how much education needed to qualify for jobs, and a demonstration of how more education can give a person more earning power; Status of UAS-Ketchikan Fisheries Technology Program is updated each semester with newest student numbers; and A Fish Anatomy PowerPoint was created for I'm going to college program. Printed materials include course flyers announcing offerings by semester, a student orientation package and flyers about USDA CSREES tuition assistance and tech prep and dual enrollment opportunities for high school students. A phytoplankton identification manual was created for the shellfish growers and a summary needs assessment for shellfish farms was created. OUTCOMES: Outcomes include better faculty and student satisfaction of on-line delivery through improved content. Improved student advising aids in future retention. Students have reduced barriers through tuition assistance and improved support. 15% of aquatic farm workforce has a better understanding of how their product feeds and grows. The FT program is a more comprehensive distance program and students see this as a good educational choice to pursue fisheries and aquaculture careers as evidenced by a doubling of enrollment in the past year. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The following dissemination activities were undertaken: A presentation to the American Fisheries Society Alaska meeting; a presentation to the Alaska Marine Science and Fisheries Careers Coalition, an Alaska initiative to improve communication among fisheries educators and employers; a presentation to the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce; a presentation to the University of Alaska Board of Regents. Dissemination occurred during outreach trips to rural communities. Several newspaper articles and two radio interviews were conducted to convey information about the project and the availability of student tuition assistance. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The FT program will expand outreach to include activities to engage students in fisheries and aquaculture; increase offerings and partnerships with the shellfish farm industry; further evolve fish tech curriculum and create an AS degree to facilitate articulation
Impacts
Impacts of the project include increased student enrollment from 7 in fall 2007 to 17 in fall 2008. Student and faculty enjoyment is improved, leading to improved retention and interest in fisheries as a career. There is an increased awareness of the FT program in rural communities and of opportunities in fisheries careers. Aquatic farmers have improved scientific skills and a better understanding of the biology of their product, which will enable them to be more successful farmers.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/06 to 08/31/07
Outputs
The University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan Campus began implementation of the CSREES grant project in October 2006. With few exceptions, the project is on track and will complete in August 2008. One setback included extensive time to develop a job description and subsequent hiring of a coordinator. The process took approximately six more months than anticipated. However, the PI accomplished significant milestones in the project during the process to hire a coordinator. One of the biggest accomplishments in the first year of the grant was the complete migration of the Fisheries Technology degree to a distance-delivered model. Adjunct faculty were hired and trained to design and teach Fisheries Technology course work in an online environment utilizing a course delivery system called Eluminate. Each course meets in the virtual world once a week. Faculty teach from Ketchikan and Sitka while students join the class from all over the State of Alaska. During the first year
of the grant, UASK provided $6000 in student aid to assist both Alaska Native and rural Alaskan students in paying for the course work that will lead to a Fisheries Technology degree for the students. In addition, the grant assisted students with the purchase of necessary gear for students to complete course work and study purposes. The grant paid for two students to travel to Ketchikan to complete lab studies which were not available via distance at the time. In addition, the principal investigator was able to begin a working group that is in the process of assisting UASK in identifying the needs of the industry for course work in shellfish mariculture. Several shellfish industry needs assessments are currently underway. In July, a Fisheries Technology Coordinator was hired. It is her responsibility to undertake liaison activities with both the Fisheries Technology Advisory Committee and the shellfish industry advisory group. In addition, the coordinator will begin outreach efforts
to outlying communities, promote the Fisheries Technology degree offerings, identify and track student participation, facilitate course curriculum development, and other duties regarding various facets of the grant as directed by the PI. In terms of the areas that have been delayed due to lag in hiring a coordinator, the following established accomplishments have not been met or not met entirely as of this report: The project coordinator position was not filled as specified in project timeline, although it has now been accomplished. One work study student was hired rather than the two specified. Shellfish needs assessment facilitator has not been hired Adjunct faculty for shellfish program development have not been hired due to delay in development of curriculum for shellfish program. Curriculum changes needed to correspond with new delivery method has been started but not completed. Lab components for distance delivery need to be finalized. Development of week-long field lab and
training for students have started but are not complete. Building partnerships with institutions of higher education in the region to create articulations agreements have begun, but not completed.
PRODUCTS: Products include distance-delivered course content for Finfish Culture I and FinFish Culture II. Fundamentals of Fisheries Biology is taught via distance-delivered methods with a week-long onsite lab. All Fisheries Technology classes are taught via distance delivery in the sequence in which they are offered, although more work is necessary to polish them. Other products include: orientation packet specific to students in the fisheries technology program, Fall 2007 course flyers, bulk mailing for flyers, draft articulation agreement with UAF Fisheries degrees, draft of PowerPoint presentation for outreach to Rural and Alaska Native communities, and support and tracking of students in the FT Program.
OUTCOMES: Objective I - During the first year of the grant, UASK finalized the development of the Fisheries Technology degree for complete distance delivery; three adjunct faculty were hired to teach distance-delivered course work and some course content was revised to accommodate the migration to a distance-delivered model utilizing Eluminate (a web-based course delivery system). Financial assistance was provided for two Alaska Native students and three rural Alaskan students. Objective II - During the first year of the grant, faculty convene a working group for shellfish course development. Several needs were identified to support the emerging aquatic farm industry. Objective III - During the first year of the grant, preliminary discussions began with University of Alaska Fairbanks and Oregon State University for potential articulation agreements between UASK and these two four-year fisheries programs.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: An orientation packet with information specific to students in the fisheries technology program was developed and emailed to all students in the FT Program. Flyers detailing Fall 2007 course offerings were created and a bulk mailing was used to distribute them to industry and educational entities. A rough draft of PowerPoint presentation for outreach to students in Rural and Alaska Native communities has been prepared; use is currently pending revision.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Upon completion of the grant, UASK Fisheries Technology Degree Program plans to continue to reach out to Alaska Native and rural Alaskan students through the distance delivery of Fisheries Technology coursework. In conjunction with industry education needs, further development of shellfish and mariculture training and course work will be developed. Opportunities for on-site training and distance delivered workshops will be explored for the mariculture farmers who are unable to take full-semester course work. The Fisheries Technology Degree Program will seek articulation agreements with universities that have four-year biology and fisheries programs which can benefit students completing the two-years Associate of Applied Science in Fisheries Technology. Through the outreach efforts of this grant, the Fisheries Technology Degree Program will be able to sustain itself, educate a future workforce in Fisheries Technology as demand warrants which in turn will provide
career opportunities for both Alaska Natives and rural Alaskans in Alaska.
Impacts
Seven students were enrolled in the Fisheries Technology Degree Program., Several other students, not currently in the Fisheries Technology Degree Program are taking Fisheries Technology course work. Two students have graduated with the degree of Associate of Applied Science in Fisheries Technology. Both students worked in the industry during their course work and both students continue to work in the Fisheries Technology field. Both students are also pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree. Two new students enrolled in the Fisheries Technology Degree Program in Fall 2007.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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