ASLC in the news Seward, Alaska (January 14, 2016) - KTVA reporter, Heather Hintze, visited the Alaska SeaLife Center and spoke with our Avian Curator, Tasha Dimarzio, and Science Director, Tuula Hollmen to get the latest on efforts to understand what is currently impacting common murres. An unusual number of live murres have been sighted in the region for this time of year. Researchers and the public have also seen an exponentially higher murre die-off than what is typically associated with El Nino years, with thousands of birds washing up on Alaska’s shores.  For the past five years, Hollmen and ASLC staff, working in partnership with National Park Service, have conducted monthly surveys of murres contributing to the baseline knowledge of these highly specialized seabirds. In addition to working with murres and other birds in the ASLC aviary, Dimarzio volunteers for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey (COASST) helping partners enhance the regional understanding of seabirds.  Hintze’s video and story can be found at http://www.ktva.com/seward-volunteers-tracking-dead-murre-numbers-across-alaska-794/.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of Richard C. Hocking, the Alaska SeaLife Center’s esteemed Aquarium Curator of 24 years. Richard passed away November 21 at his home in Seward at the age of 70. Richard was born in Seattle, Washington on April 16, 1951. His curiosity about the natural world was evident from a young age when he declared his intentions to become a forest ranger. He loved camping and exploring at a little forested lot near the Skykomish River as well as during many family trips throughout his home state of Washington and to various national parks. Richard enjoyed numerous hobbies including reading on a variety of subjects, backpacking, skiing, kayaking, photography, movies, traveling, and scuba diving. Diving in particular became a prominent interest in his life as evidenced by his PADI divemaster certification in 1983. While Richard’s job with the Washington Department of Fish and Game paralleled his childhood dreams of being a forest ranger, his passion for the ocean truly defined his life's work. For over four decades, Richard grew his career in the zoo and aquarium industry. He began his legacy in 1976 with the Seattle Aquarium as an Aquarium Biologist. He worked there up until 1989 when he became employed with the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium as an Animal Care Technician and additionally assisted with diving and collecting operations. His time at Point Defiance ended when he left for Alaska in 1997.  Richard began his career at the Alaska SeaLife Center as the Aquarium Supervisor in 1997, before the building was even finished. He quickly was promoted to Aquarium Curator in 1998, a role he upheld until his passing. While he significantly shaped the aquarium exhibits and led the division at the Center, his management role never stopped him from doing any task; from checking water quality to leading a tour, Richard took part. “Richard was truly an ASLC treasure. Both a teacher and a student, he had a gift for sharing his endless knowledge of marine species and a passion for marine conservation. His contributions to ASLC for the past 24 years can be seen and felt through all of the exhibits,” explains Husbandry Director, Lisa Hartman. Richard was known as one of the most hands-on curators in the building. While his main role was managing a group of aquarists to maintain and display the species in the Center, he immersed himself in many other aspects of ASLC. Richard managed and secured permits that allow the Center to collect and display fish and invertebrates. He was very involved in the long term monitoring of invasive species in Alaskan waters and would often set and check green crab traps and tunicate plates. He not only was in charge of food procurement and inventory management for fish and invertebrates, but for every single species in the facility.   Always looking towards the future, Richard hoped to educate and motivate the next generation of ocean stewards. He found joy in working with youth and became involved in the Center’s after-school program, Ocean Science Club, leading dissections and classes. Richard was also active as a judge and mentor for the Alaska Ocean Science Bowl, an academic competition for teens involved in ocean science. “Richard knew more about the ocean and the creatures in it than anyone I have or more likely ever will meet.  The only thing that he enjoyed more than learning about the world's oceans was teaching others about it.  He got particular joy out of teaching the next generation about the wonders of the sea. I remember fondly how much he loved the time he got to spend as a judge for the Alaska Ocean Sciences Bowl and as a mentor for the Seward Team. Can you think of a better job for Richard than being a judge in an Alaska Ocean Science competition? I can't,” expresses Aquarist, Chuck DiMarzio.  Richard will be remembered for his kindness, infinite knowledge, selfless work, and inspiring conversation. In 2017, his coworkers fittingly designated him as the “Unsung Hero” for making a consistently important contribution to the day to day operations of the Alaska SeaLife Center. “If you know the ASLC, you know the impact and resource of Richard Hocking. He was a purveyor and connoisseur of biology and natural history, just as eager and willing to share with or learn from a first year college intern as he was a professor emeritus. If you knew Richard, you knew he valued people, what each individual may uniquely be able to offer, and great conversation,” recounts Aquarium Manager and Dive Safety Officer, Jared Guthridge.  A public memorial exhibit to celebrate the life of Richard C. Hocking will be open December 8, 2021 at the Alaska SeaLife Center from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The life, work, and stories of Richard will be displayed throughout the Center and the public can tour at their own pace. A more formal outdoor memorial service is being planned for Spring 2022.

Legacy Society Your Legacy is Our Future  You can be a part of the Alaska SeaLife Center's critical work by leaving a gift through your estate plans. A planned gift allows you to support our mission after your lifetime so future generations can enjoy the bounty of Alaska's oceans. Anyone, regardless of age or financial status, can create a legacy gift to the Alaska SeaLife Center. How to Make a Planned Gift A planned gift can be as simple as naming the Alaska SeaLife Center in your will or designating the Center as a beneficiary on your retirement plan or life insurance policy. The Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund, established through the Alaska Community Foundation, enables additional options for planned gifts through the Foundation's unique expertise.  Sample language to use when making a planned gift to the Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund:   “I bequeath __________________________________ (describe dollar amount, property to be given, or proportion of your residuary estate) to The Alaska Community Foundation (EIN# 92-0155067), a tax exempt organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3), to be added to the Alaska SeaLife Center Endowment Fund, a component fund of The Alaska Community Foundation, and I direct that this bequest become part of this fund.”  Benefits of Planned Giving When you notify us about your gift, we will enroll you in the Alaska SeaLife Center Legacy Society. You will receive invitations to special events and be recognized in our annual report and e-newsletters, unless you choose to remain anonymous. All communications you have with our staff about planned giving is strictly confidential.      We are grateful to those who support the Alaska SeaLife Center through planned giving. Through your gift, you are ensuring that future generations will learn about and care for Alaska's oceans. To learn more about how to enroll, please contact our Development Office at 907-224-6396 or development@alaskasealife.org or download the brochure.      

    You are seeing a livestream of what ASLC scientists are seeing right now on the Chiswell Island Steller sea lion rookery. ASLC scientists have been monitoring the behavior and population dynamics of the Endangered Steller sea lions in the Gulf of Alaska since 1998.   Are the cameras not live? When the signal is unavailable during observation hours (9 AM - 6 PM AK time) or non-observation hours (6 PM - 9 AM AK time), we will play previously recorded footage until the livestream is restored. The success of the remote-operated camera system is determined by many unpredictable factors, including consistent wind and solar energy to fuel the batteries.   About the Chiswell Island Steller sea lion remote video monitoring project:  The ASLC Remote Video Monitoring Team collects data every year by remotely controlling cameras in the Gulf of Alaska from an office at the Alaska SeaLife Center. The data that has been collected has taught us not just about these amazing marine mammals, but about the entire ecosystem that they live in. This livestream is for scientific and educational purposes and will contain unpredictable moments from the wild that may be graphic for some viewers. Examples of these moments could include births, males defending territories, pup mortality, predation, and more. Activities permitted by: USFWS Land Use Permit, NMFS Permit No. 22293   Watch weekly highlight videos from the research team: Our Chiswell Island Research Team shares weekly video updates from the observation season, check out the playlist to see incredible moments from this season: YouTube: @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter Facebook: @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter Instagram: @AlaskaSeaLifeCenter   Be a supporter of this critical long term monitoring research and help us continue this project for years to come! Select "Science & Research Programs" in the pull down menu.    

Local Information Seward is located at Mile 0 of the Seward Highway, 125 miles south of Anchorage. Located at the head of Resurrection Bay, Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, with Chugach National Forest and Caines Head State Recreation Area nearby. The city offers many recreational activities, including day wildlife viewing cruises, kayaking, fishing, and hiking.    Seward is accessible year-round by road or by train and cruise ship during the summer season. Local Links Seward Chamber of Commerce   City of Seward    City Campgrounds & Parks    Visit Anchorage

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Summer 2025 Availability  August 4 - September 29: 1:45 pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays Duration: Approximately 30-minute tour Maximum of 5 people per tour - ages 10+* Come behind the scenes for a unique experience with one of our marine mammal ambassadors! This tour will allow visitors to get an up-close view of the exceptional day-to-day care our seals or sea lions receive while learning about how these amazing species are specially adapted for Arctic and sub-Arctic environments. Each encounter will be unique (and special!).   No photography allowed on this tour. One Group Per Tour Group Size of 1-2 Guests: $274.95 Group Size of 3 Guests: $324.95 Group Size of 4 Guests: $374.95 Group Size of 5 Guests: $424.95 Members get a 20% discount, buy your membership today and use the benefits immediately. (does not include admission) *Guests aged 10-16 must be accompanied by a paying adult Tickets only valid for date selected. Online tickets must be purchased at least one day in advance. 

Starting July 23 Summer 2020 Availability - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Sundays: 3:30 pm  Duration: Approximately 30-minute tour Maximum of 5 people per tour - minimum age 13* Meet Mara, our resident Steller sea lion mom and her pup, born June 26 on this once-in-a-lifetime exclusive tour.   Have a chance to feed Mara and watch her interact with her new pup. Learn from our marine mammal staff what it takes to be a good Steller sea lion mom and what it was like welcoming the pup into the world. Don't miss this first time offered interaction that will be available for a very limited time. For the safety and well-being of our animal residents there is no photography allowed on this tour. Flat-Rate Price: $399.95 per group of 1-5 people - members get a 20% discount, buy your membership today and use the benefits immediately *Guests under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult Tickets only valid for date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one hour in advance. All guests must wear a face covering on this tour. If you cannot wear a face covering due to a medical condition, please email onlinesales@alaskasealife.org to arrange an accommodation before booking the tour.

Meet Mara's new pup! We are so excited to announce ASLC's newest family member! Mara recently had her baby on June 26th and weighing in at 40lbs. Both mom and pup are healthy and strong. Stay tuned for the gender reveal!

  animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() Meet Dr. Kathy Kuletz Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kathy's role in Gulf Watch Alaska: Pelagic Ecosystems Co-Principal Investigator, Prince William Sound Marine Bird Population Trends Important skills for her position: "Biometric and GIS skills are of course important for working in science, but writing and communication skills are more important for me now, at this stage in my career. And of course, getting outdoors when possible, to recharge interest and enthusiasm, even get new ideas." Challenges in her work: "Obtaining the support needed for a scientific project, especially something long-term, takes an enormous amount of time and effort - and is usually not why one goes into science. But it has to be done... these aren't the fun aspects of science, but they also help you to refine your goals, objectives, and approach." Kathy's advice to young people interested in science: "Get some field experience, and even work on several types of studies to see what really stokes your interest in learning more. Often, biologists start out as volunteers (I did) and move to seasonal field work, or help with data and reports. When you're on a project, do some background searching and reading on the subject or your specific project (so easy to do these days), and find out what questions the project leader is focused on. If you do a good job, work well in difficult conditions, and stay in contact, chances are you'll be called back." Dr. Kathy Kuletz describes her career as a seabird biologist. (3:14) Video Transcript I’ve always been interested in the working with wildlife. I grew up in the desert, so the ocean was exotic to me. Anything that had to do with the ocean was very exotic, and that’s probably what attracted me to that aspect. I wanted to see Alaska, so I came up for a summer job like most people here. I worked in fisheries to begin with because that’s where a lot of the jobs were – there’s not a lot of funding to study birds. I was doing fisheries work, but then I wound up getting a summer job on Naked Island in Prince William Sound, and that was my first job with seabirds. My one year there turned into four, which turned into my Master’s degree studying pigeon guillemots there. Of course that was before the oil spill – I started back there in 1978. After the oil spill, it turned out that was one of the few places where we had some baseline data on seabirds – how they raised their chicks, what they fed on, and how many birds there actually were in these colonies. I went back after the oil spill, again as a seasonal employee of Fish & Wildlife Service, and eventually it became a term appointment. I stayed on in prince William Sound studying marbled murrelets. I became interested in what was going on at sea. Back in the 70s and 80s there was a large ecosystem study going on because they were looking at oil lease sales in the Bering Sea and the Gulf. They had what they called the OCSEAP program – the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment program. Then there was a huge gap where not much was done out at sea, and of course seabirds spend most of their lives out at sea, but mostly people study what goes on at a colony. I was interested in that other aspect of their lives and what happened the other three quarters of their lives out at sea. For the most part, this was before we had little tiny satellite tags and GPS dataloggers, but we didn’t know what they really did. We didn’t have a good idea of where birds went, and a large part of what we found out was by counting birds at sea – going out on big ships, research vessels that were doing fisheries work or oceanographic work, and doing surveys in conjunction with those. That’s what we’ve continued to do, of course we have more technology now and we can log location of every sighting very accurately and tie that data into what the oceanographers found on the same cruise, or the plankton people, the fish people, the marine mammal folks. So we’re trying to identify the hot spots, trying to found out where birds go in the non-breeding season as well as during the breeding season offshore. That’s what’s attracted me – the idea of being able to put together all this information and understand the big mystery of what seabirds do out at sea, that’s what draws me into it.   Who is watching the Blob?    

 

    animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() Meet Seth Danielson, Ph.D. Research Associate Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks Seth's role in Gulf Watch Alaska: Environmental Drivers Co-Principal Investigator, Gulf of Alaska Mooring (GAK1) Important skills for his position: In my position it is important to be able to write clearly and to be proficient at computer programming. Programming skills allow one to perform customized analyses that will extract new information from a dataset, while writing skills are needed to communicate your results and demonstrate the importance of your work. Challenges in his work: "Sometimes the biggest challenge is in properly crafting a scientific hypothesis that is both tractable and cost-effective. There are often very expensive ways to find answers to a research problem but these may not be affordable. Half the fun of doing research is finding the right balance between costs, effort, and scientific results." Seth's advice to young people interested in science: "A solid background in mathematics, statistics and critical thinking provides a springboard that can direct you into any of the sciences that interest you. Set yourself up for success by learning how to both identify and solve problems." Seth Danielson describes his interest in oceanographic research. (1:16) Video Transcript My name is Seth Danielson; I’m a Research Associate Professor of Oceanography at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As a research professor, I’m really interested in firstly understanding how the world works and going out and making new discoveries about how the ocean system responds to the atmosphere: how it provides an environment that the fish and the birds and the whales are living in in the marine system, and how the physics – the winds, the waves, the currents, the temperature of the ocean – how all those affect the ecosystem as they come together. Along the way I get to go to these beautiful places, remote places that very few people get to see on the ocean and along the coasts around the Arctic and around Alaska. I get to bring my stories back to schools and share those with the students, and that’s a lot of fun and very fulfilling. The ability for us to be able to learn new things about the world and communicate them is just incredibly satisfying – it makes a great career.   Who is watching the Blob?    

  animatedcollapse.addDiv('A', 'fade=1') animatedcollapse.ontoggle=function($, divobj, state){ //fires each time a DIV is expanded/contracted //$: Access to jQuery //divobj: DOM reference to DIV being expanded/ collapsed. Use "divobj.id" to get its ID //state: "block" or "none", depending on state } animatedcollapse.init() Meet Sonia Batten Biological Oceanographer, Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science Sonia's role in Gulf Watch Alaska: Environmental Drivers Principal Investigator Important skills for her position: Basic science training, interest in small things, interest in seeing both "big pictures" and patterns Challenges in her work: "Anything to do with studying the ocean is challenging because you can’t sample enough of it to really understand what is going on. So trying to understand what’s going on across the horizontal region, down through the water column, and through time is really hard because they all change, all of the time." Sonia's advice to young people interested in science: "If you have a questioning mind and you like looking at the way the world works, then you are a scientist.  How you use that in a career could be anything from teaching, to talking with politicians to try and get policies that will help a community - there are so many different things. I would just say that it may not be the dry and dusty thing that you think it is. You can be a scientist and have a huge range of careers. If you are interested in things like that, keep your mind open for opportunities where you can use science." Sonia Batten discusses one of the coolest things about the ocean. (0:31) Video Transcript I think the coolest thing is that you can take a bucket of seawater, you can filter out the stuff and put it under a microscope and show people and they go, “Oh my god, I didn’t know I was swimming with that!” You can look at a crab larvae, a little tiny crab before it settles out under the microscope, and it’s got, some of them have spines that are three times the length of their body sticking out, and they look like alien things, and you have no idea that you’re swimming with that kind of thing, and yeah – I think that’s cool.   Who is watching the Blob?    

Become a Member of the Alaska SeaLife Center and you will support research, education, and wildlife response programs Member Benefits Unlimited free admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center for a year from the day you register Guaranteed entry on arrival – No Reservations Needed Digital Membership cards 20% Discount on guest admission 20% Discount on Center tours and encounters 10% Discount on retail prices in the Discovery Gift Shop Exclusive email announcements on special events Reduced admission at other zoos and aquariums through the AZA Reciprocity Program     Choose the membership level that fits you best! Standard Memberships, Family Memberships, or Giving Circle Memberships Standard Memberships Individual $70 One named member Individual Plus $115 One named member and one guest per visit Dual $115 Two named members Dual Plus $160 Two named members and one guest per visit Trio $160 Three named members Join / Renew     Family Memberships* Family $175 Two named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Family Plus $220 Two named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren and one guest per visit Family Trio $220 Three named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Family Quad $265 Four named members and eligible children and/or grandchildren Join / Renew *Family levels include the primary member's dependent children ages 17 and younger (and/or grandchildren ages 17 and younger) Giving Circle Memberships SeaLife Associate $300-$499 Complimentary Family Membership Four one-time use guest passes Join / Renew SeaLife Advocate $500-$999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update Join / Renew Steller Partner $1,000-$2,499 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Join / Renew Steller Guardian $2,500-$4,999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Join / Renew Steller Patron $5,000-$9,999 Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Breakfast or lunch with the CEO Join / Renew Steller Champion $10,000+ Complimentary Family Membership Eight one-time use guest passes Invitation to an annual virtual CEO update An exclusive VIP tour of the Center for four Invitation to quarterly VIP virtual programs Breakfast or lunch with the CEO Keeper for a Day, a 5-hour program for one or two people with minimum age of 16 Join / Renew

What makes marine mammals so marvelous? Take a Virtual Visit alongside our education and mammals teams to discover what allows Alaska's marine mammals to thrive both on land and in the sea. Learn about the ASLC from the comfort of your own home!     For more info and to register: http://www.alaskasealife.org/virtualvisits Tuesday, December 8 - 3:00pm Episode 2: Raising a Steller Sea Lion Pup Wednesday, December 9 - 11:00am Episode 2: Raising a Steller Sea Lion Pup Tuesday, January 5 - 3:00pm Episode 3: Caring for our Steller Sea Lions Wednesday, January 6 - 11:00am Episode 3: Caring for our Steller Sea Lions Tuesday, February 2 - 3:00pm Episode 4: Spot the Spotted Seal Wednesday, February 3 - 11:00am Episode 4: Spot the Spotted Seal Tuesday, March 2 - 3:00pm Episode 5: Ringed Seal Round Up Wednesday, March 3 - 11:00am Episode 5: Ringed Seal Round Up

Seward, Alaska (April 7, 2020) – Nat Geo WILD’s new series, “Alaska Animal Rescue,” is airing April 11 at 5 p.m. Alaska time. This new show highlights three renowned animal conservation centers, the Alaska SeaLife Center, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Alaska Raptor Center.   The series will give viewers a unique behind the scenes look at wildlife response in action as animal care teams experience both the rewards and challenges of rescuing wildlife in various regions of Alaska. From Nat Geo WILD: “Whether caring for a stranded sea lion, an orphaned lynx or an injured eagle, these are the people on the front lines, willing to do whatever it takes to rescue and preserve Alaska’s wildlife.”   The facilities featured in “Alaska Animal Rescue” anticipate this series will help inspire people to care about wildlife and conservation. “We hope viewers of the show see how valuable all three of our facilities are not just to wildlife in the state of Alaska, but in supporting conservation work on a global scale,” said Tara Riemer, Alaska SeaLife Center President and CEO.    “We are very excited for the premiere of Alaska Animal Rescue. We hope viewers will become stewards for Alaska’s wildlife and learn how everyone around the world can help participate in wildlife conservation efforts,”  said Di Whitney, Executive Director, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.   Jennifer Cross, Executive Director, Alaska Raptor Center states, “All of us at the Alaska Raptor Center are thrilled about the show’s premiere this Saturday! Although filming was challenging at times, we are thankful for this opportunity to showcase the important work non-profits do on behalf of Alaska’s wild animals.”     The show will air on Nat Geo WILD channel April 11, at 9/8c (5 p.m. Alaska time)  Learn more about the facilities highlighted in the series here: https://alaskaanimalrescue.org/    About the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) Opened in 1998, the Alaska SeaLife Center operates as a 501(c)(3), non-profit research institution and public aquarium in Seward, Alaska. The Center generates and shares scientific knowledge to promote understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s marine ecosystems. The ASLC is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. To learn more, visit www.alaskasealife.org.   About the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) Founded in 1993, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation is a sanctuary dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, research, and quality animal care. AWCC takes in injured and orphaned animals and provides them with enclosures at a 200-acre facility in Portage, Alaska. Most of the animals that arrive at AWCC become permanent residents. To learn more, visit www.alaskawildlife.org.    About the Alaska Raptor Center (ARC) Established in 1980, the Alaska Raptor Center’s mission is to promote and enhance wild populations of raptors and other avian species through rehabilitation, education, and research. ARC provides medical treatment to about 200 injured birds each year, striving to rehabilitate and release its avian patients. Some birds who are too injured to survive in the wild find sanctuary at the facility in Sitka, Alaska, providing educational opportunities to visitors. To learn more, visit www.alaskaraptor.org.      

The Alaska SeaLife Center is proud to announce that Neisha Jones has been chosen to become the Center’s first Director of People and Culture. In this newly created executive leadership position, Jones will serve as the organizational lead for all human resources and diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) functions.        “People and culture are core determinants of our success as an organization, and ASLC is committed to attracting and retaining top talent. The recruitment of Neisha Jones in the newly created position of Director of People and Culture is another significant step towards the fulfillment of this commitment,” said Tara Riemer, ASLC President and CEO. Jones is a certified professional in human resources and a diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) practitioner with over 10 years of experience practicing human resources in the public, non-profit, and education industries. Jones’ extensive work with national organizations is a major asset in ASLC’s DEAI efforts and advancement of organizational environmental initiatives within Alaska and beyond.  The new director’s expertise is in labor relations, talent strategy, leadership development, and strategic planning, with an emphasis in embedding equity and inclusion into human resources strategy and implementation. Jones’ passion simultaneously entails building human resources organizational infrastructure and fostering cultures of belonging where employees feel safe and empowered to do their best work.  “With ASLC’s recent focus on integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility practices for both staff and visitors, Neisha Jones’ expertise will really help us advance our culture of equity, excellence, and belonging and help create a safe place for all to explore the wonders of Alaska’s marine ecosystems,” said Tara Riemer.  In addition to their new role at the ASLC, Jones serves as Board President for New Life Development and as a Board Member for Best Beginnings.  “I’m most looking forward to defining what it means to model a culture of belonging at ASLC where staff feel empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Empowered staff are productive stewards of our organization, respective communities, and ultimately great stewards of Alaska’s marine ecosystems,” said Jones.  

Seward, Alaska (October 24, 2018) – The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is pleased to welcome four new members to its Board of Directors, and announces the election of two new officers: Board Chair Wendy Lindskoog of  BP Alaska; and Vice Chair Terry Lauck of ConocoPhillips. Terms for new members and officers began September 28, 2018.  The new board members will serve three year terms.   Josh Howes has been the President of Premier Alaska Tours, Inc. since 2010. Josh has been instrumental in implementing and overseeing safety operations and providing ADA accessible motorcoaches to the land based tour receptive operator and charter company. He holds a Master’s of Science in Global Supply Chain Management and has studied abroad in Japan. Josh serves on various boards including the Alaska Chapter for the Red Cross, the Statewide Steering Committee for the Alaska Marine Highway Reform Project, and the Alaska Travel Industry Association.  Dr. Laura “Lu” Levoy is an emergency medicine physician in Anchorage, Alaska. She studied medicine at West Virginia University and East Tennessee State University. Lu is licensed with the West Virginia Board of Medicine and the Alaska Board of Medicine. She enjoys reading, traveling, and sea kayaking. Dr. Herb Schroeder is Vice Provost for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) and Founder at the University of Alaska Anchorage.  He is the recipient of the White House 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring for outstanding mentoring efforts and providing opportunities to the local communities of indigenous people. He is the Professor of Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Herb received his Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.  Christy Terry is the Seward Port Manager of the Alaska Railroad Corporation.  She is a former member of the Seward Chamber of Commerce Board and a former City Council member.  Christy is a member of the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators and chairs the City of Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board.  Christy is a Certified Port Executive.  She was the recipient of Alaska’s Top 40 under 40 in 2012 and the Alaska Railroad’s Golden Spike Award in 2015.  “Josh, Lu, Herb, and Christy add to the considerable depth of experience, skill, and community engagement of the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Board of Directors. We are fortunate they are joining the team and bringing with them fresh insights, ideas, and enthusiasm for our mission of sustaining Alaska’s marine ecosystems,” said Alaska SeaLife Center Past Chair Ryan Stuart. ASLC Board of Directors: Wendy Lindskoog (Chair) Ryan Stuart (Past Chair) Terry Lauck (Vice Chair) Willard Dunham (Secretary) Rachel Bunnell (Treasurer) Ted Baran Thomas Barrett Robert Brown Jason Brune Martin Cary Bret Chambers Larry Cooper Dr. Bridget Coughlin Angel Drobnica Stephen Grabacki Dan Graham Josh Howes Josie Hickel Janet Huff Nicole Kimball Dr. Laura “Lu” Levoy Peter Micciche John Moore Dr. Bradley Moran Dr. Herb Schroeder Dr. Robert Suydam Christy Terry Tom Tougas Dr. Daniel White  

 

Extreme climate events are being experienced worldwide, and Alaska ecosystems, unfortunately, have a front-row seat. Heatwaves, droughts, floods, and hurricanes, are having profound environmental impacts, and are expected to continue for decades to come.One of these extreme climate events, called the Pacific marine heatwave, occurred between 2014 and 2016. During this time, water temperatures rose far above normal conditions and had expansive ecological impacts throughout the Gulf of Alaska and northeast Pacific Ocean. Luckily, the Chiswell Steller Sea Lion Remote Video Monitoring team (the ASLC Chiswell team) has been monitoring the Endangered population of Steller sea lions for nearly 25 years — long before the Pacific marine heatwave occurred. This western population of Steller sea lions was  listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1997 following a major population decline. The ASLC Chiswell team has monitored this population since 1998 and has seen a general increase in the population over the years until 2016. The ASLC Chiswell team conducts multiple population surveys each year in the area around Resurrection Bay and monitors the Steller sea lion rookery called Chiswell Island through remote video cameras controlled at the Center.  The population data collected through the Pacific marine heatwave showed a continued increase in the population through 2015.  The peak impact of the heatwave occurred during the winter of 2015 and into 2016, and the Chiswell team began to see significant declines in pups and adults in the summer of 2016. Changes in food availability likely played some role in the decline. Dr. John Maniscalco, Ph. D. — a lead scientist at the ASLC — recently published a peer-reviewed article in Global Ecology and Conservation that looks at how the Pacific marine heatwave could have affected the winter diets of the Endangered population of Steller sea lions in Alaska over this time frame.  Winter is considered a critical time for Steller sea lions as it is likely the most energetically challenging time of the year. In addition to regulating their body temperatures in freezing Alaskan waters, adult female sea lions can be both lactating and pregnant with new pups, which they will birth in the coming summer. Limited food availability during the winter months could have dire outcomes for adult females, leading them to abort growing fetuses, wean their pups too early, or put their own survival at risk. Winter is also a high-risk season for scientists, as harsh and unpredictable weather at sea makes regular surveys logistically challenging, if not impossible. So how do scientists find out what sea lions are eating during this critical time period? The answer lies not in the sea lions, but in what they leave behind: scat samples.   Continue reading the full update on the ASLC blog: https://stories.alaskasealife.org/2023/05/01/changes-in-ssl-winter-diets/

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