A major concern about mine development in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region and in many watersheds throughout Alaska is the potential for toxic waste to contaminate water and threaten world class salmon runs. Copper is a particular concern because it is acutely toxic to fish at relatively low concentrations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses […]
The United States is in the midst of a bird flu outbreak first detected in December 2021. Alaska Sea Grant’s Gay Sheffield has been closely monitoring the situation in the Bering Strait region as part of her work as the Marine Advisory Program agent based in Nome. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a disease […]
Residents of Southeast Alaska are used to lots of rain and snow. Although precipitation varies greatly across the region, less than 30 inches of precipitation a year is highly unusual. As the climate changes, however, the region has experienced hotter and drier conditions, as well as other unusual weather events. Extreme heat and drought conditions […]
A new bulletin published by Alaska Sea Grant summarizes research to inform the public and help them understand the risk of paralytic shellfish toxins in Arctic Alaska food webs and marine mammals. Paralytic shellfish toxins—also called saxitoxins—are produced by microscopic marine algae and can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) when people consume shellfish or marine […]