SITKA, Alaska – The fisheries industry employs more people than any other industry in the state, and the University of Alaska Southeast Fisheries Technology program is a good way for students from around the state to prepare for a job in this exciting career field.

The UAS Fisheries Technology program offers students a choice between a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in fisheries technology, or a one-year Certificate of Fisheries Technology in either fish culture or fisheries management. Students wanting to continue their education can enter into a Bachelor of Science degree program from the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries with no loss of credit.

Students from around the state are able to participate through e-Learning classes, so they can study from their homes. Live classes are recorded, so students can revisit lectures and learn at their own pace. The UAS Sitka Campus program headquarters has partnership agreements with other Alaska campuses, so students can complete their lab courses from nearby their home communities. Internships are a big part of the program, and we have partnerships with a variety of industry leaders around the state that may lead to permanent employment. Financial aid, career guidance and job search assistance also are available.

Some of the potential careers students can enter include fish hatchery technician, fish culturist, natural resource technician, fisheries research technician, and fisheries observer. Potential employers include salmon enhancement programs, shellfish farms, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tribal organizations and CDQ (community development quota) organizations.

To learn more about the UAS Fisheries Technology program and a variety of other UAS Sitka Campus programs, stop by your local University of Alaska campus, call 1-907-747-7700 (or 1-800-478-6653 toll-free), or go online at https://www.uas.alaska.edu/sitka. A direct link to the UAS Fisheries Technology program is https://www.uas.alaska.edu/career_ed/fisheries/. Also, like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uassitka.