Why this work?

Climate change impacts on Alaskan coasts are occurring at a rate that is challenging the ability of resource-dependent businesses to respond and adapt. Climate change-induced threats to Alaskan fishing communities include changing oceanographic conditions of circulation and temperature, ocean acidification, and harmful algal blooms, as well as changing stream temperatures, turbidity, and nutrient conditions. Adequate resilience tools for local fishery-related businesses in Alaska have not yet been designed and implemented, which is a barrier to effective community resilience. These issues were identified at a series of climate resilience workshops the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve hosted for decision-makers in 2016 and 2017.

About this project

The goal of this project is to strengthen local fishery-related businesses, which buoy coastal communities in the face of natural hazards and  disasters. This project will transfer a Resilience Index business self-assessment developed by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. The project team and partners will collaboratively adapt the self-assessment for Alaska businesses using best available science and local issues. The project will convene a network of partners, including fishery industry leaders, resource managers, business owners, non-profits, and resilience experts, to identify and organize focus groups of target audiences. Multi-sector business resilience workshops will be developed using the updated Fisheries Resilience Index, and curriculum and publications will be distributed for additional trainings in other Alaskan communities. By generating
resources and tools for businesses, the project will increase the effects of the Kachemak Bay reserve’s resilience efforts and further demonstrate the applicability of business self-assessments on impacted estuarine ecosystems and economies.

Project lead and contact

Ingrid Syverine Abrahamson, Kackemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Email: [email protected] 

To learn more, view the project factsheet (PDF).