A Voyage Through the Arctic Post #12

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) embraces transformative research and communication approaches to advance the science behind sustainable fisheries management. We aim to share critical findings with audiences from local communities to scientists.

The 2025 Alaska Fisheries Science Center Field Season and Program Updates website provides a comprehensive overview of our planned research in 2025 and some key achievements in 2024. Our Research Briefs offer detailed information on upcoming work in Alaska, such as aerial surveys of marine mammal abundance and studies of fish distribution and marine ecosystems conducted on bottom trawl, mid-water trawl, and acoustic vessel surveys. These briefs answer essential questions and provide valuable insights to our audiences, ensuring they are well informed about the importance of our work. They include information such as:

• Who is conducting the research?
• What is the research objective?
• Where is the survey area, and how are data collected?
• What measures are in place to ensure that our research does not interfere with subsistence hunting?
• Why is the data important?
• How will data be used?
• How do AFSC scientists plan to communicate research results?

We hope you will find the updates informative.

Another avenue through which information is shared is through blogs. Our blogs serve as a bridge, connecting our staff with communities by detailing our fieldwork or acknowledging Indigenous Knowledge. They underscore how approachable NOAA Fisheries staff are and how eager we are to engage with the communities we serve.

My blog series, ' A Voyage Through the Arctic ,' is a platform for sharing personal reflections on my trips. It highlights the cultural importance of subsistence and Native American Heritage Month, among other topics. With its personal touch, this series is valuable for sharing my experiences and insights and fostering understanding and collaboration between NOAA Fisheries and Alaskan communities. The series aims to build relationships to inform science and resource management decisions with a shared sense of Alaska marine ecosystems, including human communities and cultures.

Stori Oates, our Education Coordinator in Juneau, authors a blog series, ' Currents and Connections .' Her blog focuses on Alaska's programs, students, interns, and educators. Stori shows how education and science intersect to inspire students to learn and grow, highlighting how math and science apply to real-world careers. For example, bringing on interns who have had NOAA-funded projects and other interns who return because they feel their work is valuable. This series inspires and motivates readers through the power of education.

Through these efforts, AFSC hopes to demonstrate its commitment to meaningful and effective communication about our research and engagement with local Indigenous communities. This commitment reinforces the key role of communication in supporting transparency and strengthening connections.