(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Tremendous career opportunities in the fisheries sector await high school graduates, yet many Alaskan high school students are unaware of them.

An exciting new class offered by the UAS Fisheries Technology Program is aimed at introducing young men and women to fisheries careers. The class will expose students to the various fishing sectors in Alaska such as fisheries management, fish processing, marketing, commercial fishing, charter operations, and salmon enhancement projects. Students will then visit fisheries professionals and tour a breadth of fishing operations and facilities in their home communities.  

The goal of the class is to emphasize to Alaskan students how important fisheries are to our coastal communities. The class will highlight regional opportunities while letting students know what they may need to study to take advantage of these prospects. The class is being expanded based on a pilot offering in Sitka last year. In this pilot class, students toured commercial fishing boats, seafood processing facilities, salmon hatcheries and state fishery agency offices. Students heard first-hand from people in the industry about the career paths. 

The Fisheries Technology Program hopes to offer the class in interested communities, working with the local school districts and industry sectors. Mentors will be recruited to escort students on field trips, encourage students to ask questions and discuss opportunities amongst themselves. Students will be asked to create a blog so that students in different communities can learn from each other regarding various careers and opportunities statewide.  

Funding for this project is from the Carl Perkins Grant fund and generous donations from Icicle Seafoods.

For more information about the class, please contact the UAS Ketchikan Fisheries Technology Program at (907) 228-4565 or (907) 747-7742.  

Source of News: 

University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan
www.ketch.alaska.edu/

The University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan campus provides a wide variety of educational courses and programs to Ketchikan and the surrounding communities throughout the year.  Courses and programs are available locally and distance including web-based and audio-conference classes.  Through these offerings, students can achieve certifications, associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. UAS is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

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