Brian Allee to head Alaska Sea Grant College Program

Submitted by Doug Schneider
Phone: (907) 474-7449
02/18/03

Contact: Dr. Brian Allee, Director, Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, (907) 474-7949

Brian Allee, the former director of Alaska’s salmon hatchery system, has been hired as the new director of the Alaska Sea Grant College Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Sea Grant sponsors marine research and extension services in Alaska.

From 1987 to 1991, Allee served as the director of the state’s Fisheries Rehabilitation, Enhancement and Development Division. Prior to this appointment, Allee was the President and Operations Manager of the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation.

"I am happy to be back in Alaska," said Allee. "It’s a time of great challenges and opportunities for fishermen and coastal communities. The Alaska Sea Grant College Program here at the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences has always played key roles helping to address the needs of marine resource industries of Alaska. Now that those needs are greater, Alaska Sea Grant will continue to be there."

As the Alaska Sea Grant director, Allee will be responsible for overall program strategic planning and program development, implementation and monitoring. Allee said assisting the salmon industry, boosting coastal tourism, marine mammal-fishery interactions, and shellfish aquaculture will be among Alaska Sea Grant’s top priorities.

Alaska Sea Grant has an annual budget of about $1.4 million in federal funds and $900,000 in state and industry match funds. The money pays for studies of Alaska’s marine mammal and fish species, assists university graduate student education, provides for delivery of marine advisory services to Alaska coastal communities, and supports outreach efforts that enhance the public’s understanding of the marine environment.

"Dr. Allee is no stranger to Alaska, and I expect that he will readily grasp the issues and priorities within the state," said Vera Alexander, Dean of the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. "At the same time, he brings a fresh perspective. He is familiar with Sea Grant programs in other states, and is enthusiastic about the opportunities Alaska presents."

Most recently, Allee served as Manager of Policy and Program Implementation with the Northwest Power Planning Council, Fish and Wildlife Division, in Portland, Oregon. There he was project manager for a $15 million initiative to conduct comprehensive sub-basin planning focusing on environmental protection, problem mitigation, and enhancement of non-listed and listed endangered fish and wildlife species in the Columbia River Basin.

Allee holds a doctorate degree in fisheries from the University of Washington. Trained as a fisheries behavioral scientist, Allee is an expert in salmonid restoration and has extensive experience in habitat restoration, bioengineering, adult and juvenile fish passage, fish screening biocriteria, fish physiology, salmonid behavioral studies, supplementation, fish hatcheries, aquaculture, water supply and water treatment, and biological design criteria.

During his 30-year professional career, he has worked with salmonid fish, oysters, clams, and shrimp in freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems in Washington, Alaska, Oregon, California, Florida and Brazil. He has had broad management experience supervising large and small organizations in the public and private sector.

The Alaska Sea Grant College Program is a marine research, education and outreach service headquartered at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Sea Grant is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the State of Alaska and private industry.