Fishing industry research donations top $5 million

Submitted by Doug Schneider
Phone: (907) 474-7449
02/09/05

Contributions by a group of North Pacific pollock fishing companies to a University of Alaska Fairbanks research program studying marine mammals, fisheries and other ecosystem issues have topped $5 million since the program began in 2000.

The donations by the At-Sea Processors Association support the Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center (PCCRC) at the UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. The center provides research grants to university scientists and graduate students studying a wide range of issues affecting the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea.

To date, the At-Sea Processors Association has donated $5.27 million to the marine research center.

"This is a significant milestone for our scientists, graduate students and research efforts to better understand marine resource issues important to Alaska," said Denis Wiesenburg, dean of the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.

The At-Sea Processors Association represents seven companies that operate 19 U.S.-flagged catcher/processor vessels in the Alaska pollock fishery. Its membership includes Alaska Ocean Seafoods, Inc., American Seafoods Company, Arctic Storm Management Group, Glacier Fish Company, Highland Light, Starbound, and Trident Seafoods.

UAF Chancellor Steve Jones and SFOS Dean Wiesenburg will thank the donors for their contributions in support of research and graduate student education at a special reception scheduled in Seattle, Wash. Feb. 9 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The event is organized and sponsored by the UAF Advancement and Community Engagement Office.

Alaska’s pollock industry is among the world’s largest commercial fisheries. In 2003, the fleet caught 1.5 million tons of pollock, worth more than $2 billion, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Contributions by industry to the PCCRC provide approximately $300,000 each year toward funding for peer-reviewed research on Alaska’s important marine and fisheries issues. Contributions also fund the Ted Stevens Distinguished Professorship of Marine Policy, a new position that will provide leadership in the area of marine policy with emphasis on the Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Chukchi Sea. A portion of the funds also go to preserve Alaska Senator Ted Steven’s papers on ocean issues.

Over 30 research projects have been funded to date with six new research projects recommended for funding in 2005. The amount awarded for research in 2005 stands at more than $228,000.

Donations to the University of Alaska are made under the State of Alaska Educational Tax Credit. Under the program, companies and individuals can claim tax credit for up to 50 percent of the first $100,000 of the donation, and 100 percent of the next $100,000 donated to the university. The maximum credit that may be claimed by a taxpayer in any tax year is $150,000.

Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center website
http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/pcc/

At-Sea Processors Association
http://www.atsea.org/association/

Educational Tax Credit
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/giving/Ed_TaxCredit.cfm

CONTACT: Denis Wiesenberg, dean, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, (907) 474-7210, wiesenburg@sfos.uaf.edu; Ann Ringstad, associate vice chancellor, Office of University Advancement and Community Engagement, (907) 474-5922, ann.ringstad@alaska.edu; John (Jake) C. Poole, vice chancellor, Office of University Advancement and Community Engagement, (907) 474-2600; in Seattle (cell) 907-590-0108, fnjcp@uaf.edu; Vera Alexander, special assistant for Fisheries and Ocean Science Policy, (907) 474-5071, vera@sfos.uaf.edu.