The most serious acoustic threat to the ocean’s cetacean populations may be the noise from commercial shipping, rather than the more controversial use of powerful naval sonar. That’s the contention of Dr. Roger Gentry, a former researcher at the National Marine Fisheries Service. Gentry is now a private consultant, and one of eight scientists presenting their work at this year’s Whalefest.
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Scientists from around the country are in Sitka for four days of workshops and discussions during this year's Sitka WhaleFest. The annual conference includes a program that sends scientists into area schools, to give students the chance to get their hands -- and ears -- on science.
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State officials say an invasive species of sea squirt has been found in Sitka’s Whiting Harbor. The small invertebrate is called a “tunicate.” It was discovered for the first time in Alaska when volunteers and scientists conducted a "BioBlitz" in Sitka last June. Test results came back in August confirming the tunicates as a species not native to Sitka Sound. A public meeting Monday night at 6:30 at Harrigan Centennial Hall aims to explain how serious the threat is, and why Sitkans should be paying attention.
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Scott McAdams will take a week off before returning to work as director of community schools for the Sitka School District. Sitka’s former mayor and the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate says he’s proud of his campaign, despite a third-place finish in the polls.
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The Forest Service is overhauling its recreation planning, and trying to involve communities in sustainable tourism. The pilot program in the Tongass is called “The Sitka Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Plan.”
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A sting operation at Dove Island Lodge has resulted in fishing violation citations against the lodge and one of its captains.
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The Sitka Tribe of Alaska is asking for better enforcement of rules that prohibit out-of-state residents from harvesting subsistence herring roe. The tribe’s concern centers around commercial fishing vessels that bring in tons of the eggs and giving them away for free.
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A bond issue on Tuesday’s ballot would fund three Southeast Alaska projects. Backers say the Sitka pool, Juneau museum and library, and Klawock training center would serve more than their home communities.Proposition B asks voters whether the state should issue almost $400 million in general obligation bonds. The bonds, a form of loan, would be spent on school, library, museum and university facilities around the state.
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Sitkan Lily Herwald says former Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams's local leadership will translate well to the U.S. Senate. (Note: The opinions in this commentary represent those of the author, and not necessarily the views of the Raven Radio's staff, board, or volunteers.)
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The race for House District Two is one of the more hotly contested state legislature races in Southeast Alaska. And as an on-air forum Thursday night seemed to indicate, there’s at least one thing both Republican Peggy Wilson and Democrat Reber Stein have consistently in common: Both cite Wilson’s time in the legislature as reasons why they should be elected.
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