The Alaska SeaLife Center Student Ocean Conference

Introduction

Introduction The Student Ocean Conference held on April 9-10 at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, was the seventh such conference in a national series. During this two-day event, 53 students came together to learn about and discuss current marine and coastal issues. The field trips during the conference gave the students the opportunity to interact with experts in the field and to learn about marine and coastal issues specific to Alaska. The students also had the opportunity to hear a talk by National Geographic Explorer in Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle. For more information on the Student Ocean Conference at the Alaska SeaLife Center you can visit the website for the conference at: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/dgc/Outreach/SOC/AKSOChome.htm

Activities

The Student Ocean Conference began Tuesday with an introduction at 11:30am and was followed by a group mixer, lunch and field trips in the afternoon. Before dinner, students took a behind the scenes tour of the SeaLife Center that included the Center's research facilities. After dinner, Dr. Sylvia Earle made her presentation to the students. The next day, April 10th, students worked in discussion groups with teachers and experts to discuss the issues they learned about on their fieldtrips. These discussion groups were followed by student presentations on the topics.

A visit from Dr. Earle

The first night of the conference concluded with an address by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Ocean Explorer and one of National Geographic's seven Explorers in Residence. Dr. Earle supported her commentary with a series of video clips that conveyed the beauty and abundance of the ocean to the students. Most students mentioned that Dr. Earle's message about "The Power of One", that everyone can make a difference, was what most stood out to them from her speech.

Field Trips

The field trips were based on different stakeholder interests that relate to marine and coastal issues. Students learned about the issues from the experts on the trip and were able to gain some real-world experience relating to the issues.

• Research about the Ocean - Serac Boat Tour
• Safety and Enforcement Issues in the Ocean - Marine Simulation and Enforcement Program
• Human Interactions with the Ocean - Lowell Point SRS Hike
• Upstream Effects of the Ocean - Watershed Exploration
• Commercial Uses of the Ocean - Qutekak Shellfish Hatchery
• Recreation and Tourism in the Ocean - CIRI Boat Tour

Stakeholder Discussion Groups and Presentations

The students were asked to discuss the issues they learned about during their field trips and make policy recommendations about the issues. The experts that accompanied the students on their field trips also participated in the discussion groups in order to provide guidance and answer questions. Some of the recommendations provided by the students include:

• Hunting of Blue Fin Tuna should only be allowed in the adult stages.
• More Marine Sanctuaries should be established to protect Blue Fin Tuna, Sea Lions, and the fish they feed on.
• A small tax should be imposed on the "Permanent Fund Dividend" (deduction) to support research.
• Fishing should be limited to allow populations to recover and maintain themselves.
• Establish local breeding areas for critical fish species to prevent future decline.
• Establish fish farms to reduce pressure on natural stocks.
• Educate the public on their effects on the coasts and oceans; this should be a mandatory part of school curriculum.
• Management on the ecosystem level.
• Reduce the number of licenses for tourism business.

Other Student Comments

1. Before I came to the SOC I thought....and now I think...
   • Conservation is not urgent, the ocean is fine. The ocean is full of life and animals....We need to save what we have left. Conservation and preservation are very important.
2. What do your remember most?
   • Dr. Sylvia Earle's speech.
   • The Sea Lions, birds, and animals.
   • The way everyone wanted to make a difference.
3. What positive action can you take to influence the marine environment?
   • Stop polluting and littering. Recycle more.
   • Share what I learned with others. Encourage environmentally friendly behavior.
   • Think before I act. Doing my part, however small, can only help.

Participating Schools

A total of 53 students and nine teachers from the following schools participated in the Student Ocean Conference:

• Village Charter School
• Tanana School
• SeeUonline Alternative School
• Tok School
• Tri-Valley School
• Atheneum Classics School
• Juneau-Douglas High School
• Yakutat High School
• Service High School
• Valley Pathways School