Project: “Tipping the Balance” Research, Development, Training

With a grant from the State of Alaska, OceansAlaska is organizing and leading the development of a strategic plan for research, development and training that supports the growth of the Mariculture industry in coastal Alaska. The process will result in the development of a strategic plan and create an industry driven organization that will implement the recommendations.

The strategic plan will be used by industry, federal, state and local government agencies to prioritize funding for research, development and training projects supporting and assisting the growth of the Mariculture industry.

Goal:

• Draft a strategic business plan that will focus all of the Mariculture industry business, community and government stakeholders in Alaska on the barriers and obstacles and recommend solutions that allow the growth of an economically sustainable industry.
• Create a solid, scientific based research, development and training organization that will focus on the implementation of the strategic plan.
• Use an open, inclusive, public process to reach out and include all interested parties in drafting and commenting on the plan. All meetings are open to the public and will be noticed in local papers and other publications.

Schedule:

• The time frame to develop and begin implementation of the plan is one year. The goal is to have the plan completed and the organization structure in place by November 2007.
• Meetings will be held in Ketchikan, Craig, Juneau, Homer, and Seward. The exact dates and places will be published as they are determined.
• Ketchikan: Ted Ferry Convention Center
• February 27 – 28, 2007:
• 8:30am – 5pm:

Communications:

• All activity, schedules, presentations, draft plans and all other project related materials will be posted on the OceansAlaska web site: oceansalaska.org

Contacts: John Sund

Project Manager:

Cell: 206 295 5457

johnsund@oceansalaska.org

www.oceansalaska.org