May 2023 Newsletter

We kicked off this month with much progress and excitement. Primarily, our team has expanded.

Our team welcomes Charlene Ducut, who is SWAMC's new executive assistant. Charlene earned her BA in English at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). She has three years of experience as an editorial intern at UAA's Understory, two years of experience as a teacher's assistant, and almost a year of experience as a substitute teacher.

As an executive assistant, Charlene will answer broadband/telecom questions and provide updates. You may contact Charlene at cducut@swamc.org with any broadband/telecom questions, concerns, or opportunities.

Nick Mangini Visits South Korea and Maine

As the Mariculture Director at SWAMC, April was a busy month. I attended two trips that revealed much promise for the mariculture future in Alaska.

Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, I went on a technology transfer trip to South Korea during the first week of April. Two Alaskan delegates, Julie Decker (AFDF) and Markos Scheer (Sea Grove), joined me. The trip also included four from Maine, one from Canada, and four from the UK.

We first visited Incheon University and toured the seed bank they have been building for nearly a decade. Then, we traveled by bus down to the southern coast to an area known as Wando County. Wando County has kelp and abalone farms as far as the eye can see.

We visited three nori processors, including the world’s largest nori or laver processing plant in Mokpo. Although the processing plant used a very different species, the equipment and processing lines are similar to what Alaska will acquire under the BBB Grant. We attended a full-day tour of local farms; some of the species were closely related to those in Alaska, and some were very different.

I am pleased to report that large-scale commercial farmers in Alaska use more sophisticated systems than in South Korea. There are many reasons for this, but I believe young farmers would face criticism if they abandoned the methods taught by their fathers and family members. The vessels harvest kelp, and 70% of the brown kelp grown goes into their abalone farms to feed them.

We traveled back to Seoul, and the group took part in a small symposium that included educators, industry, and members of the National Assembly. We saw the interactions between the government and farmers.

My takeaway was that the Korean people support one another in many ways. The government helps in any way it can to allow the development of a more robust industry. For example, the government ensures laws and procedures guide the industry. The government even goes so far as to build biorefineries and shellfish processing plants, which several cooperatives rent, so they do not have to take on that financial responsibility alone. Our legislators will learn the lessons taught from these meetings to support the emerging industry in Alaska.

My biggest takeaway was that the Korean people did not miss an opportunity to showcase their regional products. At every instance, they had display cases with products and species of kelp readily available. Additionally, the food was delicious, and I will remember the graciousness of the Korean people.

At the end of the month, I also represented Alaska at the National Seaweed Symposium in Portland, Maine. I sat on a panel of farmers from both coasts and shared a few of Alaska’s hurdles and the uphill battles we face as a state breaking into this industry. Most Maine farmers are lucky that 80 million people live within 24 hours of trucking, showcasing more avenues to niche markets and a large population density overall. 

While on this trip, I visited some local Maine processors and was encouraged by the fact that most of these businesses are in much smaller plants than I thought. The hatcheries were not even in coolers like many are here in Alaska. Instead, they were just temperature and foreign substance-controlled rooms. The industry is growing at a fast rate. Compared to a similar conference from last September, the symposium had nearly twice as many new companies.

There were a few companies that stood out. Atlantic Sea Farms is doing amazing things in the food sector with products like Sea-Chi, kelp kimchi, and spicy kelp salad. Atlantic Sea Farms ferments and jars these products, allowing fast throughput. Sway, a bioplastics company in the Bay Area, has produced a cellophane product and small biodegradable packaging bags made of seaweed, demonstrating an exciting way to use large volumes of kelp.

The overall excitement within the industry was noticeable; the feeling of gaining traction was apparent. Seventeen restaurants took part in Seaweed Week. These restaurants made dishes inspired by the local kelp available. I hope to bring something similar to future events in Alaska.

In conclusion, the future of kelp is bright. I am so thankful I was included on these trips and found them insightful. I look forward to translating my experiences into the growth of our industry here in Alaska.

PHOTO BY GCI

AU-Aleutians Project Update

GCI is currently working in King Cove and Sand Point. Residents who wish to access 2,500 Mbps home internet speeds this year must fill out a form on the GCI website. 

By filling out this form, a resident permits GCI to build its fiber network and install the necessary equipment. As stated by GCI:

The form gives GCI permission to build out GCI’s fiber network to the premises and to install necessary equipment. Completing this form does NOT commit residents to GCI service but does ensure that the necessary equipment is in place should a resident choose to become a GCI customer in the future.

If interested, please fill out the form on GCI's website. After King Cove and Sand Point, the installation crews will work on other fiber projects across the state. Once the crews leave King Cove and Sand Point, residents who decide to become GCI customers might experience significant wait times before the crews return to the community.

Affordable Connectivity Program Reminder

Most of the Bristol Bay region can sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program. This FCC benefit program helps pay for internet services through an approved provider. As stated by FCC:

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more.

The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

Some approved region providers are Bristol Bay Telephone Cooperative, Nushagak Electric and Telephone Cooperative, and GCI. Please check with your internet provider to see if you qualify, and feel free to pass the information on to your friends and family!

Sen. Gary Stevens – Senate District C

I write this on day 121, the last day of the session. The Senate is in discussion with House Leadership to work toward a compromise on the state budgets. By the time you read this, we will have either worked it out and adjourned the session or we will probably be headed to a special session to complete the budget.

The major difference between the House and Senate versions of the budget is the size of the PFD and how to pay for it. The Senate passed a balanced budget based on the spring revenue forecast and lower revenue projections of $73 per barrel of oil in FY24. 

Our budget included funding for vital state services like public safety, schools, and health care, capital projects, including roads and airport projects in Seward, Chenega, Homer, and Kodiak, and AMHS ferries and docks, including projects in Cordova, Tatitlek, and Chenega; provided for a $1300 PFD, and we did not need to use savings. In comparison, the House’s version has an $800 million deficit after including a $2700 PFD with no means to pay for it. Their proposal to use savings to cover the larger PFD failed when they could not get enough votes from their members. The Senate asked them for new revenue measures that could cover their version’s deficit, but they could not get any bills on their floor for a vote. Hopefully, by the time you read this, we will have found a compromise. 

The Senate passed two priority pieces of legislation this year to support education and long-term fiscal planning. Senate Bill 52 Base Student Allocation (BSA) Increase provided a $680 increase to the BSA and an $8 million increase to pupil transportation. SB 107: POMV/PFD 75/25 Split would provide stability for our budget planning and help preserve our PFDs into the future by providing 75% of the POMV to state services and the other 25% to PFDs. Both of these bills are now in the House where they await further hearings.

I look forward to visiting the communities of District C this interim. Please reach out to your regional LIO or contact my office with any questions on state issues: Sen.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov or 1-800-821-4925.

Rep. Louise Stutes – House District 5

The Legislature met to pass out a handful of last-minute bills and to pass out the budget on Wednesday, 17 May, the 121st day of the session. The Senate made a few changes with the aim of finding concurrence with the House and adjourned until January. However, the House Majority voted to adjourn without taking up the new version sent over from the Senate, and, as a result, the Governor has called the Legislature into Special Session as of 10:00 AM Thursday morning.

We hope to complete the business of passing a sustainable budget in short order and ensure that state business can continue without the costly interruption of a government shutdown.

Have an announcement or story to share with the region?

Let us know! We may be able to include it in our next newsletter.

Call (907) 562-7380 or email dnelson@swamc.org.