A webinar tomorrow/Thursday features Alaska fishermen and ocean health advocates discussing how a changing climate is affecting our oceans and ways to adapt to it.
It’s part of a Climate Opportunities Assessment series by The Nature Conservancy and Kallender and Associates.
Stephanie Holthaus is a Conservancy climate advisor
“And we’re trying to inform and educate policymakers, and at the same time, elevate the voices of Alaskans and get their thoughts out into the public realm. So this next event is Alaska Fishermen on Our Changing Oceans. And we will have fishermen, obviously, and fisherwomen, we will also have some policymakers and leaders of trade associations, processors, academics, scientists, etc. to talk about how Alaska fisheries are changing, and what the potential impacts might be, but also to think about and discuss innovative approaches that folks are taking to either mitigate the impacts of those changes or adapt to the changes that are coming.”
The 90-minute discussion will share observations at sea, impacts on fishing stocks, on fishing fleets and fishing communities in the future.
The climate series also includes four reports by McKinley Research. Two already completed focus on renewable energy and resilient housing. Others feature community infrastructure and natural climate solutions.
“ And I think what’s unique about them is that they are examining where we are now in all of those different topics. Where is Alaska? What are we doing now? And what are the challenges that we face in the changing climate? But they are also looking at what are the opportunities for addressing those impacts.”
Holthaus also is the national lead on the Conservancy’s Women on Climate Initiative.
“We are trying to connect and inspire women who are leading on climate change. We believe that women bring a different perspective and a different way of working that’s really needed in the climate space.”
The live climate change webinar runs from 10:30 to noon (AK time) on Thursday, Sept. 30.
Register for free at nature.org/akclimateopportunity
