Zoë Sobel, Alaska's Energy Desk - Unalaska
Zoe Sobel is a reporter with Alaska's Energy Desk based in Unalaska. As a high schooler in Portland, Maine, Zoë Sobel got her first taste of public radio at NPR’s easternmost station. From there, she moved to Boston where she studied at Wellesley College and worked at WBUR, covering sports for Only A Game and the trial of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
49 Voices: Josh Lynch of Fairbanks
This week we're hearing from Josh Lynch in Fairbanks. Originally from Texas and Arkansas, Lynch will be experiencing his first snowy winter this year. Listen Now
In St. Paul, this Alaskan vows ‘Never Trump’
Tonight we hear from Bill Briggs of Saint Paul. Briggs is 60. He's lived in Saint Paul for ten years, and manages the island's seafood processing plant. And he is definitely not on the Trump train. Listen Now
New satellite-based technology aims to crack down on illegal fishing
Commercial fishing in Alaska is a multi-billion dollar industry. But every year, billions of dollars are lost to illegal fishing around the world. A new satellite-based surveillance system makes it easier to track illegal fishing. But some fishermen aren’t ready for Big Brother watching their every move. Listen Now
Alaska fisheries escape effects of climate change for now
With coastlines eroding, temperatures rising, and sea ice retreating, Alaska is feeling the effects of a warming planet. But a new federal report suggests fisheries in the state haven’t experienced many observable impacts of climate change so far.
Unalaska cleans up fish oil spill
A forklift punctured a connex filled with fish oil in Unalaska Thursday, spilling it across a shipyard. Fish oil is considered an environmental hazard, but far less damaging than crude oil. Some of the bright orange oil flowed into a storm drain and into the ocean. Resolve Marine stopped it from spreading more by plugging the drain with gravel and dirt. Listen now
Scientists use new technology in studying fur seals
The fur seals on St. Paul Island are one of the most studied marine mammals on the planet. But there’s still a lot scientists don’t know. For the first time this year, scientists are using a device called a Saildrone to track down more information about the seals. Listen now
Alaska prepares for vessel disasters
Thousands of vessels every year move through Alaska's waters. If something goes awry, their cargo and fuel could end up in the ocean. Cleanup efforts for past groundings near Unalaska have proven difficult and costly.
As waters warm, Arctic fish populations change
A new report shows more fish are moving to Arctic waters. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management teamed up to create the inventory, which describes more than 100 species of fish found in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas — including 20 species new to the region.
New, 3-D maps to help monitor climate change effects
In Kotzebue a year ago, President Obama called for a publicly available high-resolution elevation map of Alaska. And today it’s here. The maps will help Alaskans monitor the effects of climate change.
Should Alaskans fear diseases frozen in the permafrost?
Russian officials say warming permafrost could be linked to a deadly anthrax outbreak in Siberia this month. Permafrost can be found almost everywhere in Alaska — from the Arctic coast to Anchorage. But at least one expert isn’t alarmed about the potential for thawing ground to bring old diseases back to life. Listen now
Several new species of snailfish discovered on Bering seafloor
While trawling the floor of the Bering Sea and the Aleutian region, scientists have discovered several new species of fish – snailfish. Some were only named last year. Researchers were not looking for them, the trawl was a part of a yearly stock assessment by the federal government that help set quotas for fisheries. Listen now
Plankton population and the power of pink salmon
After combing through data from the Aleutian Islands, a scientist has discovered an unexpected relationship between plankton and pink salmon. Although plankton might seem like an ecological afterthought, biological oceanographer Sonia Batten disagrees. She calls them the most important organisms in the ocean. Listen now
What killed St. Paul’s woolly mammoths?
What killed the woolly mammoths on St. Paul Island? Thirst. For the first time, scientists have pinpointed the date — 5,600 years ago — and a likely cause of extinction. They believe the environmental changes that killed the animals mirror today’s climate changes. Listen now
Shell returns to Unalaska
Shell is back in Unalaska. Dutch Harbor was a staging area for Shell’s unsuccessful search for oil in the Arctic Ocean last year. This week, three ships — the Aiviq, the Dino Chouest, and the Ross Chouest — associated with Shell’s Arctic efforts arrived in Unalaska on a mission to remove the last signs of that effort. Listen now
AK: YCC introduces Alaska kids to the Aleutians — and careers
What happens when five teenagers pile onto a research vessel and go island hopping through the Aleutians in the name of conservation? Science. Education. And maybe a peek into their futures. Listen now
Alaska Ocean Acidification Network seeks to inform public of ocean acidity
Climate change may get all the attention, but it has a less-talked-about but no less troubling twin: ocean acidification. And a growing chorus of Alaskans, from shellfish growers to fishermen, are fretting about the potential impacts to the state’s waters. Now a new collaboration is aiming to bring ocean acidification into the spotlight - with the hope that better understanding it will better prepare the state to adapt. Listen now
St. George takes steps to protect their marine environment
An island in the Pribilof’s is taking steps to protect the marine environment in their backyard. St. George's city council passed a resolution earlier this month that could establish a National Marine Sanctuary. Listen now
AK: The agony and the ecstasy of Pokemon in Alaska
The rapid rise of "Pokemon Go" raises interesting issues about technology, discipline, and internet access across huge swaths of the state. Listen now
After decades of research, Steller sea lion decline still puzzles scientists
Every summer, biologists visit Alaska to count Steller sea lions. The western stock of the population has been in decline for nearly 40 years -- hitting a low in 2002. The count helps determine whether sea lions stay on the endangered species list, which puts costly restrictions on the commercial fishing fleet. Listen now
Karen Abel: Retracing her grandfather’s time in the Aleutians
For Karen Abel, what started as learning more about her grandfather has grown into sharing the story of World War Two’s Aleutian Island campaign. And it’s brought her over 6,000 miles from her home in Florida to see firsthand where he served 74 years ago.