Ketchikan Alaska Climate change issues David Mitchel OceansAlaska Marine Science Center

Climate Change issues facing Ketchikan and similar SE Alaska Communities  Sea Level Rise Impacts –Electrical utility ( extreme tides already are problematic) –Infrastructure and structures build at extreme tide level –Harbor structure built for current extreme tide level –Encroachment of high salinity water into estuaries  Changes to Coastal and Estuarine Habitat from Climate –More Rain in an area that averages 160 inches per year already –More Intense storms (wind and pressure) that has frequent hurricane level storms already (erosion, utility failures, wind damage) –Changes in estuarine conditions (salinity, temp). Fishery impacts –Impact to Tourist Based Economy with deteriorating weather conditions  Impact to Economy from changes in Fisheries and Seafood Industry

Impact to economy from changes in Fisheries and Seafood Industry

Needs Assessment Ketchikan economy is primarily based on Fisheries and tourism and is threatened by Climate change by unknown %Ketchikan economy is primarily based on Fisheries and tourism and is threatened by Climate change by unknown % Evidence now indicating Ocean Acidification is impacting Salmon Stocks- Size and Survival ( declines in Pteropodes which are key open ocean food source)Evidence now indicating Ocean Acidification is impacting Salmon Stocks- Size and Survival ( declines in Pteropodes which are key open ocean food source) Ketchikan Processing industry is based on Salmon Stocks ( more diversification needed)Ketchikan Processing industry is based on Salmon Stocks ( more diversification needed) Mariculture industry new but ocean acidification impacts,range extensions of predators, invasive species are of high concern with unknown potential impact on this industryMariculture industry new but ocean acidification impacts,range extensions of predators, invasive species are of high concern with unknown potential impact on this industry

Smart Objectives Facilitate the development of infrastructure to diversify the seafood industry to new or underutilized species.Facilitate the development of infrastructure to diversify the seafood industry to new or underutilized species. –Shellfish mariculture –Macro Algae mariculture –Utilization of New harvestable taxa resulting from range extentions. Facilitate procedures, technique development for current small fisheries.Facilitate procedures, technique development for current small fisheries. –Dive fisheries for Urchins, Sea cucumbers, geoducks –New unexploited species Provide Training opportunities for the above developmentProvide Training opportunities for the above development Provide outreach and awareness teaching to residents of KetchikanProvide outreach and awareness teaching to residents of Ketchikan

Dream List of Outcomes A plan with timelines for meeting smart objectives based on best guess onset of climate change impacts.A plan with timelines for meeting smart objectives based on best guess onset of climate change impacts. Suggested sources for funding the plan.Suggested sources for funding the plan. A list of collaborators to achieve successA list of collaborators to achieve success