Marine Advisory Program faces cuts
Advocates ask Legislature to cover loss of federal funds
Coastal businesses are rallying around the Alaska Sea Grant's Marine Advisory Program, hoping to allay cuts to the popular program.
Tourist industry guides are among those using information provided by the program, said Bob Janes, owner of Gastineau Guiding in Juneau, which has been doing eco-tours for 15 years.
"We like to bring science into our tours," he said. His staff provides water temperatures, plankton totals and other data back to the scientists. "We very much support this program and everything they've done for our business here in Juneau."
The House Finance Committee this week began taking public testimony about the state's operating budget. They expect to begin making changes Monday to the draft budget in the amendment process.
Restoring lost MAP funding might be difficult. Finance Committee Co-chair Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, denied that the MAP program had been cut.
What had happened, he said, was that one federal grant expired.
"There's a lot of information out there in the public about what's going on," Hawker said.
The University of Alaska's Board of Regents requested $613,000 to continue several positions, though Gov. Sean Parnell did not include that in his budget and the House has not included it in its draft budget either.
Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, said the budget should be increased to include those positions, but doubted it would happen.
"I would be very surprised to see any expansion of the (Marine Advisory Program) the way the budget is right now," he said.
Hawker ended Gara's comments, saying the hearing was for public testimony and not legislative testimony.
Over three days of hearings, the MAP was the budget item mentioned most often, with supporters from commercial, recreational and subsistence testifying to the value of its programs.
Petersburg Mayor Al Dwyer said that the MAP agent based there provides a litany of services outside of Petersburg as well.
"The Petersburg position at least involved all of the communities in central Southeast," he said.
Jerry Dzugan of Sitka, with the Marine Education Safety Association, said MAP agents have "been a great partner for our efforts."
Dzugan urged them to continue the lost funding.
"The Nome office just closed this week, without your support other offices will be closing as well," he said.
Juneau Reps. Beth Kerttula and Cathy Muñoz both attended the hearing to monitor the local issue.
Kerttula said the program provided a needed service, and should be added to the budget.
Muñoz said she still hoped that the MAP agents would be paid for by the University of Alaska out of the $4.5 million in its budget that is not designated for any specific program.
"The intention is for the university to take care of the program through the undesignated funds going to the university," she said.
Hawker said that would be up to the university to decide.
"I have to say very clearly, the university is to make its own decision on what its priority programs are," he said.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 586-4816 or patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.