SALMON HABITAT
Salmon swim in the waters of Prince William Sound. They hatch from eggs in the streams in the spring, swim out into the sound and on out into the ocean where they feed and return as adults to the stream where they were born. They lay their eggs and die.
Commercial fisherman have been fishing salmon for a long time in Prince William Sound. There used to be an abundance of wild salmon, but that is not the case any more. There are many hatcheries throughout the sound that raise salmon to increase the numbers.
(ie. Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery pictured above)
Many local and visiting sports fisherman also enjoy catching salmon in the sound. Alaskans fill their freezers with salmon to help feed their families. Salmon fisheries brings visitors to Prince William Sound communities which helps boost the economy. Many people are dependent on this renewable natural resource.
It is important that we protect Prince William Sound in order to preserve this beautiful part of Alaska, and to protect this natural resource for ourselves and future generations.
Commercial fisherman have been fishing salmon for a long time in Prince William Sound. There used to be an abundance of wild salmon, but that is not the case any more. There are many hatcheries throughout the sound that raise salmon to increase the numbers.
(ie. Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery pictured above)
Many local and visiting sports fisherman also enjoy catching salmon in the sound. Alaskans fill their freezers with salmon to help feed their families. Salmon fisheries brings visitors to Prince William Sound communities which helps boost the economy. Many people are dependent on this renewable natural resource.
It is important that we protect Prince William Sound in order to preserve this beautiful part of Alaska, and to protect this natural resource for ourselves and future generations.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Through this project we learned about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and how it threatened Prince William Sound. On the Stan Sephens Cruise Captain Alan Steed pointed out the area where the tanker went aground at Bligh Reef. He also told us about how it happened and the clean up efforts in the sound. We learned about S.E.R.V.S. and new efforts to better protect Prince William Sound.
P.W.S.R.C.A.C.
Donna Schantz with Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisiory Council came to visit our classroom. She brought Katie Gavenus with her. Donna talked to us about PWSRCAC and their role in protecting Prince William Sound and Katie and Donna taught us a lesson about oil spill clean up. We had aluminum pans with different beach or land type material and water. It was kind of like a model of what a real beach would look like. There was clean up material on a table and we could choose a few items for our clean-up. They then put oil into the water and we had to try to clean the oil up. To show us different conditions that could occur, Katie added some wind during our clean-up effort. We had a discussion after our activity and we all agreed it was a big job to clean up the oil, and we were not able to get it all. We discussed how important it was to be prepared and to try and prevent an oil spill in the first place.