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The Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program has joined with the United Fishermen of Alaska to launch an online survey in order examine how high fuel costs have affected fishermen in the state and to help them exchange ideas about ways to improve efficiencies.

The brief, unscientific survey asks fishermen how high fuel prices have affected their business, and what steps they have taken to combat the high costs of fishing this year.

“Fuel costs dominated dock talk all summer,” said Mark Vinsel, executive director of United Fishermen of Alaska. “I encourage all fishermen to complete the survey, so that we can use the results to find ways to help fishermen reduce the impact of high fuel prices.”

Paula Cullenberg, leader of the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, which has extension agents in 11 Alaska coastal communities, said high bunker prices have hit Alaska fishermen especially hard this year.

"Necessity is the mother of invention," said Cullenberg. "Alaska fishermen are very good at reacting to all sorts of unexpected challenges with creative solutions. Our hope is that through this survey, we can offer these solutions to others."

In order to view the survey, please click on the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/seagrantfuel

The Marine Advisory Program has said that it will publish preliminary results of the survey on its website by October 15th, but it will continue to collect responses after that date. The website can be found at the following address:

http://seagrant.uaf.edu

It also includes a section entitled "Alaska Boating Fuel Efficiency Resources", which offers information and tips on how to conserve fuel and cope with high bunker costs.