Alaska News

Alaska fisheries scholar, economics professor to head ISER

Economics professor Gunnar Knapp will become the interim director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage in January, filling the post being vacated by Heather Hudson.

Knapp holds a doctorate in economics from Yale University and has been on the ISER faculty since 1981. He is internationally recognized for his work on fisheries markets and management of fisheries resources in Alaska and worldwide.

ISER officials announced the change of directors on Dec. 3, saying that Hudson will be on leave this coming spring to write a book on the history of telecommunications in Alaska, plus other research projects.

Hudson, the founder of the Telecommunications Management and Policy Program at the University of San Francisco, plans to return to the ISER faculty later in the year.

Knapp said that the director's position is about half time and he plans to continue to pursue his work in market trends for Alaska fisheries and major management issues. He is currently updating his research data on world salmon supplies, for a presentation to be made in January at the Global Seafood Market Conference in Santa Monica, Calif., an event that attracts high level seafood industry executives.

The conference provides the industry with information on social, economic and demographic trends and changes that will affect international seafood markets.

The preceding news brief was first published by The Cordova Times and is republished here with permission.

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