Seals, Science, and Sustenance

Under low clouds and light sprinkles, the nearby Hoonah Cold Storage plant rumbles, a giant refrigerator spewing fumes of dead fish. On a bright blue tarp spread over of the dock’s slick planks lie two gutted Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina.) Belly up, their rib cages, fat layer, and sock-like skin are easy to see. The innards lie already sorted into jelly-like piles on a folding table.

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Twenty high schoolers, quiet with morning grogginess, circle one of the seals. The science teacher reminds them to stand an arm-swing apart because “we’ll be using knives and other sharp objects.” Meanwhile, one of the researchers explains the PPE: “Even though there’s nothing inherently dangerous, we want to avoid contact with seal blood and “mitigate exposure to zooamatic diseases.” He offers blue surgical booties to those without rubber boots — as well as latex gloves and full-coverage aprons. “We need someone to take some measurements,” he continues, “or you can volunteer to do data if you don’t want to get dirty.”

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Read the article published in March 2025, in the Juneau Empire and by the Sustainable Southeast Partnership.​