Alaska Sealife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) is leading the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) effort to create and sustain a large, nationwide network of zoo and aquarium professionals trained to respond to oil spills and other disasters affecting wildlife. Over a three-year period, ASLC, in collaboration with the Oiled Wildlife Response Program at the University of California Davis, will develop and deliver training courses, as well as a mutual aid framework and searchable database, to facilitate rapid identification and deployment of appropriately trained specialists in the event of a disaster. Courses will meet certification requirements for those participating in disaster response and dealing with hazardous material. ASLC will also develop a system for rapid deployment to areas of need including a database of individuals with training, specific skills, and certifications. The project will result in a fully developed system that can be handed off to AZA for administration and maintenance.