Alaska
Salmon set to return, but market questions loom Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elwood Brehmer - June 17, 2020 The start of the massive Bristol Bay commercial sockeye fishery is fast approaching but this year is bringing with it a level of uncertainly rivaled by few others even in the volatile fishing industry. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2020-06-17/salmon-set-return-market-questions-loom COVID-19 and Alaska's Fish Processors KTUU by Jill Burke - June 17, 2020 Alaska's fishing industry has dealt with fluctuating fish runs and ocean storms. But Covid-19 is a new force to be reckoned with. https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/COVID-19-and-Alaskas-Fish-Processors--571334281.html Pacific Salmon Catches Remain High Overall Fishermen's News - June 17, 2020 A new report from the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission says North Pacific-wide total salmon catches for 2019 remained near all-time high levels, but were particularly low for some salmon species in commission member countries. http://fnonlinenews.blogspot.com/2020/06/pacific-salmon-catches-remain-high.html Copper River Seafoods Initiates New Cost Saver Cold Storage Plan Fishermen's News - June 17, 2020 After years of storing large quantities of its flash frozen seafood with a Seattle cold storage firm, Copper River Seafoods is investing in its own cold storage facility in Anchorage, one with a capacity of two million pounds of frozen seafood. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2020-06-17/copper-river-counts-keep-commercial-fishing-closed Copper River counts keep commercial fishing closed Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elwood Brehmer - June 17, 2020 There seems to be a decent chance commercial fishing in the Copper River District could resume soon despite a dismal start to the famed early season salmon fishery. “I’m optimistic about having some opportunity at this point,” Cordova Area Management Biologist Jeremy Botz said June 16. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2020-06-17/copper-river-counts-keep-commercial-fishing-closed Poor Kenai king returns will restrict start of Cook Inlet fishery Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elwood Brehmer - June 17, 2020 Segments of the Upper Cook Inlet commercial sockeye fishery will again start with restrictions to limit the harvest of late-run Kenai kings. https://www.kucb.org/post/king-cove-sees-second-local-case-covid-19-seafood-industry-worker Developers of proposed Pebble Mine offer dividends to everyone in Bristol Bay, hotbed of mine opposition Alaska Public Media by Liz Ruskin - June 17, 2020 The Pebble Partnership published this map of communities where it says it will pay dividends to adult residents. If the Corps issues a permit, the project will become much more attractive to investors. https://kmxt.org/2020/06/developers-of-proposed-pebble-mine-offer-dividends-to-everyone-in-bristol-bay-hotbed-of-mine-opposition/ King Cove Sees Second Local Case Of COVID-19 In Seafood Industry Worker KUCB by Hope McKenney - June 17, 2020 King Cove officials have reported a second local case of COVID-19, after announcing the city's first June 8.This is the second case in a seafood worker in the Alaska Peninsula village. https://www.kucb.org/post/king-cove-sees-second-local-case-covid-19-seafood-industry-worker National While COVID-19 Remains a Focus, Consumers’ Interests have Started to Shift Beyond the Pandemic Urner Barry by Andraia Torsiello - June 18, 2020 Since the beginning of the pandemic, the world has been focused on coronavirus. With the virus impacting just about every aspect of consumers’ lives, stepping away from the news is not always enough to escape the fatigue. For the first time in three months, the virus is no longer front and center amid recent events surrounding protests. In some ways, Datassential found that this has caused some households of younger generations to relax COVID-19 precautions and take on more risk to get out and reclaim their lives. More than others, younger generations and households with children are partaking in socializing in larger groups and heading back to dining rooms. While Americans are not ready to completely turn off virus-related news, they are ready to expand their focus once again to other important topics. Overall concern remains steady and consistent with early pandemic levels. As of June 5th, about 47% of those surveyed are “very concerned” about the virus. This percentage compares to levels seen in early March that ranged from 41% to 49%. Also, the percentage of those “not concerned” reached 13%, the highest percentage noted since the beginning of April. Avoidance of dining out also remains steady but continues to show signs of softening. About 45% of consumers are still avoiding eating out, which is a 2% decrease from the week prior. Almost a quarter have no concerns whatsoever, which is a 1% gain from the week before. Meanwhile, majority of Americans are still home-based, but some are starting to return to normal. Around 34% are working or attending school remotely, while 21% are still going to work and school as they normally would. Consumers that have started to take fewer precautions have done so because they are simply “over it.” About 26% reported they are taking fewer precautions because they feel they need to get back to normal. Additionally, 23% feel that since the people around them are taking extra precautions they do not need to. Younger generations seem to be pushing the boundaries when it comes to activities that are discouraged due to COVID-19. When asked about what activities they have done in recent weeks, about 43% have been outside without a mask, 34% socialized without being 6-feet apart the entire time, and 23% ate inside of a restaurant dining room. Even though coronavirus coverage has left the spotlight in the mainstream media, this does not mean consumers feel as though it should not remain a focus. Businesses reopening and massive protests have served to increase concern, fueled by fears that people are becoming too lax with safety precautions. At the same time, about half of Americans are not following COVID-19 as closely and are interested in news beyond the pandemic. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1173922/While-COVID-19-Remains-a-Focus-Consumers-Interests-have-Started-to-Shift-Beyond-the-Pandemic
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