Thursday, April 7, 2022

Alaska Copper River Seafoods exits Cook Inlet, new processor steps in Alaska Journal of Commerce by Elizabeth Earl - April 6, 2022 The troubled Upper Cook Inlet commercial salmon fishery is losing one processing company and gaining another ahead of its 2022 season. https://www.alaskajournal.com/2022-04-06/copper-river-seafoods-exits-cook-inlet-new-processor-steps Feds to Allow Additional Foreign Workers in Alaska Commercial Fisheries Fishermen's News - April 6, 2022 Federal officials on March 31 announced that an additional 35,000 visas are being made available for foreign workers willing to fill nonagricultural jobs in the second half of fiscal year 2022. The expected influx of workers is expected to help temporarily fill many jobs at Pacific Northwest seafood processing companies. https://fishermensnews.com/feds-to-allow-additional-foreign-workers-in-alaska-commercial-fisheries/ Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returns to Kodiak from Bering Sea Patrol Alaska Native News by U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska - April 5, 2022 KODIAK, Alaska — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley returned to homeport on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, following a 35-day winter Bering Sea patrol in which they conducted domestic fisheries enforcement, responded to search and rescue cases, and performed at-sea medical evacuations from the Bering Sea fishing fleet. https://alaska-native-news.com/coast-guard-cutter-alex-haley-returns-to-kodiak-from-bering-sea-patrol/60926/ Bill to Reauthorize Magnuson-Stevens Act Delayed Until Alaska Elects New Member of Congress Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - April 7, 2022 The bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is being put on hold until Alaskans elect a new member of Congress following the passing of Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young. Young passed away on March 18 at the age of 88. As SeafoodNews editor Peggy Parker reported, Young was the historical constant in the evolution of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, serving in the house when Senator Ted Stevens represented Alaska in the Senate, and he and Washington Senator Warren Magnusen introduced the original legislation. Young introduced legislation two years ago with several updates to the law. Now, Representative Jared Huffman, the chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, said his bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservationand Management Act will be put on hold until a replacement for Young is elected. “Although we often differed politically, we were always able to have productive conversations when it came to fishery management, and he was a brilliant negotiator for his landmark bill,” said Huffman. Huffman added that he wanted to wait until a successor is elected this summer to “ensure the voices of the Alaskan people are represented” before the bill moves through the House. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy confirmed that ballots for the primary for Alaska’s Special Election must be postmarked by June 11. The election, which will primarily be done by mail-in ballots, will choose who will finish Congressman Young’s 25th term. Results from the June 11 primary will be announced on June 26, and those four with the top votes will move on to the August 18 General vote of the Special Election. The winner could be seated in the House in early September and will then serve until January 1, 2023. As reported earlier this week, 50 candidates filed to run in Alaska’s Special Election. “I am grateful for the progress Rep. Young and I accomplished together as we neared the finish line with this bill, and I look forward to finalizing it with whomever takes the torch from the venerable Don Young,” said Huffman. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1222956/Bill-to-Reauthorize-Magnuson-Stevens-Act-Delayed-Until-Alaska-Elects-New-Member-of-Congress West Coast All About the Fishing Fleet at Terminal 91 Port Seattle by Jenn Banday - April 5, 2022 The factory trawlers, or fish processing vessels, of the North Pacific Fishing Fleet are back in Seattle after four months of harvesting pollock in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. The docks at Terminal 91 are buzzing with activity as crews unload their recent harvest and prepare to set sail again in late May. https://www.portseattle.org/blog/all-about-fishing-fleet-terminal-91?fbclid=IwAR2oyFrl9374eVuGKHOfP5cUHB-2fbC1LGfj2FJB-4u96050HFnDRE2WVJA National GAPP Announces New Partnership Program With Trident Seafoods, Nordstrom Restaurants Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - April 7, 2022 The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced on Thursday that they’ve entered into a new partnership with Nordstrom Restaurants and Trident Seafoods for Earth Month. Team members from GAPP and Trident Seafoods met with Nordstrom chefs in January to develop recipes ideas featuring Wild Alaska Pollock. The chefs competed for which dish would be part of the April menu, with options ranging from grilled to blackened and breaded Wild Alaska Pollock. Ultimately the restaurants will feature Blackened Wild Alaska Pollock with Cajun Risotto. The specialty coffee bars at Nordstrom will feature a grab-n-go Blackened Wild Alaska Pollock Taco Salad. “We are proud to be partnering with Nordstrom, a brand that has sustainability at its core and innovation in its spirit,” said Trident Seafoods CEO Joe Bundrant. “One of our goals at Trident is to spread the world about WIld Alaska Pollock and its incredible benefits. These two delicious dishes showcase the beauty of this fish and how easy it is to create flavorful menu items using Wild Alaska Pollock as the inspiration.” The work with Trident Seafoods and Nordstrom was part of a project selected during the latest round of funding in GAPP’s Partnership Program last year. The organization awarded over $1.6 million in funding to 14 partners with the goal to increase awareness and demand for Wild Alaska Pollock. “Nordstrom and Wild Alaska Pollock are perfectly paired,” said GAPP CEO Craig Morris. “This program introduces the Nordstrom consumer who is interested in sustainability to one of the most climate-friendly proteins in the world. It’s good for you and it’s good for the planet with a lower carbon footprint than plant-based meat and land-based proteins including beef, chicken and pork. What’s more, Wild Alaska Pollock is the largest certified sustainable fishery in the world that is independently certified by both the Marine Stewardship Council and the Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management program.” Nordstrom Restaurant Group has over 200 locations, including specialty coffee bars, quick service and full service restaurants. The two Wild Alaska Pollock dishes will be available through May 2. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1222969/GAPP-Announces-New-Partnership-Program-With-Trident-Seafoods-Nordstrom-Restaurants Pacific Seafood Processors Association 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: admin@pspafish.net; Website: www.pspafish.net Our office days/hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. *Inclusion of a news article, report, or other document in this email does not imply PSPA support or endorsement of the information or opinion expressed in the document.