Wednesday, April 9 , 2025

Alaska US lawmakers introduce measure to tackle labor shortage in Alaska processing sectorThe measure would exempt all US seafood processors from a cap on the number of foreign workers they can hire. Intrafish by John Fiorillo -  April 7, 2025 US senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have introduced the Save Our Seafood (SOS) Act, aiming to address labor shortages in the seafood industry. The legislation would exempt US seafood processors from the H-2B visa cap, helping businesses meet workforce demands during peak seasons. https://www.intrafish.com/processing/us-lawmakers-introduce-measure-to-tackle-labor-shortage-in-alaska-processing-sector/2-1-1803887 NOAA struggles with staffing shortages as summer Alaska pollock season approaches Trump administration federal workforce cuts could impact important research operations. Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - April 7, 2025 The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regional Alaska office continues to feel the effects of the Trump administration's cuts as it heads into key summer fishing seasons. https://www.intrafish.com/fisheries/noaa-struggles-with-staffing-shortages-as-summer-alaska-pollock-season-approaches/2-1-1803226 International With traditional markets stagnating, Russia is targeting this country for pollock roe exports The country’s pollock trade group is planning to achieve a fivefold increase in roe shipments to the country over the next few years. Seafood Source by Evgeny Vovchenko - April 7, 2025 Due to declining prices in their primary markets, Russian pollock companies are exploring new markets for frozen pollock roe. https://www.intrafish.com/markets/with-traditional-markets-stagnating-russia-is-targeting-this-country-for-pollock-roe-exports/2-1-1803833 Labeling and Marketing U.S. Consumers Eating More U.S.-Caught Wild Alaska Pollock in 2024 Perishable News by The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) Seafood - April 7, 2025 The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced that 2024 witnessed a record year for consumption of U.S.-caught Wild Alaska Pollock by American consumers. https://www.perishablenews.com/seafood/u-s-consumers-eating-more-u-s-caught-wild-alaska-pollock-in-2024/ Federal Register Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; Management Measures for the Area 2A Pacific Halibut Directed Commercial Fishery A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/08/2025 NMFS is proposing annual management measures for the 2025 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery that operates south of Point Chehalis, WA, (lat. 46°53.30′ N) in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. Annual management measures include fishing periods and fishing period limits. NMFS is also proposing to modify permit deadlines for all Area 2A non-Tribal commercial fisheries and modify inseason action announcement procedures for the Area 2A non-Tribal directed commercial fishery. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide fishing opportunity where available. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/08/2025-05939/pacific-halibut-fisheries-of-the-west-coast-management-measures-for-the-area-2a-pacific-halibut

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-Friday8:00 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.