Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Alaska Tax Credit Program for Seafood Processors Extended Fishermen's News - September 6, 2022 Legislation signed in early July extends the sunset date for an Alaska tax credit program for seafood processors that bring value-added product to market. https://fishermensnews.com/article/tax-credit-program-for-seafood-processors-extended/ Holland America first cruise line certified sustainable for Alaska seafood by RFM National Fisherman - September 6, 2022 Holland America Line has been awarded Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification, making it the first and only cruise line to achieve the distinguished credential by serving only fresh, certified sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood. RFM certified all six of the cruise line's ships that sail to Alaska following an independent audit, Holland reports. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/holland-america-first-cruise-line-certified-sustainable-for-alaska-seafood-by-rfm National USDA Purchase of Pacific Northwest Seafood Products Falls $20 Million Short Urner Barry by Ryan Doyle - September 7, 2022 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) failed to buy the approved $52 million worth of Pacific Northwest seafood products it initially planned on purchasing. In July 2022, the USDA announced it would buy just over $50 million worth of Pacific pink shrimp, Pacific hake (whiting) and Pacific rockfish. However, the purchase award description released on September 1 showed that the USDA purchased roughly $31.2 million worth of seafood, about $21 million below the previously announced total. The USDA purchased 57,600 cases of frozen Pacific rockfish fillets for about $11 million, 46,800 of various sizes of Pacific salad shrimp for about $7.4 million and 85,500 cases of frozen Pacific whiting fillets for $12.7 million. In the purchase award description, the USDA explained that a total of 900 cases of the frozen rockfish were not purchased because of vendor constraints and an additional 30,600 cases (34 truckloads) were not awarded due to price consideration. Additionally, 51,300 cases (55 truckloads) of whiting were not awarded due to vendor constraints and 1,800 cases of the same product weren’t awarded due to price. Dulcich received the largest portion of the award, selling a total of 101,700 cases for $18,232,713. Next up, Ocean Gold Seafoods sold 45,000 cases for $6,221,565. Then, the USDA bought 36,000 cases of seafood from Bornstein Seafoods for $5,412,487.50. Finally, OBI Seafoods sold 7,200 cases to the USDA for $1,291,770. At the time the purchase was initially announced earlier in the summer, Lori Steele, the Executive Director of the West Coast Seafood Processors Association commented: “This is a significant increase from last year's "inaugural" USDA purchase worth $17 million - and very much-needed fantastic news for West Coast fishing communities.” “This announcement is a huge boost for our processors, our fishermen, our communities,” Steele said in a press release from Wyden’s office. “We have been able to keep our doors open, our processing employees working, and nutritious, sustainable seafood flowing to the American public, thanks in part to the USDA’s purchases these last two years. We would like to thank our Senators, Congressmen and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack for their ongoing support. These purchases will continue to help supplement and stabilize our fishing and processing crews and their families through the rest of the year.” Last year, the USDA bought roughly $17 million worth of Pacific seafood products including pacific rockfish, pacific shrimp, and pacific whiting, as SeafoodNews covered. Bornstein Seafoods (WA), Dulcich, Inc. (OR) and Ocean Gold Seafoods (WA), earned contracts from the USDA. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1234369/USDA-Purchase-of-Pacific-Northwest-Seafood-Products-Falls-20-Million-Short International FAO: Global seafood trade has slowed Seafood Source by Jason Holland - September 2, 2022 Thanks to decades of increased fishery and aquaculture yields and growing global demand, seafood is one of the most-traded food categories in the world today. However, the volume and value of overseas sales achieved by the industry has slipped in the past few years, according to the latest analysis from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/fao-global-seafood-trade-has-slowed Environment/Science Learning About Elusive, Mysterious Alaska Sharks through Partnerships and Electronic Monitoring Technology Fishermen are collecting key biological data from incidentally caught sharks in cooperative NOAA Fisheries research. NOAA Fisheries - September 1, 2022 Fishermen prepare to release a Pacific sleeper shark after collecting biological measurements during an electronic monitoring survey. Credit: Keith Fuller, Alaska Pacific University. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/learning-about-elusive-mysterious-alaska-sharks-through-partnerships-and-electronic NFI Comments in Support of EPA Clean Water Act Proposed Determination Regarding Pebble Mine National Fisheries Institute - September 6, 2022 The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute: Dear Administrator Regan & Regional Administrator Sixkiller: The National Fisheries Institute (“NFI”) submits these comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), with respect to the EPA Clean Water Act (“CWA”) Section 404(c) Proposed Determination to prohibit and restrict the use of certain waters in the Bristol Bay watershed as disposal sites for the discharge of dredged or filled material associated with the Pebble Deposit. https://www.savingseafood.org/news/management-regulation/nfi-comments-in-support-of-epa-clean-water-act-proposed-determination-regarding-pebble-mine/ 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. 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