Alaska/Pacific Coast
Alaska Fisheries Report KMXT by Maggie Wall - April 29, 2019 Pollock with its mild flavor is a versatile fish. They can be made into surimi, fish sandwiches, and now high protein noodles. The new product from Trident Seafoods won awards but can the noodles win over the American public? http://kmxt.org/2019/04/alaska-fisheries-report-april-25-2019/ Alaska Pollock Producers Hands Ketchum Global PR Assignment MENAFN.COM - April 26, 2019 SEATTLE — The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers has handed its PR business to Ketchum as part of the organization's larger $10m marketing push aimed at furthering consumption of the fish worldwide. https://menafn.com/1098442794/Alaska-Pollock-Producers-Hands-Ketchum-Global-PR-Assignment Copper River opener will Kick Off Salmon Season Week of May 12th SeafoodNews by John Sackton - April 30, 2019 The first Prince William sound openings on the Copper River are expected for Monday, May 13th. ADF&G has forecasted a run of about 55,000 kings, which is 20% higher than the ten-year average. For sockeye, the forecast is for 1.4 million wild fish, and 98,000 hatchery fish. For wild fish, this is 31% below the ten-year average. These forecasts are often wrong, even though they are based on the best available science from the ADF&G. Last year, about 1 million fewer fish came into the Copper River than expected, and there were far fewer openers on Kings. “This forecast is uncertain and should be interpreted with caution as poor runs of many Gulf of Alaska sockeye salmon stocks in 2018 suggest there is a considerable likelihood of over-forecasting in 2019,” says the ADF&G. For the larger Bristol Bay sockeye run, that generally sets pricing, the 2019 projection is for 40.18 million fish, with a harvest of only 26.1 million, compared to last years run of 62.3 million fish, and a harvest of 41.3 million fish. Looking to the summer, expectations are for better returns of pinks to Prince William Sound, and one bright spot this year may be an exceptionally large run of chum salmon, with a potential harvest of 29 million chums, potentially the largest in the state’s history. Last year brought huge numbers of chum salmon to Norton Sound, and this year may bring a burst of them to Southeast Alaska. McDowell group economist Garrett Evridge said that “2018 prices were strong, Bristol Bay processors and fishermen were able to move a lot of product at a pretty high price.” “Part of that high price came from weakness in other areas of the state, so that’s a factor. In terms of the 2019 price, the market appears to be pretty stable when you consider the level of inventory. We haven’t heard too many reports of significant existing inventory out there.” https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1139822/Copper-River-opener-will-Kick-Off-Salmon-Season-Week-of-May-12th Politics House resolution celebrates sustainable wild salmon Discussion continues on speeding renewal of aquatic farm permits Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - April 26, 2019 A resolution celebrating the sustainable wild salmon industry and its health and social benefits to the nation, in conjunction with the International Year of the Salmon, is working its way through the Alaska Legislature. https://thecordovatimes.com/2019/04/26/house-resolution-celebrates-sustainable-wild-salmon/ Senators Join to Preserve Sea Grant Program Funding After Trump Administration Proposed Cuts SeafoodNews.com by Susan Chambers - April 26, 2019 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined 25 of their Senate colleagues in an effort to preserve funding for the National Sea Grant College Program following the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate its funding in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. In a bipartisan letter to U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, the senators requested the program be funded at it's current levels next year, at the very least, and recognize stakeholder requests for increased funding. “We urge you to reject the administration’s proposed elimination of the National Sea Grant College program. We are grateful that the committee included an increase for this program in FY 2019, particularly as the increase was given in a challenging budget environment,” the senators wrote. “As senators from some of the states with Sea Grant programs, we see firsthand how this federal investment is leveraged locally to bring immense returns to coastal communities, fishermen, universities, and students. Any cuts to this funding would have a devastating impact and we strongly urge you to reject any proposals to reduce this program.” The senators said in their letter that federal investment in Sea Grant programs yields $579 million in economic benefits, a 793% return on federal investment. The Sea Grant program has become a critical tool to help increase education and conservation of marine resources in Oregon, Wyden and Merkley said in a press release. The state’s Sea Grant program, housed at Oregon State University, receives more than half its annual funding from the federal budget. In addition to enhancing education and conservation efforts statewide, the Sea Grant program has become an integral part of Oregon’s coastal economy. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Bill Cassidy, M.D., R-La.; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska; Angus King, I-Maine; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Tom Carper, D-Del.; Ed Markey, D-Mass.; Tammy Baldwin D-Wis.; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Kamala Harris, D-Calif. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1139487/Senators-Join-to-Preserve-Sea-Grant-Program-Funding-After-Trump-Administration-Proposed-Cuts International Alaska seafood looks to international market to expand value KTUU by Grant Robinson - April 29, 2019 ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - After a year where Chinese tariffs injected uncertainty and caution into the global trading market, Alaska seafood companies are gearing up to expand business at the largest seafood trade exhibition in the world. https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Alaska-seafood-looks-to-international-market-to-expand-value-509245351.html Federal Register Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/29/2019 This final rule implements the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, this final rule implements portions of the Catch Sharing Plan and management measures that are not implemented through the International Pacific Halibut Commission. These measures include the recreational fishery seasons and management measures for Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/29/2019-08611/pacific-halibut-fisheries-catch-sharing-plan FYI’s 6 Health reasons why you should eat more salmon Baltimore Post- Examiner by Steven Christensen - April 26, 2019 Seafood such as salmon, tuna, and shrimp is known for its health benefits. It’s a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and high-quality proteins. It also contains many important minerals including zinc, iodine, and phosphorous. https://baltimorepostexaminer.com/6-health-reasons-why-you-should-eat-more-salmon/2019/04/26 Gorton’s partners with Netflix celebrity to grow pollock sales Seafood Source by Christine Blank - April 29, 2019 Gorton’s renewed partnership with “Queer Eye” star and restauranteur Antoni Porowski was a natural fit, the frozen food supplier’s marketing director told SeafoodSource. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/foodservice-retail/gortons-partners-with-netflix-celebrity-to-grow-pollock-sales
Ann Owens Pacific Seafood Processors Association Office Manager 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: pspafish@gmail.com; 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.