Alaska
Adak fish plant closes following 'management shakeup' Bristol Bay Times by Jim Paulin - June 27, 2020 The only seafood shore plant in Adak has stopped buying fish, and crews were sent home following a "management shakeup" according to City Manager Layton Lockett, who said the sudden shutdown adds to the stresses of coping with the coronavirus pandemic amidst fears that birders and workers removing vintage military explosives might spread the deadly disease on the remote island without a single ventilator. http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/article/2026adak_fish_plant_closes_following_management Trump wants to bail out Maine lobster fishermen. Alaska’s seafood industry calls it a “gut punch.” Alaska Public Media by Nathaniel Herz - June 25, 2020 Fishing businesses across the country have suffered during President Donald Trump’s trade war against China: They’ve faced big tariffs that cut into their exports. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/06/25/trump-wants-to-bail-out-maine-lobster-fisherman-alaskas-seafood-industry-is-unimpressed/ Federal fisheries agency to staff: Keep “COVID-19” and “pandemic” out of documents Alaska Public Media by Nathaniel Herz - June 26, 2020 A federal fisheries management agency has barred some of its employees from making formal references to the COVID-19 pandemic without preapproval from leadership, according to an internal agency document. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/06/26/federal-fisheries-agency-to-staff-keep-covid-19-and-pandemic-out-of-documents/ A new rule makes seasonal fishermen and crew members eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program Previously, the PPP recognized crew members as “self-employed” by the Internal Revenue Service. The previous requirements left crew wages out of the equation when applying for the loans. KDLG by Tyler Thompson - June 25, 2020 A new rule to the Paycheck Protection Program allows commercial fishing businesses to include their crew member payroll when they apply for the Paycheck Protection Program. The state announced the change today. https://www.kdlg.org/post/new-rule-makes-seasonal-fishermen-and-crew-members-eligible-paycheck-protection-program Environment/Science Quiet Salish Sea gives scientists chance to study endangered killer whales Alaska Highway News by Hina Alam - June 28, 2020 A significant drop in sea traffic brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has created what scientists call a rare opportunity to study how quieter waters affect southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/quiet-salish-sea-gives-scientists-chance-to-study-endangered-killer-whales-1.24161421 Labeling and Marketing 3MMI - Buyers Update: Alaska Salmon and China Production TradexFoods - June 29, 2020 Overall, the Salmon harvest throughout Alaska over the last 4 weeks are below industry expectations with year-to-date landings the shortest in at least 12 years according to a recent McDowell Group/ASMI Alaska Salmon Update. In China, Processing plants are still under tremendous pressure with inventory, cash flow and foodservice orders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dx99QBwTYU&feature=emb_logo Opinion Opinion: Oceans can feed our future world, if we do it right The Hill by Eric Schwaab - June 26, 2020 COVID-19 driven impacts to the seafood trade have been nothing short of catastrophic for many fishing communities. In the United States, where consumers rely on restaurants for much of their seafood, fishermen have scrambled to reconnect to consumers through new pathways. Overseas, export markets have been disrupted, leaving many fishing dependent economies without needed export pathways. With increasing global population, growing climate impacts to oceans and fisheries and millions already facing food insecurity around the world, the pandemic is a good reminder of our need to look to the ocean for food security solutions. https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/504736-oceans-can-feed-our-future-world-if-we-do-it-right
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