Tag Archives: Fishermen and Processors

Senator Lisa Murkowski: Investing in seafood industry pays off

Alaskans know just how essential fisheries are to life in the 49th state. The seafood industry is the largest direct employer in our state, providing 60,000 jobs and generating over $5 billion for Alaska’s economy. Over 15 percent of Alaska’s working age rural residents are employed by the industry. And commercial fisheries are a cultural and economic cornerstone in small communities across the state’s 33,000 miles of shoreline. Alaska’s seafood industry also provides for our nation. Catches in Alaska make up more than 60 percent of all seafood harvests in the United States, >click to read< 15:11

Stay home or go fishing? Homer fishermen grapple with cod decline

Regulators voted to slash Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod allocations 80 percent earlier this month after a massive decline in stocks. That has fishermen and processors around the Gulf deciding what to do when the season kicks off on in January. “It’s going to be a big deal to a bunch of us. I’m guessing we’re going to be looking for stuff to do by the end of February at the latest,” Alray Carroll said.,, Once 2018’s total allowable catch of 13,000 metric tons has been landed, the season is over. click here to read the story 10:44

In the Village of Kaltag, Fishermen and Processors Without Summer Employment – NOAA diverts disaster relief money

cashYukon River Gold LLC, the sole salmon processor in the village of Kaltag announced that it will not operate this summer,,, Why isn’t the disaster assistance making it to the victims of the disaster? The Federal fisheries disaster assistance is intended to help get the commercial fishing communities back on their feet, but the middle and upper Yukon River has had their disaster assistance diverted by NOAA to the politically powerful and largest Alaska Native organization Tanana Chiefs Conference/Doyon, have combined annual revenues of $400,000,000, and hardly need the money. The Kaltag region in contrast has only $9,361 in per capita income, 25% unemployment, and desperately needs the jobs. Read the rest here 16:18