August 27, 2018 — Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute recently received clarification about tariff changes, which went into effect on July 6, for Alaska seafood products going into the Chinese domestic market, an organization spokesperson said.
The public-private marketing organization promotes Alaska’s seafood industry.
“We previously thought that fish meal would not be included and we now know that fish meal products will be included in those proposed tariff increases from China,” communications director Jeremy Woodrow said.
Woodrow says $69 million in fish meal products — mostly used in animal feed — were exported to China last year.
Woodrow said one of the largest generators of fishmeal is the Alaska pollock industry.
The fishmeal market is important to Alaska because it ensures full utilization of seafood and helps generate revenue.
“The more that you can get out of the fish, the more everybody benefits,” Woodrow said. “That’s right down to the fishermen, to the processors, as well as the communities.”
Many fishing communities rely on a variety of fish taxes.