February 28, 2024 — The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) honored the winners of the Alaska Symphony of Seafood at an event in Juneau, Alaska, U.S.A. on 21 February.
The annual event, which was first put on in 1994, highlights new, commercial-ready, value-added products made from Alaska seafood in a competition the AFDF said aims to promote new products and spark investments in product development.
February 27, 2024 — The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will provide USD 1 million (EUR 920,000) to support climate resilience and food security in remote Alaskan communities and incorporate more indigenous knowledge into NOAA’s fisheries science initiatives.
“This opportunity will enable entities working to benefit indigenous knowledge holders, including tribes and Alaska Native community members to advance equity and environmental justice – including just treatment, equal opportunities and environmental benefits for all people and communities, and respect for tribal sovereignty,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “Through this effort we hope to support research projects that address community concerns while enabling NOAA Fisheries to meet its research mission through collaborative and co-produced research.”
February 26, 2024 — The following released by was NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries continues to direct support towards Alaska’s growing aquaculture (also known as “mariculture”) industry. Marine aquaculture in Alaska contributes to economic opportunities for coastal communities through the farming of shellfish and seaweed. Research is increasingly showing the ecological benefits of aquatic farming.
To date, commercial aquaculture activities in Alaska have been relatively small-scale, and have primarily involved Pacific oysters, seaweed, and blue mussels. Finfish farming is illegal in Alaska state waters.
To document and celebrate the continued growth of the aquaculture industry, NOAA Fisheries has released its first State of Alaska Aquaculture Report. This project was conducted in partnership with economic development organizations such as the Alaska Mariculture Alliance and Southeast Conference, and government organizations:
The report summarizes the current state of the aquaculture industry in Alaska including:
The report includes an overview of oyster and seaweed production in the state and a regional breakdown of the industry across Alaska. It also includes perspectives on the current state of the Alaska aquaculture industry written by hatchery operators, farmers, and state officials. It contains information about aquaculture in Alaska, funding resources for those interested in getting involved, and information about NOAA’s plans to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska.
The State of Alaska Aquaculture report is a first-of-its-kind overview of the aquaculture industry in Alaska, revealing the state’s opportunities and challenges to date. It also highlights the potential for future industry growth in Alaska, and how much work is underway to improve sustainable aquaculture production around the state. Learn more about NOAA’s involvement with aquaculture in Alaska
February 22, 2024 — Unlike their relatives in the Lower 48, the five types of Alaska salmon (king, chum, pink, sockeye and silver) are not officially endangered. However, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski told the Legislature in her annual address that kings are edging closer and the Yukon and Kuskokwim chum run declines are concerning. To keep our salmon off the endangered species list we must take action. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) will provide important funding for Alaska’s wildlife action plan.
Under ice in lakes and creeks, salmon hatchlings will emerge soon. The egg sac the alevin emerges from will still be a bulge on the tiny fish’s belly and will nourish its growth in its first few weeks. Staying close to the rocky creek bottom, the hatchling grows into its fry phase as the ice melts. Plentiful plankton and larvae in the water provide the nutrients needed to grow rapidly. Submerged logs and rocks offer shelter from predators including fish, bald eagles and migratory birds. Pink and chum heed the primal signal to enter the ocean almost right away. Kings reside in freshwater for about a year before migrating. Sockeye and silver stay in freshwater longest, a couple years, before smolting and departing on their epic migration.
February 22, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will purchase about 50 million pounds of Alaska seafood to use in national food and nutrition-assistance programs, state officials said on Tuesday.
The seafood purchase is to benefit needy children and adults and school lunches, said the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, which announced the department’s plans. The purchases are authorized through a portion of federal law called Section 32, which allows the department to buy surplus food products, and through the department’s Commodity Credit Corp., a government entity created to help stabilize agricultural income and prices.
In all, the Department of Agriculture has put bids on 1.4 million cases of pink salmon, 300,000 cases of sockeye salmon and 15 million pounds of pollock fish sticks and fillets, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute said. Each case of salmon holds 24 cans, with most cans holding 14.75 ounces but some holding 7.5 ounces.
February 21, 2024 — The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is in the process of expanding the critical habitat of North Pacific Right Whales off the coast of Alaska. If finalized, the rare marine species could have further protections near Kodiak Island and other waters across the Gulf of Alaska.
It’s estimated that less than 50 North Pacific Right Whales exist today in a range that extends from Hawaii to the southeastern Bering Sea and beyond. The rare species of whale has been on the Endangered Species List since 1970 after historical whaling activities decimated the population.
Conservation areas for the whales already exist in parts of the Southeastern Bering Sea and a small area south of Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska, totaling over 35,000 square miles. They were established 15 years ago in 2008, when the NMFS established critical habitat for the endangered whale.
But in 2022, two environmental groups: the Center for Biological Diversity and Save the North Pacific Right Whale, petitioned the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to add thousands more square miles to the animals’ critical habitat area in Alaska. NMFS announced its intent to expand those boundaries last fall after completing a year-long review.
February 20, 2024 — The Alaskan Congressional delegation of Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Representative Mary Peltola, announced their support of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that it plans to purchase about $100 million of Alaska pink and sockeye salmon through Section 32 and the Commodity Credit Corporation.
“USDA’s Section 32 purchase announcement is great news for Alaska—almost $100 million of Alaskan seafood for people experiencing food insecurity. This purchase won’t just bolster Alaska’s seafood industry and support our coastal communities, but will help bring the highest-quality and healthiest seafood products in the world to families in need. I am grateful for the USDA’s investment in our fishermen and the health of Americans,” said Senator Murkowski.
February 16, 2024 — According to a letter addressed to NMFS, the State of Alaska has substantial concerns with the proposed federal management of the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Doug Vincent-Lang, Department of Fish and Game commissioner, signed the letter. He stated that he submitted on behalf of the state in response to a request for public comments NOAA opened regarding the proposed rule.
The rule would implement federal management on commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ, previously subject to state regulation. Public comments on the proposal were accepted through Dec. 18. The letter will be included in the Alaska Board of Fisheries’ upcoming meeting on Upper Cook Inlet Finfish. The meeting will be held in Anchorage from Feb. 23 to March 6, and a discussion of the proposed federal management plan is scheduled for the first day of the meeting, according to Homer News.
February 16, 2024 — Three major seafood processors in Alaska have announced plans to sell off their plants or temporarily close for the upcoming fishing seasons. Trident, Peter Pan Seafood Company and most recently OBI Seafoods – just last month – have all cited turbulent market conditions for their decisions.
Kirsten Dobroth is the Alaska reporter for Undercurrent News, which is a commercial fishing and seafood industry trade magazine. She’s been following this market downturn.
February 15, 2024 — Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced the Working Waterfront Act, legislation that includes more than a dozen provisions aimed at boosting the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of coastal communities in Alaska and across the country. The bill will also support efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and strengthen federal conservation research projects.
Murkowski began accepting feedback from Alaskan people to help draft the Working Waterfront legislation.
“The blue economy continues to be a growing and thriving industry full of opportunity for coastal communities in Alaska- and that’s why I’m focused on bolstering the workforce and strengthening shoreside and coastal infrastructure through the Working Waterfronts Act. I want to thank the many Alaskans who engaged with my team and me to craft this legislation. You shared thoughts and ideas with me, and we have a strong product,” shared Murkowski in a February press release.