Saving Seafood

Coast Guard gives approval to America’s Finest Jones Act waiver

January 18, 2019 — The U.S. Coast Guard has signed off on a Jones Act waiver for America’s Finest, a USD 75 million (EUR 65.8 million) vessel commissioned by Fishermen’s Finest, according to a press release issued by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington) earlier this month.

That means the boat built by Dakota Creek Industries is free to fish in U.S. waters and deliver products to American ports.

“The Coast Guard worked hard to create a thorough report absolving Dakota Creek and giving the green light to the America’s Finest vessel,” said Larsen in the statement. “The employees at Dakota Creek support a job-creating industry that strengthens national defense and fosters innovation and contributes to the maritime economy in Washington state and Alaska. I am proud to be a part of giving the hard working employees at Dakota Creek a stronger future.”

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Alaska: Unalaska Holds Firm, Demanding Congress Restrict Fishermen’s Finest Trawler

March 1, 2018 — The Unalaska City Council is standing by its request that Congress place restrictions on a troubled factory trawler commissioned by Fishermen’s Finest.

The company urged councilors earlier this month to rescind a letter they sent to Alaska’s Congressional delegation.

But councilors stood firm on Tuesday, arguing that sideboards must be imposed on the catcher-processor America’s Finest.

Without restrictions, Vice Mayor Dennis Robinson said the vessel could stay offshore and swipe profitable cod deliveries that should go to Unalaska’s shoreside processing plants.

“The shore sector is the lifeblood of this community,” said Robinson. “Without them, we wouldn’t be building a library. We wouldn’t be doing the stuff that we’re able to do.”

The rest of the council agreed after an hour of testimony dominated by representatives from shoreside fish processors.

UniSea President Tom Enlow said he’s sympathetic to the situation in Anacortes, Washington, where America’s Finest sits unfinished in a shipyard. The vessel can’t get in the water until Congress waives a construction mistake that broke federal law.

Read the full story at KUCB