Saving Seafood

Fisheries marketing bill passes Senate unanimously

October 16, 2018 — On Aug. 22, the Senate passed bill 1322 to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee with unanimous consent.

“That’s a big deal,” said Bruce Schactler, who helped write the bill and has been advocating for different versions of this committee for nearly a decade as a member of the National Seafood Marketing Coalition.

“Who passes anything out of the Senate unanimously?” asked Schactler. “Who passes anything out of the Senate at all, let alone unanimously?”

The Senate referred the bill to the House Natural Resources Committee, where it awaits markup to be sent to the floor for a vote.

If the House does pass the bill this year, then in the 2019 fiscal year, 10 percent of the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant funds would be delegated specifically to fisheries research and development. Proposals would be reviewed by a new committee of industry representatives, including fishermen, seafood marketers, processors, aquaculture stakeholders, and six regional seats.

“What we’re hoping will happen is the House takes this version verbatim and passes it as is,” Shactler added.

Looming on the horizon is another session of Congress, which would mean starting all over again.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

ALASKA: Julianne Curry Joins Icicle Seafood as Public Affairs Manager

June 21, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS — Icicle Seafood announced yesterday that Julianne Curry, a fourth-generation Alaska fisherman and advocate for the Alaska seafood industry, has been named the company’s Public Affairs Manager. She began at the post on Monday.

“Julianne was born and raised in Petersburg, Alaska, where Icicle also has deep roots,” said John Woodruff, Chief Operating Officer at Icicle Seafoods. “As a long-term resident of the area and a third generation Icicle fisherman, she is in tune with the state’s fishing sector and with Icicle Seafoods and its impressive history in the region. We are confident that Julianne will do a tremendous job and will quickly help advance the company.”

Based in Petersburg, Curry will focus on regulatory and policy matters, government and community relations and will work collaboratively with her Alaska seafood colleagues on strategic planning efforts to positively impact the sector.

Kris Norosz, also of Petersburg, held the position for Icicle until her retirement last year.

Curry was the Executive Director and lobbyist for United Fishermen of Alaska and served as the Executive Director of the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association. Most recently she consulted on a variety of fisheries related issues at both the state and federal level. She is the Chair of the Communications Committee at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and is a member of its Salmon Committee. She has been a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Advisory Panel, a board member of United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA) and the National Seafood Marketing Coalition (NSMC) while also participating on the Halibut Coalition Steering Committee. In addition, she is a regular attendee at various management and regulatory meetings such as the Board of Fisheries, International Pacific Halibut Commission

Curry is the Chair of the Communications Committee at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and is a member of its Salmon Committee. She has been a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Advisory Panel, a board member of United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA) and the National Seafood Marketing Coalition (NSMC) while also participating on the Halibut Coalition Steering Committee. In addition, she is a regular attendee at various management and regulatory meetings such as the Board of Fisheries, International Pacific Halibut Commission and the State Legislature.

Icicle Seafoods began when Robert Thorstenson Sr. formed a group of fishermen to buy out the Pacific American plant in Petersburg in 1965, renaming it Petersburg Fisheries which eventually became Icicle Seafoods. The company is one of the largest and most diversified seafood firms in North America, with facilities throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Since acquiring Icicle Seafoods in 2016, Cooke Seafood USA, Inc. has expanded the company on many levels, including investing in processing facilities and supporting Alaska communities through its ‘buy local’ policy.

This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.