Wild Alaska Spends $50 Million to Beat Farm Salmon

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http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2003/2003-04-21-04.asp Wild Alaska Spends $50 Million

to Beat Farm Salmon

JUNEAU, Alaska, April 21, 2003 (ENS) - Alaska's troubled salmon industry will

receive a $50 million boost under a plan announced Thursday by Governor Frank

Murkowski. The Alaska salmon fishery harvests and markets wild salmon, but the

growing market for farmed salmon has left the Alaska industry high and dry.

The $50 million in funding will cover help for individual fishermen and fishing

families, aid to municipalities that have seen a drop in raw fish taxes,

economic development projects, and a multi-year, intensive marketing program.

Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski in 2002 when he was a U.S. Senator (Photo

courtesy Office of Senator Byrd) " We want every potential salmon consumer to know

the difference between our wild Alaska salmon, with it's high omega-3 content,

and farmed salmon, " Murkowski said. Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish

such as salmon benefit the heart health of healthy people, people at high risk

of cardiovascular disease and patients with cardiovascular disease, according to

the American Heart Association.

" Europe is another developing market that needs to know the difference, " the

governor said. " We really see this funding as an excellent opportunity for a

national education campaign on Alaska wild salmon products. "

A key element of the new plan is an intensive marketing and advertising campaign

through the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) to consumers in the Lower

48 states. ASMI is a partnership of the state of Alaska and the Alaska seafood

industry that promotes Alaska seafood in the United States and 20 other

countries. The agency's 25 member Board of Directors is appointed by the Alaska

governor.

Jay Stinson of Kodiak, Alaska, the new chairman of the ASMI Board of Directors,

has plenty of experience in the industry he will be promoting to the world. He

has been involved in the Alaska salmon fisheries as tender operator, buyer,

processor and harvester for more than 30 years, and has operated fishing vessels

for 25 years.

Jay Stinson will pilot the new salmon marketing program. (Photo courtesy

ASMI)Taking the ASMI helm on March 24, Stinson called for " stable funding " for

the organization, a request the governor fulfilled with his newly announced

salmon industry recovery plan.

" Our objective is to transition the salmon industry through a very tough time to

establish a vibrant and competitive industry, and new way of marketing our wild

Alaska salmon, " Murkowski said.

In addition to direct aid to individuals experiencing economic hardships, direct

aid to impacted communities, and an intensive marketing program, the strategic

plan will help bring about higher quality control standards and better

transportation.

This should result in a higher quality product in the marketplace, Murkowski

said. Other uses of the funding will go to economic development projects, such

as chilling and freezing infrastructure, harbor and transportation

infrastructure projects, and small business assistance.

Murkowski acknowledged the members of the Legislative Salmon Industry Task

Force, who have held extensive hearings statewide on the issue. Many of the task

force's recommendations have been included in the strategic plan announced by

the governor.

After more than 50 public meetings in nearly a dozen communities and a review of

hundreds of proposals, the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force

delivered its final report to the Legislature February 3.

The report was coupled with 14 pieces of proposed legislation to address some

immediate issues concerning Alaska’s declining wild salmon industry, salmon

product development tax credits as well as a request to extend the task force

until January 2005.

State Senator Ben Stevens, a Republican representing Anchorage who chaired the

task force, said that much more is needed if Alaska is to reclaim its salmon

industry.

“There is so much happening right now in regard to the world salmon market, it

is difficult to get your arms around it all in just a few months,” said Stevens.

“What we did do was establish a communications conduit between fishermen,

processors and the Legislature. Communicating and working together is the key to

finding solutions to the problems facing our salmon industry.”

“We must move past the status quo,” said Stevens. “If we are going to compete

with fish farms we must provide a superior product. The first step is to

continually improve the quality of the fish at the time of catch.”

Last November, the Alaska Office of Fisheries Development (AOFD) produced a

report detailing the problems facing the Alaska salmon fishery as part of the

larger Alaska fishing and seafood industry.

First, the report found that the Alaska salmon industry, both fishing vessels

and processors, is still dominated by Seattle based interests.

Alaska salmon presented in an appetizing manner by ASMI (Photo courtesy ASMI)In

addition, farmed salmon is becoming increasingly popular, the report states,

leading to restructuring of Alaska's catching and processing sectors as they

attempt to keep up. " This profound – often painful – change also provides an

important opportunity to make this industry more Alaskan, " the AOFD said.

Governor Murkowski acknowledged the impact of salmon aquaculture on the Alaska

salmon fishery, and is directing the new funds to address this shift. " The

erosion of market share to farmed salmon has been devastating. But, we have a

better product, " he said. " The $50 million in funds we have committed to the

process of reclaiming our market for wild Alaska salmon will be used on many

fronts to turn the tide. "

As the state’s most visible marketing program, ASMI is often blamed for the

market crisis facing the Alaska salmon industry, but the Office of Fisheries

Development says in its report, " This is unfair. ASMI is not responsible for the

decade long recession in Japan, and has no control over the enormous growth of

the farmed salmon industry since 1990 – clearly two of the most fundamental

market challenges our salmon industry faces. "

The $50 million funding package includes $35 million in Fisheries Disaster Funds

and $15 million earmarked for economic development through the Southeast

Sustainable Salmon Funds.

 

 

 

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