In Mixed Catch, NF Senior Editor Linc Bedrosian spotlights a wide range of commercial fishing-related news items from coast to coast.
Friday, 21 September 2012
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) recently introduced a bill to create a national seafood marketing and development effort. Anyone in Congress wondering whether they should support the bill need look no further than the Fisheries of the United States 2011 report NOAA released this week.
NOAA reports U.S. fish and shellfish landings reached a 17-year high of 10.1 billion pounds worth $5.3 billion in 2011, up 1.9 million pounds and $784 million respectively from 2010 totals. The agency attributes the landings increase to higher catches of Gulf of Mexico menhaden, Alaska pollock and Pacific whiting.
According to the annual report, Americans gobbled up some 4.7 billion pounds of seafood in 2011, second only to China in seafood consumption. However, the report also shows that about 91 percent of the seafood U.S. consumers ate was imported. That's up 5 percent from 2010. Edible seafood imports totaled 5.3 billion pounds worth $16.6 billion in 2011.
The proposed nationwide seafood marketing and development program aims to increase value and create jobs in the seafood industry via a proposal that the National Seafood Marketing Coalition has drafted. According to Begich, some 75 fishing groups from around the nation's coasts support the proposal.
The coalition plan would establish a National Seafood Marketing Fund. Some $50 million would be available annually, though a sustainable income source for the fund remains to be determined. Five regional marketing boards comprising fishermen, large and small processors, and others in the seafood marketing, food service, transportation and retail sectors would be established to distribute the money.
"A national marketing and development program could help boost seafood sales and mean more jobs and stronger economies for our coastal communities," Begich said in his press release announcing the bill's introduction.
You'd like to think that in an election year, our esteemed legislators would be tripping over each other to cast a "Yes" vote for a program that could boost the economy and create jobs. But where Congress is concerned, take nothing for granted. If you'd like to see a nationwide seafood marketing plan established, write and call your Congressional representatives and get them to commit to voting for the bill.
Callifornia crabbing: Here's a fun video shot on the decks of the Majestik while catching Dungeness crab off the coast of northern California.
Alaska fisherman and commercial fisheries activist Kevin Adams was elected chairman at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute board of directors meeting on May 9 in Anchorage.
The governor-appointed board consists of seven members: five seafood processors and two industry representatives actively engaged in commercial fishing. Adams was appointed to fill a harvester seat by Gov. Frank Murkowski in 2004.
With 38 years of fishing experience in Bristol Bay, Adams has long been an active member in the Alaska fishing industry, ASMI says. He has worked for both the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation and the Bering Sea Fisherman's Association, and represents Alaska fishermen on numerous boards.
The Northeast Regional Planning Body, a group of state, tribal and federal representatives from New England who are working to implement the National Ocean Policy and address critical New England ocean issues, is holding a series of public meetings in May and June.
The meetings are being held to discuss draft regional ocean planning goals and associated potential actions. The planning body seeks input on these goals and actions. Additional information on the group's progress can be found here.
The meetings will also provide an opportunity to review draft maps and products from initial efforts to gather information on the natural resources and diverse uses of the ocean, including fishing, transportation, energy and infrastructure, aquaculture, and recreation.
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