Wrangell has come up short in good economic news in recent years, what with business closures, the loss of Alaska Crossings a year ago, not-so-great salmon runs and crab harvests, rising consumer prices and worker shortages. So it was especially welcome news when Trident Seafoods announced it will open its Wrangell plant this summer after a three-year shutdown.
The company plans to start work at the downtown waterfront plant within the month, getting it ready for the summer season to handle pinks and chums for the fresh-frozen market. The maintenance and some upgrades at the plant over the next several months will create needed payroll in the community, followed by 100-plus workers on the job in July and August to process the catch.
Having a large fish buyer in town also will boost borough revenues. The state collects a tax on commercial fish harvests, sharing back half of the money to municipalities where the fish is brought ashore for processing and sale. Depending on this summer’s salmon harvest and market prices, Trident’s reopening could be worth around $100,000 to the municipality.
In even more good news, some of the pre-opening work will be designed to boost the plant’s production capacity, a solid indication that Trident is looking toward operating the plant long term. Weak chum runs the past few years pushed the company’s decision to keep the plant closed, but now Trident sees a future that also includes freezing pinks at the Wrangell plant.
The market is shifting away from the traditional emphasis on putting pink salmon into cans as consumers increasingly turn to fresh-frozen fish, even pinks, explained John Scoblic, Ketchikan-based Southeast regional manager for Trident.
It’s good to see the company putting its Wrangell operation back to work, rejoining Sea Level Seafoods and individuals who market their catch. The community has long been a fishing town. Getting back its largest processor is good news.
— Wrangell Sentinel
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