Alaska fishing industry needs help from federal and state governments

The fishing industry has been a significant economic driver in the Southeast region for many years, and its importance has only grown over the past two decades.

As a public official for the past decade, I have been working hard to support the industry, and I will continue to do so. Unfortunately, the recent collapse of salmon prices worldwide, due to Russia's actions to fund its war efforts in Ukraine, has caused serious challenges to our Southeast Alaska commercial fleet and the industry as a whole. Therefore, support from various entities is crucial during this time.

I am a co-sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 14, which urges Congress to improve competitiveness and resiliency in the seafood industry. This means, among many things, establishing a seafood office at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Alaska's seafood should be included in the national conversation on food security and supply chain concerns and should be afforded the same financial opportunities as other American food producers.

Additionally, I feel it’s essential to support Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute funding and other marketing efforts to promote Alaska-caught fish to American consumers. Retailers stocking up on Russian fish and competitors like Norway ramping up their marketing efforts pose challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the success of the Alaska fishing industry.

I will also be seeking ways to help the processing industry modernize its operations in order to remain competitive with evolving consumer preferences.

At the state level, the purchase of a remote-operated vessel by the Department of Fish and Game will be of significance to the charter and commercial industries in our district. After advocating for the ROV for years, we were able to secure funding during last year’s budget process, and a habitat survey is expected to take place in the northern part of Southeast this year.

The underwater vehicle is a great tool to help better manage our fisheries, and hopefully someday soon a biomass survey of rockfish can happen in inside southern Southeast waters.

-- Rep. Dan Ortiz