In the midst of what’s proving to be the worst pink salmon harvest in Alaska in four decades, Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, is seeking state and federal relief for those in the industry impacted by the multi-million dollar loss.
After going door-to-door in Kodiak, speaking with cannery workers and others hard hit by what Stutes said is the worst pink salmon harvest in 40 years, she has appealed to Gov. Bill Walker and the state Department of Commerce for help.
The Kodiak legislator, who chairs the House Fisheries Committee, has asked the Walker administration to issue a disaster declaration for the 2016 pink salmon harvest, paving the way for federal disaster aid for the industry.
She has also asked the Division of Investments within the Commerce Department for a waiver of payments due this year from state funded loans to fishermen, so that payments due this year from fishermen can instead be put on the end of their loan.
Such a procedure is already provided for in existing loans, but with the number of people who will probably be applying to skip this year’s payment, and add it on to the end of their loan, it would be more expedient for the Division of Investments to not have to go through this for each individual loan, she said.
All that harvesters with loans through the Division of Investments would have to do is notify the state, by calling 1-800-478-LOAN, prior to the due date on their loan payment, that they will be applying for the waiver for this year, she said.
So far this season only the sockeye harvest has exceeded forecasts, with deliveries to processors of 52.6 million reds, compared to a forecast of 47.7 million.
Processors statewide have received 36,245,000 humpies, compared to the forecast of 90.1 million pinks.
Just a year ago, the statewide pink salmon harvest of 190.4 million fish, at an average dock price of 20 cents a pound, had a total value of $131,999,000, according to preliminary data compiled by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
In 2014, 95.306,000 pinks, for which harvesters received an average of 30 cents a pound, had a total estimated ex-vessel value of $97,726,000,
This season the king salmon harvests of 376,000 fish, including some 288,000 kings in Southeast Alaska, and 88,000 kings outside of that area, are falling some 10,000 fish short of the forecast for outside of Southeast Alaska.
Chum and silver catches, still in progress, have brought in 13 million chums and 2.5 million silvers, compared to a forecast of 18.7 million chums and 4.4 million cohos.
The poor pink salmon run is affecting processors, fishermen, and cannery workers, which affects every business in every one of these coastal communities, Stutes said.
“We all depend on the fishermen, the fish, the processors and our workers to keep a viable community. The fish are the main ingredient and we are missing them this year,” she said.
