 Governor Denies Use Of Foreign Salmon Processors Global Seafoods Proposal Not Sanctioned under Magnuson-Stevens Act March 29, 2002
This federal act prohibits the issuance of a permit for foreign fish processing, "if the Governor determines that fish processors within the state have adequate capacity, and will utilize such capacity, to process all of the United States harvested fish from the fishery concerned that are landed in the state." "Our survey shows the domestic processing capacity processors intend to operate in each of these regions exceeds the projected harvest," Knowles said today in a letter to Global Seafoods president Oleg Nikitenko. "Therefore in accordance with federal law, I cannot grant a permit for foreign processors to enter the internal waters of the State of Alaska, because there is adequate domestic processing capacity - and the intention to use it - to handle the expected pink and chum salmon return in 2002." In response to Global's request, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in January mailed a survey to 63 salmon processors asking them to provide information regarding the processing capacity they intend to operate during the 2002 salmon season. About half of the companies responded to the survey, representing approximately 90 percent of the historic pink salmon processing capacity in Southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, and Kodiak. The survey results indicate more than enough capacity to handle the pink salmon and chum salmon harvests in all three regions. In Kodiak, the department is forecasting a pink salmon harvest of 11 million salmon and a chum salmon harvest of 778,000 fish. The processing capacity in this region that processors intend on using in 2002 can handle 15 million pink salmon and 844,000 chum salmon. In Prince William Sound, the pink salmon harvest is expected to total 28.1 million fish and the processing capacity is sufficient to handle a harvest of 33.2 million fish. A chum salmon harvest of 2.2 million fish is expected, while capacity exists to handle a harvest of 3.8 million fish. In Southeast Alaska, the department is forecasting a harvest of 37 million pink salmon and 8 million chum salmon. Processors indicate they will have capacity available to harvest 44 million pink salmon and 9 million chum salmon. According to the news release, staff from both the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (AFG&G) and the Department of Community and Economic Development have spoken with executives from several salmon processing companies and representatives of the fishing fleets to gain additional information about their intent for the season ahead. The Department of Labor's Alaska State Seafood Employment Unit has also been working with domestic salmon processors as they gear up for the 2002 season. While some plants may not operate, or may operate at lower capacity, other plants plan on operating as they did last year, or at higher levels. The Department of Labor believes the hiring plans of domestic salmon processors are consistent with information provided by the ADF&G capacity survey. The preponderance of information gathered from these efforts supports the statements from domestic salmon processors that they will be prepared to adequately process the expected return of salmon in 2002. "I realize that concerns remain about fishermen without markets and I am directing members of my administration to investigate what can be done by state government to assist these individuals in securing markets from domestic processors," Knowles said. "I understand there are various reasons why individual companies have chosen to reduce the size of their fishing fleets and that the reasons are based on business decisions by private companies. Regardless of my concern for the plight of these individual fishermen, who may have lost their markets, there is no provision of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that would allow me to authorize foreign processors in state waters solely on this basis." The news release stated that Knowles expressed particular concern with the situation facing Metlakatla in Southeast Alaska, where domestic companies that have processed salmon in past seasons are cutting back their capacity this year. The Governor said his administration is working with the Annette Island Indian reservation to ensure there is adequate processing capacity this season. Knowles also sent a similar letter of denial to Thunderbird Fish Company of Edmonds, Washington that also requested permission to use foreign flag vessels in their operations in Alaska this season. Knowles and Sen. Ted Stevens will host a day-long fish summit in Kodiak April 4 that focuses on the current challenges facing the Alaska salmon industry.
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