VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 2 | JUNE 2026
USDA OFFICE OF SEAFOOD TO PROVIDE RESOURCES
New initiative will help Alaska fishermen with navigating the future BY FIREWEED STRATEGIES THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN MID-APRIL ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF THE USDA OFFICE OF SEAFOOD, AIMED AT PRIORI- TIZING CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EASE OF NAVI- GATION FOR AMERICAN SEAFOOD CULTIVATORS, PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS TO ACCESS USDA PROGRAMS. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of the Inte- rior Doug Burgum, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan and Maine Sen. Susan Collins in an event highlighting the first of its kind office. “President Trump is the first President to recognize fisherman for the essential work they do to sustain our food supply,” Rollins said. “With the launch of the USDA Office of Seafood, we are honoring decades of hard work on the water and opening the door to new opportunities, stronger support and a brighter future for the seafood industry. The announcement, in addition to the historic tax cuts and investments in rural America made possible through the priorities and provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, is truly a new chapter for America’s fishermen.” Burgum and Lutnick echoed the senti- ments and pointed to the importance of the seafood industry in Alaska. “The Department of the Interior is thrilled to support the establishment of the first-ever Seafood Office at the Department of Agriculture — an initiative that puts the people who help feed America first,” Burgum said. “American fishermen are the backbone of coastal economies and a vital part of our nation’s food security. By improving coordi- nation across agencies, the Seafood Office
Photo Courtesy Trident Seafoods
SEAFOOD: THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF COASTAL ALASKA
Photo Courtesy Trident Seafoods The Federal government “will enter a new era of seafood policy where American fishermen will be recognized by USDA as a key part of the U.S. food supply," officials said recently on the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Julie Decker is President of the Pacific Seafood Processors Associa- tion. We asked her to provide insight on the economic footprint, innovation and impact
salmon, cod, and crab fisheries or tender for salmon fleets. Pollock and other trawl fisheries help sustain year-round employ- ment and infrastructure that supports the broader seafood industry. In the Bering Sea, more than 30% of the fisheries are directly owned by Western Alaska communities through the Commu- nity Development Quota (CDQ) program, and that ownership is growing. The CDQ program generates over $50 million annu- ally for local economies. Across Alaska, pollock underpins the seafood processing sector. Without pollock, fishermen would have fewer processors to sell their catch to, and communities would lose much of their revenue. The commer- cial fishing industry is highly diverse and highly interdependent. A MUCH BIGGER ECONOMIC FOOTPRINT The economic impact of Alaska sea- food — $6 billion annually — extends well beyond boats and processing plants. The seafood industry is the largest manufactur- ing sector in Alaska, providing exports of
billions of pounds of seafood to the Lower 48 and around the world. These barge ship- ments south help reduce freight costs to all Alaskans. Additionally, the movement of goods and people supports regional air carriers, and sustains a wide range of local businesses — from welders and electricians to grocery stores, hotels, medical clinics and fuel suppliers. The industry also sup- ports careers in engineering, logistics, in- formation technology, research, and skilled trades. Salmon and pollock are the two most important fisheries to Alaska — by both value and volume. Most Alaskans know how important salmon is to the state, but fewer know the importance of pollock. Alaska pollock — the nation’s single largest fishery — provides $830 million to Alaska’s economy, more than 6,300 Alaska jobs and nearly $350 million in wages annually. In many coastal communities, seafood taxes provide the majority of local gov- ernment revenue. Fish landings, processor
will ensure these fishermen can fully access the tools and programs they need to thrive.” “The Trump Administration is committed to supporting American fishermen, strength- ening our coastal communities and ensuring families have access to affordable high-quality American seafood,” Lutnick said. “When our fishermen win, America wins.” Sullivan pointed to the specifics of the new office and the positives specific to Alas- kan fishermen. “Alaska’s fishermen deserve the same federal attention, resources and risk man- agement tools afforded to America’s incred- ible farmers,” Sullivan said. “The new USDA Office of Seafood — an action I’ve been strongly advocating for over the past decade — opens the door to that opportunity. “This office is going to benefit everybody: all of Alaska’s fishermen, our small busi- nesses and our many coastal and Interior communities from across the state. I thank Secretary Rollins and Secretary Lutnick for working closely with me and my team over the past year to fully understand the chal- lenges facing our fishermen and coastal
communities and for taking meaningful ac- tion on their behalf. “With this new office, we’re going to build a stronger partnership between USDA, Department of Commerce, the entire Exec- utive Branch and our fishermen so they can continue to do what they do best: sustain- ably harvesting the freshest and healthiest wild seafood in the world.” The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conser- vation and Management Act — the primary law governing marine fisheries in U.S. feder- al waters — was signed into law more than 50 years ago, providing the fishing industry with long-term economic stability. However, for years, fishermen across the country have been struggling to navigate programs that can help support their businesses, USDA of- ficials said. With the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood, the Federal government “will enter a new era of seafood policy where American fishermen will be recognized by USDA as a key part of the U.S. food supply.”
the commercial fishing industry has not only on coastal Alaskan communities, but the worldwide seafood industry itself. BY JULIE DECKER ALASKA’S COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY IS OFTEN VIEWED THROUGH A NARROW LENS — FOCUSED ON GEAR CONFLICTS, HEADLINES ABOUT BYCATCH OR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHO BENEFITS ECONOMICALLY. BUT ON THE GROUND IN ALASKA, THE REALITY IS FAR MORE INTER- CONNECTED, AS THE INDUSTRY IS DEEPLY ROOT- ED IN ALASKA COMMUNITIES. In the Gulf of Alaska, more than two- thirds of trawl vessels are homeported in Alaska and operated by Alaskans. Many of those same vessels also participate in
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ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW JUNE 2026
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