State distributes $9 million in grants for fish marketing
A $9 million package of state grants for fish marketing will help move hundreds of thousands of cases of canned pink salmon that have been gathering dust in Alaska warehouses, Gov. Frank Murkowski said Thursday.
The governor said Alaska processors have a carryover inventory of some 890,000 cases of salmon, and he estimated the state salmon marketing grants would help move 250,000 cases.
The grant program is part of Murkowski's $50 million salmon industry revitalization strategy, which has included economic development grants and aid for individual fishermen and struggling communities. The state received more than 100 requests for funding totaling more than $20 million, and granted 55 requests ranging from about $2,500 to about $1 million.
"These projects we feel very confident are really going to have a positive impact on the lives of Alaskans," Murkowski said.
Trident Seafoods received about $1.1 million for three different proposals, including about $1 million for a salmon burger promotion at Costco. The burgers will be packaged in 12-packs, and the wrappers will bear the Alaska Seafood symbol and indicate the product is "A Natural Source of Omega-3." Omega-3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fats that have been recognized as important to human health.
All products marketed using grant funds must bear packaging indicating they are made in Alaska, said Glenn Haight, fisheries development specialist with the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Juneau-based Northern Keta received $99,000. Co-owner Elisabeth Babich said the grant would help the caviar company put that label on products sold in the European Union.
"Over the years, we've had all these ideas and couldn't put them into place because of economic constraints," Babich said.
Northern Keta also will use the money to push its caviar in EU organic health food markets, she said.
Other companies receiving grants proposed to market value-added products such as smoked salmon sausage and jerky, to improve their Web site designs, and to expand their markets on the East Coast and in other areas.
Bob Thorstenson, president of the United Fishermen of Alaska, said the grants come at a critical time for the industry and will help push a lot of product.
"We're at a crossroads where the economics of the salmon industry are deplorable. This is exactly what this industry needs," Thorstenson said.