Alaska’s Seafood Industry is in Trouble. Processors and Policymakers Blame Russia.
June 4, 2024 | 1 min to read
Alaska's coastal communities rely heavily on commercial fisheries, but they now face a significant economic slump attributed to flooded global markets. The seafood industry endured a challenging year with processing companies and fishermen suffering from plummeting prices. Senator Dan Sullivan has publicly blamed Russia for exacerbating the situation, prompting collaboration between the private sector and federal policymakers to address the crisis.
Alaska waters produce the most seafood in the country, and many of the state’s coastal communities depend on commercial fisheries to sustain their economy.
But Alaska’s fisheries are facing a massive economic slump right now, and policymakers are increasingly blaming flooded global markets. The private sector and federal policymakers are teaming up to try to stop the bleeding.
Last year was brutal for the seafood industry. Processing companies and fishermen alike suffered amid cratering prices, and they blamed Russia for flooding markets. Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, from Alaska, pointed his finger at the country at a news conference on May 23.
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