Fish Radio
March 13, 2013
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch … More permitting bills pass, currency rates are rocky, and McFish Bites are a bust. That and more after this –
Federal grants are available to help “Made in America” companies compete with imports and save US jobs. Learn more at www.nwtaac.org.
Alaska sets the Gold Standard for sustainable, well managed fisheries. It’s written into the state constitution. Learn more about Alaska’s fisheries from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute at www.alaskaseafood.org
Global exchange rates refer to a currency’s purchasing power. When the dollar is strong, foreign goods are less expensive, benefitting imports. But a strong dollar can cut into purchases by Alaska’s seafood buyers overseas– and that’s the case today. The Japanese yen is down 20% from this time last year. Likewise, the Euro, the currency for 17 of 27 European nations, is also weak, valued at about 70 cents per US dollar. Both will have a big impact on Alaska seafood purchases this year.
The Alaska Senate yesterday on a 15 to 2 vote passed another of Governor Parnell’s bills which aim to streamline permitting. SB 27 would move the state toward taking responsibility for dredge and fill permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers. It also would allow the departments of Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources to take “reasonable steps” to assume primacy. Parnell calls the bill a way to limit “federal overeach” in Alaska. The measure now moves to the House. The House last week House passed a bill that removes the rights of Alaskans to protect water levels in salmon streams.
McDonald’s new Fish McBites failed to hook enough diners to get the fast-food chain’s U.S. sales growing. The McBites, made from Alaska pollock, were the first new Happy Meal item in a decade. McDonald’s has shown declines in sales three times in the past five months.
The pollock industry is launching another new product: omega 3 supplements by American Marine Ingredients., a subsidiary of American Seafood Company. It’s called 54° North Omega 3 with Vitamin D3.
heck out the line up next month at ComFish in Kodiak – www.comfishalaska.com.
Fish Radio is also brought to you by Ocean Beauty Seafoods, celebrating 103 years of partnership with Alaska’s coastal communities. www.oceanbeauty.com In Kodiak, I’m Laine Welch.
