Tag: covidfisheries

COVID-19 closes a third Aleutian plant, stranding Bering Sea fishermen at the dock

In the Aleutian port town of Unalaska, at least five local boats are stuck at the dock with nowhere to deliver their cod after the shutdown of the Alyeska Seafoods processing plant. One has a load of fish worth at least $10,000.
Two crew men shovel a deck full of fish on board a large boat

‘Everybody’s worst nightmare’: Bering Sea fishermen on edge after COVID-19 closes second plant

The winter fishery for Bering Sea pollock, which goes into products like McDonald's fish sandwiches, officially opened Wednesday. But two of the region's largest processors are both shut down
The white underside of halibut lie in a metal tub

COVID-19 takes half-billion dollar bite from Alaska commercial fisheries revenue

A federal agency has put some dollar amounts to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial and charter fishing industries nationwide in the first part of last year.
Some buildings next to the water against a hill

Worker evacuated from Akutan seafood processor after positive COVID-19 test

A second seafood processing plant in the Aleutian Islands has been hit with COVID-19 infections as the busy winter pollock fishing season is set to kick off.
A blue warehouse building with a small entry building oustdie where employees in hazmat equiipment wait

Unalaska seafood plant remains on lockdown with 20 more COVID-19 cases

UniSea is one of the largest seafood plants in the world.
The F/V Solstice maneuvers in Pile Bay while rafting up with the F/V Independence and F/V Eagle Claw on June 16, 2015. The three Homer-based fishing vessels traveled the length of Iliamna Lake together as part of the trip from Homer to Bristol Bay.

Fisheries to receive $50M from state for COVID relief

A proposal would split the money roughly equally between processors, commercial fishermen, and charter guides.
Piles of crabs with workers behind them

For Alaska’s seafood processors, the COVID-19 pandemic has cost tens of millions of dollars

Economists are looking at the cost of the precautionary measures processors took to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Workers gather outside a square, weathered one-story warehouse building

At closed campus seafood processors, workers swap freedom for paychecks

Workers, many of whom come from out of the country, say they weren't informed of the extreme restrictions before they arrived.
An aerial view of OBI Seafoods showing a blue-roofed processing plant jutting out into the water from a green island.

OBI Seafoods confirms COVID-19 outbreak at remote Kodiak Island processing plant

A total of 37 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at the plant.
Fish fillets slide down a stainless steel slide in a processing pllant as a worker inspects in the background.

26 new fisheries-related cases of COVID-19 in Kodiak

The cases were reported in a "remote area of the borough" and the alert level of the island remains at a 'green' status.
Boats in a sweeping bend in a river

Processor settles cannery worker lawsuit for more than $440,000

North Pacific Seafoods was sued for false imprisonment and failing to pay the workers, among other charges.
People in gloves and smocks take the bones out of fish.

Juneau processor sanitized, screened, quarantined but COVID-19 still got in

Health officials who investigated the case say it resulted from community spread — not from inside the plant.

Valdez becomes latest Alaska community to pass mask mandate

The community has reported just two resident cases but council members expressed concern about limited healthcare capacity in the town of about 4,000.
Several 30-foot fishing boatsin the water

New rule makes seasonal fishermen and crew members eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program

Alaska's congressional delegation pushed for the changes.

Alaska’s salmon industry contends with a rumor from China that COVID-19 can be transmitted via fish

Fish marketing experts are assessing how the rumors could affect Alaska salmon’s image in the world.

Dockside exams have started in Bristol Bay; the Coast Guard has a new approach

The Coast Guard will have a larger law enforcement presence in the bay this year. They will also practice social distancing and other protective measures while conducting vessel exmaniations.

After fears, crew of American Seafoods vessel tests negative for COVID-19 in Unalaska

Over 100 asymptomatic crew members tested positive on three of the seafood company's other factory trawlers.

King Cove confirms first local case of COVID-19 in seafood industry worker

Henry Mack, mayor of the 900-person town, said the individual is an employee at the huge Peter Pan Seafoods plant.
Two crew men shovel a deck full of fish on board a large boat

A Seattle fishing company has had more than 100 COVID-19 cases on its ships. They’re heading to Alaska this summer.

With Alaska's summer fishing season still gearing up, the industry has already been shaken by its first major outbreak. Last week, Seattle-based American Seafoods confirmed that 92 crew from its American Dynasty ship had tested positive for COVID-19 -- nearly three-fourths of 124 people onboard.
Boats at port with mountains in the background

COVID-19 cases for Unalaska fish processor rise to 3

Unalaska officials have reported a third local case of COVID-19, after announcing the city's first two Wednesday.