FY2024-17 Supporting The Pacific Seafood Processors Associations'I-
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KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. FY2024-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH SUPPORTING
THE PACIFIC SEAFOOD PROCESSORS ASSOCIATIONS' EFFORTS TO IMPROVE
COMPETITIVENESS AND RESILIENCE OF THE ALASKA SEAFOOD INDUSTRY
WHEREAS, the efforts to improve global competitiveness of Alaska commercial seafood have
benefits to the entire seafood industry, including harvesters, processors, and support businesses,
as well as communities and the state of Alaska; and
WHEREAS, Alaska seafood comprises more than 60% of U.S. harvested seafood and is a
critical part of food production for the United States; and
WHEREAS, Alaska seafood is exported to about 100 countries, is subject to global market
factors directly affecting its value, whether it is sold in the U.S. or exported; and
WHEREAS, Alaska seafood currently faces exceptional national and global challenges
including trade policy and non -reciprocal tariffs that favor other nations, high supply/inventory,
high costs/inflation, reduced consumer demand, and global competitors that are less regulated,
less sustainable, and/or have lower operating costs than domestic seafood producers; and
WHEREAS, these challenges affect the economic viability of fishermen, processors, and local
communities dependent on fish landing taxes across the state of Alaska; and
WHEREAS, seafood is not fully integrated into USDA policies or programs designed to ensure
domestic food security, supply chain integrity, and support for harvesting and processing
businesses similar to other domestic protein sources; and
WHEREAS, the lack of domestic seafood recognition in the U.S. trade policy objectives and
priorities results in market conditions that reduce the value of Alaska seafood and accessibility to
global markets, and creates an unlevel playing field; and
WHEREAS, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended is two to three
servings of healthy seafood a week per person, yet domestic consumption rates remain less than
half that level; and
WHEREAS, the Government Accountability Office issued a 2022 report finding that while
nutritional guidelines recommended school -aged children receive between four and ten ounces
of seafood per week, the National School Lunch Program only delivers roughly three ounces of
seafood per year to these students; and
WHEREAS, 30% of duties collected on imported marine products is deposited into the
Saltonstall-Kennedy (SK) Fund, 60% of which by law is designated to fund the SK grant program
to promote and develop U.S. produced seafood, yet less than 5% is used to fund the SK grant
program; and
Resolution No. FY2024-17 Page 1 of 3
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WHEREAS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAH) is currently creating an
implementation plan for the National Seafood Strategy which necessitates collaboration across
multiple national agencies that affect the viability of Alaska seafood; and
WHEREAS, the Federal government's Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee issued the
2023 National Export Strategy that includes a chapter on Seafood Industries, highlighting
forthcoming efforts to improve interagency coordination and global market competitiveness for
domestic seafood producers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
BOROUGH that the Assembly supports the efforts by the federal government to do the following:
Improve and expand existing agency functions that support U.S. seafood, including:
• Coordination and collaboration across multiple federal governmental agencies that affect the
economic viability of Alaska seafood via the implementation plan for NOAA's National
Seafood Strategy.
• Chapter 9 of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee's 2023 National Export Strategy.
• Expanded use of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service trade missions and other export
market development assistance to include seafood.
• Improvements to the scope of and maintenance or increase of the use of government
purchasing programs for Alaska produced seafood.
• Improvements to the utility and applicability of governmental policies on recapitalization,
vessel construction, tax structures, workforce accessibility, energy, and infrastructure.
• Increase to government funding for new product development, testing, promotion, and
marketing of U.S. produced seafood (e.g., NOAA's Saltonstall-Kennedy grant program).
• Strengthening government planning for and execution of fisheries science and management,
especially as needed to improve our understanding of and response to climate impacts on
living marine resources.
Integrate US seafood production into national food policy strategies and USDA programs
designed to support domestic food production, including:
• Creating an Office of Seafood Policy and Program Integration within USDA to fully integrate
U.S. seafood into USDA policy strategies and programs designed to ensure domestic food
security, supply chain integrity, and support for harvesting and processing businesses, like
other terrestrial sources of protein.
• Coordinating with USDA seafood support programs with seafood related programs of other
agencies and provide a point of entry for seafood producers to engage with USDA more
effectively.
• Increase re -investment in U.S. seafood producers and related support businesses via
expanding eligibility of USDA low-interest loans or loan guarantees to fishermen and
processors.
• Fully integrating seafood and seafood nutritional guidance into national strategies for
improving public health and nutrition.
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Restore fairness and reciprocity for international trade in U.S. seafood products including: O
• Embed and improve seafood expertise and leadership in the office of the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR) to coordinate seafood trade objectives among USTR offices,
Resolution No. FY2024-17
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coordinate USTR seafood trade programs with seafood efforts of other agencies and provide
a point of entry for seafood producers to engage with USTR more effectively.
Improve trade policy via USTR and other agencies to create a more reciprocal tariff structure
for seafood exports and imports, reduce burden and risk associated with non -tariff barriers,
and develop more effective tools for monitoring supply chain traceability and deterring Illegal,
Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Resolve the unbalanced and unfair seafood trade relationship between Russia and the United
States.
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
THIS SEVENTH DAY OF MARCH, 2024
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
ATTEST:
Scott Arndt, Borough Mayor 11 "1 AAA
N va M. Javier, MMC, orough Clerk
VOTES:
Ayes: Smiley, Turner, Whiteside, Ames, LeDoux, Sharratt
Noes: None
Absent: Griffin
Resolution No. FY2024-17
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