The total number of nonresident coronavirus cases now stands at 41. The majority of those have been seafood workers.
Aleutians
Alaska’s COVID-19 plans for fishing communities are now being put to the test
Alaska’s seafood industry sprawls across dozens of communities and thousands of miles of coastline. But one common theme is that this summer’s fishing season represents uncharted waters.
86 crew members on an American Seafoods trawler test positive for COVID-19
The factory trawler was most recently in Bellingham, WA, and has returned to the Port of Seattle where it is currently under lockdown.
Two of Alaska’s largest seafood processors, merge salmon operations
The new group springing from the merger of Icicle Seafoods and Ocean Beauty Seafoods will own 10 shoreside processing plants across coastal Alaska.
Will fiber optic broadband make it to the Aleutians? Decision may depend on USDA grant
If they receive the grant, GCI plans to pay for the remainder of the project – $35 million – with it’s own capital.
Alaska state officials seek authority to disperse $50M in federal fisheries relief
The state’s plan will likely be overseen by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. But Alaska officials and lawmakers have been pushing for the state to cut the checks directly.
Alaska Airlines to start regular service to Bristol Bay on May 18
This will be the first commercial service to Bristol Bay in more than a month, since RavnAir shut down all operations and filed for bankruptcy in early April.
‘Sometimes we get bored’: Unalaska fish processors work back-to-back seasons to keep their jobs
Managers decided that keeping workers on the island would help prevent new arrivals — many of whom come from other countries — from bringing in the coronavirus.
State says Bering Sea fishermen can quarantine on boats. A similar plan for oil workers was denied.
The protective measures vary from company to company, and the state has not explained its criteria for approving or denying plans across different industries, or even between separate fishing companies.
Unalaska, a burgeoning cruise ship destination, expects no sailings until late June
So far, six of the sailings that would have come to Unalaska this year have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But there are still 14 planned visits, at least for now.