Four new coronavirus cases were reported among Alaska residents on Sunday. Two of those cases were in Anchorage, one was the Lemon Creek staff member in Juneau, and the fourth was reported in Homer.
Fisheries
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.
‘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.
With all the fancy restaurants closed, who’s going to buy premium Copper River salmon?
Restaurants may not be reliable buyers of Copper River salmon this year, as owners grapple with reduced business amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands of summer workers are headed to Alaska from Outside, where infection rates are higher
Officials have been reviewing the failures to contain the spread of COVID-19 at Outside meat plants, and they’re adjusting protocols for fish processing to potentially include fewer people and barriers between them.
Seasonal cannery worker tests positive for COVID-19 in Cordova
The city of Cordova announced its first positive case of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The infected individual is an Ocean Beauty cannery worker who had recently traveled through Seattle and Anchorage, according to Mayor Clay Koplin.
Bristol Bay leaders express concern over Alaska’s commercial fishing health mandate
Thousands of commercial fishery workers coming to Bristol Bay will be operating under a strict set of guidelines this season, laid out in the new mandate released last week by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. But some local leaders say it’s not enough.
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.
Geoduck clam fishery to reopen as Chinese demand rebounds
Geoduck fishermen were among the first Alaskans to feel the effects of the coronavirus.
Sport fishing stays open, but restrictions will shape Bristol Bay’s summer tourism
Alaska has designated fishing as “critical infrastructure” — including sport fishing. But travel mandates could make trips to fishing destinations an upstream battle for people trying to come in from out of state.