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U.S. senator outlines federal tools to speed disaster aid, insurance options and infrastructure support for Alaska seafood industry
Summary
Senator Murkowski told a joint legislative task force the federal government has new and existing tools — including the recently signed "FISHS Act," NOAA finance programs and a possible crop-style insurance model for fisheries — that could ease disaster response and support modernization of fishing infrastructure.
Senator Murkowski told the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry on the task force’s convening day that federal action can help speed disaster relief and support longer-term industry stabilization. "What it will ultimately do is help speed up the process for fisheries disasters disaster funding to actually get back to the fishermen and to the community," she said, referring to legislation she called the FISHS Act that she said had been signed into law.
The senator emphasized federal programs and funding streams she said the delegation is pursuing: the bipartisan infrastructure bill for port and utility projects, NOAA’s Fisheries Finance Program for vessel and processing modernization, and proposals to link crop-style federal insurance to fisheries. "We're looking at what we might be able to do with a fish disaster insurance program, not unlike what farmers are able to take benefit of through crop disaster funds," she said.
Why this matters: the task force has been preparing a report for the legislature while the industry faces what Murkowski called a "perfect storm" of warming waters, global oversupply and shifting markets. Tim Lampkin, staff to the task force, told members the group must finalize recommendations before the task force sunsets at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 1.
Murkowski urged coordination across federal agencies and the state and highlighted several near-term federal actions. She described the FISHS Act as establishing a timeline for moving disaster relief through federal processes to get funds to fishermen and communities faster. She also said the Appropriations Committee work she helps lead will press for continued research and monitoring dollars and for investments that can lower local energy and infrastructure costs in major ports such as Unalaska.
On trade and tariffs, Murkowski told the task force to watch potential new administration policies closely because tariff actions can have quick, complex effects on seafood markets, including retaliatory duties that have in past years reduced U.S. access to key markets. "We have seen the impact of tariffs on our seafood industry when there have been retaliatory tariffs," she said.
Task force members asked about USDA procurement and speed of federal purchases. Representative Vance said slow federal buying cycles have strained processors; Murkowski encouraged legislative resolutions urging USDA to announce earlier and to move purchases promptly. "When you get tired of patient waiting, demand a meeting with the secretary," she said, recounting past advocacy to accelerate federal action.
The senator said the delegation is exploring some tax and credit incentives in federal legislation and will try to shape the next farm bill to include seafood provisions such as expanded mariculture support and a USDA seafood liaison. She told the task force members to prepare recommendations and to keep open lines of communication with the delegation.
Ending: Members said they will draft resolutions and follow the senator’s suggestions for federal engagement. The task force planned to reconvene in Juneau to finalize its report and to deliver a final product tied to the Feb. 1 sunset of the group.
