Trident Seafoods, one of the largest seafood processors across the nation reported on Tuesday that it’s selling one-third of its Alaska processing plants. The company’s four processing units located in Alaska are available located in Kodiak, Ketchikan, Petersburg and False Pass.
In addition, the company announced cut-back winter schedule for its plant that is open all year round in Kodiak. The historical Diamond NN Cannery in South Naknek and its supporting facilities located in Chignik are scheduled to be shut down or sold in a statement.
Many fishermen who were contacted by KMXT stated that the move was an enormous surprise.
Trident representative Alexis Telfer, declined to make a statement, stating that they’re focusing on their employees as well as fishing fleets for the moment.
This announcement is coming on after an lower fishing season throughout the majority of the state, and comes one month prior to the start season of the Kodiak Tanner crab fishing season. It is predicted to record the second-highest harvest of this species in the last few decades.
There’s many issues in the seafood market currently processors have offered fishermen some of the cheapest prices they’ve ever had for their harvest in a long time, triggering protests along with protests throughout the state. ASMI’s conference held in November identified a decline in the demand for fish, large harvests, and competition from foreign countries as the main issues.
In the press release, Trident blamed similar reasons for its decision to sell its assets and claimed that the plants available for sale located in Southeast Alaska and on the Alaska Peninsula better aligned with the strategies of other operators in the State. The processor of seafood also said that it will put off building an unprocessing plant in Unalaska earlier in the year.
The company’s cost-cutting initiatives involve the elimination of about one-tenth of its employees.
