JUNEAU, ALASKA — The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) shared that it was awarded a Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) grant in July, which it plans to use to develop and market an Alaska seafood pet food brand.
S-K grants are part of a competitive program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries that aim to address marketing and research needs. Selected projects must demonstrate direct benefits to US fisheries and fishing communities. The ASMI was awarded two $500,000 grants, one of which the organization will use to target the pet food industry.
The organization will use the S-K grant to facilitate greater participation by the Alaska seafood sector in the pet food market. The ASMI’s board of directors identified strong potential for Alaska seafood in this market in 2022. For example, US pet food processors purchased an estimated $893 million in fishery products for use in cat and dog foods in 2022, according to the ASMI.
The grant will allow the ASMI to develop resources for the Alaska seafood industry to target pet food manufacturers.
“I am incredibly appreciative of the hard work and dedication of ASMI staff and our industry partners to apply for, and receive, grant funds from the Saltonstall-Kennedy program — this is a very competitive program,” said Jeremy Woodrow, executive director, ASMI. “The $500,000 grants will allow ASMI to create and develop new marketing materials and resources that will add value and new business opportunities throughout the Alaska seafood industry.”
In addition to the S-K grants, the ASMI also received more than $4 million in new federal funding from the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). The organization will use this funding to further diversity and improve overseas markets for Alaska seafood.
According to the ASMI, these grants and funds are extremely welcomed as the Alaska seafood industry hopes to emerge from a “global market collapse” that has impacted Alaska fishermen, fishing families, processors and seafood businesses.
“The timing of the RAPP funds is well-aligned with the Alaska seafood industry’s needs to combat numerous global economic pressures,” Woodrow said. “While these funds will help ASMI grow our international efforts, they will also allow us to shift our other limited fund sources toward the US market, where consumer demand for seafood has fallen dramatically and is sorely in need of marketing support.”
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