In an attempt to increase the value of locally caught seafood, the Kodiak Seafood Marketing Association (KSMA) is looking for new members to unite gear groups and fisheries that share interests and needs.

The KSMA is closely affiliated with the Star of Kodiak Regional Brand, the United Salmon Association and the Kodiak Branding and Marketing Committee (KBMC). All of these associations are working to improve Kodiak’s fishing industry.

On May 17, Leslie Smith, marketing program manager for the KSMA, held a community awareness reception at Mill Bay Coffee to introduce the objectives of the association.

“We are moving ahead and forming Kodiak’s Regional Seafood Development Association,” Smith said at a KBMC meeting Wednesday. “We’re in the process of developing bylaws and state requirements. We are also trying to educate fishermen about the association in order to conduct a vote among setnetters next fall or winter.”

According to a KSMA leaflet handed out, a Board of Directors elected by permit holders of each specific fishery that chooses to participate will oversee this organization. Groups of permit holders will then assess themselves between .5 percent and 2.5 percent of the value of their catch.

However, these assessments will not be exclusively allotted to the state of Alaska, which previously was the case. Rather, revenues will be collected by the state and then redistributed to the qualified regional association.

Smith gave an example of the potential assessment amount of Kodiak fisheries in 2004. The total value of salmon between the seine and setnet fleets for the 2004 season was $19.9 million.

At an assessment rate of 1 percent paid by fishermen, these two fisheries could potentially provide $199,000 to the KSMA Board of Directors, who would in turn make investments to increase the value of that fishery.

Ultimately this association will give the fishermen more control over where and how their fish are sold, Smith said.

According to delegates at the KBMC meeting, Kodiak’s fish is being sold for some of the lowest prices in

Alaska.

Members of KSMA will be able to pool funds to accomplish things that individual groups and fishermen cannot do on their own, such as providing funds to leverage grants for larger projects and operating capital. Other interests include the expansion of marketing, product development, processing, and the overall improvement of local fisheries.

The most important issues at hand are outreach and education for the fishermen, said Smith.

She also noted that setnetters should look for mailings this summer.

Community involvement is extremely important for these organizations, as discussed at the KBMC meeting. Currently there are only about nine or ten signed up for the Star of Kodiak program.

This summer the KSMA also hopes to initiate community generated improvement on custom process capabilities, Smith said.

According to delegates at the KBMC meeting there are currently no processors involved in any of the previously mentioned marketing and quality assurance programs.

It was also discussed how it was hard to find customers when access to custom processing in Kodiak was so limited.

Smith also said that the KSMA is working with the McDowell Group to conduct a feasibility study. This would help to determine what these organizations, as well as the community as a whole, needs in terms of a business model, equipment and facilities.

Mirror writer Lauren Valone can be reached via e-mail at fisheries@kodiakdailymirror .com