Program areas at BBRSDA
Marketing: to conduct marketing and promotion. From 1/1/22 to 1/31/22, bbrsda supported projects that promoted consumer awareness of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon in the marketplace and supported branded marketing efforts. Data demonstrating these efforts are:-board funded 8 marketing projects in 2022 totaling $1,058,860 (including program support expenses). These projects funded efforts to expand bbss brand reach, promote bbss in the domestic retail & foodservice markets and strategizing expanding our global presence.-executed marketing partnerships with 22 retailers.-organized and facilitated in-store bbss promotions at +5,000 retail locations through: funding of ads and sales contest, distribution of bbss branded assets including: recipe cards, posters, aprons, case clings, ice spears, informational cards, and branded aprons; Development of co-branded pr assets; and social media support.-attended 4 trade shows: sena (Seafood expo north america), pacific marine expo (pme), local catch network summit, gse (global Seafood expo)-attended 2 industry conferences: asmi's annual all-hands & nfi's global Seafood market conference-sponsored/participated in 3 marketing events: Alaska symphony of seafoods, Seafood 101, local catch network-added digital assets to online media library.-supported a consumer facing website, as well as a bbss facebook,instagram, tiktok, and youtube pages.-commissioned sockeye market and consumer reports and presentations at member meetings-creation of new video and photography assets highlighting the fishery and product attributes of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon. -the marketing committee met 10 times in support of the marketing program.-over 300 contacts are subscribed to our quarterly newsletters.-5 press releases hit the wire: record-breaking harvest, fresh Bristol Bay sockeye promotions, Bristol Bay sockeye salmon week in dc, Bristol Bay sockeye salmon week in seattle, and Bristol Bay choice at symphony of Seafood
Outreach & organization: to foster involvement with our members, maintain organizational structure, improve fishery safety, and support other programs; the bbrsda undertook the following efforts from 1/1/22 to 12/31/22:-executed an election for two open board seats. -sponsored the "Bristol Bay fisheries report" on the local radio station in dillingham (kdlg).-held a photo contest for Bristol Bay fishermen to support marketing efforts and gather marketing content. -offered crew member training before the 2022 fishing season.-promoted fishermen's safety trainings before the 2022 fishing season.-published market information to the bbrsda website for members. -published 10 electronic newsletters and distributed to members. -surveyed membership about what were the biggest priorities for the fleet. -the outreach committee met 4 times in support of the outreach program. -hosted two member meetings, one in dillingham, ak in the spring and one in seattle, wa in the fall. -conducted outreach to the setnet fishing fleet regarding joining the organization.-hosted a presentation by fishing business tax professionals for members. -provided information for members to access information about applying for various covid aid opportunities and programs. Advocated for members' eligibility in these programs.-board approved $148,165 in funding for organization and outreach projects in 2022 and $97,444 was actually expended.
Sustainability: to help ensure the biological sustainability of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, bbrsda undertook the following sustainability efforts from 1/1/22 to 12/31/22:-bbrsda members and its board consider the proposed pebble mine an existential threat to the Bristol Bay salmon fishery. The organization funded several efforts pertaining to the pebble mine focused on expanding information about potential project impacts and seeking maximum environmental protections for salmon habitat in Bristol Bay, including a donation of $1 million, on behalf of the Bristol Bay driftnet fleet, to preserve critical salmon spawning habitat and invest in the fleet's future. The donation was made to the pedro Bay rivers project to finalize a conservation easement on 44,170 acres of land owned by the pedro Bay native corporation. This conservation easement will prevent industrial developments, such as transportation corridors for large-scale mining operations, but allow the land to still be used for recreation, cultural, and subsistence activities. -the board supported cfbb in doing stakeholder outreach and communication support for the pebble mine efforts.-the board committed $40,983 to the Bristol Bay fishing collaborative, a group that assists the Alaska dept of fish & game to conduct salmon assessment projects and other scientific research in Bristol Bay, including the first year of on-board genetics analysis. Fishery management was also supported by providing $56,442 for expanded operations in the port moller test fishery. These projects resulted in better information about the salmon run timing and destination, as well as providing support for fishery management and resource sustainability. -board approved funding in the amount of $1,342,153 for the sustainability program in 2022. -the sustainability committee met 6 times in support of the sustainability program.
Quality: to improve fish quality by: building the capacity and desire in the fleet to chill fish at the point of harvest, supporting maintenance of the machinery that allows the fleet to do so, and investing in technology that can accurately measure fish quality so fishermen are paid for their efforts, the bbrsda undertook the following efforts from 1/1/22 to 12/31/22:-the board reviewed and approved funding for 7 quality projects and related expenses in 2022 totaling $130,999, including projects to further ice production and improve refrigerated seawater (rsw) system service and increase awareness of best handling practices such as:--additional ice production on ice barges in two fishing districts,--fish quality best practices information shared with the fleet,--funding for on-the-job training of rsw apprentices in Bristol Bay, --funding for rsw training for members,--fish quality monitoring at the point of delivery and in the fish processing plant using a new technology.-the actual total payments made for the 7 quality projects was $130,999. -the quality committee met 4 times in support of the quality program.