As Pacific Whiting season begins there are a lot of questions around COVID-19 and crew safety. Our team continues to work closely with government agencies, industry associations, and healthcare groups to address these issues and provide guidance. Our CEO Dr. Ann Jarris recently contributed to an article by Rachel Sapin of IntraFish. Check out an excerpt below, and visit the IntraFish website to view the full article (link below).
With the US Pacific whiting fishery set to open on May 15, five major seafood companies are planning to test crews for coronavirus in addition to implementing safety and quarantine measures.
American Seafoods, Arctic Storm, Glacier Fish, Aleutian Spray Fisheries, and Trident Seafoods will be providing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to crew members, Matt Tinning, director of public affairs for the At-Sea Processor’s Association (APA), told IntraFish.
Several of the companies are working with the University of Washington and Discovery Health MD to implement testing, with hake season viewed as an opportunity to plan for pollock fishing in Alaska later this year.
“CDC and public health guidance is rapidly changing in relation to testing asymptomatic workers,” Dr. Ann Jarris, CEO of Discovery Health MD, told IntraFish.
“As testing capacity allows, our industry is working to incorporate testing into its screening protocols.”
Alaska’s governor has not mandated testing for incoming seafood workers, which has raised substantial concerns for communities over how the virus will be contained if there is an outbreak aboard a vessel or at a processing plant.
Rachel Sapin, IntraFish
For full article please visit: IntraFish