Reefers on Ice.

• Author: Simonelli, Isaac Stone

Logistical hurdles in the fisheries supply chain

Salmon are famous for their incredible lifelong journey, from smolt leaving their natal river to roam in saltwater until their adult return, against the current, to their spawning stream. If a human snags them along the way, they undergo another voyage, almost as miraculous.

Getting fresh, wild caught Alaska salmon-or any seafood-off a boat and onto a table in New York City is a logistical feat on many levels. If a seafood processor wants to get frozen or refrigerated product from point A to point B, it's going to require shipping containers.

Unfortunately, "It is quite difficult to find them and get them organized," says Rich Wolverton, vice president of sales for Peter Pan Seafood.

Supply chain issues have plagued the world economy since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw consumer purchasing increase, production for many items decrease, and US ports choked as dockworkers struggle to unload ships quickly enough. A shortage of refrigerated trailers and containers, often called reefers, further complicates the situation.

"The supply chain is a mess right now," Wolverton says. "The supply chain is disrupted, not just for seafood, but everything down to the consumer is challenging right now."

About 5.7 billion pounds of Alaska seafood worth $2 billion was harvested annually in 2017/2018, ' according to a McKinley Research Group report. That was turned into 2.8 billion pounds of product worth $4.7 billion. The value of that seafood depends on processors' abilities to move it south and get it to market.

"While the international delays in the supply chain have had some impact, the domestic industry has seen less volatility due to our closed-loop system," explains Alex Hofeling, the ' president of TOTE Maritime Alaska. "As a domestic carrier operating a dedicated trade route between Alaska and the Lower 48, we have been more insulated from the pressures and ' challenges experienced by shippers moving items overseas."

In response to the delays in turnaround times at ports and rising demand for refrigerated containers and trailers, Peter Pan Seafood has been forced to adjust its logistics.

"We were ready for this; it wasn't a shock that the supply chain wasn't improving in 2022," Wolverton says. "I think mentally we should be looking at 2023 still being a challenge."

Boxed In

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