Petersburg will be the newest Community Supporting Member of the United Fishermen of Alaska, or UFA. That follows a unanimous vote by the Borough Assembly at their regular meeting last week. Vice Mayor Donna Marsh said she hopes the move will help boost the local fishing industry further down the line.
“Commercial fishing is so integral to Petersburg,” said Marsh. “I think it would make sense to have the support of a professionally recognized organization [that is] also trying to keep that industry alive.”
UFA’s mission statement is to promote and protect the common interest of Alaska’s commercial fishing industry. It supports all commercial gear types and takes a neutral position on disputes between gear groups. And its website says UFA wants to further initiatives to develop new fisheries and increase efforts to market Alaska seafood.
Petersburg will join UFA’s long list of Community Supporting Members across Alaska’s coast. That list includes the Aleutians East Borough, the City of Cordova, the City of Hoonah, the City of Seward, and the Kodiak Island Borough.
Annual membership will cost the Borough $350.
