WHAT

Regional Seafood Development Associations- what they are and how to start one

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is prohibited from marketing a specific regions fish. Subsequently, the State of Alaska passed legislation in 2004 establishing Regional Seafood Development Associations (RSDAs). This allows Alaska fishermen around the state as a way to launch and run their own region-specific marketing programs and increase the value of their region’s fisheries. It is up to each region in Alaska to establish and fund their own RSDA. 

There are currently two other RSDAs in Alaska, one in Bristol Bay (Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association) and one in Prince William Sound (Copper River/Prince William Sound Regional Seafood Marketing Association).  Fishermen from these areas both voted to support a 1% RSDA self-assessment tax on their annual gross fishing revenues from their respective fisheries.  With this funding, those RSDAs execute marketing programs, fund fishery research, and provide grants for critical fishery infrastructure.  All of these activities are aimed at increasing the profitability of the regional fisheries that are members of the RSDA.

How to create a RSDA for Southeast Alaska:

The 2004 state legislation that created RSDAs laid out a formal process for establishing and having regional fisheries join a RSDA. That process entails:

  • Submitting a business plan to the State of Alaska

  • Identifying volunteer, interim Board of Directors 

  • Establishing and submitting bylaws, articles of incorporation 

  • Obtaining a certificate of incorporation 

  • Submitting administrative policies and procedures that address board of directors structure, procurement activities, financial accountability, and election process to the state of Alaska 

  • Apply for and submit federal tax identification number to the State of Alaska

  • Become a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation with the federal government 

How to fund a Southeast Alaska RSDA:

The first is through a minimal self-assessment that member fisheries (in this case, the power-troll fleet) would pay annually through the State. Based on recent average power-troll ex-vessel prices, the amount raised through a 1% self-assessment on ex-vessel power troll salmon deliveries would be around $260,000.  The other – and potentially very significant – source of funding would be through grants (state, federal, private). As a 501(c)3, the Southeast Alaska RSDA would be well positioned to apply for substantial marketing funds through agencies such as the USDA and NOAA.

Trollers will have the opportunity to vote to fund a RSDA for themselves and start building a premium brand to raise prices for their premium product!  If you would like to see your dock prices improve, your support is needed to fund a RSDA for troll caught salmon from Southeast Alaska. See FAQ section for more information about RSDAs and how they work for you.

Status and Updates

In response to the increasing struggle to run a viable troll fishing operation in Southeast Alaska, several Alaska-based trollers started talking in 2023 about the need for a marketing program focused on building markets and prices for Southeast Alaska’s troll fishery. In the Winter of 2024, they did research into successful marketing programs for comparable fisheries (e.g. Copper River/Prince William Sound Regional Seafood Marketing Association) and landed on Regional Seafood Development Associations as the most promising path forward. In the Spring of 2025 with grant funding from Southeast Conference, they took the initial steps needed to form a RSDA for Southeast Alaska’s power-troll fleet (S15B permit holders). These steps include:

  • Identify volunteer, interim Board of Directors for a Southeast Alaska RSDA

  • Establish bylaws and articles of incorporation for a Southeast Alaska RSDA

  • Apply with the State of AK to establish an official RSDA for Southeast Alaska (aka Southeast Alaska Regional Seafood Marketing Association)

  • Become a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation with the federal government 

Now that the necessary paperwork has been completed for a RSDA to be formed in Southeast Alaska, the following work is underway:

  • Winter 2025 - Summer 2026 - Outreach to Southeast Alaska’s troll fleet to help educate fishermen about the opportunity to build a regional marketing program and increase the troll fishery’s prices and presence in the marketplace 

  • Fall/Winter 2026 (or whenever there is enough support) - RSDA self-assessment ballots are mailed to all S15B permit owners

If S15B permit owners vote in support of a self-assessment and become a member of the Southeast Alaska RSDA, the next steps and potential timeline would be: 

  • Winter 2027 - Board of Directors is elected by S15B permit owners

  • Spring 2027 - Staffing is secured and the RSDA begins to seek out grant funding and board sets 2027-8 budget and priorities

  • Summer 2028 - Receive first round of funding from 2027 season, start marketing activities approved of by the newly elected board