I recall that from the old days, Eastern European crew too, but a lot of things have changed. I recall American college kids too.
Today, I don’t imagine that they can get work visas for all these unnecessary foreign “fishermen.” Perhaps, they can bring in some Mexican or other Latin temporary processors under “agricultural visas”, but I recall the shore plants having problems with getting those visas in recent years.
Also, aren’t the borders closed due to C19 for the past few months?
I’m not current on what the factory trawlers companies can get away with these days.
RE: Shoreplant workers, looks like a lot of foreign workers just stayed on-island from last season. Here’s part of a story from May, from the Unalaska radio station:
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Unalaska’s onshore processing plants have chosen to keep seasonal employees on-island in between fishing seasons.
In a rural Alaskan town of 4500 year-round residents, an influx of approximately one thousand international workers—looking for ways to keep busy—is quite a change.
The Norwegian Fishing Skipper on the America Dynasty Kjetil Sætre (63) that was on board at the time of the outbreak has finally reached home after 7 months. Much of the time in isolation in Seattle and than 10 days quarantine in Norway on arrival.
He left home 5. Febr. and only reached Norway 26.Aug. (but was “released” only 05.Sept.)
