August 8, 2013 — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski visited Petersburg this week during the height of a big run of pink salmon run. The seine fleet has been totaling around eight million pinks in recent two-day openings and processing companies are working to handle the catch. Both Murkowski and Senator Mark Begich are seeking to re-instate a special visa program that allows foreign students to work in Petersburg’s seafood processing plants.
That program, which was designed to be a cultural exchange, no longer grants the visa for foreign workers coming to the U.S. for food processing, including seafood. The Alaska Republican met with members of the fish processing industry and fishing fleet Wednesday morning. Joe Viechnicki spoke with her about concerns she heard in Petersburg.
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