Alaska pollock producers may feel they are catching up on value-added production, but challenges remain when it comes to the upcoming "B" fishing season, which starts June 10.

Hiring enough labor, for instance, remains problematic, one seafood executive with a Community Development Quota (CDQ) group fishing for Alaska pollock, told IntraFish.

"We’re working on our crew-up plans, and it's harder to find crew lately, even harder than during COVID," he said.

The seafood industry continues to compete for workers in a tight US labor market, and is still contending with finding workers who are willing to undergo quarantine measures if they have not received a booster vaccine, he explained.