From:            Craig Morris
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] PUBLIC COMMENT for Port of Seattle May 11, 2021 Meeting - Agenda Item 8f, Fisherman"s
Terminal MInC
Date:              Tuesday, May 11, 2021 10:34:00 AM

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Dear Seattle Port Commissioners,
 
I wish to provide a few comments for your consideration at your May 11, 2021 meeting with regard
to the Seattle Ship Building redevelopment project agenda item.
 
I am the Chief Executive Officer of The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP).
GAPP is a Seattle-based trade association based in the World Trade Center-West Seattle that works
to build awareness and demand for Wild Alaska Pollock, a fish that is caught by primarily Seattlebased
fishing companies. GAPP’s membership includes virtually the entire Wild Alaska Pollock at-sea
processing, catching, and on-shore processing industry, many of which are based in and around
Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle.  
 
Along with our sister fishing and seafood trade associations, we have watched with interest the
Port’s plans for the redevelopment of some of the Fisherman’s Terminal buildings over the past
couple of years and attended some of the outreach sessions. GAPP supports the efforts of the Port
and the State of Washington in the development of a Maritime Blue Accelerator program as well as
the redevelopment of the Ship Supply Building into a Maritime Innovation Center (MInC).
 
Given the almost $20 million price tag associated with the rebuilding of Ship Supply Building, we ask
that the Port Commission consider amending the design or function of the new MInC to allow for a
building that be used as a facility to more than just the Maritime Blue Accelerator program.  
 
Many of the Washington based commercial fishing industry 501(c) not-for-profit trade associations
are based in and around the Fisherman’s Terminal. Our trade associations have struggled over the
years to have a cost-effective facility or location in which to hold meetings for larger gatherings than
just their individual Boards of Directors in the Fishermen’s Terminal area. GAPP has and does hold
meetings at the World Trade Center’s Holland America Line Room and the associated Board Rooms
here. But, these spaces during normal times are in high demand as well as this space is not as
convenient to a number of our members as the Fishermen’s Terminal space would be for meetings.
This is especially true when the cruise line season is in full swing and the traffic on Alaskan Way is
challenging.
 
As such, we request that you consider including in your design and function of the new Seattle Ship
Supply building a meeting facility that would be a show piece of the Seattle based federal fisheries.
 
Thanks very much for all that you do for the Seattle based commercial fishing companies and I hope
your meeting today is productive.

                  Sincerely,
Craig Morris
 
 
--------------------------------------
Craig A. Morris, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers
 


 
Wild Alaska Pollock is good for you and good for the planet.