KODIAK, Alaska (AP) – Chinese tariffs are forcing the seafood industry in Alaska to look for markets beyond the Asian giant.

The Kodiak Daily Mirror reported Wednesday that the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is exploring how to expand the Alaska seafood brand in response to a 25 percent tariff on Pacific Northwest seafood imposed by China in summer 2018.

The institute’s director says Alaska’s seafood sales are off by more than 20 percent so far this year and could take a big hit in China.

He says a $5.5 million, three-year federal Agricultural Trade Promotion grant awarded in January will be used to develop nontraditional markets such as Japan, Southeast Asia and parts of South America while continuing to work in China and other established markets such as Germany.

Information from: Kodiak (Alaska) Daily Mirror, http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com