The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has launched...

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has launched a $1.8-million advertising campaign aimed at reversing a big drop in sales of Alaska salmon to Japan and France, officials say. Merry Tuten, executive director of the agency, said Norwegian salmon raised on fish farms are providing some tough new competition for wild Alaska salmon. Alaska has lost 50% of its market share in France and the sale of Alaska salmon is down sharply in Japan, Tuten said. Those countries are Alaska’s top two foreign markets for the sale of salmon. The federal government will provide $1.5 million for the new ad campaign, with the state and Alaska processors kicking in the rest, Tuten said.