USDA to buy up to $13 million in canned pink salmon to help ease glut hurting Alaska fishermen

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to buy up to $13 million in canned pink salmon to ease a glut that has weighed down prices for Alaska fishermen.

In July, Gov. Sean Parnell asked the USDA to buy $37 million worth of canned fish under a federal law that allows the government to purchase surplus food from farmers and donate it to food banks or other programs.

Earlier this year, the agency purchased $20 million worth of canned salmon.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced USDA's plans Wednesday. She says she isn't focused on a specific dollar amount but on the government considering using existing funds to take excess salmon off warehouse shelves and provide a nutritious food to Americans in need.