Adams Named Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Chairman

Juneau, Alaska – May 14, 2013

Alaska fisherman and commercial fisheries activist, Kevin Adams, was elected Chairman at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) Board of Directors Meeting on May 9^th in Anchorage. The Governor appointed board consists of seven members: five seafood processors and two industry representatives actively engaged in commercial fishing.  Adams was appointed to fill a harvester seat by Governor Frank Murkowski in 2004.  With 38 years of fishing experience in Bristol Bay, Adams has long been an active member in the Alaska fishing industry.  He has worked for both the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation and the Bering Sea Fisherman’s Association, and represents Alaska fishermen on numerous boards.

Adams’ predecessor, Trident Executive Vice President Joe Bundrant, served as Chairman for three years.  Bundrant was appointed to the ASMI Board of Directors in 2004 and was elected as chair in 2010.  Bundrant will continue to serve on the board; his term is due to expire in 2014.  Mark Palmer, President and CEO of Ocean Beauty Seafoods, and 2004 Governor Appointee, will serve as Vice Chair.

Adams and Palmer will serve as Chair and Vice Chair for two years, with their terms ending in March 2015.

About Alaska Seafood

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is a partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry. ASMI works to promote the benefits of wild and sustainable Alaska seafood and offer seafood industry education.

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Contact:

Tyson Fick

tfick@alaskaseafood.org

(907) 465-5560

ASMI Conducts RFM Chain of Custody Certification Workshop

Juneau, Alaska. April 24, 2013 – The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is sponsoring a FAO-Based Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Chain of Custody Certification Group Workshop on May 9^th and individual appointments on May 10^th in Anchorage, AK. The workshop and appointments are designed for those considering or requiring RFM Chain of Custody Certification.

With the imminent opening of the Alaska salmon season, RFM Chain of Custody Certification may be required immediately in some cases. For those interested in having a temporary certification pending a full audit inspection, the ISO-accredited certification body, Global Trust, will be conducting individual pre-assessment meeting appointments on May 10^th. Please contact Cormac O’Sullivan at cormacosullivan@gtcert.com to arrange a pre-assessment appointment.

When:              

                                May 9^th, 2:00 p.m.

                                RFM Chain of Custody Certification Group Workshop

                                No RSVP necessary

                                May 10^th, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

                                RFM Chain of Custody Certification Individual Assessment Meetings

                                RSVP required – cormacosullivan@gtcert.com

Where:              

                                Anchorage Hilton

                                300 West 3^rd Ave

                                Anchorage, AK 99501

RFM Chain of Custody Certification ensures that only Alaska seafood products bearing a statement “sourced from a certified Alaska fishery” can make this claim. It will give confidence to all buyers that the seafood can be traced back through the supply chain to the fishery that was certified as part of the Alaska FAO-Based Responsible Fisheries Management Program.

For more information about RFM Chain of Custody and Alaska’s responsible fisheries management go to www.alaskaseafood.org.

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Contact:

Randy Rice
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
206/352-8920

rrice@alaskaseafood.org

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is looking to crown the next king or queen of Alaska seafood. The institute is hosting the Great Alaska Seafood Cook-Off May 8 in Anchorage and inviting chefs from around the state to enter the competition to compete head-to-head for the honor of representing Alaska this August at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans.

The call for entries begins today and will be collected until April 5. A panel of judges will choose the six winning chefs that will advance to the live competition in May.  Any professional chef is invited to enter the contest.

“Alaska seafood is the highest quality and there are some high-caliber chefs in the state,” said Mike Cerne, ASMI executive director. “We can’t wait to see who will represent Alaska at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans later on in the year.”

During the live competition, the contestants will have one hour to prepare and plate a dish highlighting Alaska seafood. Their work will be judged by a panel of past Great American Seafood Cook-Off contestants and culinary stars from Alaska and beyond.
Find out more about the cook off, including how to enter, at greatalaskaseafoodcookoff.com.

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is a non-profit partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry that promotes wild, natural and sustainable Alaska seafood products in the United States and around the world.

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Media Contacts:

Tyson Fick
Communications Director
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
tfick@alaskaseafood.org
907-465-5563

Jennifer Thompson

Thompson & Co.

Jennifer@thompsonpr.com

From energetic school cafeterias to bustling fast-casual cafes, Alaska pollock is a mainstay in breaded fish sticks, fish sandwiches, Alaska Surimi Seafood products, and more. In fact, this mild, versatile whitefish is one of the most common and well-loved seafood varieties in the country, even though it isn’t always specifically called out on menus. Delicious whether poached, baked, broiled, steamed, sautéed, or deep-fried, Alaska pollock is a versatile, healthy choice that is low in fat and high in protein and long-chain omega-3s. Visit www.wildalaskaflavor.com for recipes and detailed nutrition information.

The Alaska pollock fishery is a model of sustainability for the world. Using mid-water trawls designed to minimize the effects on the marine environment, the Alaska pollock fishery is vigilant against overfishing and works hard to avoid accidental by-catch of other species. These efforts are monitored by the federal pollock observer program, which assigns scientists to all harvesting vessels and processing locations.

The annual Alaska pollock TAC is set by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), which uses decades of survey information and the best research available to determine sustainable catch levels. This reliance on science is a hallmark of Alaska’s sustainable fisheries management system.

About Alaska Seafood

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is a partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry. ASMI works to promote the benefits of wild and sustainable Alaska seafood and to offer seafood industry education.

For more than 50 years, Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood. It’s so essential to our way of life that our Constitution mandates that “fish … be utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle.” The seafood industry is Alaska’s largest private sector employer, and as a result, Alaskans understand the need to protect the fisheries and surrounding habitats for future generations. We’re proud of our leadership in sustainable management, which has led to an ever-replenishing supply of wild seafood for markets around the world.

Contact

Tyson Fick

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

(907) 465-5560

tfick@alaskaseafood.org

The 2012/2013 Total Allowable Catches (TACs), which are established yearly for each species to maintain maximum sustained yield and continued abundance, reflect the state’s commitment to responsible fisheries management and the willingness of Alaska’s managers to adjust their catch to align with the best scientific data available.

• The 2012/2013 TAC for Bristol Bay red king crab is set at over 7.8 million pounds, almost identical to the 2011/2012 season.
• The 2012/2013 TAC for St. Matthew Island blue king crab is set at over 1.6 million pounds, representing a 31% decrease from the 2011/2012 season.
• The 2012/2013 TAC for Bering Sea snow (opilio) crab is set at over 66 million pounds, representing a 25% decrease from the 2011/2012 season.

Smaller Alaska crab fisheries include Aleutian Island golden king crab, which opened on August 15^th with a TAC of 6.29 million pounds, and Norton Sound red king crab, which ran from June 29^th to September 8^th and had a total harvest of 475,990 pounds.

Alaska crab stocks are jointly managed by state and federal organizations: the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) oversees conservation and management, while the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) superintends allocation and policy.

Luxurious Alaska king crab is unmatched in size and is celebrated for its sweet flavor and rich, tender texture. Alaska snow crab is prized for its delicately sweet flavor, and tender, snow-white meat. For more information on wild, sustainable Alaska crab, including recipes and nutritional facts, please visit www.wildalaskaflavor.com.

About Alaska Seafood

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is a partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry. ASMI works to promote the benefits of wild and sustainable Alaska seafood and offer seafood industry education.

For more than 50 years, Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood. It’s so essential to our way of life that our constitution mandates that fish are “utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle.” The seafood industry is Alaska’s largest private sector employer, and as a result, Alaskans understand the need to protect the fisheries and surrounding habitats for future generations. We’re proud of our leadership in sustainable management, which has led to an ever-replenishing supply of wild seafood for markets around the world. For more information, please visit www.alaskaseafood.org.

Wild Alaska seafood is responsibly harvested from the state’s rugged, pristine waters and is some of the most sustainable fish the world has to offer. In fact, Alaska considers our marine resources so vital that since 1959 the state’s constitution has mandated sustainable harvesting to ensure abundant wild seafood for generations to come.

By supporting wild Alaska seafood this month, you make a vital contribution to the economic survival of our coastal communities and family-run fishing operations. The commercial seafood industry is our largest private-sector employer and has been a crucial part of Alaskan culture for hundreds of years. Often passed down from generation to generation, commercial fishing in Alaska isn’t simply a job— it’s a treasured way of life.

Many Alaska species are currently in season including king and Dungeness crab, Weathervane scallops, halibut, black cod, cod, sole, flounder, rockfish, and Alaska pollock, and most Alaska species are available frozen throughout the year. From healthy, warming Alaska crab soup to oven-roasted Alaska cod fillets, the rich flavors of wild Alaska seafood are ideal for crisp autumn days. In addition, wild Alaska seafood is low in fat, high in protein, and rich in omega 3s and vitamin D, making it one of the healthiest choices available.

This October celebrate sustainability, health, history, and outstanding flavor by choosing wild Alaska seafood.

About Alaska Seafood

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is a partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry. ASMI works to promote the benefits of wild and sustainable Alaska seafood and offer seafood industry education.

For more than 50 years, Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood. We’re proud of our leadership in sustainable management, which has led to an ever-replenishing supply of wild seafood for markets around the world. For more information, please visit www.alaskaseafood.org.

Juneau, Alaska (August 31, 2012): The fall or “B” season for the Alaska cod jig fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands opens today. Fisheries for hook and line, pot, and trawl gear open in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska tomorrow, September 1st, 2012. The U.S. Pacific cod fishery is often hailed as one of the best-managed fisheries in the world, and the Alaska Pacific cod harvest accounts for over 95% of all cod, regardless of species, caught in the United States.

The total allowable catch (TAC) for the Alaska cod fishery in 2012 is 53,348 metric tons, an increase of nearly 10% over last year’s quota and 40% over the 2010 TAC. The TAC is carefully calculated each year to ensure that all Alaska seafood is sustainably harvested. Following earlier openings in the Alaska cod fishery, fishermen still have 176,901 metric tons of the TAC remaining for the fall season.

Demonstrating Alaska’s intensive  management, Alaska cod harvests are allocated by both gear type and location to ensure the long-term health of the State of Alaska’s cod fisheries. Alaska cod are caught using four gear types: hook and line, pot, trawl, and mechanical jigs, with virtually all fish either frozen or chilled at-sea. Alaska’s Pacific cod fisheries extend from the Bering Sea to Southeast Alaska.

With its mild, slightly sweet flavor and firm yet moist texture, Alaska cod works well with most cooking methods. It can be roasted, poached, steamed, sautéed, or deep-fried, and it is an ideal choice for anything from fish and chips to fish tacos. Alaska cod is also a good source of low-fat protein, phosphorus, niacin, and vitamin B12. For more information on sustainable Alaska cod, including nutrition information and recipes, please visit www.wildalaskaflavor.com.

About Alaska Seafood

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is a partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry. ASMI works to promote the benefits of wild and sustainable Alaska seafood and to offer seafood industry education.

For more than 50 years, Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood. It’s so essential to our way of life that our constitution mandates that “fish … be utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle.” The seafood industry is Alaska’s largest private sector employer. As a result, Alaskans understand the need to protect the fisheries and surrounding habitats for future generations. We’re proud of our leadership in sustainable management, which has led to an everreplenishing supply of wild seafood for markets around the world. For more information, please visit www.alaskaseafood.org.

Contact: Tyson Fick
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
(800) 478-2903

Juneau, Alaska.  May 19, 2012 – Twenty-seven Alaska salmon processing companies representing approximately 80% of the salmon caught in Alaska have reaffirmed their intent to withdraw support from MSC salmon certification.  Recent press reports about the Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association (PSVOA) becoming the client for MSC salmon certification have suggested that those same processors would be rejoining the program.  Processors say the reports are incorrect.

The announcement by PSVOA and the speculative statements that followed have created some confusion in the market place.  In response, Alaska salmon processors have signed an open letter to the editors of various media outlets to clear up any misunderstanding.  “We have no intention of supporting MSC certification for salmon beyond the 2012 production,” the letter states.  “While we recognize that PSVOA has the right to become the client for MSC salmon, it should not be construed that we have changed our minds about this decision.  We fully support the FAO-based Responsible Fisheries Management certification that has been developed for the industry by ASMI and the State of Alaska.  This fully accredited program responds to requests from many of our customers to provide a reasonable alternative to MSC certification.”

The letter, signed by top executives of 10^th & M Seafoods, Alaska General Seafoods, Alaska Glacier Seafood, APICDA (Bering Pacific), Alaska Protein Recovery, Boreal Fisheries, Inc.,  E.C. Phillips & Sons, E&E Foods, Favco, Inc., Great Pacific Seafood, Great Ruby Fish Company, Icicle Seafoods, Icy Strait Seafood, Inlet Fish Producers, Inc., J & R Fisheries, Kwik’PaK Fisheries, Naknek Family Fisheries, North Pacific Seafoods, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Pacific Seafood Kodiak, Peter Pan Seafoods, Seafood Producers Coop, Snug Harbor Seafoods, Triad Fisheries, Trident Seafoods, Ugashik Wild Salmon Co. and Yukon Gold notes further, “We believe the action to withdraw from the MSC salmon scheme is in the best interest of the Alaska Salmon industry, an industry in which we have invested heavily for the future of Alaska, our fishermen, their families and our companies.”

Contact:

Tyson Fick

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

907.465.5560

tfick@alaskaseafood.org

Dear Editor,

On behalf of 27 Alaska salmon processing companies representing approximately 80% of the salmon caught in Alaska we would like to reaffirm our intent to withdraw support from MSC salmon certification. Recent press reports about the Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association (PSVOA) becoming the client for MSC salmon certification have incorrectly suggested that we would rejoin the program.  Those reports are incorrect.

The announcement by PSVOA and the speculative statements that followed have created some confusion in the market place. We would like to clear up any misunderstanding.  We have no intention of supporting MSC certification for salmon beyond the 2012 production.  While we recognize that PSVOA has the right to become the client for MSC salmon, it should not be construed that we have changed our minds about this decision.  We fully support the FAO-based Responsible Fisheries Management certification that has been developed for the industry by ASMI and the State of Alaska. This fully accredited program responds to requests from many of our customers to provide a reasonable alternative to MSC certification.

We believe the action to withdraw from the MSC salmon scheme is in the best interest of the Alaska Salmon industry, an industry in which we have invested heavily for the future of Alaska, our fishermen, their families and our companies.

American seafood consumption has increased along with a growing recognition of seafood’s health benefits. Wild Alaska salmon is a high-quality source of protein and vitamins – including D, B6, B12 and selenium – as well as an excellent source for the omega-3 fatty acids that support brain and heart health. Best of all, Alaska’s salmon fisheries are certified according to the world-standard FAO-Based Responsible Fisheries Management program, ensuring that the state’s prized fish will be available for generations to come.

Alaska is home to more than 90% of the wild salmon in North America with five different species that provide an abundance of choices in both price and flavor:

• King (Chinook) – Alaska’s largest salmon species, King salmon are prized for the high oil content that make this firm fish exceptionally flavorful
• Sockeye (Red) – Alaska’s second-most abundant species is known for its distinctive red meat color and full flavor
• Coho (Silver) – Alaska’s second-largest salmon species is low in saturated fat and mild in flavor
• Keta (Chum) – The firmest of Alaska’s salmon species, Keta salmon have a lower oil content and mild flavor, perfect for cooking at gentler temperatures.
• Pink – The most abundant and affordable of Alaska’s salmon species is commonly seen in cans and pouches, but is also increasingly available in fillets

Visit www.wildalaskaflavor.com for dozens of healthy, delicious recipes as well as ideas for easy and affordable ways to enjoy wild Alaska salmon at home.

About the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI)
ASMI is a partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry that promotes the
benefits of wild and sustainable Alaska seafood. For more than 50 years, Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood and as a result, Alaskans understand the need to protect the fisheries and surrounding habitats for future generations. For more information, please visit www.alaskaseafood.org.

Contact:
Tyson Fick
Communications Director
tfick@alaskaseafood.org
(907) 465-5563