The icy waters surrounding Alaska’s 34,000 miles of coastline are some of the largest, most productive fishing grounds in the world. About half of the US seafood harvest comes from the waters off Alaska. Here, in pristine, natural surroundings, Alaska seafood develops lean flesh, firm textured and superior flavor-the qualities that truly distinguish Alaska seafood from all others. Alaska seafood is natural and wild, swimming freely in the cold, clear waters of the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Preserving this unrivaled natural quality is of utmost importance to the Alaska fishing industry.
Over the last 15 years, Alaska’s salmon harvest has averaged about 173 million salmon annually. This represents the highest period of sustained salmon production in the 100-year history of the Alaska commercial fishery. Alaska salmon accounts for 90-95 percent of the US commercial salmon catch. Salmon runs are abundant and no salmon stocks of Alaska origin are considered threatened or endangered.
In 1981, the Alaska State Legislature created the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) to promote Alaska seafood in the domestic and international markets and to promote quality assurance throughout the Alaska seafood industry. The Seafood industry funds the ASMI programs. A board of directors consisting of five processors and two harvesters guides the effort. The federal government helps support ASMI’s overseas marketing activities in Japan, China and the European Union.
ASMI’s quality assurance program works with the industry to educate produces and customers about the proper handling of seafood on the boat and in the processing plants, the most effective cooling and freezing techniques, storage requirements, shipping procedures, and other practices that ensure the consumer gets the very best product available. Materials include pamphlets, booklets, posters, videos, CD’s and on-line training tools. Resources are also available to shipper’s retailers and foodservice operators on how to maintain the high quality of Alaska seafood throughout the journey form the supplier to the consumer.
State of Alaska
Frank Murkowski, Governor
ASMI 2006
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