Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center
2007 Awarded Research Projects
Seafood processing and marketing training for Western Alaska
Liz Brown and Terry Reeve
Abstract:
The Marine Advisory Program will respond to needs and continue to deliver training in seafood technology and marketing that is directly applicable to communities in Western Alaska (defined as east of Atka and north to Kotzebue.) The long term goal of the project is to increase the value of the seafood industry to residents of Western Alaska through capacity building and vertical integration of seafood processing and marketing.
Methodology:
The Marine Advisory Program (MAP) will continue to train and provide technical assistance to fishermen and seafood processors in Western Alaska. Following completion of a needs assessment in year one of the project, a number of training courses and workshops were developed in cooperation with local communities and CDQ groups. During this upcoming period, classes will continue to be offered and new materials will be developed related to business skills including marketing and development of a business plan. We will also follow up with those involved in past classes, providing technical support as needed. Course descriptions, outlines and materials will continue to be posted on the MAP web site, and presentations will be made to community groups and CDQ groups in Western Alaska. Funding for this program will also come from Alaska Sea Grant, Intensive Technical Assistance funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from UAF SFOS public service and administrative funds.
Rationale:
With low salmon and herring prices and high freight, fuel and power costs, Western Alaska communities are challenged to increase the value of their fishery resources and diversify their economic base through involvement in processing and marketing activities. Numerous small, community-based seafood processing operations are being established in these coastal villages. Establishing and remaining successful as a small, community processing facility requires technical training in seafood handling, processing, packaging, refrigerating, shipping, marketing, personnel management, business planning and management. The Marine Advisory Program has a long history of offering technical training to seafood processing operations. This funding will support the high costs and limited availability of training and technical assistance in this part of the state.
Benefits:
Residents and communities in Western Alaska will see economic benefits from training in seafood processing, business and marketing as more coastal processing operations are successful.
Back to 2007 PCCRC Funded Projects
2007 PCCRC awards press release
Research projects
Contact PCCRC
Denis Wiesenburg, PCCRC Director
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
University of Alaska Fairbanks
P.O. Box 757220
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-7210
Fax: (907) 474-7204
Email: wiesenburg@sfos.uaf.edu