 Alaska Symphony of Seafood - More improvements in 2016
The Alaska Symphony of Seafood is an annual competition for new products made using Alaska Seafood. 2016 marks the 23rd consecutive year for this popular event, and AFDF is planning to make it one of the best events so far.
In 2015, the Symphony added a new category of products called, Beyond the Plate, which included consumer-ready products made with parts of Alaska seafood which would typically be deemed fish waste or a by-product of the primary processing. Examples of entries in 2015 included pet treats, fish oil, and fish broth, with the Grand Prize awarded to Yummy Chummies Dog Treats. The Beyond the Plate category was wildly successful and will continue to be a part of the Symphony.
In 2016, the Symphony will include another new category of products called, Beyond the Egg, in order to encourage and promote value-added products made with roe from Alaska seafood.
Below is a full list of all 18 products entered into the Symphony this year, with several photos of products attached.
Retail: Keta Salmon with Lemon Thyme Rub (Orca Bay Seafoods); Pacific Cod with Roasted Garlic and Red Pepper Rub (Orca Bay Seafoods); Echo Falls Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Candy (Ocean Beauty); Morey’s Wild Salmon Steakhouse (Morey’s); Morey’s Wild Salmon Peach Salsa (Morey’s); Fiesta Salmon Bites (Trident Seafoods); Candied Smoked Salmon (Trapper’s Creek Smoking Co.); Hali Halibut (Bambinos Baby Food); Gluten Free Pollock Portion (Odyssey).
Foodservice: Sea Fusions Santa Fe Salmon Cakes (Trident Seafoods); Keta Salmon with Maple Bourbon Rub (Orca Bay); Pacific Cod with Smokehouse BBQ Rub (Orca Bay); Canned Smoked Herring (Deckhand Seafoods).
 
Beyond the Plate: Salmon Leather Wallets and Belts (Tidal Vision); Key Fobs and money clips made with Salmon & Halibut Leather (From the C); Jewelry made with salmon and halibut byproducts (From the C); Quyung-lii Anti-Aging Skin Serum (ArXotica).
Beyond the Egg: Salmon Caviar (Alaska Seafood Company).
Dates for the Symphony events in 2016 are listed below:
- February 10 – Seattle, WA - Private Judging & Open House, co-hosted with Northwest Fisheries Association, tickets $50
- February 16 – Juneau, AK - Legislative Reception, co-hosted with United Fishermen of Alaska, by invitation only
- February 19 – Anchorage, AK - Awards Ceremony, Marriott Hotel, open to the public. Tickets $50
- March 6-8 – Seafood Expo North America, Boston, MA
AFDF invites you to join us at one or more of these events, sample, debate and cast your vote for your favorite product and see which company at each event is awarded the People’s Choice!
Thanks to our Sponsors
The Alaska Symphony of Seafood would not be possible without the generous support from our sponsors. AFDF would like to thank all of the sponsors of this event. A full list of the sponsors is available on our website and on other promotional materials at each event. Information about sponsorship levels and benefits for 2016 can be found here.
Lt. Governor Byron Mallott poses with winners of the 2015 Symphony during the International Boston Seafood Show in March, 2015. Pictured from left to right: Kris Tilgner Tilger from Tilgner’s Specialized Smoked Seafood, Michael Burkes from Arctic Paws, Lt. Governor Byron Mallott, Jeremy Abena from Pickled Willy’s, Tammy Adams from Copper River Seafoods, Barbara Hughes from Pickled Willy’s.
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Dear Interested or Existing Supporter,
Please consider renewing your membership or becoming a member of the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF). Member support of AFDF is an integral part of the only statewide organization which focuses on research and development issues for the seafood industry.
For information more about AFDF’s recent work, please see our e-newsletter below.
Your membership helps AFDF continue this important work which benefits your long term business and community interests. In addition to AFDF’s work, you will also receive the membership benefits listed in the Membership Application. Annual membership terms are January-December.
Please take the time to submit your tax deductible membership by clicking on the "Become A Member" and filling out the online form.
For more info about AFDF, see AFDF brochure.
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 Alaska Mariculture Initiative (AMI) - Economic Analysis completed
Phase I of the Economic Analysis to Inform the Alaska Mariculture Initiative has been completed and can be viewed here. Phase I is a set of case studies which looks at examples of successful mariculture industries around the world and how they may relate to the development of Alaska’s industry. Presentations of the results of Phase I and other mariculture development topics have been given during the following meetings: United Fishermen of Alaska, Alaska Shellfish Growers Association, and Pacific Marine Expo. These PowerPoint Presentations, and additional supporting materials, are available on AFDF’s website. If you are interested in a presentation, please contact the AFDF office to discuss options. This initiative is funded by NOAA grant #NA14NMF4270058.
AFDF has also raised approximately $20,000 to match a grant proposal to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) in order to produce Phases 2 and 3 of the Economic Analysis to Inform the AMI. These phases of economic analysis are important to help inform stakeholders and policy makers regarding development possibilities for mariculture in Alaska.
Regarding policy changes, the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) included mariculture in its list of priorities for projects to fund in NPRB’s 2016 RFP (see pages 3 and 13).
AFDF has also been working with Governor Walker’s Administration towards the creation of the Alaska Mariculture Task Force. Stay tuned for more information on this in the future.
Recent news articles on mariculture in Alaska:
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 RFM certification
In 2015, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) Board of Directors adopted improvements to the Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification Program. AFDF has entered into an MOU with ASMI to serve as the Client for the certification of both the Pacific cod and Alaska salmon fisheries.
As a re-cap, ASMI has been administering and acting as the Client for Alaska’s alternative to MSC certification, called the Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Program. In 2015, ASMI took full ownership of the Alaska RFM Program in order to increase transparency and improve the program for greater market acceptance.
Maintaining choice in sustainability certifications is critical. The Alaska RFM Program will be benchmarked against the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) tool in 2016. The GSSI’s benchmark tool is designed to reduce confusion in the marketplace by defining credibility for seafood certification programs. The GSSI benchmarking should further facilitate global acceptance of RFM. For more about the Alaska RFM Program, visit: http://certification.alaskaseafood.org/certification.
Part of the evolution of the Alaska RFM Program required identifying a Client for each fishery. This change improves the governance structure of the Alaska RFM Program by providing separation between the owner of the RFM standard (ASMI) and the Client for each fishery. For more information about the evolution of the Alaska RFM Program, click here.
In 2015, AFDF became the Client for Alaska salmon and cod. As the Client, AFDF is responsible for managing and completing the fishery certifications (once every five years), annual surveillance audits, and any non-conformances which are placed on the certification of the fishery. For a list of RFM certified fisheries and Clients for each fishery, click here.
RFM certification of Alaska salmon
The 4th ASA for Alaska salmon is currently underway with the certification body (CB), GlobalTrust. Since a second CB (DNV) has recently received accreditation to work in the Alaska RFM Program, AFDF issued an RFP to complete the five-year re-certification of Alaska salmon in 2016. AFDF reviewed the proposals and awarded the contract to GlobalTrust. AFDF remains committed to finding efficiencies for industry and representing its best interests.
Certificate Salmon reissued Jan 2016 (with extension thru 2016-12-11)
RFM certification of Pacific cod
As the Client, AFDF also managed the completion the 2nd annual surveillance audit (ASA) of the Pacific cod fishery. As a result, the Pacific cod fishery maintains RFM certification for all regions and all gear types across Alaska. The final report can be viewed online here. During 2016, AFDF is planning to complete the 3rd ASA for Pacific cod in coordination with the Alaska pollock and flatfish fisheries in order to reduce costs for industry.
Certificate P-cod reissued Jan 2016
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MSC Certification of Pacific Cod
AFDF is pleased to announce the successful completion of five-year re-certification of the Pacific cod fishery under the MSC program. Because the Pacific cod fishery has been re-certified with no conditions, the fishery has reached a “Surveillance Level 1”, which means the audit schedule will be greatly reduced. Out of four surveillance audits, only one will require an on-site visit, one will require off-site surveillance, and two will only require a “review of information”. The “Surveillance Level 1” will reduce costs for industry. AFDF also plans to conduct the Level 1 surveillances in coordination with the Alaska pollock and flatfish fisheries, in order to further reduce costs to industry. AFDF remains committed to finding efficiencies for industry and representing its best interests.
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Salmon Protein Powder – Product & Market Development
AFDF submitted a grant proposal to the NOAA Saltonstall Kennedy program for a collaborative project with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). The goal of the project is to support the development of a new byproduct from seafood waste in coordination with development of a new market for such a product. If funded, 10,000 pounds of human-grade seafood protein powder would be manufactured from waste from Alaska fisheries, such as salmon, pollock, and cod. Then, market research would be conducted regarding acceptability of seafood protein powder for Global Food Aid in two countries. Finally, AFDF would conduct outreach and disseminate market research results to industry and other stakeholders. NOAA is currently scoring proposals and will likely announce successful awards in May or June, 2016.
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 Maritime Works
For several years, AFDF has been working with maritime businesses, the University of Alaska, Alaska Departments of Labor and Education, and others on the issue of workforce development for Alaska maritime industry. As the result of this work, in 2014, the State of Alaska adopted the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan.
In 2015, AFDF became the fiscal agent for an advisory group representing maritime businesses called Maritime Works. Click here to visit the website for Maritime Works, which includes information on training and jobs in the Maritime Industry.
AFDF, on behalf of Maritime Works, also received a grant from the Alaska Community Foundation’s Vocational Fund for Alaska’s Future. AFDF and Maritime Works will also be collaborating with the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium (APICC) over the next year to improve career awareness and spearhead improvements to workforce development in Alaska’s maritime industry by creating a workforce investment strategy based on the model - National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
To date, Maritime Works has received donations from the following funders: Alaska Community Foundation, University of Alaska, FirstBank of Alaska, Ketchikan Marine Industry Council, Vigor Alaska, Icicle Seafoods, Southeast Conference, Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference, and Homer Marine Trades Association.
Seafood Processors Training Classes 2016
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Pick.Click.Give. Double your Dividend
Alaskans can DOUBLE YOUR DIVIDEND! When you file for your Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), choose to donate at least $25 to a non-profit (like AFDF) and you will be entered into a drawing to win a second PFD. Ten lucky Alaskans will win. The program is called Pick.Click.Give.
If you have already filed, it is easy to log on again and choose a cause that matters to you. A small donation can make a big impact for Alaskan organizations which are working in your communities to make Alaska a better place.
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Like us on Facebook
AFDF is now on Facebook. Search for “Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation” and like AFDF’s Facebook page to get AFDF updates in your newsfeed.
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 AFDF Co-Hosts Meeting on Utilization of Crustacean Shells
In collaboration with organizations such as the Iceland Ocean Cluster and ASMI, AFDF will be co-hosting a meeting on March 7, 2016 in Boston during Seafood Expo North America to discuss the challenges in optimizing utilization of shrimp, crab and lobster shells.
Historically, crustaceans have been an important source of food and economy. As the seafood industry becomes more globally competitive, full utilization has become an increasingly important factor. For example, shells derived from the processing crustaceans have traditionally been discarded as waste and without being utilized. It is also known that these shells comprise materials which are valuable in other industries, such as medical and aquaculture.
The Iceland Ocean Cluster has organized a meeting to be held in connection with Seafood Expo North America. The goal is to create a forum for networking and exchange of information regarding this topic. Co-hosts are Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF), Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), New England Ocean Cluster, Ocean Excellence Ltd. and Gloucester.
Although there is no cost to attend, space is limited. All attendees must register prior to the event. To find out more about the event, or to register, contact Julie Decker.
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