The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation celebrated its final round of prizes for the annual Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition in Juneau Thursday, Feb. 24.
The contest for new value-added products made from Alaska seafood is designed to propel product development that diversifies markets, improves utilization and reduces fish waste.
The winners will now head to Boston for Seafood Expo North America’s Seafood Excellence Awards in March.
“For the first time, we are especially proud to say that three of the Symphony’s first place winners are in the top 10 finalists in the Seafood Excellence Awards, a national competition,” said Julie Decker, executive director of the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, based in Wrangell. “This demonstrates that the Alaska seafood industry is a national leader in product innovation and that the Alaska Symphony of Seafood is an excellent path to a national stage.”
The category winners for 2022 are:
- Grand Prize — Waterbody with Deep Blue Sea Bath Soak
- Salmon — Ocean Beauty Seafoods with Echo Falls Wild Alaskan Smoked Salmon, Tapas Sliced, Mediterranean
- Whitefish — Neptune Snacks with Cracked Pepper Wild Alaska Pollock Jerky
- Bristol Bay Choice — Alaskan Leader Seafoods with Wild Caught Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon
- Retail — Ocean Beauty Seafoods with Echo Falls Wild Alaskan Smoked Salmon, Tapas Sliced, Mediterranean
- Foodservice — Seagrove Kelp Co. with Alaska Grown Ribbon Kelp
- Beyond the Plate — Waterbody with Deep Blue Sea Bath Soak
- Seattle People’s Choice — Alaskan Leader Seafoods with Wild Caught Alaska Black Cod in Japanese Miso Marinade
- Juneau People’s Choice — Alaskan Leader Seafoods with Wild Caught Alaska Black Cod in Japanese Miso Marinade
“I am so honored and grateful for Waterbody to win this award,” said Angie Flickinger of Waterbody. “I am excited to be part of a growing movement toward developing products, markets and economic opportunities around regenerative kelp farming in Alaska.”
The categories for Salmon and Whitefish are new this year, as well as the Bristol Bay Choice award in honor of the Symphony’s major sponsor and partner, the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association.
“The Alaska Symphony of Seafood is a long tradition in our industry, and the BBRSDA is excited to be a partner and to have our own category,” said Lilani Dunn, marketing director for the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association. “Alaskan Leader did an excellent job highlighting the quality of Bristol Bay Sockeye, something our fleet has worked extremely hard to improve and maintain season after season. With three out of the last five fishing seasons being record breaking, we look forward to seeing more sockeye salmon entrees in the upcoming years.”
The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation offers a suite of prizes for the first-place winners from each category, including the Grand Prize:
- Booth space at Seafood Expo North America, March 13-15;
- Entry into the expo’s Seafood Excellence Awards new products competition; and
- Airfare to and from the show provided by sponsor Alaska Air Cargo.
“Today’s consumers more than ever are seeking convenient and healthy meal options. Delicious value-added products made with wild, sustainable Alaska seafood meet this demand,” said Jeremy Woodrow, executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, an event sponsor. “We always look forward to the new products showcased at the Alaska Symphony of Seafood. From miso blackcod to Alaska pollock jerky, ASMI is very excited to see the direction Alaska seafood products are headed.”
Other major sponsors of the event include the At-Sea Processors Association, Marine Stewardship Council, Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, Marel, Kwik’Pak Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Association, Trident Seafoods, UniSea and United Fishermen of Alaska.
