Source: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA submitted to NRP
SEAFOOD HARVESTING, PROCESSING AND MARKETING PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0192391
Grant No.
2002-34422-12136
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2002-06163
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 15, 2002
Project End Date
Aug 14, 2005
Grant Year
2002
Program Code
[PU]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
(N/A)
FAIRBANKS,AK 99775
Performing Department
SCHOOL OF FISHERIES AND OCEAN SCIENCES
Non Technical Summary
While Alaska produces more than 60% of the food fish in the US, the industry suffers from the geographic isolation of Alaska and the high cost of business. These projects will allow Seafood Harvesting Processing and Marketing to proceed more compellingly. We need to assist in establishing a technological literacy in the industry so they can take maximum advantage of this renewable resource.This is best done through research, education and outreach. The FY2002 Seafood Harvesting Processing and Marketing proposal is formulated so upon completion of the subprojects, the Alaska seafood industry will have greater technical processing options (projects #1, 3, 4, 8). Project 5 addresses better predictions of harvestable fish abundance. Projects #6 and #7 are investigations on methods to make Seafood Processing more cost effective in Alaska by reducing costs of transportation, supplies and consumables. Projects #4, 8 and 9 directly address a major concern in the growth of greater market acceptance of Alaska seafood, the issue of quality. Project #10 focuses specifically on training people from remote harvesting locations in Alaska in marketing using a team of market experts and successful fishmen marketers. Project #2 is directed at obtaining equipment at the Fishery Industrial technology Center to further our mission to increase the effectiveness of our sustainable harvesting and utilization programs.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
70%
Developmental
30%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
6030819101015%
6030819301020%
7010819101045%
7010819301020%
Knowledge Area
603 - Market Economics; 701 - Nutrient Composition of Food;

Subject Of Investigation
0819 - Natural fisheries, other;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
We have included ten subprojects in our submission for FY 2002 for Seafood Harvesting Processing and Marketing. The first project involves investigating the use of chitosan as a coating to retard spoilage and moisture loss in fresh fish. The second is to upgrade equipment at the Fishery Industrial Technology Center in furtherance of our mission to assist in sustainable harvesting and processing. The third project is investigates making surimi analog product closer to the source of fish Alaska and involves food service and school lunch programs. The fourth is for the development of machine vision technology to improve quality in seafood processing in Alaska. The fifth project is for an analysis of nearshore fish populations pertinent to harvesting. The sixth is a study of the feasibility of structuring freight consolidation facilities in Alaska. The seventh investigates imported supplies and consumables associated with seafood harvesting and processing in Alaska. The eighth is links seafood quality to marketing in a more formal context through market surveys, analyses of customer perception, and standard laboratory metrics of quality. The ninth project is the second year of the Third Party Seafood Inspection and Certification Project. In this iteration, the project will expand out from Cordova towards Bristol Bay, an area suffering severe economic distress from the combination of loss of market share and reduced run size. The tenth project is an outreach project to bring marketing expertise to more remote Alaskan communities dependent on fishing, following on the expereince of our similar project last year.
Project Methods
Project 1. Determine the effectiveness of chitosan as an antibacterial and inhibitor of moisture loss by standard laboratory methods. #2. Purchase equipment, develop web site. #3. Develop surimi-based product for School Lunch Program. Survey end-user preferences, distribution channels, & seasonal use patterns of lunch items. Acceptability tests in schools. 4. Assemble machine vision components & build image recognition system under optimized operating conditions to determine seafood quality.and to test the system in seafood plant. 5. Survey three nearshore bays twice using modern equipment. We will correlate our findings with catch length & weight data to yield estimates of fish biomass. #6. Investigate examples of freight consolidation facilities in other areas. We will survey existing businesses for comprehensive list of services. Determine required equipment & infrastructure. Review current allowable corporate models as well as authorities, cooperatives, quasi-state corporations & others. Survey business-to-business internet services. Develop likely scenarios for how facilities will operate within their own operation and with all other sites, including carriers. Collect information on potential cost savings from this improved freight infrastructure. #7. Quantify the nature of input supplies & consumables & the volume used by the Alaska seafood industry by geographic region and gauge the likelihood of in-state manufacturing of inputs. #8. We will use focus groups, telephone surveys followed by on-site survey of quality perception. We will follow with laboratory and data analyses and develop & define vocabulary of quality terms. We will report results to industry. #9. Institute handling procedures & inspection system that covers the chain of custody of salmon from the time of harvest to the time of shipping. Marketing program established to promote quality seal certification to buyers & educate them about the system behind it. #10. Outreach project to emphasize the application of marketing through a series of forums across Alaska involving successful seafood marketers.

Progress 08/15/02 to 08/14/05

Outputs
Seafood Harvesting Processing & Marketing SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION FOR SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING AND UTILIZATION New tools and equipment were sought to expand the precision of our work, its efficiency and its accessibility to the public. SUMMARY: Equipment purchased: SFU Custom Flume Respirometer, TAI AR 2000 Rheometer, TAI DMAQ800 Dynamic Analyzer, Yahama 4 Stroke 200 HP Outboard. SURIMI BASED PRODUCTS FOR SCHOOL FOODSERVICE PROGRAMS The objective was to utilize a multidisciplinary approach to develop a surimi based product for schools in Alaska and Northwest U.S. MACHINE VISION SYSTEM FOR SEAFOOD QUALITY CONTROL This project was to assess machine vision as a more objective method that could improve the consistency of Alaska seafood quality? PRESENTATIONS: Crapo,C. 2003. Presentation to interested seafood processors in Kodiak and Southeast Alaska. Crapo, C. 2003. Presentation at Institute of Food Technologists NEARSHORE HABITAT USE BY COMMERCIAL FISH This study initiated a program to assess the biomass and seasonal availability of commercially important fish species and their prey in multiple bays on Kodiak Island. PRESENTATIONS: Dr. Robert Foys lab made 5 presentations to the follow audiences: Rasmuson Fisheries Foundation, AAAS: Arctic Division, American Fisheries Society, World Fisheries Congress FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR FREIGHT CONSOLIDATION FACILITY This feasibility study considered a number of factors affecting the potential cost of such facilities. SUMMARY: The work was completed and a final report was prepared by McDowell & Associates. REVIEW OF INPUTS FOR ALASKA SEAFOOD INDUSTRY This study sought to quantify the nature of imported processing supplies by geographic region. SUMMARY: Project Failed. PI was unavoidably involved, as an expert witness, in major litigation involving salmon in Bristol Bay. The litigation dragged on for several years. LINKING QUALITY AND MARKETING IN ALASKAN SEAFOODS This project sought to develop common descriptors of quality by quantitatively linking scientific criteria with perceptions of Alaska seafoods by processors and their customers. PRESENTATIONS: Crapo, C. 2003-2004 Reports to various local seafood processors STATEWIDE SALMON QUALITY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION PROJECT This Quality Inspection Program aimed to increase the perception of value of Copper River salmon to end users. SUMMARY: The project was quite successful in bringing attention to quality issues to local harvesters and processors, however little good information was made available quantifying any increase in sales volume attributable to this project. 2ND SEAFOOD MARKETING WORKSHOP FOR ALASKA COMMUNITIES This project was an outreach training program in seafood marketing for people in Alaskas remote fishing communities. PRESENTATIONS: Fong, QSW. 2003. Direct Marketing Workshop. Yakutat, Alaska. Fong, QSW. 2005. DO YOU WANT TO BE A PROCESSOR WORKSHOP SERIES. Kenai, Alaska. Fong, QSW. 2005. Marketing Workshops and One-on-One Individual Marketing Consultations: Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan, Whale Pass, and Craig, Alaska,

Impacts
We anticipate that the work funded through this special grant will have long term positive effects on the economic viability, seafood quality and efficiency of the Alaska Seafood Industry.

Publications

  • PUBLICATION: Pedersen, LD., Crapo, C., Babbitt, J., & Smiley, S. 2003. Membrane Filtration of Stickwater. pp. 359-369 in: ADVANCES IN SEAFOOD BYPRODUCTS: 2002 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. (ed: Bechtel, PJ.). Alaska Sea Grant UAF
  • PUBLICATION: West, P. & QSW. Fong. 2006. Knowledge and Preference of School Nutrition Policies and Products of Alaskan School District Menu Planners. Journal of Foodservice and School Nutrition.