New seafood career videos available

For anyone who is interested in pursuing a technical, vocational, or seafood career in Alaska, but doesn’t know where to start, check out new maritime career videos available from Maritime Works. These three-minute videos highlight seafood processing career opportunities as a plant electrician, plant manager, quality assurance technician, and refrigeration technician. The videos provide personal insights into career opportunities within Alaska’s largest manufacturing sector, while increasing awareness of seafood industry jobs.

Alaska accounts for about two thirds of U.S. seafood by volume. Here, the industry harvests and processes more wild caught fish and shellfish than all other states combined to support the world’s seafood industry. The new career awareness videos are the product of partners working together to highlight positions in the sector, showcase a booming industry, and provide vital career resources for Alaskans.

Mari Selle, Maritime Director with the Alaska Safety Alliance, shared the motivation for the project. “These videos highlight real Alaskans working in great jobs that serve their communities and beyond. I hope people looking for a new career will see these videos and be inspired to take advantage of the opportunities in the seafood industry. These are careers that provide professional advancement, a great wage, and an opportunity to witness world-class fishing at your doorstep.” 

People interested in working in Alaska’s seafood processing industry have a wide range of career opportunities at sea or in more than 40 coastal communities across the state. According to a 2019 report from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, seafood processing accounts for around 70% of Alaska’s manufacturing employment, with upwards of 27,000 workers directly employed in 170 shore-based plants, 52 catcher processors, and 30 floating processors. In other words, opportunity abounds!

This project was made possible through contributions and participation by the Alaska Safety Alliance, Alaska Sea Grant, Alaska Research Consortium, Pacific Processors Association, Matson, University of Alaska, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, At-sea Processors Association, and Alaska Pacific Seafoods. Alaska Sea Grant coordinated the project and would like to thank Alaska Pacific Seafoods for their time and efforts in making these videos possible. For more information on Alaskan seafood and maritime career pathways, visit Maritime Works. For more information on seafood workforce development initiatives or upcoming training opportunities in Alaska, contact Caleb Taylor, Alaska Sea Grant seafood workforce coordinator.