Supporting the seafood industry through training and assistance

It’s no secret that seafood is a big deal in Alaska. In 2024, commercial seafood production contributed an estimated $6 billion to Alaska’s economy and employed over 17,000 Alaskans. For many, seafood is their livelihood, culture, and a part of their identity. Navigating the seafood industry can be complex, and Alaska Sea Grant provides an array of training and technical assistance important to the industry.

Alaska Sea Grant recently published a short summary of the many programs and resources available to new and veteran members of the seafood industry (PDF). Last year, Alaska Sea Grant training and assistance had an economic benefit of over $26 million and trained 470 people at 42 events.

Our training and assistance for the Alaska seafood industry comes in three categories: seafood harvesting, seafood processing, and mariculture.

Support for the seafood harvesting sector includes providing beginning and established seafood harvesters with resources, consulting, and hands-on training. Workshops supported by the Alaska Sea Grant FishBiz team cover skills that support robust careers in Alaska’s fishing industry. Programs include the AK On-Board Crew Class, Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit, Business of Fishing workshops, direct seafood marketing courses, and AMSEA safety courses.

Alaska Sea Grant’s seafood processing support includes consultation services, product development and testing, and training. Workshops help seafood processing businesses attain food and process safety certification, and build workforce capacity to ensure a competitive Alaskan seafood industry. Our programs include HACCP safety training, seafood processor supervisor training, and the Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute.

We also support kelp and shellfish mariculture businesses with resources and workshops for business planning, site permitting, and applying growing and harvesting methods and technology. Programs include kelp business planning and marketing workshops, kelp farming operations train-the-trainers, Alaska seaweed handling and processing workshops, kelp hatchery operations and oyster hatchery operations workshops, and the annual Mariculture Conference of Alaska.

Behind the many training and assistance programs we offer are the collaborative Alaska Sea Grant seafood experts who conduct research, and study trends, needs, and emerging issues.

Funding for Alaska Sea Grant’s support of the seafood industry is provided by federal and state grants, which are leveraged with resources and expertise from partners to maximize the benefit to Alaska’s industries and people.