Training a new generation of seafood industry leaders

Over a dozen seafood professionals recently graduated from Alaska Sea Grant’s Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute (ASPLI), gaining new knowledge and skills to support their development toward becoming leaders in their field. This year’s class represented most coastal Alaska regions, including Kodiak, Bristol Bay, Prince William Sound, Norton Sound, and Unalaska.

Their training began in November at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, focusing on advanced processing topics including project management, lean manufacturing, packaging, and food safety. Instructors included Alaska Sea Grant faculty and other industry experts, including Emily Miller from California Sea Grant, who facilitated discussions, team building exercises, and hands-on processing activities. The Kodiak session concluded with tours of local processing facilities.

As part of the program, participants returned to their facilities over the winter to work with mentors to develop and implement strategies for improving their facility’s operations. When the class reconvened in Anchorage in February, the trainees presented their improvement projects, including expanding handwashing stations, improving accounting systems, developing reporting templates, introducing ergonomics programs, and more. They also discussed strategies for refining their projects and overcoming challenges.

The students participated in a leadership workshop featuring sessions on resilient fisheries and policies. The program wrapped up with a field trip exploring local seafood products.

After the training, participants returned to their companies equipped with new skills, knowledge, and professional connections. One participant described themselves as “new to management” and credited ASPLI with providing them the “tools, confidence, and avenues to network.” Another remarked, “This course is for anyone who shows leadership potential. I already have a few people in mind for the next session.”

For nearly two decades, ASPLI has been training the future leaders of Alaska’s seafood processing industry. Established in 2006, ASPLI was created to address the growing need for skilled leadership in an industry that has been a cornerstone of the state’s economy for generations. Over that time, ASPLI has trained more than 130 emerging industry leaders, representing 27 companies and 22 communities across Alaska. Participants come from a range of company roles, including production, quality control, engineering, HR, corporate, and administration, as well as independent operators.

“One of the most satisfying aspects of the long-running ASPLI program is being able to follow the career paths of former students who eventually become industry leaders,” said Chris Sannito, Alaska Sea Grant Seafood Technology Specialist and program facilitator. “It proves that investing in leadership development has a lasting impact on individuals and Alaska’s seafood industry as a whole.”

If you have an employee you want to sponsor for the next ASPLI training in 2026, or if you’re an employee or independent operator interested in attending, contact Marc Solano, Alaska Sea Grant’s seafood processing workforce development coordinator.

ASPLI is made possible through registration fees, sponsorship from participating companies, and funding from the University of Alaska’s Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP).