Seafood Processing and Technology

a fillet of salmon

The Alaska seafood industry is the largest private employer in the state. The industry processes 5 billion pounds of fish and shellfish annually, more than 55 percent of the total US catch.

Over 300 large and small firms produce cod fillets, surimi, halibut steaks, and fillet, freeze, can or smoke salmon. Some are multimillion-dollar operations using state-of-the-art filleting and freezing equipment. Others are mom-and-pop operations producing high-quality specialty products for niche markets. All seafood processors face the challenges of competing in a rapidly changing global food industry.

About our Seafood Processing classes and workshops

man processing Alaskan salmon in the Kodiak Science and Marine Science Center pilot plant

Our Alaska Seafood School offers classes and workshops on seafood safety, quality control, product development, business and marketing operations, leadership training, and other areas that support of Alaska’s seafood processing businesses.

We also respond to requests from companies for training on topics such as HACCP, environmental compliance, wastewater compliance, and microbiology testing.

Download fall 2025 Alaska Seafood School training classes poster to print or read

For more information, please contact Alaska Sea Grant.

Upcoming seafood processing classes

Click or tap a course title to see details.

Better Process Control School — 2026
February 5, 2026–February 7, 2026
Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — February 2026
February 27, 2026,  9:00 am–4:00 pm  AKST 
Seafood HACCP Segment 2 — March 2026
March 27, 2026,  9:00 am–4:00 pm  AKDT 
Ammonia Refrigeration Operator
April 13, 2026–April 17, 2026
Basic BAADER Technician
April 20, 2026–April 24, 2026
Advanced BAADER Technician
April 27, 2026–May 1, 2026
Sanitation Control Procedures for Seafood Processors – 2026
May 1, 2026,  9:00 am–4:00 pm  AKDT

See all Alaska Sea Grant workshops, classes, and conferences

Chris Sannito

Seafood Technology Specialist, Kodiak

office: (907) 486-1503
cell: (907) 539-2012

Contact Chris

Bio page

Marc Solano

Seafood Processing Workforce Development Coordinator, Kodiak

(907) 486-1505

Contact Marc

Bio page

ASPLI HACCP Workshop Process Control Sanitation Control Smoked Seafood School Other Courses

ASPLI

Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute (ASPLI)

ASPLI is an intensive professional development program designed for mid-level managers, production foremen, plant supervisors, quality assurance leaders, and small processors who want to advance their careers in seafood processing. The program consists of hands-on technical training, an in-house project on plant operations, and leadership training.

Upcoming training

Session 1: Fall, 2026. Hands-on technical training in seafood processing and visits with local processors.
Session 2: Spring, 2027. Leadership training, human resource development, business management, and marketing.
(participants attend both sessions as part of ASPLI)

Apply for ASPLI

To apply for this program, you must:

be able to commit to the schedule of events
- November 4–8, 2024, in Kodiak
- Between November and March, in-plant project
- March 3–7, 2025, in Anchorage
be employed in Alaska, although the processor you work for is not required to be based in Alaska.
identify a mentor who can provide professional guidance throughout the Institute and help with an individual project. The mentor can be a supervisor or other employee in your seafood processing plant, or someone from a regional nonprofit organization.
provide the name of a financial sponsor who will support the required contribution.

For more information

Quentin Fong, Seafood Marketing Specialist
Chris Sannito, Seafood Technology Specialist
Marc Solano, Seafood Processing Workforce Development Coordinator

HACCP Workshop

Basic Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Workshops

Alaska seafood processors have a strong record of providing the nation and the world with safe, wholesome seafood. A federal regulation took effect in 1997 to help assure the public that the seafood they purchase in stores or eat in restaurants is as safe as possible.

This method of assuring seafood safety requires monitoring of all seafood processing operations using a program called hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP). HACCP is mandatory for all processors in Alaska, even those who sell their product only in-state.

MAP offers HACCP training throughout the year. Additional courses will be given when needed. If you would like a course given in your community or at your processing plant, please call (907) 486-1505 or email us with your request.

HAACP Segment 2

Available to those who take the Seafood HACCP Online Training Course. Participants taking the online course come to the final day of HACCP in person. Those who complete both the online course and an in-person Segment 2 course will receive a Certificate of Course Completion from the Association of Food and Drug Officials to demonstrate they meet the training requirement of the FDA Seafood HACCP regulation.

Process Control

Better Process Control School

Classroom lectures and hands-on activities in the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center pilot plant and laboratory help build the expertise required by seafood quality control professionals. This program is designed to broaden skills and overall knowledge in the areas of seafood safety, regulatory requirements, sanitation, sensory analysis and other topics.

Better Process Control School teaches principles of thermal processing, equipment requirements, closure evaluation and recordkeeping for glass jars and cans. The course satisfies FDA requirements. Attendees will receive a certificate on successful completion. Additional classes can be arranged for your business or for your community. Please call (907) 486-1505 or email us with your request.

Sanitation Control

Sanitation Control Procedures

Seafood processors are required to monitor sanitary control procedures used during processing to show their conformance with good sanitary conditions and practices.

The Sanitation Control Procedures course is intended to assist the seafood industry in developing and implementing sanitation control procedures as mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Classes can be arranged for your business or for your community. Please call (907) 486-1505 or email us with your request.

Smoked Seafood School

Held at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center (KSMSC)

The workshop is for anyone interested in smoking and processing fish, including home fish-smoking enthusiasts, small smokehouse operators, fishermen interested in direct marketing their fish, and commercial operators.

Participants receive a certificate upon completion. Lectures and hands-on activities include:

principles of fish smoking
safety of smoked product
brining
filleting sockeye for curing and cold smoking
hot-smoking chum, coho, and black cod
preparation of fish sausage
processing of salmon roe for production of ikura

Maximum workshop capacity is 15 participants, and minimum number of participants is 10. Workshop organizers feel it is important that each participant has the opportunity to actively participate in every hands-on activity in the KSMSC pilot plant.

Participants must wear closed-toe shoes (preferably waterproof) at the pilot plant. Aprons, gloves and hairnets will be provided.

Instructors: Chris Sannito and Brian Himelbloom. A representative from Enviropak will also be on site to demonstrate oven technology and other procedures for commercial operators.

For more information

Additional classes can be arranged for your business or for your community. Please call (907) 486-1505 or email us with your request.

Other Courses

Other courses

Professional Ammonia Refrigeration Operator Education for seafood processors (Pro-AROE)

ProAROE is a three-level program providing workers the skills and competencies specific to operating ammonia refrigeration systems in the Alaskan seafood industry. For details, visit the Professional Ammonia Refrigeration Operator Education for seafood processors website.

Introduction to Fisheries Utilization (FISH 261, 3 credits)*

Find out why the seafood industry is important to the Alaska economy. Who sells or buys fish and what regulations apply? Why does seafood spoil? What is the nutritional profile of fish and shellfish? What happens to the fish parts resulting from processing? How safe is the seafood we consume? Answers to these and other perplexing questions can be found by enrolling in Fish 261.

Seafood Business (FISH 340, 3 credits)*

This course includes the practical application of business planning. Financing, accounting, permitting, feasibility analysis, marketing, human resource management, and operational aspects of seafood harvesting and processing will be introduced, using case studies and guest lecturers from the seafood industry. The prerequisite for this class is FISH 261 (see above) or instructor permission.

* FISH courses are offered through the Fisheries Division of the UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.