Posts Tagged ‘Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center’
A seafood success story
A 14-hour shift can’t dampen Jake Merzoian’s enthusiasm for Alaska Sea Grant.
“I’m really aspiring to get into upper management, and here’s this program that’s been able to help me so much,” said Merzoian, a seafood processing worker who has taken numerous Alaska Sea Grant job trainings. “The whole experience has been amazing.”
When Merzoian spoke to us in June for this article, it was 8 a.m., and he was headed to bed after working 14 hours as a production line mechanic at the Red Salmon Cannery in Naknek. He has worked there the past two summers and the rest of the year he serves as a maintenance worker and forklift mechanic at Alaska Pacific Seafoods in Kodiak. Both plants are owned by the same company, North Pacific Seafoods.
While working seven days a week on the factory floor might not be everyone’s ideal employment, for Merzoian, it’s a dream job. He first got a glimpse of a seafood processing plant while working as a young deckhand in Sitka and was immediately drawn to the camaraderie, pace and variety of the work.
Read MoreA little kelp with our friends
For a week in June, kelp was on people’s minds in Kodiak—and in many of their stomachs as well. Alaska Sea Grant was the main sponsor and organizer of the…
Read MorePADI Open Water Diver Course for Mariculturists
9:00 am — 5:00 pm each day Alaska Sea Grant is now accepting applications for a PADI Open Water Diver certification course designed for individuals working in or preparing to…
Read MoreFrom fungi to foam
An innovative alternative to Styrofoam might be growing in your backyard. A team led by University of Alaska Anchorage researcher Philippe Amstislavski is exploring how mycelium, the root structure of…
Read MoreSmoked Seafood School for Commercial Operators – October 2026
This workshop is for seafood processors looking to include value-added products in their commercial operations. A Smoked Seafood School for general enthusiasts, including Kodiak Island Borough residents, is planned for…
Read MoreKodiak Seaweed Processing and Product Development Workshop
Applications have closed. Alaska Sea Grant is hosting a 3-day, hands-on workshop focused on seaweed processing and value-added product development. This training is designed for individuals interested in commercial, research,…
Read MoreResearch fellow excels in HAB lab collab
Courtney White only spent one summer in Kodiak, but it clearly left an impression. “On paper, I applied for a three-month fellowship,” said White, who aided in harmful algal bloom…
Read MoreNational Seafood Month: The science of seafood
Seafood is as much a science as it is a business. At the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, Alaska Sea Grant’s Chris Sannito works at this intersection by helping…
Read MoreHarmful Algal Bloom Workshop – Kodiak
This hands-on workshop will train potential shellfish farmers to monitor for harmful algae, including Alexandrium catenella, which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning. Participants will learn net tow techniques, plankton identification, and microscope…
Read MoreAmmonia Refrigeration Operator
This training focuses on equipment commonly found in Alaskan seafood processing operations, including plate freezers, ice machines, and refrigerated seawater heat exchangers. Workers are trained for Alaska conditions, including the seasonal nature of the systems and facilities, typical maintenance periods, and running seasonal projects.
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