Ocean Beauty, Seagrove Kelp, Alaskan Leader win Alaska Symphony of Seafood awards

The Alaska Symphony of Seafood announced its 2021 winners at Pacific Marine Expo on Friday, 19 November in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation Executive Director Julie Decker was on hand to announce all winners in the competition, which was created to encourage more product development in Alaska’s seafood sector.

Echo Falls Smoked Salmon by Ocean Beauty won first place in the Retail and Salmon categories. Alaska Grown Ribbon Kelp by Seagrove Kelp Co. took first place in the Foodservice category. First place in the Beyond the Plate category was Deep Blue Sea Bath Soak by Waterbody. Wild Alaska Pollock Jerky by Neptune Snacks took the Whitefish category.

“I’ve seen very many smaller, independent companies enter, and they have some of the best, innovative ideas,” Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association Marketing Director Lilani Dunn said. “Our fishermen know the product better than anyone.”

A partnership between BBRSDA and AFDF led to a new category this year – Bristol Bay Choice – and the inaugural winner was Alaskan Leader Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon.

“I used Trident Seafoods sockeye salmon,” said Keith Singleton, who heads Alaskan Leader’s value-added division. “So obviously they did their part right. And the Bristol Bay fishermen did their part right. And we’re standing on the stage getting a trophy.”

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Executive Director Jeremy Woodrow was also on-hand for the awards ceremony.

“Driving innovation is a really important part of the seafood industry,” Woodrow said. “The primary goal of ASMI is to make sure that the Alaska seafood resource continues to increase in value.”

Reporting by Jes Hathaway

Photo courtesy of Doug Stewart/National Fisherman