The call is out for products to compete in Alaska's most celebrated seafood bash, which has added a new category.
For the 23rd year, the 2016 Symphony of Seafood will showcase innovative new products entered by major Alaska seafood companies as well as small "mom and pop" firms such as last year's top winner: Pickled Willy's of Kodiak for its smoked black cod tips.
Entries are judged privately by a panel of experts in several categories, based on the product's packaging and presentation, overall eating experience, price and potential for commercial success. A coveted People's Choice award is voted on by seafood lovers at gala events held during February in Seattle, Anchorage and Juneau.
Traditional categories of retail, food service and smoked were expanded last year to include Beyond the Plate — items made from seafood byproducts.
"There are companies and individuals around the state that are making all kinds of things from fish parts. It really opens the door to more innovators, and can include anything from fish oil capsules to salmon leather wallets," said Julie Decker, executive director of the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, which has hosted the seafood symphony since it launched in 1993.
The 2015 Beyond the Plate winner was Yummie Chummies Pet Treats, made since 1998 by Arctic Paws of Anchorage.
New to the Symphony of Seafood lineup next year is another category: Beyond the Egg. It will include products such as herring roe on kelp, salmon caviar, and uni (urchin) paste or creme brulee.
"A significant portion of the value and health benefits in any fishery resource is found in the roe. Now the Symphony will have a category in which these products will be recognized and promoted," Decker said.
The top winners in each category get to display their products in March at Seafood Expo North America in Boston, one of the world's largest trade shows.
"The multiple locations give companies the opportunity to introduce new value-added seafood products made from Alaska seafood and gain exposure with industry, culinary experts, seafood distributors, and national media," Decker said.
The entry deadline is Jan. 8. Entry forms and information is at www.afdf.org/symphony-of-seafood/.
Frankenfish feedback
Reports of public discontent came rolling in immediately after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval last week of genetically modified salmon for human consumption. The fish is being produced in Canada and Panama by Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies and will be sold under the "AquAdvantage" brand.
A New York Times readership poll found that 75 percent of respondents would not eat salmon that had been genetically engineered. And according to Friends of the Earth, more than 60 U.S. grocery store chains operating 9,000 storefronts have vowed to not sell GMO or genetically modified products, including Safeway, Kroger (including Fred Meyer), Costco, Target, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.
"Despite FDA's flawed and irresponsible approval of the first genetically engineered animal for human consumption, it's clear that there is no place in the U.S. market for genetically engineered salmon," said Lisa Archer, a Friends of the Earth spokeswoman. "People don't want to eat it and grocery stores are refusing to sell it."
The group also claims that at least 35 other types of genetically engineered fish are under development.
Nearly 1.8 million people along with some 3,000 consumer and health organizations have sent letters to the FDA opposing approval of so-called Frankenfish. Because the man-made fish is categorized under "veterinary procedures" it will not require labeling on U.S. supermarket shelves.
"There were over 250 million wild salmon harvested in Alaska and Puget Sound this year. Why should we put this sustainable resource at risk for the benefit of a few multinational corporations who will, sooner or later, introduce GMO salmon into their floating feed lots? Americans will be eating synthetic salmon, thinking they are receiving the nutritional benefits of wild salmon," said Dr. Pete Knutson, owner of Loki Fish Co. and commissioner on the Puget Sound Salmon Commission.
2016 fish, roe harvest levels
The preliminary harvest for roe herring next spring at Sitka Sound will be 15,674 tons, nearly double this year's quota of 8,712 tons. The final harvest will be announced by state managers in early March.
The state is predicting a harvest of 34 million pink salmon next year in Southeast Alaska, below the 10-year average of 38 million.
The University of Washington Alaska Salmon Program is predicting a harvest of 34.1 million sockeye next year at Bristol Bay -- well above the 29.5 million forecast released by managers with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The Washington forecast is paid for each year by Bristol Bay processors.
A hefty Upper Cook Inlet sockeye harvest of 4.1 million is projected for 2016. That's 27 percent greater than the 20-year average.
The Bering Sea pollock catch next year is likely to be another big one – equal to or greater than this year's 1.3 million metric tons, or about 3 billion pounds. The fisheries blog Deckboss reports the eastern Bering Sea pollock harvest has averaged 1.2 million tons (2.6 billion pounds) from 1977-2015.
Dummies on food source
Seafood Source reports that research by Rowse Honey discovered an alarming lack of knowledge among overseas consumers about where their food comes from.
In a study of 2,000 adults, one fifth of young adults in the United Kingdom believe fish fingers are actually made from the fingers of fish.
One in seven people didn't know that lamb comes from sheep or that a pork chop comes from a pig. One in eight believed that farmers have to squeeze bees to get honey.
Perhaps the most alarming find was that one in five young adults said they simply did not need to know where food comes from. Two-thirds of those surveyed blamed this failing on supermarkets. Some 60 percent said ready meals played a role.
Laine Welch is a Kodiak-based commercial fishing columnist. Contact her at msfish@alaskan.com.