PDF available at: https://www.saltandsoilmarketplace.com/vendor-resources

Photo credit: Wild Iris Photography, courtesy of Sea to Shore Seafood Company

Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

About this guide: This resource guide was developed to support fishermen interested in direct

marketing, alternative marketing, or community supported fisheries (CSFs) in Alaska. It is

intended to draw together a diverse array of information and tools that exist to help direct

marketers/CSFs get started and succeed. This guide does not constitute an endorsement of any

of the resources, organizations, agencies, businesses listed below.

To report errors or suggest additions to the guide, please contact

akfishresourceguide@gmail.com

Funding for the Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen Interested in Direct Marketing, Alternative Marketing, and Community Supported Fisheries was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 16LFPPAK0041 in addition to matching funds from the Sustainable Southeast Partnership. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

Key resources that every current or prospective direct marketer or community supported

fishery (CSF) should know about:

✓ Most important written resource to read in detail: Fishermen’s Direct Marketers Manual from

Alaska & Washington Sea Grant, Revised 2018 Edition.

✓ Most important networks for articulating the values of the community supported fishery

movement and creating a nationwide community of practice: LocalCatch.org & Slow Fish USA

✓ Three key organizations that provide support for fishermen and Alaska entrepreneurs: Alaska

Sea Grant, Alaska Startups, Alaska Small Business Development Center. ✓ Best “toolbox” for anyone in the seafood business, including direct marketers: Alaska Sea Grant

Fish Biz Website. A full list of resources relevant to direct marketers and CSFs is found below.

DIRECT MARKETING, ALTERNATIVE MARKETING, & COMMUNITY SUPPORTED FISHERIES

Fishermen’s Direct Marketers Manual, Revised 2018 Edition

The go-to guide for direct marketing. Published by Alaska & Washington Sea Grant.

https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAB-71.html

Basic Startup Guide for Direct Market Fishermen

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/ASG-51.html

Calculating Profitability for Direct Market Operations

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/ASG-47.html

Tips for Direct Marketers: Working with a Broker or Trader

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/ASG-49.html

Tips for Direct Marketers: The Onboard DEC Inspection

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/ASG-45.html

“Market Your Catch” website Developed by University of California Santa-Barbara and partners as a resource for west coast fishermen interested in alternative forms of marketing.

http://marketyourcatch.msi.ucsb.edu/

Localcatch.org website LocalCatch.org is a community-of-practice committed to providing local, healthful, low-impact, and economy sustainable seafood via community supported fisheries (CSFs) and other direct marketing arrangements. You can list your business using their seafood finder tool, browse other CSFs and fishermen in the region, and connect to resources.

https://localcatch.org/

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

CSF Bait Box: Fishermen’s Guide to Community Supported Fisheries

Developed by the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA).

http://www.namanet.org/sites/default/files/documents/Bait%20Box%20January%202009%20final.pdf

Final Report from the National Summit on Community Supported Fisheries, New Hampshire 2012

Highlights a breadth of information on obstacles and opportunities to growing CSFs.

https://localcatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Summit_Report.pdf

FISHING BUSINESS

Alaska Sea Grant Fish Biz Website Created by Alaska Sea Grant. Features an array of tools, resources, and spreadsheets for all aspects of starting up, managing, and growing fishing businesses.

http://fishbiz.seagrant.uaf.edu/

Tips for Managing Your Yearly Fishing Income

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/ASG-54.html

Business Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAB-57.htm l

Fish Biz Plan Free, web-based business plan development tool.

www.fishbizplan.org

Developing Cooperatives for the Alaska Seafood Industry

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAB-61.html

LEGAL & REGULATORY

Alaska Department of Fish and Game- Commercial Fishing License and Permits

Overview of agencies responsible for various permits and licenses for harvesting, processing, and selling seafood.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishlicense.main

Alaska Department of Fish and Game- Permit Type Matrix

Helpful matrix showing permit types and allowable activities.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/license/fishing/pdfs/allowable_activities.pdf

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation - Seafood Permitting Guide

Quick overview of permits for marketing and processing seafood.

http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/seafood/vessel-permitting-guide

Division of Environmental Health- Food Safety & Sanitation Seafood Page

Comprehensive listing of resources and links for those processing, packaging, or distributing seafood products in Alaska.

http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/seafood.aspx

Division of Environmental Health- Food Safety & Sanitation Shellfish Page

Comprehensive listing of permits and resource links for those harvesting, selling, shipping, and processing shellfish in Alaska.

http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/shellfish/

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

Alaska Department of Revenue- Seafood Tax FAQ

Helpful FAQ on various fisheries taxes.

http://www.tax.alaska.gov/programs/programs/help/faq/faq.aspx?60620

Active seafood and shellfish permits database.

Listing of active seafood and shellfish permits.

https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/active-permits/

MARKETING & BRANDING

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute “Market Your Catch” Tools

ASMI provides marketing materials such as stickers, posters, recipes, etc. to seafood sellers at no charge. Photo assets also available at no charge.

https://www.alaskaseafood.org/industry/fishermen/market-your-catch/

Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association

Digital and point of sale assets at no cost.

https://www.bbrsda.com/marketing/

Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association

Digital and point of sale assets at no cost.

https://www.copperrivermarketing.org/projects-resources/industry-resources/digital-asset-library

PROCESSING, STORAGE, & DISTRIBUTION

A Village Processing Plant: Yes or No

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/M-89.html

Planning Seafood Cold Storage Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAB-46.html

Planning for Seafood Freezing Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAB-60.html

VALUE-ADDED

International Smoked Seafood Conference Proceedings

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/AK-SG-08-02.html

Food Innovation Center at Oregon State University

Offers an array of services to take your value-added product from vision to market.

https://fic.oregonstate.edu/

Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center

State-of-the-art seafood research and development facility with research kitchens, biochemistry labs and food labs with experimental seafood processing equipment that can be used to test production techniques and develop new seafood products.

http://www.uaf.edu/cfos/about-us/locations/kodiak/

Making Profits Out of Seafood Waste

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/AK-SG-90-07.html

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

QUALITY, HANDLING, & FOOD SAFETY

Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety & Sanitation Program Seafood Page

Comprehensive listing of resources and links for those processing, packaging, or distributing seafood products in Alaska.

https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/seafood/

Care and Handling of Salmon: The Key to Quality

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAB-45.html

Salmon Quality for Gillnet Fishermen

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAPV-66.html

Quality is in Your Hands: Salmon Skiff Fishermen

Published by Alaska Sea Grant; viewed at the link via YouTube

https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/MAPV-62.html

Handling of Fresh Crab and Crab Meat

Published by Alaska Sea Grant https://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/ASG-48.html

Guidance for Industry: Seafood HACCP and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

Several of the regulations that FDA has issued under FSMA provide exemptions related to the seafood HACCP regulation. This guidance addresses those exemptions, and also provides information about the seafood HACCP regulation in connection with the FSMA regulations.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/ucm569796.htm

FDA Fish and fishery products hazards and control guidance- 4th Edition

This guidance is intended to assist processors of fish and fishery products in the development of their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/Seafood/ucm2018426.htm

EDUCATION, TRAINING, & NETWORKING

Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association 

Offering education, networking, and training programs.

http://www.alfafish.org/

Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit Multi-day training event for young and beginning fishermen held every two years.

https://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/workshops/ayfs/

Alaska Sea Grant Various courses from HAACP certification, how to start a direct marketing business etc.

https://alaskaseagrant.org/events/

Washington State Center for Advanced Food Technology

Offering facilities, faculty expertise, and courses related to seafood processing and quality.

http://sfs.wsu.edu/caft/

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

Farmer Fisher Chef Connection Event held annually in the Seattle area to connect food producers and food buyers in the Northwest.

http://forksnw.org/

University of Alaska-Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service

Various courses on food and seafood business.

https://www.uaf.edu/ces/info/calendar/workshops/

Strategic Positioning for Farmers and Fishermen

Online business training modules. https://taatrain.cffm.umn.edu/StrategicFarmFish/Default.aspx?SectionID=73

National Good Food Network An invaluable list of case studies, how-to guides, reports, webinar links, and other tools for producers and practitioners.

http://www.ngfn.org/

Alaska Startups Entrepreneurship Directory

Great listing of resources for Alaska entrepreneurs.

http://directory.alaskastartups.com/

Wild Seafood Exchange Annual one-day event held in Bellingham, WA and aimed at direct marketers.

https://wildseafoodexchange.com/

Pacific Marine Expo Multi-day event held each November in Seattle that features topics relevant to direct marketers as part of the event’s educational programming.

http://www.pacificmarineexpo.com/

Local Seafood Summit Held every several years to facilitate knowledge exchange and networking amongst CSFs and direct marketers and help grow a values-based local seafood movement.

www.localcatch.org

Alaska Food Festival and Conference

Held approximately every 2 years with speakers presenting on a variety of food security, production, business, and community issues, alongside a fun and educational food festival.

https://www.akfoodpolicycouncil.org/2019-conference/

Seafood Expo North America (Boston Seafood Show)

North America’s largest seafood trade show held in Boston each March features hundreds of vendors showcasing seafood products, processing equipment, logistics and supply chain management tools. The event also features a conference portion highlighting important trends in the seafood industry.

https://www.seafoodexpo.com/north-america/

GRANTS & LOANS

Fed Ex Small Business Grants Grants to small businesses using FedEx services.

https://smallbusinessgrant.fedex.com/#/

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

USDA Local Foods Promotion Grant

Grant program to support the development and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm, fishing, and ranch operations serving local markets.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp

USDA Value Added Producer Grant

Grant program to help producers, including fishermen and seafood businesses, generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase income.

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants

NW Trade Adjustment Assistance Center

Matching grants up to $75,000 for US companies including seafood businesses

https://nwtaac.org/?fbclid=IwAR2qyL2CFUNRUkepE2yqLU-R9PaHFETNvZgzExpXC66L985gTfoqaQ82cgY

State of Alaska An array of loans offered to Alaska residents for permits, quota, vessels, and energy efficiency upgrades. Microloans and others also available to small businesses.

https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/ded/fin/loanprograms/commercialfishingloanprogram.aspx

NOAA Federal agencies offering an array of loan programs for fishing business to purchase quota, vessels, construct facilities, etc.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/funding-opportunities#financial-services

U.S. Small Business Administration

An array of award programs supporting various types of small businesses.

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/grants

Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agricultural Bank (CFAB)

Offering a variety of loans to the commercial fishing industry.

http://www.cfabalaska.com/

Northwest Farm Credit Services A financial cooperative that is part of the Farm Credit system and offers flexible financing to meet the unique needs of commercial fishermen with a dedicated staff experienced in all major fisheries of the West Coast and Alaska.

https://www.northwestfcs.com/Services/fisheries-financing

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITIONS, INCUBATORS, & ACCELERATORS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Alaska Business Plan Competition Annual business plan competition held in Anchorage and supported by Alaska Pacific University and University of Alaska Anchorage.

https://www.akbizplan.org/

Alaska Startup Week Startup Week is a cornerstone statewide event in “Innovate Alaska (2.0)” and the Alaska Innovation Pipeline, a statewide effort to strengthen and diversify AK’s economic base through improved access to effective resources and mentors to.

https://alaska.startupweek.co/

Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Association

Annual competition that supports businesses in the Aleutian-Pribilof region.

https://www.apicda.com/aleutian-marketplace-fellowship/

Launch Alaska Anchorage-based business accelerator that invests in scalable startups in food, water, transportation, and energy.

http://www.launchalaska.com/

Fish 2.0 Fish 2.0 is a high profile global business plan competition targeted at the sustainable seafood sector that is held approximately every two years.

https://www.fish20.org/

Path to Prosperity An annual competition lead by Spruce Root in partnership with the Nature Conservancy for businesses located in southeast Alaska.

https://www.spruceroot.org/p2p/

Ecotrust Ag of the Middle Accelerator

Two-year, hands-on, capacity-building, business development program designed to cultivate a thriving cohort of mid-sized, independent farms, ranches, and fishing operations in the region that spans Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.

https://ecotrust.org/project/ag-of-the-middle/

Good Food Awards An annual competition that recognizes that truly good food – the kind that brings people together and builds strong, healthy communities – contains all of these ingredients.

https://goodfoodfdn.org/

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

Alaska Blue Pipeline A new incubator supports Alaskan startup businesses in the blue economy through mentorship, programs, community and access to resources.

http://www.pipeline.blue/

ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT DIRECT MARKETERS & SEAFOOD BUSINESSES

Alaska Farmers Market Association

Supports and promotes vibrant and sustainable farmers markets throughout Alaska. Their site includes a listing of farmers markets around the state.

http://www.alaskafarmersmarkets.org/

Alaska Fishermen’s Network Works to build skill and opportunity for the next generation of Alaska fishermen while valuing mentorship, stewardship, education, accountability, hard work and community health.

https://www.akyoungfishermen.org/

Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation

Founded in 1978, AFDF is a collaboration of harvesters, processors, and support sector businesses dedicated to making opportunities out of challenges. AFDF also supports the annual Symphony of Seafood competition.

https://www.afdf.org/about/

Alaska Food Policy Council Creating a healthier, more secure, and more self-reliant Alaska by improving our food system.

https://www.akfoodpolicycouncil.org/

Alaska Marine Conservation Council & Catch 49

Working to protect the integrity of Alaska’s marine ecosystems and promote healthy, ocean-dependent coastal communities. AMCC’s runs the Catch 49 community supported fishery that offers seafood from local fishermen to Alaska consumers.

https://www.akmarine.org/ https://catch49.org/

Alaska Ocean Cluster Advancing Alaska’s blue economy by Increasing opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration with businesses, government, universities and non-profits.

http://www.alaskaoceancluster.com/

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

Alaska Startups The go-to place for connecting with a community for innovators and entrepreneurs in Alaska.

https://www.alaskastartups.com/

Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust Fisherman's Expo, Young Fisherman's Initiative, Local Fish Fund (loans).

http://www.thealaskatrust.org/

Alaska/Kenai Peninsula Food Hub An aggregator and online marketplace of locally grown, harvested, and produced foods and crafts. We make it possible for producers to work together to meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food in the Homer, Anchorage, Soldotna, Ninilchik, Seldovia, and more areas.

https://alaskafoodhub.localfoodmarketplace.com/

Ecotrust Supporting the growth of values-based seafood business across the northwest.

https://ecotrust.org/our-programs/fisheries/

SCORE A nationwide network that connects volunteer business mentors to entrepreneurs nationwide. Also offers business support resources including webinars for free.

https://www.score.org/

Alaska Small Business Development Center

Helps to grow small businesses throughout Alaska via its expanding online resources and business management expertise.

https://aksbdc.org/

Spruce Root Technical, business support, coaching and financing for southeast Alaska businesses.

https://www.spruceroot.org/about-us/

Slow Fish USA An international campaign and series of gatherings and regionally-scaled events that bring together chefs, youth, organizers, and fishermen to turn the tide away from industrial seafood and toward seafood that is good, clean, and fair for all.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/slowfishusa/ https://www.slowfoodusa.org/slow-fish

Salt and Soil Marketplace An aggregator and online marketplace of locally grown, harvested, and produced foods and crafts. We make it possible for producers to work together to meet

https://www.saltandsoilmarketplace.com

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Resource Guide for Alaska Fishermen

the growing demand for local, sustainable food in Southeast Alaska.

University Alaska Center for Economic Development

Services and support to grow entrepreneurs and build a diverse social network to drive innovation.

https://ua-ced.org/entrepreneur-development-2/

VALUES-BASED BUSINESS

B- Corps B Corps are businesses that balance purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.

https://bcorporation.net

One Percent for the Planet Businesses that join commit to supporting approved nonprofit partners by committing to donate the equivalent of 1% of sales.

https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

Alaska Wild Salmon Fund Businesses make donations to the fund which are then allocated to Alaskan-based non-profit organizations working to address the most urgent threats to salmon.

http://www.akwildsalmonfund.org/

TECHNOLOGY

Fish Line An app that connects fishermen and seafood buyers.

http://www.phondini.com/fishline#find-fresh-local-seafood

ThisFish Seafood traceability and plant management software.

http://thisfish.info/

Farmigo CSA/CSF management software. https://www.farmigo.com/

Small Farm Central/Harvie CSA/CSF management software. https://www.harvie.farm/forfarmers/s

mall-farm-central/

**Have a resource to add or suggested edit? Email akfishresourceguide@gmail.com **

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