Last week I had the honor to represent the fishermen and processors of Copper River and Prince William Sound at the International Boston Seafood Show. For anyone unfamiliar, the show is North America's largest seafood trade show with over 1,000 exhibitors from around the world meeting in one place for a 3-day seafood free for all. Exhibitors from around the world tout their seafood, which ranges from the familiar, including salmon, lobsters and whitefish, to the exotic and outrageous, have you heard of powdered seafood protein for weight loss or automatic sushi machines? It's all there under one roof and in the midst of new flavorings, harmoniously raised aquaculture and a sea of salesmen in suits, Copper River Salmon stuck out as something as simple, unspoiled and fresh as the waters it comes from.
We talked with hundreds of people each day, from folks unfamiliar with the region to those who clamor for Copper River Salmon at the start of each season and want to know how to keep it in stock all summer. We were able to connect each visitor with the information they were looking for, whether it was the upcoming season forecast and availability, a suppliers directory or point of sale materials for digital and in-store advertisements this summer. Dozens of retailers have requested materials and we are working on promotions that kick off the season and keep the message running full season.
The show was also full of learning opportunities about the seafood industry and trends that will affect the fishery moving forward. Sustainability continues to be a focus, with Alaska switching to a Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) program from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Most retailers stand by Alaska's sustainability platform, but there are still retailers who are unsure whether they'll be able to accept the RFM. Hearing that farmed salmon prices are up may be good for wild salmon. Consumers' appetite for salmon has allowed wild salmon to be differentiated and highlighted for those who make a conscious choice to eat wild. We also heard a lot about seafood substitutions and mislabeling and will continue to work with Oceana, a nonprofit that has made headlines for its reports on mislabeling, substitution and fraud, who is compiling traceability efforts underway and finding solutions that industry can work on moving forward.
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