The purpose of New Technologies is to keep Alaska Quality Seafood Program participants and the industry informed and updated of ideas and ways to improve harvesting, processing, packing and shipping techniques.
Your ideas or thoughts are welcomed. Please contact Hugh Bertmaring, Business Manager.
Following is an article originally featured in our January 2007 newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to our online publication please follow the link on our home page.
Seafood Packaging Innovation
If you have ever been concerned that the fish you have so carefully caught, processed and packaged will not retain their maximum possible quality in shipping, new packaging alternatives are available.
A new insulation method called AB Lining was created from modified bubble wrap sandwiched inside aluminum film. This advancement in shipping was presented to us by West Coast Paper’s representative Bill Quantick. West Coast Paper is an independent wholesaler headquartered in Seattle with offices across the West Coast including Alaska.
Custom cut sheets of the insulation fit inside the sturdy wet-loc boxes fishermen are accustomed to using for shipping. Fish are still packed into the common 4 mil liners and then placed in the AB Lined boxes. The reliable insulation also requires less gel packs for temperature maintenance.
Nate Berger from R&J Seafoods, LLC, a Cook Inlet processor, used the new insulation to ship all his fresh orders this past season. He found it was inexpensive, required much less space to store and allowed for more product to be shipped within each container.
Since they had not tried the product before, Berger first shipped a few packages to family to test the integrity of the product. They also filled one box half full of ice to gauge the rate at which the ice would melt. Both tests proved that the product was a positive alternative to Styrofoam. “We had no complaints,†Berger said. “It’s a great product, and I will continue to use it.†These reusable products are part of the evolution toward an ideal shipping solution.
West Coast Paper can be reached at:
2209 Spar Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-6191
&
35911 Kenai Spur Hwy, Unit #1, Soldotna, Alaska 99669
(907) 262-9795
Alaska Quality Seafood
700 West 41st Ave
Suite 205
Anchorage, Alaska 99503 | 
