September 28 , 2008 Edition

Visitors from Overseas - French Media Tour

The team of French journalists included Lydie Anastassion, Frederique Lebel, Sylvie Cousantier, and Valerie Antoniol, and they are already publishing their experiences.

Recent developments positively affecting the value of Alaska Seafood in the French market include a wider array of seafood product forms and species available in stores and restaurants. Pacific cod, halibut and king crab are attracting interest. Salmon and whitefish varieties are popular: French consumers enjoyed more than 5,500 metric tons of Alaska salmon last year – all five species --- choosing from smoked, fresh, frozen, and stuffed Alaska salmon. Salmon roe (salmon caviar) is also becoming known. French consumers also are seeing breaded pollock, salted cod, and a myriad of creative products made using Alaska surimi seafood (surimi made using Alaska-harvested pollock). Alaska sent more than 6,660 metric tons of pollock to France last year, in addition to more than 5,500 metric tons of surimi. See below for photos of the tour.

Nelly Masson, overseas marketing representative for ASMI in Western Europe,
explains the behavior of spawning salmon to Valerie Antoniol,
Sylvie Cousantier, Frederique Lebel and Lydie Anastassion.

Valerie Antoniol and Sylvie Cousantier address the camera streamside.

Valerie Antoniol, left, eyes fresh catch at processing plant.

Frederique Lebel, Sylvie Cousantier, and Lydie Anastassion
aboard a commercial fishing vessel in Southeast.

Skipper Bruce Wallace explains to Frederique Lebel how he
and the crew of the F/V Odyssey participates in the harvesting of salmon.

Lydie Anastassion explores Alaska Seafood from a harvesting perspective.
ASMI Board member Bruce Wallace, right, was instrumental.

Journalists went aboard the F/V Heather Anne in the Taku River salmon
gillnet fishery. From left, Kara Hollatz, ASMI marketing coordinator for the
European Union, crewperson Renee Warr, Sylvie Cousantier, Lydie Anastassion,
skipper Heather Hardcastle, and crewperson Devri Schultz.