Recent research shows that today’s consumer is more interested in knowing where his or her food comes from. In fact, 76% of consumers reported that knowing the source or origin of the fish/seafood offered at a restaurant was an important factor when ordering (TRD Frameworks, 2009). Like Their Fathers Before Them can help operators learn more about how their purchasing supports Alaska’s fishing families and communities. In addition, operators will be able to speak to their staff and increasingly interested customers about the origins of their seafood offerings.

In Alaska, fishing is not only a source of income—it’s a way of life. Fishing is a tradition that supports entire communities in Alaska, and the Alaska seafood industry is the single largest private-sector employer in the state, providing jobs and income for more than 52,000 people. Many of Alaska’s fishermen have been crucial in shaping the industry towards a goal of enlightened, science-based resource management and environmental stewardship that ensures long-term sustainability for the fisheries that support them.

The families profiled come from various areas of Alaska, and all have different stories to tell. Heather and Kirk Hardcastle fish for sockeye salmon on the Taku River, close to Juneau, Alaska. James Stevens fishes for halibut, black cod and cod in Dutch Harbor, the Holland family catches Dungeness and Tanner Crab in Kodiak, and Lyle Wilder and his wife Heidi catch sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay.

Call (800) 806-2497 to order this new resource free of charge.