Cordova, Alaska – What’s the ultimate way to celebrate the best wild salmon in the world? To share it, of course!
To round out a fantastic Copper River sockeye salmon season, the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association (CR/PWSMA) hosted five food writers in Cordova, Alaska to show them everything about the Copper River salmon fishery. This group of talented women included:
- Lauren Grier, food writer
- Diane Morgan, cookbook author and culinary instructor
- Kim Sunee, cookbook author, food writer and journalist for Alaska Dispatch News
- Kenzi Wilbur, managing editor at Food52
- Morgan Ione Yeager, food photographer and contributor at The Coastal Table
The writers kicked off their tour with an introduction to pristine Copper River habitat at the Copper River Watershed Project, followed by a scenic journey to the Copper River sonar station operated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). The writers were guided on the breathtaking Copper River delta by a local US Forest Service ranger. Not only did they take in stunning glacier views, they also learned about sustainable management of the Copper River salmon fishery. They followed this tour with a management presentation given at the local ADF&G office to better understand the excellent fishery management practices used in the State of Alaska.
After chatting with a few fishermen and becoming familiar with their craft, the writers plunged right in with a trip to the Copper River Flats to fish for salmon on a bowpicker, learning how and where Copper River salmon are caught. The following day, they toured a processing facility and saw the high level of care that is taken in handling, cutting and preparing the fish for market. The salmon immersion continued when the writers cooked salmon at home, attended a community dinner and viewed wild sockeye salmon spawning in a local stream.
All five women left Cordova impressed by the elegant complexities of fishery management, the incredible natural habitat, the passion these fishermen have for their work, and the natural premium quality of Copper River salmon. Said Morgan, the “most fruitful was what a watershed encompasses and how a wild species can be caught and managed sustainably.”
They also spoke to the high level of quality that is evident in Copper River salmon. Diane said, “Because of that level of care that goes into it, I’m willing to pay a premium because I know he’s bleeding his fish…people are really paying attention to that and caring about that, it is really differentiating”.
Visit our website to learn more about Copper River salmon. You can find Copper River salmon retailers near you using our locator.
The Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association, a fishermen funded regional seafood development association, works on behalf of the 500-plus commercial salmon fishermen of Coastal South Central Alaska. The association works to build brand awareness for wild Copper River king, sockeye and coho as well as Prince William Sound sockeye, keta, and pink salmon.
For additional information contact:
Christa Hoover, Executive Director
info(at)copperrivermarketing(dot)org
http://www.copperriversalmon.org
Copper River/PWS Marketing Association
Box 199, Cordova, Alaska 99574
t: 907.424.3459
f: 907.424-3430
Source: Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association
