American Seafoods
Encyclopedia
American Seafoods Company is a major seafood company based in Seattle, Washington. The Company was established in 1987 and is today a subsidiary of American Seafoods Group. The company is well known for its Alaskan Bering Sea
pollock
fishery operation. It manages a fleet of large catcher-processor vessels, also known as factory trawlers, where the fish is caught, processed and frozen onboard. The vessels averages over 300 feet in length and produces primarily pollock
roe
(fish eggs), surimi
(used for various products such as imitation crab meat, also known as crab sticks), fillet blocks, headed and gutted fish and fishmeal.
American Seafoods is a member of the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative
.
American Seafoods is the largest harvester in the U.S. Bering Sea
fishery with approximately 45% catcher-processor market share.
In 2001, American Seafoods Group formed Pacific Longline Company, and began operating freezer-longliner vessels that range in length from 125 to 140 feet. These vessels focus on the U.S. Bering Sea
Pacific cod
fishery and produces headed and gutted cod
that is sold primarily in the European, Asian and North American markets.
American Seafoods Group purchased Southern Pride Catfish Company in 2002, including its subsidiary, Southern Pride Trucking, Inc., and entered in to the business of catfish
harvesting, processing and distribution.
, a Norwegian fisherman who had quit school at 16 to go to sea. During the next four years Røkke invested in a number of old boats which he modified into very advanced factory trawlers at Norwegian shipyards. In 1994, he established Norway Seafoods (now Aker Seafoods
) as a holding company to coordinate the activities of the company.
Røkke established himself in the Alaska pollock
fishery in Seattle, and is today one of Norway's richest men, at one point owning or controlling 31 fishing vessels in the Bering Sea
, the Pacific and the Atlantic.
In 1998 the American Fisheries Act (AFA) passed, requiring that certain fishing companies, including those engaged in the Alaska pollock
and cod
fisheries, be American-owned. This caused American Seafoods Company to scramble for American owners.
Eventually a group of U.S. investors led by Centre Partners Management purchased the company in 2000 for $485 million and created American Seafoods Group as a holding company.
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
pollock
Pollock
Pollock is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P...
fishery operation. It manages a fleet of large catcher-processor vessels, also known as factory trawlers, where the fish is caught, processed and frozen onboard. The vessels averages over 300 feet in length and produces primarily pollock
Pollock
Pollock is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P...
roe
Roe
Roe or hard roe is the fully ripe internal egg masses in the ovaries, or the released external egg masses of fish and certain marine animals, such as shrimp, scallop and sea urchins...
(fish eggs), surimi
Surimi
Surimi is a Japanese loan word referring to a fish-based food product that has been pulverized to a thick paste and has the property of a dense and rubbery food item when cooked...
(used for various products such as imitation crab meat, also known as crab sticks), fillet blocks, headed and gutted fish and fishmeal.
American Seafoods is a member of the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative
Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative
The Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative is a harvest and research cooperative formed by three companies that participate in the catcher/processor sector of the Pacific whiting fishery -- American Seafoods, Glacier Fish Company, and Trident Seafoods.Pacific whiting is primarily made into...
.
American Seafoods is the largest harvester in the U.S. Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
fishery with approximately 45% catcher-processor market share.
In 2001, American Seafoods Group formed Pacific Longline Company, and began operating freezer-longliner vessels that range in length from 125 to 140 feet. These vessels focus on the U.S. Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
Pacific cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
fishery and produces headed and gutted cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
that is sold primarily in the European, Asian and North American markets.
American Seafoods Group purchased Southern Pride Catfish Company in 2002, including its subsidiary, Southern Pride Trucking, Inc., and entered in to the business of catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
harvesting, processing and distribution.
History
American Seafoods Company was created in 1987 by Kjell Inge RøkkeKjell Inge Røkke
Kjell Inge Røkke is a Norwegian businessman and among the richest people in Norway, controlling the Norwegian company Aker Solutions...
, a Norwegian fisherman who had quit school at 16 to go to sea. During the next four years Røkke invested in a number of old boats which he modified into very advanced factory trawlers at Norwegian shipyards. In 1994, he established Norway Seafoods (now Aker Seafoods
Aker Seafoods
Aker Seafoods is a Norwegian Whitefish fishing, seafood processing and sale company that is part of the Kjell Inge Røkke controlled Aker Group who own 65.0% of the company. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has its headquarters in Oslo, Norway.The company operates 15 fishing...
) as a holding company to coordinate the activities of the company.
Røkke established himself in the Alaska pollock
Pollock
Pollock is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P...
fishery in Seattle, and is today one of Norway's richest men, at one point owning or controlling 31 fishing vessels in the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
, the Pacific and the Atlantic.
In 1998 the American Fisheries Act (AFA) passed, requiring that certain fishing companies, including those engaged in the Alaska pollock
Pollock
Pollock is the common name used for either of the two species of marine fish in the Pollachius genus. Both P. pollachius and P. virens are commonly referred to as pollock. Other names for P...
and cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
fisheries, be American-owned. This caused American Seafoods Company to scramble for American owners.
Eventually a group of U.S. investors led by Centre Partners Management purchased the company in 2000 for $485 million and created American Seafoods Group as a holding company.
American Seafoods Company Fleet
| Name | Length | Tonnage | Built by | Year | Engines | Horsepowers | Former Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Dynasty | 272.0 Feet | 3471 | Mangone Shipyard, Houston, TX. | 1974 | 2, Bergen Diesel, BRM-8 | 8000 | Artabaze, Bure, Sea Bure |
| American Triumph | 285.0 Feet | 4294 | LS Baier &Co, Portland, OR. | 1961 | 2, Wartsila, 8R32D | 7939 | Acona |
| Northern Jaeger | 308.4 Feet | 3732 | Levingston Shipbuilding, Orange, TX. | 1969 | 3, MAK | 6322 | Jaeger, Inagua Ranger II, Wisco Ranger |
| Northern Eagle | 344.1 Feet | 4437 | Ulstein Hatlo Norway. | 1966 | 2, Bergen Diesel, BRM-8 | 6590 | Mauna Kea, Hawaiian Princess |
| Northern Hawk | 310.1 Feet | 3732 | Brount Marine Corp, Warren, RI. | 1981 | 2, Bergen Diesel, BRM-8 | 8790 | State Trust |
| Ocean Rover | 223.0 Feet | 4345 | McDermott Shipyards, Amelia, LA. | 1973 | 3, Wartsila | 7080 | Enterprise |
| Katie Ann | 267.4 Feet | 1593 | Maryland Shipbuilding Co, Baltimore, MD. | 1969 | 1, Normo | 4497 | Royal Sea, Seafreeze Pacific |