GAPP Awards 2026 Partnership Program Funds at Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting

 

SEATTLE, Wash.— Recipients of the next round of the Partnership Program funding include significant partners across the North America, Japan and Spain, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today during the industry’s annual gathering, which brought together more than three hundred industry leaders from the Alaska Pollock sector.

“We are extremely pleased with the response we had and this year’s partnership applications—it was our most competitive year yet with more than six times the requests submitted for funds available,” said Craig Morris, GAPP CEO. “GAPP received 24 applications from 15 different companies with a request of more than $3.3 million dollars and a total matching spend of over $21 million.” 

This year’s awardees include an array of both international and North American companies that will promote surimi seafood made with Wild Alaska Pollock in their respective markets.  In Spain, Angulas Aguinaga will continue to educate Spanish consumers about the Japanese heritage of Wild Alaska Pollock surimi seafood. In Japan, Kibun, Nissui and Trident Seafoods Japan will promote the superiority of Wild Alaska Pollock surimi seafood over its Russian surimi seafood in the Japanese retail market. In the U.S., Aquamar, Trans-Ocean and Trident Seafoods will carry the Wild Alaska Pollock message to consumers in retail stores across the United States.

GAPP will also support programs that will promote Wild Alaska Pollock fillet products, notably Maruha Nichiro’s program to promote its Wild Alaska Pollock and Tartar Sauce item in Japanese retail. Gorton’s Seafood, High Liner Foods and Sonic will be featuring Wild Alaska Pollock and its quality and sustainability messaging across U.S. foodservice and retail markets.

 “With the overwhelming response, the GAPP Board had a daunting task in selecting those partnerships that provided the most value for our Partners and our industry,” said Morris. “We very much appreciate those that applied and look forward to working with our new Partners in 2026.”

A record number of Partnership dollars this year are allocated to partners in foreign markets, underscoring GAPP’s focus on international market development and demand-building activities. Earlier in the day, GAPP discussed its efforts, thanks to the funds received from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service, to better understand the challenges and opportunities in three distinct markets: Brazil, Colombia and India. GAPP also announced its imminent launch of new Japanese and Korean language websites focused on providing business-to-business information for seafood buyers in both countries.

“I want to take a moment to thank you [USDA] for your support, your expertise, and for giving GAPP and our member companies a literal window to the world,” said GAPP Chairman of the Board Bob Desautel during his opening remarks. “We’re looking forward to putting these latest grants to work, taking Wild Alaska Pollock to even greater heights.”

The Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting brought together a record number of attendees from the industry to focus on the future for the fish and fishery for a full day meeting. GAPP would like to thank its generous sponsors for this year’s event: USI Insurance Services (Title); Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Aquamar, Global Seas, and Port of Seattle (Gold); AgWest Farm Credit Services, American Seafoods, Arctic Storm Management Group, Beck Pack Systems, Delta Western Petroleum, Glacier Fish Company, Global Seafood Alliance, Gorton’s Seafood, Marine Stewardship Council, NORPEL, Pacific Seafood, Trident Seafoods, UniSea, Westward Fishing Company, and Westward Seafoods, (Silver); Alaska Airlines, APICDA, Clark Nuber, Golden Alaska Seafoods, Highland Refrigeration, Holland America Line, Industrial Resources, Inc., Islandsbanki, iTUB, KAPP, Key Bank, King & Prince Seafood, Lynden, NSEDC, Phoenix Processor Limited Partnership, and Restaurant Depot (Bronze); Alaskan Observers, Inc., Angulas Aguinaga, BAADER, Bank of America, Blueprint Alaska Advocacy & Strategy, Boyce Food Safety Consulting, Certified Seafood International, IMA Corporation, Rabobank, Seamark, and Trans-Ocean Products (Supporting).