Results of GAPP’s Second Life Cycle Assessment Show 18% Improvement in Wild Alaska Pollock Carbon Footprint

 

SEATTLE, Wash.— At the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers’ (GAPP) seventh Annual Meeting held today, researchers from the Dalhousie University presented preliminary results of their comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment for the 2024 fishing year which show a staggering eighteen percent improvement in what was already one of the lowest carbon footprints of any protein source.

“This is a very low climate impact sector. Alaska Pollock has one of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any protein,” said Dr. Tyedmers. “When you look at the comparison charts, it’s hard to even fit the low impact of Alaska Pollock on the same chart with the other proteins—especially with this latest, even lower, number.”

The 2025 study performed by Dr. Peter Tyedmers, a professor in the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University and Michelle Mann, a Master’s student in the University’s Master of Environmental Studies Program, provides an in-depth examination of the carbon emissions for the products made from Wild Alaska Pollock, including fillets, surimi, roe, minced, fish meal and fish oil. The results build off the earlier Life Cycle Assessment commissioned by GAPP and performed by Quantis International in 2022.

“GAPP was fortunate to work with one of the world’s most foremost authorities regarding the energy and related environmental performance of seafood systems, said Ron Rogness of GAPP who oversaw the study. “These results show that in addition to leading the global fishing industry in sustainable management, full utilization and habitat protection, the Wild Alaska Pollock fishery is a great environmental choice for protein consumers around the world.” 

When comparing the latest results of the Life Cycle Assessment to those documented impacts of other proteins, Dr. Tyedmers noted that it was difficult to even put Alaska Pollock on the same chart with terrestrial proteins, like beef, for example.

“Not only did these results confirm what we already knew – that Wild Alaska Pollock is one of the most environmentally-friendly proteins available, but it also showed carbon emissions per Kg of fillet product for example, had improved from 3.77 KG of CO2 equivalents per KG of protein to 3.09,” said Craig Morris, CEO of GAPP. “These results are a testament to the dedication and focus on continuous improvement of the companies that produce Wild Alaska Pollock and to the investment in tools and technologies to keep doing things better.”

Sustainability was a key theme of the meeting throughout the day, with representatives from Certified Seafood International also making a presentation about the importance of seafood certifications for global market development. Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins also talked about the importance of sound science sustainability in his remarks later in the day.

The full study is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks and will be available once finalized. For the full results, please contact Ron Rogness directly.

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).