Perfectly Processed

There are three processing methods used for processing Crab which include the Catcher Processor (CP), floating processor and shore plants. CP’s are vessels that harvest, cook, freeze and pack on board. Floating processors are barges that follow fisheries and process on board. Our shore-based plant in Dutch Harbor, Alaska allows us access to unlimited fresh water, which we use in three separate tanks on our crab line. With catcher processors and floating processors, seawater is the primary component of the processing line and usually the sole water used in cooking and chilling of the crab.

In both of these instances, the lack of available space inhibits the massive amount of refrigeration needed to properly pre-chill and freeze the product.

Genuine Alaska Red King Crab

Red King Crab is harvested in three primary areas: Alaska, Russia and Norway. Russia is by far the largest supplier of Red King Crab to the US market. Alaska harvests three species of King Crab (Red, Blue and Golden), with Red being the premier specie of the three, the “Rolls Royce” of the industry. Since Red King Crab is a cooked product, it does not fall under the COOL law dictating country of origin. This affords the loophole for some domestic packers to blend species and Crab from various origins in a box that says “Packed in USA,” rather than “Product of USA” or “Product of Alaska”.

If it doesn’t say “Product of USA” or “Product of Alaska,” it probably isn’t!

Why Clusters

When the whole live crab is butchered, the carapace is removed and crab is split in half. Each half has a claw and three legs attached to the shoulder/knuckle; this is a cluster. One crab produces two clusters. The most common product form of Red King Crab sold in the US market is single leg and claw. In this pack, the industry standard is 10 percent broken or “Shake.”

This practice has several economic and quality-diminishing consequences associated with it. First, the net usable yield of the pack is conservatively 10 percent less than the gross weight. Second, this affords the packer the opportunity to blend crab of different species and different origins to meet the desired price point of the customer. Blend Blue with Red, and the packer cuts its cost by 30-50 percent. If they throw in a bunch of feeder claws it cuts the costs even further. A Red King Crab has six legs and two claws. Therefore, for every six legs there should be two claws – one feeder claw and one crusher claw. Rarely will you see a crusher claw in a leg and claw pack as packers cherry pick them out to sell as a separate item.

THERE IS NO BROKEN CRAB PACKED IN OUR BOX. Additionally, the harvesting vessel, processing day and time are stamped on every box of our Crab, thus ensuring 100 percent product traceability.

1

ADF&G never allows more then 15 percent of the legal size male crab in the biomass to be harvested. Not 15 percent of the male crab and not 15 percent of the entire biomass, but 15 percent of the LEGAL SIZED MALE crab.

2

ADF&G also requires that one panel of mesh on every crab pot be tied with biodegradable twine so that in the event the pot is lost while crabbing the twine will rot, the panel will drop and all of the crab will walk out unharmed.

3

Alaska is exclusively a male-only crab fishery with a minimum 6.5” carapace measurement. Any crab that measures less than 6.5” must be returned to the sea. This measurement requirement ensures that the crab has spawned at least two times since reaching sexual maturity.

4

It is illegal to retain a juvenile or female crab in Alaska.