GENEGLACE, a major supplier of flake ice machines and related equipment, has supplied an Alaskan co-operative with a new plant.
Alaska's Coastal Villages Seafood (CVS) is the processing company of Coastal Village Region Fund (CVRF), a co-operative of 20 fishing villages along the Kuskokwim river, in the heart of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.
CVS operates wild salmon and wild halibut plants in five coastal village communities. In 2000, the newest halibut plant opened in Chefornak ; joining Toksook Bay, Tununak, and Mekoryuk. A halibut operation was also added to the plant in Quinhagak.
Last year, CVS purchased a new Geneglace ice plant :a 20,000 lb (9 tonne)/24 h self contained Ice Pack 340. It was not the enterprise's first Geneglace, as a 20,000lb/24h ice generator from the beginning of the eighties is still around and giving its fair share of labour, but the Ice Pack 340 was the first new ice making purchased by the community in years.
The new ice maker was warmly received by the local fishermen, who report that 'the flakes are very thick and very large ; they cool down the fish very quickly'. The technician in charge of maintenance is amazed at how well the old Geneglace runs after a simple maintenance operation and in such extreme weather.
Kelly Welch, the manager of salmon operations at the Quinhagak plant, talks about the wild salmon resources in the Kuskokwin river, and the importance of preserving thse 'jewels's.