ABOUT ALASKA

There's one place on earth where the waters are still pristine and the bounty of nature remains unspoiled: Alaska! Boasting over one million square miles of rich fishing waters - more than all of the lower 48 states combined - Alaska yields nearly six billion pounds of wild seafood per year.

The beauty is that there's always plenty more left in the sea. That's because Alaska is the only state in the nation whose constitution mandates that all fisheries be maintained on the sustainable yield principle. The result? Strict harvesting quotas and fishing regulations ensure that Alaska will have an abundance of seafood for years to come.

In fact, the state's management practices have been so successful that the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) recognizes the Alaska Salmon, Alaska Pollock, Alaska Black Cod and Pacific Halibut fisheries as managed to ensure sustainability of their stocks and their marine environment. Only a few fisheries in the world have earned MSC certification. For more information please visit www.msc.org.

Alaska also legislated against finfish farming/aquaculture, so you know all Alaska Seafood is wild, natural product. Plus, the cold water and natural environment produces lean seafood with firm flesh and great taste.

A Healthy Choice

Alaska Seafood is a source of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals. What's more, it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are not found in many other foods. Since your body cannot produce omega-3s, you need to obtain them from the foods you eat.

The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish each week to achieve the many health benefits from omega-3s:

• Protect heart health
• Reduce risk of sudden death from heart disease
• Reduce risk of stroke
• Reduce the chance of heart disease in Type 2 diabetics
• May improve symptoms of immune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and some skin conditions
• May reduce the risk of some mental disorders such as Alzheimer's disease
• Essential in infant brain and eye development during pregnancy and nursing
• May discourage the development or spread of some types of cancer including breast, colon and prostate

Clearly Cleaner Fish

In various news reports around the country there has been some concern about contaminants such as methyl mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fresh-caught fish. New study results released by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation show that fish from Alaska are remarkably free of contaminants.

Alaska's medical authorities endorse the unrestricted consumption of Alaska seafood, citing its healthy benefits as a plus. Seafood lovers around the world can continue to enjoy this delicious, healthy protein knowing they are eating one of nature's finest foods. For more information on the study please visit www.state.ak.us/dec/eh/vet/FMP2.htm.