David Clarke skippered his own boat for 30 years, fishing every salmon fishery in Alaska . “In all my years of fishing, the seafood industry rewarded quantity over quality. But the demand for higher-quality product has grown significantly and we are happy to count our salmon as some of the best on the market.”

In order to ensure top quality, the Seanna is outfitted with hook and line fishing gear and a freezer system. Catching salmon one by one, each fish is brought aboard as soon as it bites. Within minutes, fish are cleaned and inspected a minimum of four times. They are then placed in the ship's blast freezer, set at -50 to -60 degrees, and immediately flash frozen. Because David's salmon are frozen before rigor sets in, they actually outcompete fresh fish in every regard—color, flavor and texture.

David is proud to include his family in the fishing operation. When his two older daughters started high school, they were able to save money for college with their crew share while David's wife, Julia, stayed home with the younger children.

Now it is a big event when the Seanna comes back to town, with the whole family helping unload the beautiful fish. Julia and the children then assist David in preparing the Seanna for another trip, hoping that they too will be able to go out fishing one day. [back]