Kenai River Seafoods is Alaskan owned and operated by five local drift fishermen and one processing specialist and former seafood inspector—all of whom have been in the industry for decades. We are all truly dedicated to making the industry better by assuring the best quality resulting in the ability to pay the fishers more, the employees more and support our local economy. We take pride in our industry and want to encourage younger generations to fish as well as work in the plants. We'll continue to support our local fishers who have opted to direct–market their catch by providing top–of–the–line custom processing. This has truly impacted our region in a very positive way, and that's our goal.
Coming to Kenai? We'd love it if you came and visited! Come soak up the historic site of Kenai Landing, watch your fish be processed, and perhaps even go on a boat as we pull in nets! Email us to let us know when you'll be in town.
Dan's a first generation fisherman beginning in the Atlantic Ocean on draggers in 1978. In 1982 he first visited Alaska and fell in love. The fisheries management was second to none. In 1985, he moved to Alaska and has fished here since. He respects the abundant natural resources and encourages our harvesters to be good stewards of this inspiring bounty.
He's fortunate to have a beautiful wife, Kathleen and one son Richard that has fished in Alaska since his 16th birthday in 1986.
Dan and four close fishermen friends joined up with Sean Crosby and Rich King to form a strong team with the goal of bringing you the best quality Alaskan Seafood obtainable. They enjoy what they do and know seafood. Combining their years of commercial experience, Kenai River Seafoods' six investors have more than fifteen decades in the seafood industry. You and your family can count on buying quality straight from the fisherman when you order from us. We are quality oriented and plan on supplying your family for years to come.
When you next visit Alaska, please come by Kenai River Seafoods and be our guest aboard F/V Avalon anchored in the World Famous Kenai River.
Gary and his wife drove to Alaska one summer from Portland, spent six weeks, and were hooked. He knew it was where he wanted to live. They quit their jobs and moved to Kenai, Alaska in the fall of 1968 with their two sons Brett and Brian. Their years in Alaska have been busy ones with designing and building their own house, raising two boys, teaching them how to hunt and fish and good work ethics. Not long after, they bought a 34 foot boat of their own, and his wife and sons became his deck hands. His boat is now the Proud Mary, a 42 foot La Conner aluminum gillnetter.
Rich has fished for thiry one years in Upper Cook Inlet with his wife and daughters Willow and Bristol.
Richard's love of fishing started with fishing tales of Alaska and the Atlantic Grand Banks from his father and fellow KRS investor, Dan Thompson.
Born and raised in Washington state, Jeff Hodder came to Alaska in 1977 for the fantastic hunting and fishing. To help support his huntin' and fishin' habits he's worked in the Alaska oilfields from time to time while building his log home on the Kenai River. He's fished commercially in Cook Inlet for 15 yrs. and has owned his own boat for the last 12. During this time he came to realize that whoever coined the phrase, "it's not the quantity but the quality" must have been referring to salmon fishing. He takes great pride in the care and handling of your fish the second it comes aboard because you deserve nothing less than the best. He also discovered that about 90% of fishing is done out of the water, which reminds him—he need to go mend some nets. Like Vince Lombardi once said, "more important than the will to win, is the will to prepare to win."
Simply put, Sean loves fish. He enjoys everything about Alaska's fishing and processing industries. The beauty of a well handled salmon, the camaraderie with the guys on the boats and in the processing plant, and most importantly—he gets to work side–by–side with his best friend and the love of his life, Karin. The people involved in the Kenai River Seafoods dream are all people that he cares about, and he can't imagine a better situation.
Born and raised in Montana, Karin came to Alaska in 1992 for summer work on a salmon processor and has been here ever since. 15 years in the seafood industry has given her "so much, including: Sean Crosby (wonderful friend and companion), a beautiful residence in Homer, Alaska, patience, compassion, a back ache and sore wrists, oh, and a bit of knowledge of the ins-and-outs of fish." All of which, she wouldn’t trade for anything. The industry has enriched her life with wonderful people and a true respect for our resource. Kenai River Seafoods is offering her a chance to give back to the industry that has truly given her everything she has today. She hopes to continue to encourage young workers (as she once was one of them) of the great opportunities in this industry and aid the plant in its’ ability to supply the world with the best darn salmon and halibut available. She's excited for our future and looks forward to each new challenge. Although her history in the industry is quite diversified, she learns new things everyday. Never a dull moment. "This says it all—'In times of great change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists' -Eric Hoffer"
Born in Alaska, Willow spent her earliest years here living on a salmon fish site. (Her mom would put her play pen in the open dory and take her out while she picked fish out of the nets) Her family moved to Kauai for the winters starting in 1988. In the summer she would come with her dad to Alaska to 'help' him with the never–ending labor of love that is salmon fishing. Their boat is the F/V Mayflower (named by Willow at the age of five, at which point she was probably learning about the pilgrims). Little did she know, the Mayflower would help take commercial salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet to new horizons. She was lucky to have the best of both worlds. She started working as the primary deckhand at thirteen, and once she was seventeen she wanted to try processing. After working for Wards Cove packing for several years, she transferred to the Red Salmon Plant in Bristol Bay and ended up working under Sean Crosby. Learning about all sides of the salmon industry prepared her uniquely for her role at Kenai River Seafoods. She loves her job because it's allowed her to put energy into the very worthwhile industry that's been a huge part of her life since she could walk. She's married with two great kids and a Great Dane, though at times she "wouldn't call him that great." All she wants is for salmon to be around for her children in whatever capacity they'd like it to be. To her, "it's all about the fish!"
