Seafood quality expert joins UAF marine advisory faculty
March 17, 2015
Deborah Mercy
907-274-9698
3/17/2015
Chris Sannito is the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program's new seafood quality specialist and a research assistant professor in the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Sannito is based at the UAF Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center.
Sannito will support seafood quality, product development and environmental compliance. He’ll teach about the hazard analysis and critical control points management system, seafood quality control, seafood smoking, and environmental compliance. He will also coordinate the Alaska Seafood Processing Leadership Institute.
Sannito grew up in Indiana, but, after seeing the Pacific Ocean as a 12 year old, he knew he wanted to live near the coast. After earning an undergraduate degree in Hawaii, he moved to Japan to teach English.
“While there, I was exposed to seafood and how important seafood is to the Japanese. I saw that a lot of it came from Alaska,” said Sannito. “I always liked living by the ocean and thought I could make a living working with seafood.”
In 1992, Sannito applied for a research assistantship to study surimi in Kodiak. After three years, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. A Fulbright scholarship followed, allowing him to spend a year in Fiji. He worked with village residents to improve sashimi tuna techniques for export to Japan. “We made an instructional video for the villagers on the best method to handle and package tuna,” Sannito said.
He then returned to Kodiak and spent 15 years working in quality assurance for seafood processors. “I always had a close relationship with the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center and their work with processors,” said Sannito. “I wanted to return someday and here I am!”
Since moving into his KSMSC office, Sannito has gone right to work. “Yesterday I had a call from a guy in South America who’s building a new fishing vessel and he was looking for information on a freezer system. I’m no expert at that, but I do know who to call.”
“I understand what the seafood industry is facing. I’ve worked there, been there. I also enjoy helping people, and in this position you really have an opportunity to do that,” said Sannito.
Besides teaching and consulting, Sannito is working on a research project to make dog treats from pollock skins. In the future, he’d like to study chalky halibut.
“Kodiak is an awesome location for this job. We have a vibrant fishing economy. Throughout the year, there is always something going on,” Sannito said. “The best part of the job is the diversity of species and problems to solve. It won’t be boring.”
Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program provides technical assistance and training with agents located in eight coastal communities.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Chris Sannito, 907-486-1535 or csannito@alaska.edu; Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center, https://www.sfos.uaf.edu/ksmsc/.