Our Story
The Whole Picture
Our names are Perrin & Lavonne Dejax. We are the owners and founders of Tidewater Alaska Seafood. The story of this company is a story of our lives and the desire to bring people around the world quality seafood “Like it never left the sea”.
For millennia, humans have had a symbiotic relationship with their sustenance, fostering a passion for cultivating, nurturing, and sourcing food sustainably. However, this intimate understanding and connection with our food has been lost in the modern era.
We founded Tidewater Alaska Seafood because we believe the best way for us to help mend our distorted perception of food and its true flavors, is by providing you a direct, transparent, and personal connection into our lives as Alaskan fishermen.
Our hearts and our hands are immersed in this endeavor. We invite you to learn more below about our passion and join us on the journey.
Perrin & Lavonne
Founders & Fishermen
Tidewater Alaska Seafood
A Family Legacy
I was raised in coastal Alaska living on the beach in the summer months and sustained by the ocean, surrounded by natural beauty that is second to none. As a child, it seemed ordinary; now, I recognize it as an immense blessing I am eager to share with you, in hopes that you, too, may embrace our passion for this extraordinary land and its resource.
The annual routine was therapeutic; mending nets and maintaining fishing gear while the snow was flying, watching the days lengthen into springtime, feeling the excitement build when the first migrating seagulls were heard returning for the summer, the thrill of the ocean rolling under our feet early in the season when the air still had a chill, and finally the full-on rush of salmon splashing into the net and flopping onboard announcing the beginning of another fast-paced, exhausting, but delightfully fulfilling fishing season! This first fish was always surrounded by the entire crew, admired, passed around, and given a ceremonial kiss on the nose. (A tradition that dates far back to indigenous tribes).
It is difficult to quantify the magnitude of the impact these amazing fish have on the ecosystem, our communities, and the world. They are the fundamental reason our communities began to exist in these areas and are a key component for nearly all living organisms of the North Pacific Ocean and coast.
Today in our family at Tidewater Alaska Seafood, this is about even more than sustenance; It’s a natural delicacy! But here’s the issue; the root word of delicacy is… you guessed it. Delicate. Continue reading below to learn the challenges that this gift of nature faces, and why you haven’t fully experienced seafood until you’ve tasted Tidewater Alaska Seafood. ”Like it never left the sea”
Wild Natural Quality
Most of us know that salmon is at the top of the list when it comes to healthy protein; Full of those heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids, B Vitamins, Astaxanthin, and Selenium to name a few. In fact, it’s a superfood.
But are all salmon created equal?
Farmed vs. Wild Salmon
Ok, so if the label says ‘’Alaskan’’ does it mean it’s all good?
Possibly, but not certainly…
You read it correctly. Farmed salmon is literally fed synthetic coloring additives to make it appear pink. Since they are force fed corn and other grain products, the flesh would be a grayish color. What’s more, those wonderful omega 3’s we talked about earlier are now converted largely into omega 6 which is linked to all manner of inflammatory disease including: diabetes, heart problems, neurodegenerative disease and more. To further the issue, these fish that are raised in crowded pens, have weak immune systems, and the use of antibiotics and pesticides is common. Due to these poor practices, the risk for disease transfer to the wild stocks is far too high and Alaska does not embrace nor endorse salmon farming. ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 )
Recent studies indicate that an estimated 20-60% of seafood in North America is either mislabeled or illegally harvested, meaning consumers often pay for one product but receive another. ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 )
How can this happen? To quote my grandfather, “Greed knows no bounds…” For example, the FDA has recently approved a genetically modified salmon often referred to as “Frankenfish,” a combination of DNA from three animals: Atlantic salmon, deep water ocean eelpout and Pacific Chinook salmon. This engineered fish reaches market size in half the usual time, raising concerns about its impact on human health and natural fish populations. What’s more, there is no requirement for distinctive labeling. ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 )
So how are you as a discerning consumer supposed to know? The sad fact is, even some our local Alaskan seafood buyers are owned by these massive aquaculture corporations and what’s to stop them? How can you be certain you’re getting what you’re paying for? ( 13 ) ( 14 )
Once you become part of the ”Tidewater Alaska Family”, you’re more than friends; and we founded the company for this very reason… that your connection to Alaska seafood could be direct, transparent and personal.
Transparency Meets Quality
Tidewater Alaska Seafoods and Our Commitment
We founded Tidewater Seafoods with the dream of sharing a bit of Alaska with you, and that your connection to seafood would be direct, transparent, and personal.
You can rest assured that all the seafood products we offer are:
Personally Harvested
Our family cares for your catch every step of the way… from the pristine waters of Alaska to the curated gift on your doorstep.
Peak Freshness
We hand select only the top few percent of our catch from the ideal time of the season for ultimate quality.
Preserved
A large reason fish can taste “fishy” is due to improper handling. Evacuating the blood and immediate chilling are two of the many crucial steps we take to preserve the exquisite flavor and shelf life of your seafood.
Second To None
We have yet to serve Tidewater Seafood to anyone… (even individuals that “don’t like fish”) that didn’t ask for a second and third serving. It’s all in the handling. If the Seafood you receive from us isn’t some of the finest you’ve ever tasted, we’ll make it right.
Wild. Natural. Sustainable.
In Tune With Nature
“The Land of the Midnight Sun” has some of the most bountiful fisheries in the world. Like many Alaskan families have been for millennia, we are immensely honored to be part of the natural cycle that will continue to nourish mankind for us as long as we carry on with respect for it.
The best way to cherish this amazing land and your connection to it is to –
DISCLAIMER
To the best of our ability these statements and views have been verified as factual and truth. However, the writer’s opinion may have influenced the outcome of “evidence” and we respect every individuals right to draw personal conclusions. The supporting links for each statement have been attached respectively in ( ) above for your perusal.
Tidewater Alaska Seafood cannot be held liable for any alleged or conclusive inaccuracies.
