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Do commercial fishermen make a good catch?

by on April 18, 2012 in Fishermen

The answer is YES!
Here’s my top twenty reasons why I think they are so cool.

#1. They are cute in their xtratuffs, sweat shirts and baseball hats.

#2. They are in good physical shape.

#3. They are open minded and willing to learn new techniques to help them be more effective.

#4. They are good listeners.

#5. They are willing to lend a hand and take a hand.

#6. They love their families and are excited to come home.

#7. They can survive a storm that knocks out all their power and with their incredible sense of direction find their way home.

#8. They know how to bring home the money.

#9. They brave cruel weather, sharp hooks, long ropes, tides, swinging booms, slippery decks, sleep deprivation and pain.

#10. They do what it takes to get the job done.

#11. They are patient.

#12. They know there are good seasons and bad seasons.

#13. They work hard and play hard.

#14. They love to go on vacation.

#15. They are persistent and willing to fish regardless of the conditions, rain, cold, wind.

#16. They enjoy the fresh air and the challenges presented by the sea.

#17. A good fishermen works at catching fish, instead of relying on luck to fill his hold.

#18. They leave their families for weeks and months at a time, endure little sleep, unhealthy food, hellish weather, and knowing in the back of their minds they could very well die any day of the week.

#19. They bring home fresh seafood and their freezers are always full of fish.

#20. They always have a good story to tell.

Next time you savor a seafood delight, thank the fearless men and women who brave the odds to serve you the best on your platter.

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Eagles, Salmon and Cruise Ship, Oh My!

by on April 17, 2012 in Photo of the Week

The 1,080 passenger Crystal Serenity launched the 2012 cruise ship season last Saturday as it stopped in Ketchikan as part of a 94-day circumnavigation of the Pacific Ocean.

They start in LA, then go to Hawaii, New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong (and other Chinese ports), South Korea, Japan, Russia, Alaska, Canada and back to LA on April 21. Whew!

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What fun to taste food from different parts of the world. But I simply can’t help but wonder. Do the passengers start off in their skinny clothes and end the 94 days in their fat clothes waddling off the cruise ship? I know I would!

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Stylist UK Magazine Article

by on April 15, 2012 in News

Stylist UK MagazineRead full article here
Work Life: LaDonna Rose Gundersen, Fisherwoman.

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Easter in Ketchikan

by on April 10, 2012 in Photo of the Week

Photo of the Week- Beautiful Easter Sunday in downtown Ketchikan, Alaska with snow capped Deer Mountain.

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Youthful Skin–Naturally with wild Alaskan salmon

by on April 4, 2012 in Youthful Skin--Naturally with wild Alaskan salmon

According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone “There is a little beauty secret that is worth it’s weight in gold. If women understood that eating a simple inexpensive small can of salmon would give them radiant skin, with softness like nothing else in this world, salmon would fly off of the supermarket shelves”.

You would see a stampede toward the fish isle.

Sounds like a fantasy? I assure you it is very real…

Why salmon makes you youthful

Salmon is one of the best-known sources of skin-beautifying Omega fatty acids. Salmon reduces inflammation more effectively than any other food. It enhances radiance, reduces wrinkles and puffiness. Salmon is a beauty food because it’s nutrients play a key role in keeping the skin’s outer layer soft and smooth. The Omega-3s in salmon reduce inflammation on the cellular level that can cause redness, wrinkles, and loss of firmness.

Ever wonder what salmon, shrimp and lobster have in common? Their brilliant red color is a result of Astaxanthin, the multi-talented antioxidant. Astaxanthin is the super star in the realm of anti-aging. What it does is protects the cells from the most damaging forms of free radicals-improves skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Astaxanthin is available as a nutritional supplement and worth looking into.

There’s another super star substance found in wild Alaskan salmon and that is DMAE. DMAE is a known cognitive enhancer–that is, that it can improve memory and problem-solving ability. It does so because it improves nerve function. DMAE when eaten in larger amounts, can increase muscle tone and therefore decrease the appearance of sagging. As a side note, DMAE can be placed into a lotion form and applied topically to help decrease sagging and increase muscle tone.

According to the Perricone Diet, our skin can get immediate benefits by following what he calls a nutritional facelift for three days. The foundation of this diet is wild salmon, eaten twice a day with blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries. The Wrinkle Cure by Dr. Nicholas Perricone is worth the read.

Here’s five ideas to incorporate wild Alaskan salmon into your diet.

1. Shop for wild Alaskan salmon when it’s in season. You’ll feel good knowing that you are not only getting the freshest salmon available, but you are also supporting a commercial fishing family.

2. Prepare your salmon simply. Try using Olive oil and Lemon pepper for a tasty glaze without added fat.

3. Eat it for breakfast. You wouldn’t think of eating salmon in the morning with a bagel and fresh blueberries, but it works!

4. Make eating salmon a healthy social event. Make a date to go to the Fishermen’s Market, or bring out the BBQ for a potluck dinner.

5. Get creative. You could put in your eggs in the morning, toss it in your salad at lunchtime, make it into a sandwich, put it on your pasta, broiled as a burger, baked in the oven, or thrown on the grill.

There are so many different things you can do with salmon that it becomes far easier to make it part of your normal diet. When I tell people I eat salmon 5 times a week sometimes twice a day, the response is “Why so much?” Because eating wild Alaskan salmon one or two times a day, will do more for your skin than any other anti-aging remedy that I know of.

While I can’t promise you can turn back time, the anti-inflammatory benefits of foods such as salmon, will gaurantee that you can greatly slow down it’s negative effects. These include good health, ample energy, increased sense of well-being and radiant, glowing skin.

In other words, there are many health benefits to be had from eating wild Alaskan salmon.

Know of any other foods that are great for the skin? I’d love to know what they are.

Best Fishes! LaDonna Rose

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Has This Ever Happened To You?

by on March 26, 2012 in Has this ever happened to you?

I had a very nice, friendly, positive, uplifting blog planned for today.  Something came up this weekend that I feel I have to address while it’s fresh on my mind.

Has This Ever Happened To You?

You plan a trip to the big city for some shopping, eating out and entertainment.

You’re not sure what your exited for… Trader Joe’s, Target, Tj Max, Victoria Secret or the romantic dinner at your favorite restaurant with your lover or just plain getting out of town.

You plan this say, two weeks or more in advance.For me this last weekend, it was dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Eugene, The Lucky Noodle.

We were especially excited  because we hadn’t been to this restaurant in nearly three years.  This place has it all… atmosphere, food, service, we have never been disappointed. We knew we wanted to enjoy the evening, so we booked a room at the newly opened Inn at 5th Street to spend the night.   It’s less than a block away, which made it even more enjoyable strolling along 5th Street Market hand in hand. We arrive at the restaurant.  We were seated, the server hands us our menus and I’m pleased to see Fresh Alaskan Salmon listed for two of their entrees.

What first went through my mind is fresh… hummm… it’s March… so it must be frozen.  That’s okay.  Ordinarily I’m very cautious to order salmon in a restaurant unless I’m absolutely sure it’s wild.  Naturally, I ask our server if she was positive the salmon is wild from Alaska?  She said yes, it is wild from Alaska.

Now keep in mind this is one of our all time favorite restaurants.  So the thought of them Pan Roasting wild Alaskan salmon and finishing it with beurre blanc, served with house made asparagus risotto was too much to resist! 

Over two Blueberry Cosmos, we waited for our dinner talking about the beautiful day we had, our wonderful room, the coming salmon season in Alaska and soaking up the wonderful atmosphere.

Our entrees arrived it looked so good I even took a picture of it! With excitement I dove in!  Now obviously I know my salmon, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what species it was so Ole tried a piece.  Hesitantly his guess was Coho, then said it was a bit like wet partial board.  I tried another piece and had another one ready to go on the fork, when a server clearing a nearby table nicely asked how is your salmon?  I say great, I think…say, what type of salmon am I eating?  Wild Alaska, he says, I say no, what type? Coho, Sockeye, King?  He said let me go back to the kitchen and check.

Has This Ever Happened To You?

Waiting for the verdict, I chose to only eat the delicious risotto.

The server comes back and happily announces that wild Alaska salmon is not in season and instead of serving frozen salmon we substitute farm-raised salmon.

Now…those of you that know me really really well, what do you think I did?

A.  Drop my fork?

B.  Said it’s FARMED?!?!?!?!?!?!?

C.  Picked up my plate and tossed it to the middle of the table?

 Or

 D.  All of the above? 

The answer is D all of the above and that was just the beginning.

Has This Ever Happened To You?

Ole pushed his plate away also and we just stared at each other in disbelief of what we just heard.

I told our server that the restaurant is advertising Fresh Alaskan salmon and you are serving farmed salmon, this is false advertising!  My blood pressure went through the roof trying to explain to her how rotten farmed-raised salmon is for the environment and for people’s health.  I said unknowingly, I just ingested red dye, which is showing up in people’s retinas, antibiotics, chemicals, pesticides and who know’s what else.   

She was very apologetic and said since our evening was virtually ruined she would comp our entire meal. 

Has This Ever Happened To You? 

While still at our table preparing to go, we decided to see a manager to clear this up even further.  A woman who works in the restaurant comes over to our table and says… I hear you are threatening to sue our establishment.  I tell her what I did say and that is you are advertising Fresh Alaskan salmon for $24.00 a plate and serving cheap inexpensive farmed-raised salmon that potentially could make people sick from an allergic reaction.  If I was to turn you into the Attorney General for false advertising I believe it is a hefty fine.

She said, our supplier assures us that farmed-raised salmon is good to eat and there’s nothing wrong with it.  I told her several times that’s not the point.  The point is, The Lucky Noodle is using Alaska’s quality name to promote an inferior product, which is ethically wrong and hurts Alaska’s reputation. 

She made some reference to Farmed Alaska salmon.  OMG!!!  We kept telling her over and over that there are no fish farms of any type in the state of Alaska.

The woman continued arguing with us… and then she said… she would only comp my meal and we would have to pay for all the rest.

What do you think Ole did?

A. Stood up and put his coat on?

B.  Told the woman we are salmon fisherman from Alaska and we know what we are talking about?

C.  You completely ruin our evening and you want us to pay for this experience?

D.  All of the above?

Yep!  D.

She disappeared and so did we.

Has This Ever Happened To You?

The moral to this story:  We will never go back to the Lucky Noodle, because our thoughts are; if they are deceiving us about this, what else are they being deceptive about and cutting corners on?  The most upsetting thing is they are using Alaska’s good name on their menu to hoodwink people into thinking they’re getting top quality, when in fact they’re getting the bottom end of quality.  When did The Lucky Noodle stop serving wild Alaska Salmon even though it is still printed on their menu?  Back in September 2011 when the wild salmon season closed? 

When dining out unless you know the owner, manager or server very well, ask your server to go back to the kitchen and ask what type of salmon it is and where did it come from. Consumers can ask their server what region the salmon is from, what species it is and is it fresh or frozen.

They should be able to answer or find someone to answer, if they can’t, then you may want to take your business elsewhere.

I was fooled…and if I can be fooled…anybody can.

 

Has This Ever Happened To You?  You ordered something from the menu and you were brought something completely different?  Ever had a server argue with you?

 

Best Fishes!  LaDonna Rose

 

Because I believe everyone should do their own research, below are a few links to get you started.

Salmon served in some Puget Sound restaurants often mislabeled  

Oregon Deceptive Trade Practices Laws

File a Consumer Complaint

 

 

 

 

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Why is wild caught Alaska salmon so fantastic?

by on March 21, 2012 in Wild caught Alaska salmon

Because Alaska is fish country and salmon is probably the world’s most heart healthy source of protein.  Wild caught salmon swim naturally and grow freely in the pristine icy clear waters off Alaska’s rugged coastline.  They feed on their natural diet of marine organisms, giving them a superior flavor and texture that is prized by the whole world.  Effective state and federal regulations manage fisheries that are productive and sustainable, clean and healthy.  Alaska is the only State in the nation whose Constitution explicitly mandates that all fish, including salmon, shall be utilized, developed and maintained on the sustainable yield principle.  Alaska’s waters are the cleanest in the world and has strict regulations governing development activities.  Clean marine habitats produce pure seafood products.

Wild salmon is rich in long-chain Omega-3 essential fatty acids – the most beneficial kind – which studies show to protect heart health, inhibit inflammation in joints, decrease body fat, stabilizes blood sugar levels, acts as a natural anti-depressent, increases feelings of well being, and…the part I love…keeps the skin young, supple, radiant and wrinkle free.  The Omega-3s provide nourishment to hair follicles helping hair grow healthy and the high protein content of salmon helps to maintain strong, healthy hair and nails.  More on that at a later date.  Salmon is low in calories and is one of the healthiest fish available for consumption.  Some of the health benefits are just now being discovered on the leading edge of science and nutrition.    

Alaska salmon are free of antibiotics, pesticides, growth hormones and artificial coloring agents.  These salmon are among the purest fish you will find anywhere.

I once heard salmon being referred to as  “Steak of the Sea”  because it is one of the heartiest fish you can eat.  Wild caught Alaska salmon taste good and is good for you.

Youv’e heard all about those miraculous Omega-3 fatty acids.  You’ve read studies which detail how eating it on a regular basis can reduce your levels of bad cholesterol and aid in boosting your immune system.  You don’t eat the dreaded farmed raised salmon.  So, the question is, have you started eating more Wild salmon?

What if you are a busy mother with two children, no four children who wishes they did eat more salmon, but simply are just too busy?  Here comes canned salmon to the rescue!

Canned salmon is the perfect treat, allows you to serve wild salmon year round and has all the nutrients as salmon fillets and salmon steaks.  It’s the perfect solution for a busy household.  It’s a no brainer, because it’s easy to prepare, healthy, tasty and good for our environment.  Canned salmon is a healthy food choice your whole family will love.

You won’t have a problem adding salmon to your diet, since there are hundreds of ways to enjoy this healthy super-food. Try it grilled, baked, in your pasta, with a salad, in a soup, or simply open a jar or can with a side of blueberries.

What is your go to Wild caught salmon recipe?

Best Fishes!  LaDonna Rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Why Friends Don’t Let Friends Eat Farmed Salmon

by on March 10, 2012 in Farmed Atlantic Salmon

On a trip to NYC this past Christmas, I was invited to be a guest on Martha Stewart Living Radio to talk about my new cookbook Salmon, Desserts & Friends. It was such a wonderful opportunity and I was over the top happy they wanted little ol’ me!

Eagerly waiting in the lobby of the Serious Satellite Radio Station with Ole and a dear friend of ours Laurel Lindahl, I was excited about sharing with the world the wonderful benefits of wild Alaska salmon. I wasn’t too worried about the interview, after all I have been catching, cooking and eating wild salmon for 24 years. Ole laughed saying “what could possibly go wrong in 30 minutes.”

I’m up! The producer led us down a long hall. On one side was windows from floor to ceiling and on the other side was individual studios. The view from the 39th floor over looked parts of the city and was amazing! I literally heard my heart pumping as the door opened into the studio. It was small and dark with two windows and lots of equipment. My interviewer Chris had his back into the corner of the room and I sat in a tall chair facing him. While on a break, they helped me with my headphones, chatted with me a little bit and made me feel very comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went live on the radio!

Thumbing through his copy of my cookbook Salmon, Desserts & Friends, we started talking about different ways to prepare wild salmon and fishing in Alaska. The phone lines lit up rather quickly, I thought. A woman from Florida called in and expressed her love for wild salmon. She was completely aware of farmed Atlantic salmon and said she would never eat it. We had a wonderful visit and I shared with her one of my quick and easy recipes.

Easy Salmon and Cheddar Strata. Page 35

The phone lines were packed so we went on with the next caller. All wanting to know more about the differences between wild and farmed salmon.

Now, those of you that know me, know my passion for the subject and in fact could keep your ear for over an hour. All was going very well, and then Fred from Massachusetts called in… Fred said his fishmonger told him that farmed Atlantic salmon was far superior to wild Alaska salmon because of the fat content.

He asked me if that was true and if it was okay to eat farmed salmon.

Now remember, I’m on Martha Stewart Living Radio…easy to say a hundred thousand listeners? A million? I don’t know… but what I do know, it was one of the most important interviews of my life!

I asked Fred why his fishmonger would say such a thing? He said, “because they eat better.” I asked Fred if he was aware that farmed salmon are raised in crowded net pens and fed from a global supply of fish meal and fish oil manufactured from small open sea fish, which studies show are the source of PCB’s in most farmed salmon? (Which ultimately causes a loss to the worlds food supply because, it takes three times more protein to feed a farmed fish than a wild fish would ever eat). Fred seemed to be focused on wild salmon containing mercury and farmed salmon having more Omega 3’s.

I said Fred, farmed salmon are intentionally fattened and therefore accumulate more PCB’s, because the process of fattening them is similar to fattening cows or hogs in a feed lot. (To fatten up the farmed salmon, some farmers use bright lights at night to confuse the fish into always thinking it’s feeding time).

Farmed salmon are fattier because they are lazy and they don’t get any exercise, they are artificially colored with a dye, otherwise they would be an unappetizing grey. (Recent studies have shown this dye to adversely effect eye sight when consumed in large quantities).

I said Fred, there is so much disease in the farmed pens the farmers use antibiotics and other drugs that ultimately seep into the open waters. This is a serious concern, that drug resistant strains of disease can wipe out entire stocks of wild Pacific salmon.

Farmed salmon are stuffed together by the hundreds of thousands in net pens, these conditions provide the perfect banquet for sea lice.

Sea lice feed on the mucus, blood and skin of salmon. Understand more by watching this short video.

To combat this, the salmon farmers bathe the fish in toxic chemicals. Guess what? Sea lice are adapting to the chemicals used to control them. (These chemicals are being absorbed into the fish). Because the salmon farms are concentrated along wild Pacific salmon migration routes, the lice are transmitted to juvenile stages of wild salmon as they pass in numbers, killing them. That never would have happened naturally.

I said Fred, one thing no one ever thinks about and that is the waste from some large farms are estimated to equal sewage from a city of 10,000 people.

The waste flows straight into the ocean, causing disastrous plankton blooms, destroying shellfish beds and fouling nearby habitat.

Fred had no idea! I said Fred, we all need to do our own research and I encouraged him to do his own. I strongly encourage you to do your own research as well.

At first glance, fish farming may seem like a good idea, a way to ease the stress on the wild stocks and meet the food demands of the world population…but maybe not. It may seem like a bargain at your local grocer, but globally speaking, farmed salmon is anything but a bargain.

The first thing the next caller said was “I will never eat farmed salmon ever again!” She wanted to know how to tell the difference? I told her to get into the habit of asking.

Is the salmon farmed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or is the salmon wild?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the label say’s wild Alaska you can have all the confidence in the world to know it’s wild, because there are no fish farms of any type in the state of Alaska.

I encourage everyone to do their own research and once you know what I know…You won’t let your friends eat farmed Atlantic salmon. While I am on the subject…lets not forget about Frankenfish!

Please for your health and the health of those you love, do your part for our sacred Wild Salmon ask if its farmed or if it’s wild.

Best Fishes!

LaDonna Rose

P.S. Here are a couple of great links for more information.

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute on Sustainability http://sustainability.alaskaseafood.org/intro

Monterey Bay Aquarium on Seafood Sustainability: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_factsheet.aspx?gid=49

Farmed and Dangerous: http://www.farmedanddangerous.org/salmon-farming-problems/

David Suzuki Foundation: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/oceans/science/sustainable-fisheries-and-aquaculture/salmon-farming—a-grave-concern-a-great-hope/

Alaxandra Morton: http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New blog by Alaskan commercial fisherwoman LaDonna Rose

by on February 20, 2012 in Uncategorized

Hi guys!   This is my first blog.  Those of you that know me, know that I’m not a blogger.  I am a commercial fisherwoman, cookbook author and lover of salmon.  That said..I’m excited to share my world with you through my experiences, recipes and of course, Ole’s gorgeous photography.

I hope what you gain from this blog will be a glimpse into the world of commercial fishing.  All of us that commercial fish are small business owners working hard to keep our heads above water.  We have families to support, boats to maintain, gear and insurance to pay for and retirement to fund.  On the flip side, we love the adventure and freedom commercial fishing brings.  I am pretty sure I’m not the only one who has a story or two to tell about being sick, scared, tired to the bone, biggest fish, smallest fish, biggest haul, smallest haul.  Can’t forget the biggest wave that would make a Christian out of anyone!  We see wild life, sunrises, sunsets and stars that you swear touch the ocean.  We work hard knowing the seasons are short and then we can rest and play.

Also in my blog, it is my desire to share with you the health and beauty benefits of wild salmon and reasons not to eat the dreaded farmed Atlantic salmon.

I will do my best to keep up with this at least once every other week.

Best Fishes!  LaDonna

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Clout & About review

by on February 15, 2012 in News

Clout & About logo

“I’m Hooked (Line and Sinker) After The First Recipe.”

Lulu del Rosario of Clout and About says: “ALL the recipes by LaDonna Gundersen are enticing, mouth-watering and easy to put together…The photographs and stories within the book are captivating…The photography for the book is by LaDonna’s husband Ole Gundersen, himself a fisherman with an excellent eye behind the lens! The cookbook is a wonderful testament to their fondness of the ocean, their togetherness, love of cooking and baking and celebrating with friends….My book review? It’s like 52 love stories with dessert on top of every good dish.”

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