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By KAPP | Smarter Chilling. Better Seafood.
You don’t need a PhD to know that fresh fish sells better. But a recent Icelandic study reveals just how much temperature control onboard can make or break the value of your catch. In Alaska, you can do everything else right, the gear, the timing, the crew, and still leave money on the table if your chilling system doesn’t get the job done fast.
That’s the reality that Icelandic researchers at Matís explored when they ran a head-to-head comparison between two fishing trips for Pacific cod. One used an old-school RSW tank. The other used a modern slurry ice system. Both were processed the same way, landed at the same plant, and tracked through shelf life and auction.
What They Found:
Key insight: The fish were identical at the point of harvest. But by the time they hit the market, one batch fetched a higher price simply because it was chilled faster and more evenly.
Why This Matters to Alaska
Many Alaskan vessels, especially in the groundfish and halibut sectors, are still using aging RSW systems that can’t cool quickly or uniformly. And with today’s markets demanding traceability, consistency, and longer shelf life, that’s a growing liability.
Alaska competes in global markets that reward quality, shelf life, and handling. Whether you sell directly, through processors, or at auction, buyers know the difference, and they’re paying for it.
The Fix: Upgrade Your Chill
It’s time to stop thinking of chilling as a support system and start treating it as a profit system. Whether you're looking to boost your brand's value, reduce rejected shipments, or hit premium markets, chilling is the first step.
At KAPP, we deliver modern slurry ice systems like OptimICE®, engineered to give you:
- Faster cooling
- Uniform temperatures
- Extended freshness
- Better returns
Better chilling starts onboard. Better prices start with you. Let’s talk about bringing smarter chilling to your boat.
This article is based on the: Pacific cod shelf-life experiment report – Effects of onboard slurry ice cooling and tub storage on quality parameters: 04_25_Slurry vs RSW - MATIS report final version.pdf