Producer profile

Pete Knutson
Seattle, Washington

Local fisherman Pete Knutson keeps keen eye on environment
By Cameron Woodworth

(Sound Consumer, April 2002) — Pete Knutson respects the waters. The colorful salmon fisherman peppers his conversation with comments about the sacredness of the ocean, and the marine life it carries. "You really have to respect the fish when they come out of the water, because they come out of the water perfectly," he says.

Knutson has been fishing for three decades and is one of PCC's salmon suppliers. In the summer, he travels to Alaska to fish for Sockeye and Coho salmon with his son Jonah, while his wife, Hing, handles the marketing in Seattle. His son, Dylan, helps deliver the fish. In the fall, Knutson fishes for salmon in the Puget Sound waters.

When not in Alaska, Knutson — who has a Ph.D. in anthropology — teaches about cultural ecology and marine conservation at Seattle Central Community College. He also spends a great deal of time on local activist issues, fighting for the environment and for small-scale fishermen.

Over the years, he's seen giant fishing operations devastate salmon populations and cut deeply into a way of life. Profits have dwindled for many small fishermen as the large operations flood the market with inexpensive, often farmed fish. "There's some very cheap fish out there, and they make a superficially nice fish, but it's like a synthetic industrial product," treated with antibiotics and other questionable practices.

Long ago, Knutson spent seven years fishing on big boats, but didn't like it, because big business didn't bring the same concern for quality that a small fisherman, like an artisan, brings. Fish have to be treated properly and gently, he says.

"I've been working on the same stocks for 20 years, by the same beaches. I know my fish well," he says. "I can get the fish on ice much faster — in 45 minutes, while it takes many large-scale processors two or three days. Our fish typically are less than 48 hours old when they hit the dock in Ketchikan, and then it's just a few more hours by plane to Seattle."

Knutson sees that many consumers are clamoring for information about sustainable seafood, and says, "I'm really happy that PCC is carrying only eco-friendly seafood. Fish is basically following the path of organic produce. It's a logical progression."

Knutson considers it his duty to work hard for the environment. "I have extracted a lot of fish from the water, so I have an obligation to give something back to the fish," he says. "I've got this incredible responsibility to treat fish in a beautiful, sacred manner. And it makes me sick to see any kind of waste."