Carnival Corporation’s Alaska Land Operations Celebrates 15 Years of Supporting Local Fishing Industry at ‘First Fish’ 2025 Event
Annual celebration marks opening of salmon season across the Great Land
Partnership with Copper River Seafoods brings fresh Alaska seafood to company’s five wilderness lodges and its rail division while supporting ocean conservation
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (June 20, 2025) – Carnival Corporation’s Holland America Princess Alaska land operations celebrated its 15th annual First Fish event, which recognizes the official opening of Alaska's commercial fishing season.
In line with Carnival Corporation’s Less Left Over strategy to reduce unused food and ingredients companywide, this exhibition educates guests about sustainable harvesting methods and the fish’s journey from ocean to plate while creating meaningful conversations about the region's maritime traditions.
The event also highlighted a long-standing partnership with Anchorage-based Copper River Seafoods, a family-owned operation committed to Alaska’s sustainable fishing practices. This partnership provides the freshest possible Alaska seafood to guests staying at Holland America Princess’ wilderness lodges and riding the rails throughout the season. The collaboration spans Alaska's interior to the south-central region, encompassing the company’s five wilderness lodges: Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, Holland America Denali Lodge, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Holland America Skagway Inn and the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.
“We're excited to again participate in our annual First Fish tradition,” said Echo Green, the food and beverage operations manager for Princess Lodges. “For nearly two decades, our relationship with Copper River Seafoods and similar vendors has ensured our lodge guests experience the finest Alaska seafood while supporting the fishing communities that make it all possible. Our Less Left Over strategy means we source precisely what we need from Alaska's waters, reducing spoilage and supporting sustainable fishing quotas that protect these precious marine resources.”
Protecting Alaska's Marine Heritage Through Sustainable Practices
As part of Carnival Corporation’s support for local fisheries and sustainable practices, the company’s six lodges and its rail division achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification in 2025 for their seafood sourcing. The certification awarded by the Council – a global nonprofit working with scientists, fisheries and industries worldwide to end overfishing – verifies seafood comes from sustainably managed fisheries that maintain healthy fish populations and ecosystems. Copper River Seafoods is itself a certified vendor of the Marine Stewardship Council, ensuring every catch follows strict conservation protocols.
This commitment to responsible sourcing aligns with Alaska's sustainable fishing regulations, which maintain some of the world's most carefully managed fisheries. By partnering exclusively with certified local providers, Carnival Corporation ensures its operations contribute to ocean conservation rather than resource depletion.
Economic Impact for Alaska
These sustainable practices create a ripple effect that extends far beyond environmental protection, generating significant economic benefits for Alaska's coastal communities. Comprehensive sourcing by the company’s lodges, rail division and aboard its Alaska itinerary ships supports the state's vital fishing
industry with reliable year-round purchasing partnerships while introducing thousands of visitors to Alaska's exceptional seafood heritage.
In 2024 alone, the company’s lodge restaurants purchased over 53,000 pounds of Alaska seafood from local suppliers, sourcing a variety of species including salmon, halibut, Alaska cod, rockfish, scallops, Dungeness crab and razor clams. This direct-from-source purchasing supports the company’s broader Less Left Over strategy, which minimizes food waste by eliminating extended transportation times that can compromise quality and lead to spoilage.
Guest Experience Excellence Through Freshness and Sustainability
Guests staying at Holland America Princess lodges can expect daily fresh fish offerings, chef-prepared meals, and educational components about Alaska fishing, including sustainable fishing methods, seasonal catch regulations and how their dining choices support the state’s commitment to not depleting ocean resources for future generations.
The participating lodges already feature outstanding Alaska specialties, with venues like the King Salmon Restaurant at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge showcasing regional seafood alongside breathtaking mountain views, while educating guests about responsible ocean stewardship.
From the first salmon of the season to the last catch of summer, the commitment to Alaska’s fishing heritage and sustainable practices ensures guests taste the difference while supporting the communities and conservation efforts. This focus on fresh, local sourcing supports the company’s Less Left Over strategy that integrates sustainable practices throughout every phase of the food lifecycle to minimize food waste and protect marine ecosystems.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.
For more information, please visit www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruises.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com.
To learn more about Carnival Corporation’s purpose and our positive impact worldwide on people and the planet, go to www.carnivalcorp.com/impact/.
Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:
Jody Venturoni, Carnival Corporation, jventuroni@carnival.com
Janna Rowell, Carnival Corporation, jrowell@carnival.com