History Afloat: Voices from the Working Waterfront
Mathew Scaletta, Owner of Wildfish Cannery
Mathew Scaletta is the owner of Wildfish Cannery in Klawock, a community on Prince of Wales Island. Wildfish was founded in 1987 by Mathew's grandmother, Phyllis Mueller, who saw the need for a small-scale seafood processor in the community. Growing up Mathew spent his summers working in his family's fish packing and shipping facility in the old cannery at Steamboat Bay on Noyse Island. As he got older, he spent his summers working with his grandmother at Wildfish. Mathew's early experience with seafood processing led him to pursue a career as a chef working in restaurants in Oregon and Chicago. Mathew returned to Klawock in 2015 to run Wildfish, where he's been able to meld his fine-dining background with his family's business.
Mathew Scaleta, Owner of Wildfish Cannery
Mathew Scaleta, Owner of Wildfish Cannery

Interview Excerpt: The History of
Wildfish Cannery



Interview Excerpt: Early Experiences and the Approach to Wildfish Cannery



Interview Excerpt: Partnerships with Processors and Fishermen



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Wildfish Cannery
Wildfish Cannery
Salmon Waiting to be Processed
Salmon Waiting to be Processed
Filleting Salmon
Filleting Salmon
Placing Salmon Fillets on Cutting Machine
Placing Salmon Fillets on Cutting Machine
Placing Cut Salmon Strips in Brine Mixture
Placing Cut Salmon Strips in Brine Mixture
Smoker at Wildfish Cannery
Smoker at Wildfish Cannery
Smoked Salmon Strips
Smoked Salmon Strips
Salmon Cans at Wildfish Cannery
Salmon Cans at Wildfish Cannery