| To get technical, the term shellfish technically describes | | | | Abalone. Divers are employed to harvest this firm |
| any "exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used | | | | textured, mild tasting mollusk found in the Southeast |
| as food." This leaves the actual category wide open, | | | | Alaskan waters. When looking for abalone at a nearby |
| as far as the average seafood fan is concerned. A | | | | grocer or fresh seafood market, it will be available |
| classification used by both the culinary community and | | | | fresh when in season, or frozen whole-in-shell. Outside |
| fisheries worldwide, the layman may still be wondering | | | | of season look for just abalone meat sealed in |
| exactly what the world of shellfish encompasses. | | | | vacuum-packaging. |
| When it comes to great tasting seafood which comes | | | | Shrimp. Alaskan varieties of shrimp include Coonstripe, |
| wild from the icy cold Alaskan waters can't be beat | | | | Pink, Sidestripe or Spot shrimp, sometimes also called |
| for taste and quality. Although this particular variety of | | | | prawns. The sizes vary greatly from an inch in size up |
| seafood is often higher in the calorie count than other | | | | to Spot Prawns which can reach 9 inches in length. |
| nutrient rich species that come from Alaska, they are | | | | Find Alaskan shrimp sold frozen raw in-shell, or quick |
| still excellent sources of protein and can't be beat for | | | | frozen in bags. |
| impeccable taste and texture. There are a variety of | | | | Crab. Of all the Alaskan seafood delicacies, crab is |
| options for fresh or fresh-frozen shellfish, the most | | | | one of the most popular. Varieties harvested fresh |
| popular of which are simply explained below. | | | | from the icy Alaskan waters include King Crab, |
| Clams. The growing Alaskan market for clams | | | | Dungeness Crab, Snow Crab, and Hair Crab. Crabs |
| includes varieties like Geoduck, Horse, Razor, Steamer | | | | can be purchased whole, live or frozen, or just the legs |
| and Littleneck. Clams can be found both hard-shelled | | | | and claws can often be purchased on their own. |
| and soft-shelled. | | | | |