Welcome to Icicle Seafoods' Star Division web site. We appreciate your interest in learning more about this unique region of Alaska and about the employment opportunities in this area.

Icicle Seafoods, Inc. was one of the early pioneers of using floating processing vessels in the fisheries of Western Alaska in the late seventies and early eighties. The concept was to provide efficient frozen-at-sea processing in Western Alaska, such as Dillingham, Dutch Harbor, and Saint Paul. By having processing vessels close to the fishing grounds, seafood resources in previously underutilized areas could be fished and quality could be enhanced. Since then, Icicle Seafoods' vessels have processed and shipped millions of pounds of fresh/frozen seafood and have employed thousands of people.

Icicle's Star Division consists of our processing fleet, Arctic Star, Bering Star, Discovery Star, and the Northern Victor, and our processing plant and cannery in Egegik. Each processor has a different configuration, operates at times in different areas and fisheries, and even has different personalities. To learn more about the characteristics of each processor, click on the name of the above underlined location you're interested in.

In this web site, you'll find an overview of the fisheries that we participate in Western Alaska, employment information, and other useful tips designed to make your employment experience with Icicle Seafoods as enjoyable as possible. We hope that you'll find this site informative and that you'll apply for work with us!

How to Apply

Completely fill out the online application and submit it to us, or call our office to request an application be sent through the mail. You may either fax or mail your completed application form to us. J1 visa students will also need to fill out a J1 information form.

Icicle Personnel
PO Box 79003
Seattle, WA 98119

Jobline: (206) 281 – 0333
Phone: (206) 281 – 0332
Fax: (206) 281 – 5360

Applicants are recommended to follow up on their application with a phone call to the Seattle office to schedule an interview.

The Hiring Process

You may submit an application to our company at any time. In order to work for Icicle, you must be at least 18 years old, be able to speak and understand English, and be able to show proper documentation (Requires Adobe Reader) to prove that you are legally eligible to work in the United States. This applies to everyone; Icicle Seafoods does not sponsor applicants for work authorization.

If you are in the Seattle area, please contact our office to schedule an orientation/interview (map). There will be orientations in other select recruiting cities. If you’re outside of the state of Washington and there is not a scheduled orientation near your area, then you need to apply on-line. An Icicle representative will be in contact with you to set up a phone interview after you have sent in your application. It is required that you read this website in full before your phone interview.

After the interview, we check work references and criminal convictions through the court system. These checks can take time, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Positions will be filled by the best-qualified applicants, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or any disability that will not interfere with the ability to perform the job.

If you are hired, you must travel to Seattle at your own expense one business day prior to your departure to Alaska. During this time, you will need to fill out the paperwork to finalize the hiring process. Icicle will provide transportation from Seattle to your Alaska destination and back, as long as you complete your contract. If hired in Alaska, transportation is provided from Anchorage to your work location and back, also if you complete your agreement.

Work Availability

Throughout the year, work is available on a seasonal basis at one or more locations. Because of the unpredictable nature of these fisheries, it is best to call our job line at (206) 281-0333 for updates on timing and staffing needs. The fishing seasons in western Alaska vary from year to year. How large or small the runs will be each year depends entirely upon the forces of nature. We have little control over how much fish or crab comes in for processing.

The amount of work that we can provide depends upon how much fish we get. At the beginning and end of the season or during seasons with smaller runs, there may be weeks with little or no work. We cannot guarantee the number of hours employees will work each day. When there is no fish, there's no work. Room and board are still provided while you are not working.

On the other hand, when we have fish, we expect everyone to work their scheduled shift. During the peak of the season you may work up to 18 hours per day, 7 days a week. Hours are more variable at the beginning and at the end of the season.

There is always the possibility of a mid-season transfer. Icicle employs processors for many worksites and the staffing needs vary throughout the year from location to location. When you agree to work with Icicle, you may not work at the same place for the entire length of your contract!

Season Dates

Listed below are the seasons, approximate dates and the location where our floating processors work. Keep in mind that this information varies year to year:

Season	Dates	Location
Pollock	January-April, June-October	Dutch Harbor
Opilio Crab	January-March	Dutch Harbor, St. Paul
Cod	January-April, July-October	Dutch Harbor
Herring	April-June	Togiak
Salmon	June August	Bristol Bay, Petersburg
King Crab	October-November	Dutch Harbor

Employees can expect to be transferred to shore-based plants in either Seward or Petersburg to finish out their employment contract, especially during the summer salmon season.

Working Conditions

Most of the work that we have is called "sliming" or cleaning fish. This type of work involves removing the viscera (guts) and cutting off heads, fins, gills, or tail. That means there are lots of fish guts and fish blood in the work area. The environment can be wet, cold, and drafty. Due to moving machinery, it is noisy and hearing protection is required. All work gear, including eye and hearing protection, are provided for you.

This can be very boring and tedious work. Sliming and other processing jobs may require standing in one spot doing the same task anywhere from 0 to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. Breaks are every 3 to 4 hours, alternating between a paid 15-minute break and an unpaid 30-minute meal break. There may not be opportunities to switch jobs during your shift. Between periods of production, you may experience stretches of time with no work. During this time, it’s up to you to find ways to occupy your time.

Not everyone is willing or able to do the labor that is required to process fish. It's hard work! The first week can be the worst as your body gets used to the job tasks and long hours. Seafood processing is physically and mentally demanding because it involves strenuous and repetitive tasks. You should be healthy and willing to accept this type of work. People with back or wrist problems should consider these conditions before applying for jobs in the seafood industry. If you have any doubts at all, it is in your best interest not to apply.

Living Conditions

Life on board a processing vessel can be rough. During the winter months, storm-like conditions are the norm in Alaska. Be prepared for little sunlight and extreme weather conditions. The living quarters are dorm-like bunks, holding on average 4 to 8 people in each room, with bathrooms down the hall. You will have little chance for privacy.

Mail service can be sporadic in these remote areas of Alaska. Mail can arrive on average two to three times per week during the summer and even less frequently in the winter. Phone service may not be available at all times. There is a satellite phone on board for business purposes only; however, there may be opportunities for employees to use it. Phone charges can range from $1.00 to $1.50 per minute. Due to the limited mail and phone services, it will be hard to keep in contact with friends and family members back home.

Having said all this, we continue to have many employees who return to work with us year after year. The reason is simple: Icicle Seafoods' processing vessels can be a great place to work! Wages are competitive. Meals are provided, rent is free, and your laundry is done for you once a week.

You'll need enough warm, comfortable clothing for one week and we will give you a list of what to pack upon hire. We provide all work gear, including rubber boots, rubber gloves, waterproof rain pants and jackets, earplugs and other personal protective equipment. Hairnets and beard nets are also provided and required. Bed linen is provided, which includes sheets, blanket, and a pillow. There is a small sea store on board that will sell basic necessities, such as shampoo, stamps, razors, and snacks. Cigarettes and tobacco may be also available for purchase. You may have care packages sent up to you; however, they will be searched for drugs and alcohol.

Icicle has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy. We perform random drug testing once a month based on the amount of people on board. If you fail or are found in possession of drugs/alcohol, it will result in an automatic termination. With an automatic termination, a resignation, or a discharge, you will be responsible for your own transportation home and will be made ineligible for rehire at all of Icicle’s locations.

When you are not working, recreation is limited and there is no guarantee of shore leave. It is up to you what you do with your free time. Many employees enjoy playing cards in the galley, writing letters home, reading, or just spending time getting to know each other. There is also an exercise room and a TV room on board for your convenience.

Wages and Benefits

If the work is so hard, why would anyone choose to do it? Lots of overtime hours! Because seafood is a highly perishable product, it must be frozen as quickly as possible to maintain the highest quality. This is why the seafood industry offers more overtime than most summer jobs.

Working overtime is how people earn more money in a shorter period of time. The first 8 hours worked in one day are paid at your regular hourly rate. Any hours worked above that are considered overtime. Any hours worked above 40 straight time hours in one week are considered overtime as well. Overtime is one and a half times your regular hourly rate. The starting rate of pay for seafood processors is $7.15 per hour. This means that Icicle pays new processors $7.15 per hour and $10.73 per hour for overtime. As hours accumulate, your pay increases according to the following schedule:

Accumulated Hours	Regular Hourly Rate
0 - 600	7.15
601 - 1800	7.50
1801 - 3600	7.75
3601 and up	8.25

Employees who return to work within one calendar year continue to build up previous hours and return at the same rate of pay. Many employees make lifelong friends onboard our vessels.

Icicle Seafoods, Inc. is also offering a recruitment incentive. After you have successfully completed a season, you may refer new applicants. If that applicant gets hired and successfully completes the season, you will receive $275.00 gross for each person. Also, to qualify, you must complete a work agreement during the same time period as your referred applicant and he or she must put your name on his or her application in the “Referred By” box. All received applications are final.

In addition to competitive wages and the opportunity to work more overtime hours than most summer jobs, we offer other excellent benefits including a health care plan and a 401K Plan.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Icicle Seafoods, Inc. is a drug and alcohol free company with a zero-tolerance policy. The use and/or possession of drugs and alcohol are forbidden on company property and while under contract. We require employees to consent to random, post-accident, and for cause tests. If you want to work for us, you must be willing to live and work in a drug and alcohol free environment. Violation of our drug and alcohol policy will result in immediate termination.

Orientations

Paperwork orientations take place in Seattle one business day before your departure. At this orientation you will fill out all required paperwork.

There will also be an orientation provided for all hired employees upon arrival on the processor. During the orientation, we provide information about our vessels and your role as part of our seafood processing team. Your supervisor and lead person will train you on the job in the actual skills that you will need for the work you are assigned to. There will be further introductory and safety orientations once onboard the vessel as well.

During the safety portion of the orientation, you will find out about our safety rules. You will be instructed in how to identify and report hazards. You will learn how to take proper precautions in the workplace and how to wear personal protective equipment. We will cover what to do in case of an emergency.

Quality on the Job

All of the Star Division are seafood processing facilities. We want to put out the best product possible. We want all employees to be aware that the fish that we process will become someone's meal.

During orientation and on the job, employees will learn how to properly handle seafood to preserve freshness and quality and to prevent contamination. The Good Manufacturing Practices or "GMPs" include rules for personal hygiene (keeping yourself and your clothing clean). They also cover rules for sanitation such as disinfecting your gloves, boots, and gear before going into the processing area. They include rules for preventing the product from becoming contaminated (such as by wearing hairnets, and not chewing gum, eating, drinking, smoking, or wearing jewelry while processing seafood).

We are proud of the fact that each of Icicle Seafoods' processing vessels has an excellent reputation for high quality seafood products. We want to maintain that reputation. That is why we insist that everyone strictly follow the GMPs.

Safety on the Job

Icicle Seafoods, Inc. strives to provide a safe and healthful workplace for all employees. We are proud of our safety record! We have developed policies, rules and safe operating procedures as part of our Accident Prevention Program. We expect everyone to follow these policies and take an active role in preventing accidents in the workplace.

Safety Requirements

Due to extreme weather conditions and the unpredictable nature of working and living on the water, Icicle Seafoods requires that all floating processor and vessel employees have the ability to put on an immersion suit in one minute or less. Icicle provides a practice immersion suit in our Personnel office in Seattle if you’d like an opportunity to better understand this requirement.

If you have doubts about your ability to accomplish this, you should either reconsider your employment at Icicle or ask one of our recruiters about employment at our land based facilities. If you need accommodation to put on an immersion suit, you must contact the Director of Human Resources at (206) 282-0988 before leaving for Alaska.

Final Notes

• Many people have unrealistic expectations about the amount of money they can make working in Alaska. The fishing industry is extremely unpredictable. Even during a good season, the wages you earn in Alaska may be comparable to or less than what you can earn elsewhere. Also, because this is seasonal work, you cannot depend on it for steady income.
• Remember: no fish, no work; lots of fish, lots of work!
• Due to remote locations, medical and dental facilities may not be immediately available.
• Rough weather on a vessel can be unpleasant, especially if you are prone to motion sickness.
• We hire many different types of people with diverse backgrounds. You must be tolerant of and able to get along with a variety of people and personalities.
• Finally, we hope you choose to work with Icicle Seafoods because we believe we have the best program to offer!

For updated hiring information, call our recorded job line at (206) 281-0333.

ICICLE SEAFOODS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We endeavor at all times to fill available openings with the best qualified applicants regardless of race, sex, marital status, religion, pregnancy, age, national origin, color or handicap which does not impair the ability to do the job.