Key Takeaways
Longtime Trident Seafoods board member and industry veteran, Jim McManus, is retiring from the company’s board of directors after decades of leadership and service to the company and fishing industry
McManus played a pivotal role in expanding Trident’s catcher fleet and strengthening collaboration across Alaska fisheries
Mike Quinn has rejoined Trident’s board following his tenure as the company’s Chief Operating Officer
Quinn brings deep operational expertise and a longstanding commitment to Trident’s people, values and long-term success
After decades of service to Trident Seafoods and a lifetime dedicated to the fishing industry, Trident announces the retirement of Jim McManus from the company’s board of directors and a return of the company’s former Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mike Quinn, to the board.
Honoring the Retirement of Longtime Board Member Jim McManus
McManus's story is deeply rooted in the maritime communities that define Trident as a company. Born on his family’s farm in Twin Falls, Idaho, McManus moved with his family to Seattle, Washington's historic fishing neighborhood of Ballard in the mid-1960s. After graduating from Ballard High School, McManus began his career as a journeyman at Caterpillar, working on marine propulsion and power generation systems – skills that would shape his future on the water.
Following a near-fatal motorcycle accident early in his career, McManus’ determination and resilience set the tone for everything that followed. In the mid-1970s, he headed north to Alaska to pursue crab fishing, working his way up to become a licensed captain and part-owner of the F/V American Beauty. Over the years, McManus operated vessels across Alaska’s crab, trawl and salmon fisheries.
In 1991, Trident’s founders, Chuck Bundrant and Kaare Ness, asked McManus to manage the company’s growing catcher fleet. Under his leadership, the fleet expanded from six vessels to nearly 20. McManus also served as president of Royal Viking Inc., a Trident subsidiary, and played a pivotal role in building and managing the Akutan Catcher Vessel Association, the largest cooperative of pollock and cod shoreside fishing vessels in the Bering Sea. His involvement helped bring together both independently owned and Trident-owned vessels.
"Jim has been one of the most important mentors in my life," said Joe Bundrant, CEO of Trident Seafoods.
Over decades, his care, wisdom and steady presence shaped who I am. Not just as a leader at Trident, but as a husband, father, grandfather and friend.
McManus has served on the Trident Board since 2016, offering deep industry knowledge, steady leadership and a lifelong commitment to the fishing community. Beyond Trident, his service to the industry has included acting as past president of the Seattle Fisherman’s Memorial and the Norwegian Commercial Club; past chair of the Ballard Maritime Academy; and serving on the board of directors of several organizations, including the Alaska Marine Exchange, the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation, the Rasmuson Fisheries Advisory Board at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, United Catcher Boats, and several local fishing vessel insurance pools.
McManus and his wife Lynn have two adult children, Keri and Casey, as well as six grandchildren.
"Our family will always be grateful for the way Jim looked out for my dad, Chuck, especially during his final years," added Bundrant. "Jim’s loyalty, compassion and integrity define the very best of our industry, and I will forever be thankful to call him a mentor and a friend. I wish him all the very best in his well-earned retirement."
Mike Quinn Rejoins Trident’s Board
With McManus’s retirement, Mike Quinn has rejoined the company’s board of directors.
Quinn previously served as a Trident board member for five years before stepping into the role of the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), a position he held until late 2025.
"We are truly glad to welcome Mike back in this capacity," said Bundrant. "He brings deep operational expertise, a strong understanding of Trident’s business, and a longstanding commitment to our people and values. His return to Trident’s board is a meaningful one, and we’re thankful to once again benefit from his experience, perspective and leadership."
About Trident Seafoods
Trident Seafoods is North America's largest vertically integrated seafood harvesting and processing company. Trident is a privately held, 100% USA-owned company with an international operating presence in 10 countries and customers across nearly 60 global markets. Anchored in Alaska and headquartered in Seattle, Washington (USA), Trident employs approximately 7,700 people worldwide each year and partners with over 2,700 independent fishermen and crewmembers in Alaska. Trident catches and processes virtually every commercial species of salmon, whitefish, and crab harvested in the North Pacific and Alaska. The global supply chain also encompasses cultured and wild species sourced from an international network of trusted suppliers.
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