Tuesday, July 21, 2015

50 cents for Bristol Bay fish

Deckboss hears reliably that a major Bristol Bay salmon processor, Alaska General Seafoods, is sending its fishermen home with a base price of 50 cents per pound for their sockeye catches.

That's a huge drop from last year's base price of $1.20 per pound.

105 comments:

Anonymous said...

On something as important as the first posted price, there should be more accuracy on your part. At least 3 major companies came out with a price well before AGS, and there is also at least one company paying an advance instead of a base price. Pretty important info for the fleet!

Anonymous said...

Trident still hasn't came up with a send home price. Some got sent home with as little as .35. They also just informed their fishermen that they are closing their South Naknek bunkhouse and storage facility. With so little lead time few fishermen are able to move this season leaving a mad scramble for next season. Trident cares little for their fishermen. They are now strictly corporate.

Anonymous said...

They JUST told fishermen about them closing the storage site. Man, if that's true that is really terrible!

Anonymous said...

Trident is paying .50 cents a pound. Just confirmed with their office. What a terribly way to treat the fishermen.

Anonymous said...

Does this price include their incentives? Rsw or bleeding?

Anonymous said...

Next season, instead of kissing my first fish, I will throw it back.
Better to let them spawn than give them up for a loss.

Anonymous said...

2 hours to launch each boat. Plus lockers and nets. No mechanics there to help out. What a mad scramble for next year. Unbelievable that they didn't give a years notice.

Anonymous said...

Trident maybe not doing so well and trying to cut costs. Taking it out of their fishermens hides isn't the right way to go about things. This is a different company now and they really need to get some people in to manage right.

Anonymous said...

Thank the scabs from years ago... Bristol bay what a joke and embaresment to be a part of and you who come back with " oh the market conditions and that crap have no idea of the market. All you know of is your stupid Hagan market in Bellingham scab town. It is time for price nagociations before the season and if AIFMA leadership doesn't want to take charge and do it than quit and let others lead.

Anonymous said...

This 2015 season will be remembered, as the year that a few made good money, and all other or going to loose everything!! going back home with little or no money at all it destroys a mans dignity.The processers will get richer an the fisherman poor..Thanks!! its a shame.

Anonymous said...

If 50 cents is so cheap why don't you start buying sockeye instead of selling sockeye?

Anonymous said...

Trident, the company that led the charge away from MSC. That has hurt fish price last year and will this year too. You would think that they would have worked with Zuanich better to try and get back into MSC this year instead of watching him be vilified in the industry press. Zuanich made a good decision for his company and his fishermen. Trident made bad decisions. Now throw the surprise closure of the South facility into the mix. Another bad decision and a punch in the gut to their fleet.

Anonymous said...

Trident has fallen a LONG way in the last 20 years. Closing the south side with zero notice is a new low. I'm afraid to say its probably not as low as they will go though. Time to find a new buyer.

Anonymous said...

Bristol Bay and all its processors are back in the MSC.

Doug Hatfield said...

Just finished filleting what was probably about a 5# buck when it hit someones net not too many days ago. Whoever you are-Thank You!! Said Sockeye now sits brining in my fridge. Tomorrow it gets a few hours of crab-apple/cedar/alder smoke before it will quickly disappear. Another hour of 10# pressure and my second batch of 16 pints of some of the finest seafood on this planet will be ready for our winter wind/rain.

Thank you! Every fish boat captain and crew. Every tender captain and crew. Every dock boss and crew. Every slime line boss and crew. Every ice machine mechanic,diesel mechanic, fork lift operator or fuel hose operator. Bless the cook and dish washer!! And don't forget the cork / corkline maker and the web hanger. You over there in the dark corner of the gear shed filling needles-Thank you!!

And that's before this beautiful red-fleshed Sockeye even got close to an airplane...

At Silverdale Wa. Costco today I felt extremely fortunate to buy fresh Alaska Sockeye Salmon for $4.99/ Lb.

Hope all involved in bringing this product to my kitchen feel like they are getting a fair shake for their efforts.

Times they are a changin' though. $5.99 frozen Sockeye fillet(Product of Russia) also to be found in Silverdale.

Sincerely, Doug Hatfield

Anonymous said...

BB is the same goat show as always. Half the fleet doesn't chill, what do yo ecpect. Nobody wants to pay top dollar for poor quality fish!

Anonymous said...

The press release provided by Deckboss says the processors are back in MSC in 2016. Looks like fish caught in 2015 is not covered, which rules out sockeye sales to most big buyers in Europe. So fish price for this season takes a dump. Now, you have to ask yourself why the processors dumped MSC coverage on salmon only. Could it be that in the Pollock fishery, were huge tonnage goes to Europe, that the boats are owned by Trident or the Bundrunts, and that they didn't want to take a price hit?

Anonymous said...

There's nowhere to run and nowhere to hide!Maybe it time to ask your market what your going to be paid before you fish.the fish buyers don't negotiate in the fishermen's best interest. ASMI hasn't really created any new markets for are Sockeye's in how many years?Canned market is dismal. Consolidation of processing into one facility has put us all on limits. Just think how it would be if Silver bay wasn't there! Bringing in slave labor from foreign nation doesn't create jobs LISA M.!!!! It does create profit to the prosccesors, that doesn't trickle down to the fishermen.So all of us independent business owners will really have to rethink your business plan, because most of owe the company store!

Anonymous said...

Scabs from 20 years ago caused this? Dude give it up, get over it.

What does that have to do with a strong US dollar and freezers full of last year's reds before this season even started.

The market was in bad shape BEFORE the season.

Then add 35-40 million catch. Wake up and start researching today's market and get over a strike that happened 20 years ago.

Anonymous said...

Hey strike poster July 23, 2015 at 10:13 AM. Please explain to all of us how breaking the strike in 1991 has affected today's global salmon market.

Anonymous said...

If you strike B Bay sockeye's place on the shelves will be filled with farmed and foreign caught fish. We have to find a better way than that.

Anonymous said...

11:02. And 10:34 so you two idiots think scabs from twenty years ago haven't hurt us yet you are fishing for a price 50 cents that we went on strike for in 1980 thats 35 years ago. You fools are fishing for a price that 35 years ago fisherman with balls would not fish for. Back then we had the scab Bellingham fleet that went fishing and broke our nagociations. The strike of 91 was the nail in the coffin when so many guys went scab fishing that the buyers had total confidence that no matter what they posted or said was the price they could get there product. Tell me any other industry where this kind of process of go get the product, give it to us and we will give you a fair price is done. The west coast crab fishery do they not have price talks before there fishing seasons. Bristol Bay fisherman coming home with 50 cents is less than what was payed 35 years ago, do you know how to read!!!! 35 years you idiot... God what a bunch of fools, it's time to make a stand for some type of dignity in your life. All this crap of over inventory from last year? I know from reliable sources that major buyers where selling before the season last years H and G for over $3 up to $3.50. If you want to sit back and justify 50 cents have at it, if you want to justify your scab fishing in 1991 have at it also. You bastards know who you are and your scum activity has led us down this road.. So should ur hurt to nagociate a price before the season? Would it be a disservice to try to get a better price for our product by possibly not fishing? Taking a stand and saying it's 2015 the price of everything around me has gone up so much and yet the price of salmon in bristol bay is only worth 50 cents. Boy what a sorry group in bristol bay.

Anonymous said...

"BB is the same goat show as always. Half the fleet doesn't chill, what do yo ecpect. Nobody wants to pay top dollar for poor quality fish!"

Posted July 23rd 9:36 PM

Nobody is expecting top dollar such as Copper River or other fisheries throughout AK. The fact remains is we've come a long way at improving our quality and, we make up for it in volume. I'm quite happy with the stock I generate each year fishing 4 weeks.

ernie koepf said...

Globalization! You will sell fish for what the third world sells for!

Anonymous said...

Globalization third world, you have never been out of the United state and I hate to burst your bubble but at 50 cents you are living in the third world of bristol bay.

Anonymous said...

Lets pretend H & G prices are at $3.00 a pound FOB Seattle average wholesale for 2015--that's higher than initial reports so far but you can read for yourself at Undercurrentnews, or check the ASMI website in a few months this information is public. At 70% recovery that makes $2.10 on a round basis. Subtract 20 cents tendering cost, 25 cents shipping to Seattle, and the approximate 75 cent cost of processing and the 50 cents they have paid us so far--they've got 40 cents net per pound plus whatever they can get out of the roe and efficiencies--let's say processors that produce mostly H & G in general average 40-80 cents net per round pound. How much of that do we get? If past wholesale/ex-vessel ratios hold up we should end up with $.75 to $1.00 a pound total at that H & G price point.
Let's let the market settle out, if we don't see major movements in price once the sales data comes in thats when we start talking scorched earth. Until then stop blaming other fishermen for the shitty price, as long as we are distracted by petty BS and ancient history we are playing right into their hands.

Anonymous said...

11:55 PM makes sense. But, the overlying problem that prevents fish price from getting closer to true value, is the inability of the processors to do the right thing with the various sizes/grades of fish, and to do it in large scale, efficient volume. Small operations like the floaters cant run the tonnage to get costs/pound down, and they dont have canning lines to handle the small or low grade fish. They also don't or cant operate high volume fillet lines.

AGS, SBS, and Trident have decent plants, but SBS has no canning lines and Trident is too heavily weighted toward canning. Red Salmon needs investment just to keep from falling into the river, and Icicle Dillingham and Egigik are too small and ancient. Until these processors are willing to invest capital intelligently, fish price will suffer.

Anonymous said...

The fair price of anything is what a buyer is willing to pay. If you don't like it drive your fish to Seattle or fish somewhere other then the middle of nowhere with a limited market.

Anonymous said...

3:29 PM The strike of 91 was the nail in the coffin when so many guys went scab fishing that the buyers had total confidence that no matter what they posted or said was the price they could get there product.

You said it yourself "so many guys went fishing" Doesn't sound like many supported a strike, and for good reason. They've never worked for salmon and never will. Tell us all about a salmon strike that was successful. Hmmm, there aren't any. You sound like you too fish Bristol Bay. Did you fish this summer or stand down on principal? Also, do you really think 50 cents will be the final price? Why if so angry don't you sell out?

Anonymous said...

The other factor that will effect final price this year is the lack of hysteria over Silver Bay. In 2013, processors paid big poundage bonuses to top boats in an effort to keep them from joining the new player. It failed. In 2014, the same thing happened as processors attempted to keep the next wave from defecting. That also failed. Ironically, both years, different processors had to go on limits or suspend. Those limits and suspensions would have been more severe had Silver Bay capacity not been on line.

But now Silver Bay is established and the hysteria is over. So no more premium for that. Coupled with small fish (worth less if frozen), weak yen/strong dollar, no MSC for most, big inventory pressure, and inefficient production plants, the 2015 final price is not likely approach price of the last two years.

Anonymous said...

Icicle, Peter Pan, Trident and several others work together what to pay fishermen, the price is always the same between majors, the only way to get the premium price is: we need more buyers in the bay so the fleet can spread out, icicle and several others put their fishermen on limits for a long time and then announced they won't be buying, they got all the fish they wanted while fishermen didn't and posted the price super ridiculously low.
Silver Bay, Copper River and Leader Creek are all paying .$80- over a dollar for the same fish.

Anonymous said...

Last season I got crap about asking this but I'll ask again this year:
So at .50-.80 a pound how can you afford a permit, boat, crew, pay yourself something and keep up with the payments?!?
I understand you're buying a middle class job, but my god, how do you pay for the permit and boat at that price?

Anonymous said...

$850,000 boat and $170,000 permit, no problem, 200,000 to 300,000 lb season should cover it all at $.50

Don't you think?

Anonymous said...

8:32 pm. I do not disagree with you regarding the difficulty of paying for a boat and permint at current prices. Smart guys would not have bought in this year as the boat and permit prices were high and we all knew the ex-vessel price would drop. To make it pencil financially one or more of the following must be met:

You bought a boat and/or permit years ago and they are close, if not all, paid off.
You put a large amount toward a purchase price.
You are so financially sound you are in the Bay for "fun" (No me!)
You have other fisheries like BS crab or trawl, IFQ's or seining somewhere profitable.
You have another "day job" to cover most your living expenses and BB is simply a side business.

Other than that, I see jumping into BB at these prices as Econ Suicide even at 250+ lbs.

Anonymous said...

You can hardly make it if your boat and permit are paid for. Unless you have a big season and very few extra expenses it will not pencil out if you value your time and effort.

Anonymous said...

Right on about paying for a boat and permit yet what do we do just sit back and take 50 cents... Go to your local store and see the reality of 50 cents. I see sockeye at whole foods selling for $10.99 and the guy said it's the hottest item in the seafood section and has to restock everyday, most of these comments above just don't make reason. Guys are talking of wanting a beter price yet no one has solutions, damn right we should strike or at least do something. These comments justifying the 50 cents with globalization, poor market dollar/ yen that crap put out by your fleet manager scumbag doesn't cut it. It's 2015 get real with the world around you, Seattle is a piss tank compared to almost all major Asian cities and I bet 90 percent of you can't even handle getting around Seattle. Hell put you guys in New York or LA and you wouldn't know how to get out of the airport yet you talk like you know this world salmon market. You guys are a joke, un educated group who believe your product sucks. Bristol Bay Sockeye is a great product, if in 1979 the price was $1.25 what's up now? Please someone make the argument how the world population has almost doubled sence then, China has emerged as an economic power along with other asian countries yet the sockeye salmon market sucks. Farm Salmon? Don't try, go blow yourself!!!! And yes I love Bristol Bay, love the fishing, hate getting ripped off.

Anonymous said...

7:38. You should be on the tv show so we can check out your big deckloads of poor quality salmon

Anonymous said...

You guys are most certainly getting ripped off, as long as you take it, it will continue. As the first owners of the product, You should be the one setting the price. Of course when 30 million fish are caught in 2 weeks, I suspect quality suffers a bit. In PWS they are mid run and have harvested 40 million pinks with 10% of the boats @23 cents, of course these fish go immediately into 33 degree RSW

Anonymous said...

BB doesn't pencil out with the current prices of permits and boats, especially for a new entry.

You catch 200,000lbs at 50cents thats $100k
Permit and Boat = $300k or $20,000 a year in payments for ten years.
Crew $25,000
insurance, flights, gear, repairs,... $15,000
That leaves you with $45,000.

Thats a terrible risk/reward and a lot of headaches for little money. More realisticly, you only get half the fish and your broke for the year. Why would a anybody commit to proposition like that? Boat and permit prices will have to come down, should have sold out after 2014.

Anonymous said...

You're calculating profit/loss based on $.50lb, you did not mention $1.50 lb paid before.

Anyone investing into this fishery should take 10 years back and average the profit/loss, this is a business where you don't become rich in one year, in 10 years? Maybe.

Major buyers are always playing a trick on fishermen by not posting price until after season, this year they're making the most money by cheating fishermen, you watch closely how they buy more processors and canneries while fishermen suffer.

Anonymous said...

One question , why isn't salmon traded on the commodity's market? Wouldn't help distinguish between the value of the species, Farmed vs wild . Help to open new markets thru global trade. Just a thought!

Anonymous said...

You are right about averaging your income from BB over multiple years. Last year was a "perfect storm" for price and poundage. This year... not so good. With $800k boats this fishery is overcapitalized. Yes, they are a great tool for speed and packing but that need is rare. Of course it's the owner’s choice and they are welcome to it. But, rather than an equipment "arms race" this fishery needs permit consolidation. We need the ability to put 2 permits in one name. This must be done at the board of fish level and rather than some passionate fishermen who's convinced himself he's a public speaker we need proper representation to push this agenda. A permit buy back is much too costly and requires all participants to pay. A self-imposed buyback places the burden on the investor resulting in a benefit to all. We could become a model for future management instead of this manic cold war attitude toward equipment.

Anonymous said...

Talk about over capitalization invest in more permits . I get the the feeling that your second permit that you have purchased isn't going so well, running out of trusted people to transfer said permit too! Didn't you catch enough pounds too make it? Its about price!! The Togiak herring fleet has been self destructing fishery trying to make it in volume/tons and quite a few tons of herring for the last couple of years. it doesn't work you have to have a price of fair market value, its called a price. An investor buy back is only temporary it doesn't make it permanent, permits could be sold as single permits again? Consolidation, lets just buy ten permits ownership by one individual from (Tim buck two) and buy a seine. Better yet lets do a 100 permits owned by a corporation and build a trap.how do you like that bullshit!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dave Harsilla and AIFMA have deep experience in negotiating fish prices. Perhaps they should take that up for next season.

Anonymous said...

Fishermen are their own worst enemy, I read the talk about the scabs, and yes I'm sure it has contributed on where the market is today, mainly due to the loss of a united fishing fleet. So I guess Greed would be a good description as one of the top root causes to the dicsentergration of a united fishing culture, that was once strong. The old timers had a good thing going, it use to be a gentleman fishery, you know when you gave a guy a little room before you corked him, now you cork him even if there are no hits. Need some more examples. A lawyer came into town one day and told all the fishermen the processors were screwing fishermen out of their fair share of money,even though the price was pretty good anyway most of the fishermen signed on to the class-action lawsuit, yeah that was a bright boy move, Sue the customer. Well those of you that think the price was going to drop because of the farm fish go ahead keep on believing it. I am sure the coustomer said behind the scene we will see just how much fish Bristol Bay fishermen can eat. Now we have to give credit where credit is due The So Naknek cannery was doing alright until the next fatal contributing factor occurred, The So.Naknek Superintendent was injured and could no longer perform his duties. The big mistake, was replacing the old superintendent with one of the muppets That was like giving a child a loaded gun to play with. In closing it is amazing how much damage one man can cause. Drop a buck pick up a dime

Anonymous said...

Everyone will be back next year. The problem is fishermen are unorganised, greedy and have no respect for each other or the communities you fish in. All the posts on here are a bunch of complainers with their mouths hanging wide open for a buy back or I should be able to have two permits and that will solve the problem with the price. You are no better than the processors. You sued your customers and drove some out of business therefore eliminating buyer competition. The processors and especially Trident closing the south side is the last straw breaking the camels back, You appointed a leader that had no business occupying that position or recognising a moral high ground that So Naknek is a town with a population that has been dependent on fishing for over a hundred years. Companies should recognise the obligation for a sustainable business plan regarding the communities where they own strategic pieces of property, but yet there was just a decision to close without any consultation with the community or fishermen. The Village council is nothing more than a parasite that will not let go of the strangle hold on the community and use it for their own privet hobby farm to support WTF who knows? they have the equipment to pull boats but just don't do anything with it, again with no consultation with Trident or the community. The Government and everyone else that has never set foot even in Alaska does not want any other enterprises in the area in order to protect the natural resources without concerns how people will afford to heat their homes. So with everyone greedely hanging on to there little piece of the pie how much can a little village take before it is finally choked to death? So my suggestion is all the stakeholder consult with each other before you make decisions and if you can't hand, sell,your assets off to someone who cares about the Bay.

Anonymous said...

7:36 so two permits is going to solve the problem??? All your saying is go catch more fish and get payed a poor price. Your volume will make up for price??? Look at togiak herring... That really works...you are totally overlooking the issue. Price.... We need more fisherman involved not less. We are only as strong as our numbers. In a perfect world more fisherman getting payed higher prices catching less fish is the answer. Now of couse we all want to catch lots of fish and get payed a high price but your thinking that double permits will solve this problem is totally wrong. Your telling most guys in an all ready over capitalized fishery to go spend more money on another permit and then they will be economically viable... Doesn't work, went down that road in other fisheries and all it does it set you up for higher volume crap prices.....come up with another one!!!! Your one of though's looking for a place to put that permit, hopefully the next guy you put it in sells it out from you...

Anonymous said...

3:19 PM. No I have not purchased another permit. I do however pay a fee for fishing another. The extra 50 fms does make a difference and for me is worth the cost. My deal is 10% of the permit value at the beginning of the season. So, this year my cost is $140k. My point is we all benefit when 2 permits are fished on one boat. I'm sure you could find an example but I personally do not know of any D boats that are not refrigerated. This provides an added benefit of more fish being harvested by boats committed to quality. Improved quality leads to higher prices. Permit consolidation benefits all whereas the benefit of building $800k boats is less diversified. The beauty of this business and country is we are free to make choices. If a guy wants an $800k boat that’s his/her choice. I am just saying that in addition we should support permit consolidation that is not structured as a fleet financed buy back.

Anonymous said...

When fishermen got paid $1.50 lb in 2013, BBRSDA was quick to take credit for themselves because of their hard work on promoting etc was the reason the price was up.

This season who is taking credit?

Anonymous said...

Sell your permits to Steve Sussman, Bruce Sanford, Parker Folse, and Phil Weidener. After all, they all promised you they were looking out for the fishermen, so make them prove it. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Before you go out fishing, halibut, grey cod, black cod, crab, etc...
They ALL give you some kind of starting price, right?
RIGHT?

Cook inlet know's how much they're getting paid in the beginning, so is prince william sound.

I think that's how it should be with Bristol Bay salmon also...
Don't you think???

Anonymous said...

Just read an old article: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-08-04/business/9103250599_1_bristol-bay-salmon-fishing-alaska-salmon

In 1991, strike moved price from .47 to .70 cents, but most interesting is the cause stated for the price drop from $2/lb a few years prior. Almost 25 years later "we" are still facing the same difficulties.... too much reliance on export markets by the processors (ie., too much Japanese control) and we are still losing market share to farmed salmon. BBRSDA is worthless in the marketing game, ASMI did a better job IMO ..... we fishermen need innovative processors and marketing from the fish buyers in the bay. We need "Bristol Bay" sockeye niche markets and more public awareness about the food that we eat (farmed, organic, natural, wild, etc...). I personally miss John Lowrance, who was the only processor that opened his financial books to fishermen. AGS (new leadercrekk) won't do it. SBS gives only limited access on their profit sharing plan. Trident, Icicle, Peter Pan, Ocean Beauty, et al., never have, never will. They ask or assume we will trust them each season with an "open ticket" and no commitment on a preseason price, even though it is well known that preseason sales are often, if not always, made with major Japanese buyers, but they won't even open up their books to show us the real costs/expenses/ revenues to justify the ex-vessel prices they pay at the end of the season or with their production/loyalty bonuses. It makes my stomach sick.

Hope the price comes up off of .50/lb soon or we will all feel like we should have stopped fishing for a week or more to get the price back up to at least .70 with a little solidarity. Where is the Aifma BBRSDA, BBDNA, UFA leadership? They all want our dues/taxes, but did the leaders have any clue as to WTF was/is going on with pricing?

Anonymous said...

Dual permits works great for me and definitely helps others, I agree with the previous post above, imagine 500 D boats eliminate 500 boats and 1,000 shackles of gear out of the water, now let say holding 2 permits under 1 holder and being legal as D boat, I guarantee another 500 permits would be bought back! This will definitely work as alternative to Permit Buy Back.

Maybe we should get Bruce Sanford and Phil Weidener involved to push this forward.

Anonymous said...

But, will that help us with the price, though.
I doubt that it will...

Anonymous said...

push hard 8/2/2015 @ 8:58 pm, i like the idea of doing away with the dual permit! 50 cents a pound , how many idiots are going buy that 750,000 dollar F/V? Better yet @ 50 cents a pound and no dual permit,the price of permits should tumble don't you think!a buy back shouldn't be so expensive. Locals should be able to buy in if they want . And the buyback cost would be shared by all , the price of fish would have go up too pay for it all!

Anonymous said...

Dual permits are going to help the 50 cent price? What is the reasoning behind that? More dual permit boats have rsw? What am I reading here, you guys are nuts, all dual permits say is catch more fish to make up for price, that doesn't work. There has to be a base price set before the season then we go from that point. If scabs go fishing one day later the rest of us come and don't worry your boat names will be written in mud on every cannery, bar, bunkhouse wall. That's how we fix the price and then the next year we do it all over again. We let way to many get away with it before and somehow most of them have been promoted to leadership roles within the industry, you know who you are and we all know who you are. Yes thanks you got us right here at 50 cents in 2015. This speal about dual permits is totally going the wrong way. All the permits, with all the boats means more buyers, more capacity and more competition. That's what the limited entry system was designed to do. Granted more permits got put in the mix from the state issuing more permits yet can't we use that to our advantage? If more boats and with the capacity we have shouldn't out side foreign processors be allowed. If we consolidate with dual permits we play into the hands of less competition both in processing and harvest. What is so wrong with all the permits being used, that's more jobs more people involved and more power to fight outside forces like pebble ( sorry to say the fight is still on ) oil interests which will always be on our doorstep and who knows what next. The short sightedness of consolidation is not the answer, bristol bay can handle the 1800 permits, the question to be asked is can we as fisherman handle 50 cents or the 75-80 cents to come. To solve the problem I feel we need the 1800 boats for 300-400 of them will need a market and the horrid companies we have controlling the bay today can't handle 1800 boats so possibly the state would have to open the doors to outside interests. Don't discount the number of permits, it could be a powerful weapon in our favor!

Anonymous said...

Ok, let's do the buyback and I'll also keep my dual permit, this is an awesome business plan!!

Anonymous said...

Why argue against permit consolidation in favor of improving price? Why not both? I agree with doing what we can to help raise the price but I also feel permit consolidation is necessary. Strikes and maintaining an adversarial relationship towards the processors has never been productive. You demand higher fish prices but favor keeping permit values low. Permit prices have always increase with increased fish prices. There is nothing sacred about keeping 1850 permits. Let's knock that number down buy allowing 2 in one name while maintaining efforts to raise the price. This will create a more valuable fishery for all.

As for locals,there are resources available for watershed residents but many fail to take advantage. Go to http://www.bbedc.com/ the first thing on the page is "Need a Fishing Permit"

Anonymous said...

Wrong! 1800 permits can't unite! can't strike/boycott period! Been tried too many times in Bristol Bay with little effort. Look at other salmon fisheries, everybody are united, attend meetings etc not Bristol Bay.

I bet it would be easier to unite people with less permits because the majority left would be the real business people and not like the guy commented above that is so negative about something so beneficial to many.

Stop talking about $.50 and $800,000 boats, dual permits etc. you'd be surprised how real business people do business, you may fish your single permit as long as you want since you don't see the benefit.

The only way fishermen in Bristol Bay will unite is for example: mandatory 1% tax for BBRSDA.

Same would work for permit buyback.

Anonymous said...

The facts are out, there are 80% of you in favor of the permit buyback.

There are just a few of you left squirming against.

Anonymous said...

Thank you 9:10! It's time to make this fishery more valuable for all involved. Reduce the number of permits AND! Continue with methods to improve price. Improving quality is number one on that list. Striking and writing non strikers name in the mud does nothing. Now, what's not so easy is ensuring processors pass on the increase to fishermen. We must have productive and meaningful dialog with our processors. If it means negotiating some ownership stake or becoming partners such as the Silver Bay model then so be it. 9:10 AM is spot on. There is no uniting 1800 permit holders. The real business fishermen understand this. We are outspoken about permit consolidation because the benefit is obvious.

Anonymous said...

What salmon district is united?

We couldn't unite Kodiak, to many in debt to processors or in over the heads barely making payments. Or chignik, there is a pinnacle of collective bargaining. 80 some odd permits, and I'd wager my first born that you could not scrape together enough support to strike even with less than 100 permits. To much greed, and way to much debt controlled by to few processors. Good luck buying enough permits back to get a united voice.....

Dual permits in one name is fine, every time someone with two retires, there is the possibility of two new entrants. The d point is moot on years when the run is smaller and the price is liveable.

The conversation has to focus on price, get the quality up, find someone willing to pay more. Maybe take the bbrsda 1% and use it to lobby for foreign floaters. Hookers and blow for your local senator is probably more beneficial long term then a retro wood gilnetter with rsw. Let's see if 1.7 billion chinamen can pony up for more than .50.

Anonymous said...

The buyback will keep the young people out of the fishery. We need to keep the prices of permits down so the new blood and the locals can keep fishing. A strike would just allow farm fish to take wild sockeyes spot in the market. Inviting in more processors and making it easier for new buyers to work in the bay may help. There is no easy answer here. Dual permits and bigger boats is just a race to the bottom because the costs are too much. Its better to have a paid for boat and permit(s)and keep the costs down.

Anonymous said...

The fleet can help increase value by improving quality. Very simply, if you can't afford RSW you shouldn't be in this or any other fishery. Setnet are legislated into existence, but unless they come up with something novel, the price they get should be much less than .15 under RSW.

But what do you do to get the processors to invest in modernization of plants and aggressive marketing. In the early 80s Icicle and then Trident turned the Bay upside down with their high volume freezer operations. Fish price responded by moving higher and higher. But today, Icicle is 20 years into a decline. Their boats and plants are uncompetitive trash. Tridents decline is just beginning. So who takes the processor group to new levels as Icicle and Trident did years ago? Lowrance is gone. AGS and Ocean Beauty are complacent and have a cannery mentality. Chaffee sold out and is now just part of a hapless Japanese company. Silver Bay is great, but more or less an exclusive club. So who will take the lead, and how do we force them to modernize and innovate as was done back in the 80s? Until there is positive movement from the processors, fish price will never be optimized.

Anonymous said...

The benifit of permit consolidation doesn't help younger fisherman getting involved and only takes opportunity away. So you talk of some kind of nagociations. That's what a union does and what AIFMA used to do. Damn right if a guy goes fishing when others don't his name should be written in mud, what you would rather shake his hand and say good job? This is the disconnect thinking of these posts. Price, price get it in your head, catching more doesn't make up the price, earlier posts on togiak herring are right on about that, in fact togiak herring is a perfect example of what your permit consolidation will bring. Less and less fisherman catching more and more volume trying to make up for the price. You have no solutions to the issue other than catch more fish. BBRSDA is going to save us? Come now, they don't even own a salmon to market, I think some need a lesson in business and a understanding that you are on the bottom of the chain of business. All this non United as fisherman is true but it isn't a death wish, with forward vision and people who will take away some of there own self serving interests bristol bay can unify and see a better price. The price needs to be based on a percentage of the wholesale price, that is where they use to start and not just any wholesale price put forward by japanese owned companies for these prices are manipulated. The state dept of labor needs to step in and fulfill it's obligation to the fishery and oversee price talks. That is how it's done!!!

Anonymous said...

Good luck getting good price in Bristol Bay, so many attempts by different organizations, nobody can't even get the canneries to post a price before fishing season.

Don't worry about the younger fishermen, they're smarter than you and I, smart enough to get a better career than this business.

Anonymous said...

Has any one really looked and seen the who is fishing Bristol Bay ? Its 80% over 55 years of age! How much longer are you really going to be able to fish Bristol Bay. The lower salmon run cycle is beginning again . Who are you going to sell this mega business Too? We need involvement from the younger generation. the owners of two permits can divide them up at any time. this does nothing for fleet reductions. the person that has to buy another permit probably has to buy the F/V with that permit! what the hell is suppose to do with the extra F/V? its just another expense.it doesn't matter if there it 1800 assholes or 2 assholes, there will always be a race for fish, and my idea is better than yours.Personally i like 8/2 @8:58, lets do 100 permits per trap. that would be 18 traps in the bay, five fishing district's would be 3.6 per district. Just think of the quality, get some Somliaian too do the work . sit on my ass and get a check like the owner of a crab permit!!!

Anonymous said...

Wake up you morons!!! You are all being fooled, this is all a conspiracy orchestrated by the companies involved with pebble mine. They want to drive the fishermen out of business to destroy the oposition. The whole thing is supported by the government and the defence industry. Pebble mine will be a huge source of rare earth minerals, which we need for weopons systems. Look it up.

Anonymous said...

Wes, Check out PWS pinks, they have caught 55 million pinks in the sound with a strong wild run, and big numbers in coming back to Valdez. Currently over a third of the salmon caught in the state this year have been caught by PWS seiners in the last month.

Anonymous said...

4:49 PM at 54 I guess I'm still one of the "younger generation" To answer your question "How much longer are you going to be able to fish Bristol Bay"? The answer is... 16 more years. That math works out to age 70. By maintaining equipment and keeping a good crew, my goal is very attainable. I know several that at over 70 are still competitive fishermen. Permits were $250 when I bought in. I didn't have any backing but I was fishing 8 months a year. In addition to BB I king crabbed and seined Southeast. My point is, if there's a will there's a way. The younger generation simply need to suck it up and go to work. This might even mean giving up Facebook and their cell phone for a few months. We don't need to keep permit prices down so they can afford one. Watershed residents have programs available if they want to buy in. None watershed residents can find ways to make it work. Strong permit prices are a result of a valuable fishery.

Anonymous said...

Page 104 adfg commercial salmon fishing regulations 2013-2016 selected state statutes
See. 16.10.280. Price disputes between fisherman and fish processors. In an area where a price dispute exists between at least one-third of the registered commercial fisherman for that area, as estimated by the Department of Fish and Game on the basis of information available to the department, and fish processors on the price to be paid for salmon, and no agreement has been reached up to 120 days before the opening of the salmon season in that area, a representative from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall intervene as mediator of the dispute upon request of either party.

We have until January 1st 2016 to get a price for next year then the state should step in, open up nagociations and help determine a base price that is workable for both sides. This is how it is done.

Anonymous said...

Hey August 4, 2015 at 4:49 PM, What is a "somliaian" do you mean Somalian? Before you go off on a racist diatribe a least get the spelling correct. BB doesn't need any more bigoted morons like you. Most likely your some latte sipping yuppie from California who worked in a bay cannery during his college days. How about you stop trying to relive your glory days and pretend to be something you’re not.

And by the way whats the deal with “it doesn't matter if there it 1800 assholes or 2 assholes” why are you so obsessed with fishermen’s assholes.

Leave this comment board to the real men and women who actually involved in the industry and post your freak comments elsewhere !

Anonymous said...

OK..... I look at Deckboss from time to time, but I think I might no be the only one that feels that it is inadequate in the day and age of social media, etc.... So, I just created a facebook page for Bristol Bay driftnetters only. It will be and will remain a private group for permit holders only to discuss and share bristol bay topics.

I am not a big facebook or social media fan, but it can be a much better media for driftnetters to share posts, news, etc.... I think and hope it might be a place where we can share price info, ideas, news, etc....

I will go through and invite some fishermen I know to join (it will be membership by invitation only and I will administer or delegate the administration to someone who is more facebook savy to confirm that each member is a current permit holder via cfec).

If you are a current permit holder and would like to join let me know via Bristol Bay Driftnetters Only on facebook.

thanks,

Erick Sabo, F/V Alsatia

Anonymous said...

cry baby useless comments with out state price neg.you will cont.to get sub $1.00 prices for abused fish and the like.ie faster boats overtowing round hauled shit more boats better fish big boats more drop outs =more waste d permits divide fleet to be more controled real fishermen were gentlemen with big balls respect given respect earned trustfund kids corporate thugs need to be shitcanned not one to cry my self but after this slap in the face 20+ yrs in who the fuck cares!!!!i wont let my kids join this f-n circus time to sell and just pull my own head out of my fucking ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your welcome buttjamm...

Anonymous said...

throw some more money at it . it still wont fix the problems #1 problem most d permit holders are a bunch of spineless assholes.yes the scabs from 91 are a big issue it let them know they don't have to pay for the fish because some donky dick will put them in for nothing.the race for fish is the problem.no buyback.thats a fantasy.dreams i want 2 permits then i'll want 300ftms and a bigger faster 42 footer and no transfers or emergentcy order management and planes what the fuck ever''you need to put in tons of fish to maybe get pennies on the dollar for them.how about 1800 boats a real union with real price negs. say feb 1st ten more ice plants line violations have a nice trip home see you next year. strike two your out for life auction permit to someone else proceeds to cost recovery lets think of some more shit to stir that no one wants to here.if we all stayed home we would lose the market to farm fish bullshit the demaned would go up.and lets see if some dip shit is worried about my spelling i;m a pissed off fishermen so f off your welcome butt jamm...

Anonymous said...

NOAA website July 27, 2015. Wholesale price frozen sockeye Tsukiji market
Sockeye frozen imported 1080-972 yen/kg. $1=124 yen. 1 Kg= 2.2 pounds.
Imported sockeye sells for $3.95-$3.56 per pound

www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/st1/market_news/japan-wholesale.txt

Climb back in your hole you bastards, you don't deserve the right to buy bristol bay sockeye

Anonymous said...

Seems like Bristol Bay Drifnetters may be a better solution besides Deckboss to discuss fishing, too many negative non business like comments here, I'd like to join your group on Facebook and read/talk about the real solutions, not like the 2 postings below from one individual.

Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, you need to sell out and convince your kids so they don't join this fishery, when you sell, it is very likely your permit will be used on a D boat because one big fast new boat with 2 permits made more money this season and the season before this and the other, you don't want to understand that consolidation works and it is no better time now for a permit buyback.

Regards

Anonymous said...

thats all you guys got !!! thats why we get shit for prices every year simpleton shit heads i wish they would close it down for endangered this or that and be done...then the fish wont matter and nobody makes a f in dime cry all you want tell your kids about the good ole days what ever works just dont forget to tell them we have all had our own heads up our asses.just keep giving them away and hope to get something for them later thats the norm i didnt go to higher education as a youngster not to hard to figure this one.will what are we gonna do?permit holders cant get shit done do the crews need to union up ?your welcome buttjamm

Anonymous said...

regards turd turd turd your part of that thinking too.have you ever heard of bait and switch .give us the fish well take care of you no worries here ...you will always get a great behind the backdoor deal but dont say anything to anyone that been shit on for years .were super exscluive kids im a suck ass it will work out trust me and you will get paid soon dont tell your friends.what a great deal ive got us this year .with are big season for a shit price .how long will that last ...the only way is one voice to be heard saying price price price 3.95 wholesale on july 27 pull your head out of there ass you need those guys in that shit boat next to you on the same side.we have been split and we have fallen.come togather or its more of the same open your fn eyes dipshit!!!bigger faster boats will always have the upper hand D permits need to go away how would this season look at 1.00 and say .25 around dec.1st with PRICE neg.on feb 1st no production bone up your ass's all fish worth the same except rsw bleeding etc.PRICE PRICE PRICE dipshit and knowing what it is so you can have some kind of plan for the upcoming season.someone found the info .lets use it time for change one voice your welcome buttjamm


Anonymous said...

go to facebook run and hide you fn pussys the truth hurts ..come on guys lets go were better than they are we dont need to here this .were gonna take our ball and go home!!! see wes spineless basturds thats why no fucking PRICE on the ticket right there...disscuss business ? quality ?ive heard enough people need to get one thing in there head one permit one boat one PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!you know who now your welcome

Anonymous said...

Ok Butt Jamm calm down! You're not making any sense, you're saying one thing over and over, sober up before you post anything else!

Anonymous said...

How about that 2.00 a pound fish you sold last year? even the TV show dumb ass's thought they were getting it.like tarans ''we need less boats'' yeah I have a fast jet boat still can't catch shit!! less boats no more price dumbass!!PRICE PRICE PRICE and nothing more except D permits gone!! all boats back!!

Anonymous said...

You BB guys are a bunch of bitches. We all took a hit this year, and you don't see a bunch of crying from the PWS, Kodiak, Chignik, or SE guys.

One of you guys even named himself Buttjamm?

Anonymous said...

an who are you mr.common cents?tell me to sober up save yourself you know its the same no matter what. #1 PRICE on the ticket #2 no D permits #3 more local and younger oppertunity #4 some real marketing efforts #5 management of the fishery...and dont ever think that scabs didnt hang our ass's out to dry... thats how we ended up here in turd bay trying to find a paddle... glad to have some fun and share some of my views not many will comment. hope some will read does it really matter when its all just pure human GREED so why waste ones time... take & _uck seafoods may i hump...i mean..may i help you? WHAT? you want to sell some fish? sorry we get what we want oh i mean need or take whatever you want to call it pretty much for FREE!!! so why would anyone be upset were here to take your fish and give not one shit if its red blood you pee ha ha poet didnt know it... sorry i must be drunk!buttjamm.

Anonymous said...

Some know who buttjamm is what you have a halo ... we all take hits at least he signs with something.how about any bay fishermen identify who they are oh that's right you might get black listed big f-n deal! if you don't fish the bay stfu the price in the bay doesn't affect your prices.you just buy into the bullshit!hats off to the only fishermen that put his name and boat on here but didn't say much other than he wanted to go to Facebook 2016 is going to be huge so lets get started on figuring out how to fish for less.come on you know we've been making way to much all along... funny how everyone just lies there and takes it I can't wait to go back.

Anonymous said...

How come Kodiak doesn't have a dual permit? aren't they a little over rich with permits?don't see them asking for a buy out, must be that there OK with the way it is. PWS is just going half to quit hatching so much fish! Chignik needs more processing capacity, and it isn't coming from Chuck! S.E. , well alot of pinks and no price, going to take some time to pay for that buy back. As for buttjamm that happens when you get in the rear for so long.

Anonymous said...

That's right taking it! wish he would just shut the hell up with his nonexistent truths he's reved up over nothing.the bay was just fine this year! lots of fish and a fair price what more do you want? buy a bigger boat and a d permit you'll be just fine.I was ...

Anonymous said...

Why get the bigger boat, just get the D permit and fish. Even a few Rawson's delivered 20,000 lb. deliveries. It's obvious that 50 cents was plenty. Buttjamm obviously spent his 50 cents at the liquor store. At least the younger fleet building a processor and buying tender loads from Bundrant at .25 cents a lb. is the best new model. Wait till he passes that savings clause on to his fleet.

You gotta love the new kids on the block showing the old geezers how to process fish, all that new technology can be confusing to the old washed out Seattle Seven.

WTF's wrong with 50 cents, this fleet fished for 40 back when inflation was running at less than 1%, the yen was thru the roof, and Murkowski Stevens and Young were still playing golf with the Seattle Seven.

Who bought Murkowski a new set of golf clubs, and since when did wild fish need a farm fish USDA subprime marketing committee from the same old bankrupt Alaska Congressional Delegation?

Unlimited Ignorance, from the fleet on limit. You gotta admit, fishing with half the fleet stuck in the sand, because they fish for companies who can't keep up, is the best buyback for the cheapest costs ever before seen.

The self imposed buyback. The Limited Entry's Acts Finest Hour, after one certain fishery that never had Limited Entry, and their processors put their fleets again on Limit?

I LOVE Bristol Bay, and the ignoramuses that think their fishing, until their market suspends buying all together…some days it's even better! Peter Pan hired Hillary Clinton once upon a time. She was fired three days later, just in case you haven't been fishing more than 32 minutes.

32 braincells couldn't be wrong! Then you can use your refrigeration system at least to keep the booze cold.


Anonymous said...

To, Aug 13 at 8:02am
So, if they would be paying .25 cents, you still be ok?

Anonymous said...

Lets go pebble mine! shut down bay and the rest of us get paid more

Anonymous said...

Well 4:03, if one could even read in Bristol Bay…the Alaska Limited Entry Act is also part of Article 8, called a State Constitution?

For a penny's worth of copper, just read about the failing Alaska Education System

§ 11. Mineral Rights
Discovery and appropriation shall be the basis for establishing a right in those minerals reserved to the State which, upon the date of ratification of this constitution by the people of Alaska, were subject to location under the federal mining laws. Prior discovery, location, and filing, as prescribed by law, shall establish a prior right to these minerals and also a prior right to permits, leases, and transferable licenses for their extraction. Continuation of these rights shall depend upon the performance of annual labor, or the payment of fees, rents, or royalties, or upon other requirements as may be prescribed by law. Surface uses of land by a mineral claimant shall be limited to those necessary for the extraction or basic processing of the mineral deposits, or for both. Discovery and appropriation shall initiate a right, subject to further requirements of law, to patent of mineral lands if authorized by the State and not prohibited by Congress. The provisions of this section shall apply to all other minerals reserved to the State which by law are declared subject to appropriation.

Drop out's? There not just in your Net!

http://www.indiancountrynews.com/news/19-educational-news-and-programs/5120-alaskas-high-school-dropout-rate-outpaces-national-average

Anonymous said...

Has the reality of 50 cents took hold yet? Is any more is coming? possibly next June or July you will get some, that's nice of them. And to read the posts above, what a shame, one guy even says its a fair price at 50 cents. What rock does he live under for he must be a caveman. Good old buttjam seems to say it how it is yet others rip on him instead of having ideas. Oh and bristol bay driftnetters, aren't they the ones during the strike in 1991 who's leader stood in front of 1000 fisherman telling all to not fish, then the following day he slipped out in the dark and layed out his net, fine quality people we have with that bunch. Good luck bristol bay, your going back to the dark ages of the early 2000's.
What a group sad very sad.

Anonymous said...

1,800 drifters and only 7 buyers, ask yourselves who controls the price?

Buyers were overwhelmed with fish, closed the canneries while fish were still hitting nets, nobody even wants to buy silvers. Fishermen want to do something about higher grounds price but there is nothing they can do because the buyers have the upper hand in setting prices, nobody knows what the grounds price is until the end of the season, each season, for decades. There seems to be a law to post the grounds price prior to the season but nothing is done.

Fishermen are blaming each other (see comments above) and can't unite, history tells fishermen can do very little to improve grounds price, RSW, ice etc haven't done much for fishermen, buyers maybe.

With this years double run in the Bay expect next season to be even worse, smaller run and worse grounds price.

Anonymous said...

It looks like the whole world is going back to the dark ages.

Anonymous said...

14 is not 7 buyers in the Bay 1:16. Many buyers were NOT overwhelmed with fish. Just look at the few who HANDLED THEIR FLEETS CAPACITY?

Like AGS, Silver Bay, Ocean Beauty...? Overwhelmed means you fished for an outfit that has too many boats. Figure it out; it's simple math, but then again 7+7=14, NOT 7, did you attend Dillingham Public Schools?

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) completed a survey of 14 salmon processors that are intending to buy sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Bristol Bay during the 2015 season…"

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/FedAidPDFs/SP15-12.pdf

Even extended run timing confuses quite a few majors. When you schizoid it's required.

““I’ve been in Bristol Bay for 35 years,” Chester said. “Bristol Bay is the most schizoid place in the world. Very rarely does it happen like they say it’s going to happen.”
There’s no way in Bristol Bay we could handle this big a run that comes in compressed,” he said. “If the run comes in early and stays late, we could. But if the run comes in hard, there’s no question that every cannery in Bristol Bay will be on limit.”
Matt Chester; Trident.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/June-Issue-3-2015/Bristol-Bay-sockeye-volume-needed-to-offset-lower-price/

Every cannery was NOT on limit, just ask any production managers wife about the run coming in soft, long, and extended? When you can't keep up, call your Doctor he may have a pill that couldn't help these canneries keep it up no matter how large the dose given.

Anonymous said...

I have read the posts here and have a few comments:

1. The "open ticket" practice, i.e., investing your capital and labor, and delivering your product in return for an undetermined price unilaterally conveyed (not offered) by the processors at the end of the season involves a business practice of unparalled one-sidedness that does not seem to exist in any other industry. It does not even seem to meet the requirements of a valid contract, i.e., you work for/sell to us and we agree to pay you what we later determine to the price.

2. Other than anecdotal evidence of market conditions, there are no agreements or systems in place to judge or measure the good faith of the hindsight practice (a "reasonable" price based on our costs and a "reasonable" profit margin based on the markets), as the books are closed and secret. This practice serves to shift risk to the fishermen.

2. It appears all processors somehow announce about the same time, near the end of the season, the same base price. How does that happen? What dynamics exist in the market which prevent prices from being announced at the outset of a season, and adjusted daily as information regarding supply and wholesale prices evolves?announcements at the start of the season

3. These practices seem to be the result of a total lack of competition among the processors for the product, with no free market for the goods (fish) on a day to day basis. The entry of Silver Bay seems to have created some competition for fishermen (producers), and maybe, temporarily raised prices.

4. It is, of course, a capital intensive business, in a very remote location, for a commodity product. The processors need to plan ahead for anticipated production, and do this by constructing their own fleets. They do provide important services, including financing (draws). And though there is no agreed price before you make a delivery, there is something else of great importance. As a fisherman you need a guaranty to buy what you catch. No market and you are dead in the water, no? So the processors control the supply in large part by controlling their fleets.

Face it, Bristol Bay is about as far from a "free and competitive market" for the commodity product as one might imagine. Reducing competition among fishermen (double permits; retiring permits) is seen as one solution. The other side of the coin is to increase competition among processors for fishermen and the product. This I leave to someone else's Phd dissertation.

Anonymous said...

with the current price do we become true fools for next year?find a crew that will work for nothing 100,000lbs ''50 CENTS'' ...50k- 20kexp- 3crewmembers@10% 3k each for 45 day trip? GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE...100,000lbs@ $1.25 125k 20k exps 105k @10% $10.500

Anonymous said...

Go into Naknek Trading, or any other store and ask the hay shaker if you could eat the groceries, and then decide what you would pay for them 6 months later?

I've been looking for these salmon on the commodities market, back when that term was first used by a bunch of scabs for Trident.

What commodities market these fish are on 3:47? I've looked on every commodities market in every corner of the world, and I have yet to see Salmon on ANY commodities market in ANY country?

Past or Future! Like #2 Cotton? I guess it just depends on what the meaning of the word commode even means.

http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/cotton.aspx

Anonymous said...

King salmon from the Columbia river, i have heard has been between $2.75 and 3.25 a pound.
Live beef cattle at the market are being offered $2.22 a pound in Montana, some ranchers are saying no to this price and wanting more.
Fraser river Sockeye run is a bust, the fishermen have to throw them over board when fishing for pinks!
Small fish in Bristol Bay ( small fish ,big run),but not as small as last year!
How many pounds of 2015 Bristol Bay Sockeyes were put into the can? What is the actual pounds of frozen 2015 Bristol Bay Sockeye.
Seafood news 8/12/2015 says that Fresh/frozen fillets was 17,000 tons,Canned was 29,750 tons , dressed( H/G?) was34,000 tons. ADFG Bristol Bay salmon season summary (9/1/2015)says there more Sockeye than this report says.
Why is there still last years frozen Bristol Bay sockeye on the market? Isn't there a sell date,maybe there should be! I'm sure the customer that bought those weren't happy. The one that i see in supermarket aren't cheap at all ( under current news 9/25/2015) , and you can see the freezer burn, why would they buy them at those prices?
August 5, 2015 how many cases of Sockeye salmon were purchased by the USDA ? Was it one case or all of it?Is there going to be any trickle down effect? Or did it just go for a campaign contribution?
For the people that were all in favor of the 50 cent, well you are either the processor, or puppet's for the processors or you own a Seine boat and thought you can make it in volume @ $0.04 cents a pound for pinks and $0.12 cents for RSW, that's good business !
Salmon aren't on the commodities market, pork belly's ,beef and just about everything else is.
When is the last time that you seen a commercial promoting Alaska seafood on discovery channel when "Deadlylist Catch"is on? There is a following of people world wide! What the hell have they been doing /not much!Probably couldn't fine a Sockeye salmon east of Denver.
As for currency rate it just like everything else,
https://rtuc.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/criminal-manipulation-of-currencies-for-private-gain/.
Criminal Manipulation of Currencies for Private Gain:
Posted on June 10, 2015 by RTUC Blog. Banks’ Guilty Pleas Underscore Necessity for New Direction for the Economy.
Too big /to small, wrong year. it's aways something! I thought "Tokyo Rose" was dead!

Anonymous said...

we need all permit holders to join in the discussions, etc...

Bristol Bay Permitholders on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1609391269322929/

Anonymous said...

I'm a permit holder in Bristolbay an I attended a sept. Pcod meeting in Homer an the cannery managers stated at that time the bbay prices were goin to be .50 cents before any forecasts were submitted so ask yourself where do they come up with those prices especially they bought less fish nation wide this year than last year so that makes all fisherman look like pussies. Instead of arguing with each other we have to work together to overcome this filth/greed/and power hungry corporations when bbay prices were. 40 cents canneries made their all time record income 10 fold as it was stated in the news an now we're in the same situation in a few month their going to throw a bonus at us so we keep our mouths shut but the only way to win we have to put our differences behind us an work together that is the only way to win either a bay wide coop or something similar or maybe sue bbrsda aifma for not doing their job. If you look at peril harbor Twin Towers an imagine why would someone do that. It is set up to create fear hatred that blinds us while they overtake the last of the rights an power that we have an bring more suffering upon ourselves an blaming someone that we don't know but the real power comes from united people not world peace the only way we can fix this corruption is to work together. Go to the government an demand foreign buyers if the local canneries appose make them sign a contract that we get no less than $2.00 a pound cause that's what we deserve

Anonymous said...

I posted the no free market comment. Gave this some more thought as to what the effects of processor control mean. By paying $.50 base instead of, say, $.80 (based on record run and small fish size, etc.), processors collectively saved about $35 million (35 million fish at 5 lbs each times .30). On the other hand, permits had dropped from $175,000 to $140,000 in contemplation of a whisper number of $.65-80 per pound. Now heading to $115,000 per permit, or lower? Economic effect of the system permitting $.50 base and decision to implement it on the providers: 1800 permits x $25,000 (arguably more) = $45,000,000. Add to this less capital invested in RSW, flush decks, needed safety upgrades, etc. Solution - large fall adjustment.
When I got home, local Costco selling fresh (presumably BB) sockeye fillets for $9.99. Middle men did not get it all, and would suggest processors did not take a haircut on wholesale prices even close to haircut they imposed on their producers, the fishermen.

Unknown said...

It's time for a Fisheries War! A declaration of All Alaskans, and Americans to make. Companies like Trident and their Tyranny business practices needs to be put in their place, and that is swiftly booted out of Alaska. They waste Alaska's resources and the people who's lives depend on it.
A standard bare minimum price needs to be established for salmon such as $3lb Sockeye, to $.80lb for pinks, you can imagine the other species.
It's 2015!!!!!!! Next year is 2016, and if anyone fishes for lower prices ever again, it's the extinction of the Fisherman and their livelihood..
Time for change not fishing for it! It's War, so results are made and remembered. Just open your history books and look at what's repeating? Fisherman, Family, Villages, Communities, ADFG, CFEC, CFAB etc!! All are being ripped off by these low salmon prices!
It's a call out for Trident to be the scape goat of that Corporate Corruption doesn't fly in Alaska!
---Chignik Permit holder F/V Mutiny

Unknown said...

I remember the 91 strike a little differently than you do "strike poster". My family had sunk a lot of money into the season already and suddenly we here that AIFMA wants us to strike (we're set netters). We had a great niche market lined up and we didn't want to. We got stopped on the tundra road by drifters with shotguns, we got shot at on our boats and eventually we got an anonymous letter from some drifter asshole threatening to burn our cabins down and "shoot down the children as they come running out".

It's not fair to ask the locals to strike either, most of us go home to our summer jobs down south, the locals don't (by and large). We need more processors in the bay to break this price fixing, we also need to know what the processors are making on the roe. Keep in mind that this used to be a "trash fishery" before Copper River did it's thing. The processors were making most of their money on roe, then they found a way to make money on the flesh as well but our prices go down?!