Calling out Copper River salmon fishermen

Federal officials came out today with some pointed counsel: "Do not kill or injure seals and sea lions and harm the good name of your world-class fishery."

Bristol Bay price mediation?

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association says it has developed a petition to have the state of Alaska initiate price mediation between fishermen and processors.

Four reported safe after seiner capsizes at Kodiak

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak

Type: Rescue

On 7/22/23, at 12:50 p.m., Alaska Wildlife Troopers became aware of a commercial seine vessel that had capsized in Whale Passage, with four people onboard. Troopers responded to the scene and contacted the four occupants of the vessel, as well as residents of a nearby lodge, who saw the vessel shortly after it capsized and were able to render aid. When the vessel capsized, the skipper was in the wheelhouse and the crew was in the main cabin. The crew estimated they were trapped for approximately three minutes before they were able to escape the inverted vessel. They were then able to get aboard their seine skiff, which had remained upright. They all declined medical attention and appeared to have received only minor cuts and bruises. Another fishing vessel volunteered to tow the seiner to shallow water, by a nearby beach, and secure it. The four crewmembers of the seiner were transported to Kodiak aboard the P/V Cama'i.

Price protest

Bristol Bay radio station KDLG reports the following:

Fishermen are planning to stage a protest in the Naknek River entrance on Thursday, July 20. Organizers say they will anchor from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. across the river entrance to oppose the low price from processors.

Bristol Bay prices take a tumble

Processors have begun posting their prices for Bristol Bay sockeye salmon.

One major company, Peter Pan, provided this statement:

The Peter Pan Seafood price for sockeye is set at $0.50 per pound plus up to $0.30 in quality incentives. Peter Pan is also offering a late season bonus for sockeye. Effective July 18, 2023, there will be a $0.20 per pound late season bonus.

The IntraFish news service reports Trident Seafoods is offering a base price of 50 cents per pound, and another company, North Pacific Seafoods, has matched the price.

A base price of 50 cents represents a tremendous tumble from last year, when Bristol Bay produced a record harvest of more than 60 million sockeye. The average price in 2022 was $1.15 per pound, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says.

All the salmon from last year would appear to have depressed prices this season.

This year's catch currently stands at 33.6 million sockeye.

Bristol Bay update

The Bristol Bay sockeye salmon catch has surpassed 27 million fish, with big daily hauls still coming in.

Yesterday produced a catch of more than 2.5 million sockeye, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

With fishing that strong, we won't be surprised to see the bay reach or exceed the preseason harvest forecast of 36.7 million.

By district, the Nushugak District leads with nearly 10 million sockeye, with the Egegik District at 8.4 million and the Naknek-Kvichak District at 7.7 million.

We still have no reports on what processors intend to pay for sockeye. We imagine fishermen aren't too pleased about that.

In the hatch

The first opener of the Southeast Alaska summer troll fishery closes at midnight tonight, with the fleet expected to reach the full quota of 77,100 Chinook.

Salmon notes

Once again, Bristol Bay is producing a healthy harvest of sockeye salmon.

Through the weekend, the total commercial catch stood at more than 21.5 million sockeye.

It appears the fishery has peaked, and now we wait to see if the fleet can meet or exceed the preseason harvest forecast of 36.7 million sockeye.

Last year, of course, produced a record-setting 60.1 million sockeye.

The Alaska State Troopers have been busy writing tickets for alleged fishing violations in Bristol Bay. We're tracking the action on our sister blog The Brig.

Elsewhere, the state Department of Fish and Game is testing new setnet gear in Upper Cook Inlet with the goal of avoiding Chinook catches in the sockeye fishery.