A big boost for Cook Inlet EEZ sockeye

The National Marine Fisheries Service has published a total allowable catch of 800,126 sockeye for this year's Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone salmon fishery.

That's well above last year's TAC of 492,100 sockeye.

This will be the second season fishing in the EEZ will operate under federal management, not state.

Efforts continue to salvage burned car carrier

The fire-damaged cargo ship Morning Midas, laden with electric and other vehicles, remains disabled in the North Pacific, with a difficult mission still ongoing to salvage the vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard posted this update Monday on X:

Yesterday, tug Garth Foss took over the tow of the Morning Midas (350 mi SW Adak) & is controlling vessel's movement, awaiting arrival of long-range towing vessel in about a week. No signs of smoke, flames, flooding, or pollution.

Tug Gretchen Dunlap previously responded to the scene.

Photos of the Morning Midas show the vessel scorched pretty much from bow to stern.

The fire was first reported on June 3 aboard the 600-foot ship.

Here's a news account on the gCaptain website.

Salmon notes

Here are observations from the young salmon season so far.

• Action is picking up across Alaska, with anticipation building for the big Bristol Bay fishery. The statewide harvest just clicked over 1 million salmon, with most coming from the Prince William Sound region including the Copper River. You can track the catch on the Blue Sheet.

• Speaking of the Copper River, the sockeye catch stands at about 274,000 fish, which lags the 20-year average for this date of 595,000. Measures to conserve the weak Chinook run have constrained the sockeye fishery. But fishermen are still getting openers, with the Copper River District opening today for a 12-hour driftnet fishing period.

Beware the bolts

We're not sure if lightning is ever a concern for Alaska fishermen, but we'll note that June 22-28 is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

Have you ever encountered lightning while fishing in Alaska waters? If so, please tell us about it in the comments section!

The governor's fish vetoes

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy yesterday signed the new state budget, but vetoed some significant spending.

A couple of fish-related items were affected.

First, Dunleavy chopped a $10 million appropriation for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute to $5 million.

He also nixed $800,000 for completion of the South Peninsula king salmon genetics study.

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Silver Bay's plans

Petersburg radio station KFSK has an interesting interview with Cora Campbell, CEO of fast-growing processor Silver Bay Seafoods.

Council starved for cash?

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council says it will hold its October meeting by webinar, rather than in person in Anchorage, due to funding uncertainty.

Update on the ship fire south of Adak

Here's a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard on the response to the car carrier Morning Midas abandoned, ablaze and adrift in the North Pacific.

Salmon snapshots

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has released the 2025 outlook for all five species of commercially harvested salmon — sockeye, pink, chum, coho and Chinook.

Circle Seafoods barge set to sail for Southeast

Circle Seafoods, of Aberdeen, Washington, issued this statement today regarding its newly built processing platform:

Circle I, the first floating salmon processor, freezer and transportation barge of Circle Seafoods, is scheduled to sail from Aberdeen to Metlakatla, Alaska in time to support the peak of the Southeast Alaska Salmon season.

The barge will buy and freeze salmon in Metlakatla during the 2025 season. After salmon is frozen, it is held in the barge’s cold storage area at ultra low temperatures or shipped out of Alaska in ultra low temperature containers.

The sailing of Circle I is a massive milestone in our journey to shape the future of wild seafood. A huge thank you goes out to our construction and production teams, industry partners, and the communities of Aberdeen and Metlakatla for their contributions in getting us to this point.

For more on the company's planned operations this season at Metlakatla, check out this press release.

Washington watch

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, says she secured a pledge from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to "convene a meeting with Alaska seafood stakeholders on trade issues with Russia and ways the administration can help bolster the industry."

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, and colleagues have introduced legislation to reauthorize the Young Fishermen's Development Act.

Coast Guard news

Here are some interesting items from the U.S. Coast Guard.

• The Coast Guard responded to a ship fire about 300 miles south of Adak. All 22 crewmembers safely abandoned the 600-foot vessel laden with thousands of vehicles including some EVs.

• The new cutter Storis departed on her maiden voyage.

• To help boost recruiting, the Coast Guard is giving youth the chance to take "orientation flights" aboard its aircraft. "Exposure to Coast Guard Air Operations is sure to inspire and energize potential recruits by offering a rare opportunity to fly alongside our nation's top aviators, flight mechanics, and rescue swimmers," said a Coast Guard bulletin sent today.