Salmon notes

• A major Bristol Bay fish processor, Trident Seafoods, is paying a base price of 95 cents a pound for sockeye, Dillingham radio station KDLG reports. That compares to a Bristol Bay average of 89 cents in 2024.

• Bristol Bay's Nushagak District has netted a strong sockeye catch this season. "Harvest in the district is at 15.9 million, the fourth-largest harvest for the Nushagak District ever, but harvest has slowed and fishermen are pulling boats and ending their seasons," the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reported Friday.

• Fish and Game provided new details on a reported fuel spill at Chignik: "Leaking fuel in the Chignik Lagoon due to a capsized seiner caused the commercial opener on Sunday, July 13, to be prematurely closed in the Chignik Bay District. The fishery was able to reopen on Tuesday, July 15."

Nonprofit sues Trident alleging Anacortes pollution

Here's the lawsuit filed in federal court in Seattle.

Trident, Silver Bay land USDA pollock contracts

Here's the announcement.

Bart Eaton crosses the bar

Bart Eaton, who died Dec. 14, was "an icon in the Alaska fishing industry," says this remembrance from Trident Seafoods.

A done deal in Kodiak

Pacific Seafood has completed its acquisition of Trident's Kodiak processing operations. Here's a press release.

Farewell to a famous boat

A page from Trident's history book featuring the crabber Bountiful. Wesley Loy photo

An Alaska fishing vessel instrumental in the early development of seafood titan Trident Seafoods has new ownership.

"Yes, I can confirm that Shelford Fisheries purchased the Bountiful on Sept. 20," Trident's Alexis Telfer tells Deckboss.

The Bountiful is prominent in "Catching a Deckload of Dreams," a book on the history of Trident.

Trident founder Chuck Bundrant and his partners had the 165-foot boat built on the Ohio River in Indiana.

"Launched in 1978, the Bountiful was the second in a new generation of catcher-processors, designed to harvest, cook, and freeze king crab right aboard the vessel," the book says.

State records indicate a current value of $2 million for the Bountiful, which is expected to take part under its new ownership in this season's Alaska crab fisheries.

Trident to deal Kodiak plant to Pacific Seafood

Here's the press release.

Trident proposes trawl experiment

According to this agency letter, Trident Seafoods is applying to test trawl gear designs that "aim to minimize seafloor contact when targeting pollock."

Trident names Microsoft man as COO

Here's the press release.

Silver Bay to acquire Trident's False Pass plant

Here's the press release.

CEOs discuss the salmon situation

National Fisherman has published interviews with the chief executives of three leading Alaska salmon processors.

The CEOs offer their takes on the 2024 season and challenges facing the industry.

Silver Bay Seafoods CEO Cora Campbell

OBI Seafoods CEO John Hanrahan

Trident Seafoods CEO Joe Bundrant

Trident to continue Kodiak operations

Trident Seafoods today announced it would continue operating its Kodiak processing plant through "B" season for pollock, an important Gulf of Alaska fishery.

The announcement helps allay anxiety over the status of the plant, which Trident is attempting to sell as part of a company restructuring.

"We're currently in the middle of sale negotiations for Kodiak," Trident CEO Joe Bundrant said.

The potential buyer remains confidential.

Trident closes sale of Ketchikan plant to Silver Bay

Here's the press release.

Trident completes sale of its Petersburg plant

Here's the press release.

End of the line for the Kodiak Enterprise

Readers will recall the terrible fire aboard the factory trawler Kodiak Enterprise while moored at Tacoma on April 8, 2023. Pacific Fishing magazine reported on the fire in its May 2023 issue (see Page 7).

The damage seemed extensive, but we didn't hear much about the ultimate fate of the 262-foot Kodiak Enterprise, among the largest of all U.S. fishing vessels.

Now we have some additional details. Bottom line: The Kodiak Enterprise is done.

Court papers filed recently in a federal air pollution case involving Trident say the fire resulted in a total loss of the vessel, and it won't ever be used again.

On Dec. 20, 2023, Trident certified that the Kodiak Enterprise had been "permanently rendered inoperable," the court papers added.

To our knowledge, a National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the fire continues.

E.C. Phillips to acquire Trident's Petersburg plant

Here's the press release.

Silver Bay to acquire Trident's Ketchikan plant

Here's the press release.

Trident update

Trident Seafoods says it's close to finalizing sales of its Petersburg, Ketchikan and False Pass plants.

The company also is "speaking with multiple interested buyers" for its Kodiak plant.

"Even if we don’t close a deal by this summer, Trident will still provide a market for salmon season in Kodiak," a company executive says.

More details here.

'The true cost of cheap seafood'

Joe Bundrant, CEO of Seattle-based processing company Trident Seafoods, addresses a seafood worker scandal in China.

Unalaska's power plans

With a proposed geothermal power project going nowhere fast, the city of Unalaska is now considering new diesel generation to support the planned Trident Seafoods processing plant.

Read about it in this city manager's memo.