Circle's salmon barge makes ready

Circle Seafoods, based in Aberdeen, Washington, last week released this photo of its first processing barge, the Circle I. Construction is nearing completion, and the barge plans to sail June 9 for the Southeast Alaska fishing season, the company said.

Floaters begin to multiply

Circle's second barge

This past salmon season saw a notable twist in Bristol Bay with the entry of a new floating processor, the Hannah, from Bellingham-based Northline Seafoods.

The processor is the first in an emerging class of freezer barges whose developers say will revolutionize the fishing industry by improving efficiency, fish quality, and prices.

A second company, Circle Seafoods, based in Aberdeen, Washington, has been building its own freezer barge, and this week announced the purchase of a second barge for conversion as a fish processor.

This second barge is "even bigger and badder" than the first, measuring nearly 500 feet long, the company said. The barge currently is named Mineral Creek.

Circle is targeting the 2025 salmon season in Southeast Alaska for its barge debut. The company is inviting seiners to join its efforts.

Northline barge at 'reduced capacity' after fire

Here's a press release with further details.

Freezer barge proposal to BBRSDA fizzles

Details in this update.

A big week

This is a big week in Alaska fisheries.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting in Sitka. Janet Coit, head of the National Marine Fisheries Service, is expected to be there.

And the board of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association is meeting tomorrow in Dillingham on a proposed $15 million processing venture (the Circle Seafoods freezer barge proposal).

A Bristol Bay processing proposal

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association has posted much more detail regarding the organization's possible plunge into the processing business.

"Circle Seafoods is proposing to partner with BBRSDA on a project that would entail the RSDA funding, financing and owning a $15M freezer barge and leasing that out to Circle under a long-term lease agreement," the association says.

A new processor in Bristol Bay?

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, which represents driftnet fishermen, is thinking about jumping into the processing game.

That's the sound of it, at least, based on this teaser the organization posted today.