Personnel file

The governor today announced the nomination of Rachel Baker, of Juneau, to the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

Baker is deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. She presumably would replace sportfishing lodge owner Richard Yamada on the IPHC.

The governor also announced the reappointment of Jack Schultheis to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute board of directors. Schultheis is general manager of Kwik'pak Fisheries.

Bristol Bay heats up

Bristol Bay fishermen already have taken more than 10 million sockeye, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

A gigantic catch is expected this season, based on the state's preseason forecast.

Council picks confirmed

The U.S. Department of Commerce today confirmed Gov. Mike Dunleavy's picks for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

106,900 treaty Chinook up for grabs July 1

Here's the announcement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Peter Pan again sets the pace

For the second consecutive season, a major Bristol Bay salmon processor is posting ex-vessel prices before the bulk of the harvest is in, not after.

Peter Pan Seafood, a few days ago, posted a base price of $1 per pound for sockeye. Today, we have word the company is sweetening its price to $1.15.

Here's a statement from Jon Hickman, vice president of operations:

The reason we make early starting price announcements is to intentionally put the fleet at ease with a starting point so that they know they will receive a fair price for the long hours and hard work they are about to endure participating in the world's largest sockeye fishery.

So once again, Peter Pan was the first out with a price in Bristol Bay for the 2022 season. After posting an initial starting price last week, we've already increased the starting price to $1.15 as a testimonial to our belief in a valued partnership with the Bristol Bay fishing fleet. We will continue to evaluate the fishery and the market with the hope that price can move up as this possible record Bristol Bay season progresses.

Cook Inlet reopening

In a huge ruling issued today, a judge has vacated Amendment 14, which closed the federal waters of Cook Inlet to commercial salmon fishing.

A pink plague on the Emerald Isle?

Here's a very interesting article out of Ireland regarding the spread of Pacific pink salmon.