Plenty of capacity, processors say

A new survey indicates Bristol Bay processors will have more than enough capacity to handle this year's projected sockeye harvest.

Bristol Bay processors: We can handle 'em

Salmon processors say they can handle the 28.5 million sockeye gillnetters are expected to catch this summer at Bristol Bay.

And more.

That's the upshot of the Department of Fish and Game's annual processing capacity survey.

Near as Deckboss can remember, the processors always say they have enough capacity to deal with Bristol Bay's sockeye hordes.

But much depends on how evenly the salmon enter the fishing grounds.

The survey indicates the processors collectively can handle a little over 2 million fish per day.

If the run is heavy and catches exceed that level, especially on consecutive days, processors often must limit their purchases until they can work the excess fish through their plants.

This, in turn, can set off howls of protest from fishermen asked to sit idle just when the fish are running thickest. To them, it's money swimming up the river.

Anyway, for more details, read the survey. It's a quick eight pages.

Bristol Bay processors again say they're ready

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game today came out with its processor capacity survey for the upcoming Bristol Bay salmon season.

As usual, the processors say they're prepared to handle a full harvest.

The state is forecasting a run big enough to support a commercial catch of 30.5 million sockeye. Surveyed processors said they're prepared to purchase and process more than that — 31.6 million sockeye.

But fishermen still might face delivery limits or shutdowns if the fish lump in unevenly, plugging the plants, the survey indicates.

This has been a major sore spot with gillnetters in recent seasons, with some accusing the processors of failing to plan adequately.

A couple of other interesting notes from the survey:

• Processors project a 6 percent decrease in tendering capacity in the bay this summer.

• Air transport of fish is expected to increase.

Bristol Bay last summer yielded a harvest of 30.9 million sockeye.

Bristol Bay update: Sockeye run really surging now

Bristol Bay fishermen caught 1.83 million sockeye on Sunday.

That's slightly above the 1.8 million fish per day processors told the state they could handle this year at maximum capacity.

Sunday's catch was also the third consecutive day we've seen catches in excess of 1 million fish.

Obviously, the salmon run is really surging now so I'm not surprised to see processors impose buying limits, as we reported earlier today.

The total catch through Sunday is 8.2 million sockeye.

Beware July 2-3 at Bristol Bay

A recurrent problem at Bristol Bay is lack of processing capacity when the sockeye run thick. Plugged plants shut down to clear the glut of fish while angry fishermen sit on the beach with their nets drying in the breeze.

In an effort to predict these capacity crunches, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has come out with a newfangled forecast of what the daily sockeye harvest will be this year, not just the season harvest.

The department also estimates the likelihood of processing capacity being exceeded on any given day.

The analysis is based on run timing data from 1956 through 2008.

It shows a 30 to 50 percent probability of catches exceeding the bay's processing capacity on at least one day this season.

The probability is highest on July 2-3.

Typically, processors impose buying limits or suspensions on fishermen after consecutive days of outsized harvests.

I’m sure you’ll want to see more of this study. Find it here on the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association Web site.