Higher risk than usual for Bristol Bay processors?

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association has posted a new sockeye market analysis.

"This will be the riskiest year in recent memory for Bristol Bay processors," the report says. "Wholesale prices for sockeye are at peak levels and price resistance from buyers is increasing."

Hearing things...

Hook-injured crewman hoisted off F/V Optimus

The U.S. Coast Guard yesterday airlifted an injured crewman off the 58-foot fishing vessel Optimus.

The 28-year-old crewman had "sustained a severe laceration from a fishing hook," the Coast Guard said.

The helicopter rescue happened 90 miles south of Seward.

Here's a video showing the hoist.

Huge harvest, paltry payoff

Here's the season summary from the recent Togiak sac roe herring fishery.

The numbers look pretty weird.

The harvest was enormous at 25,136 tons.

The payoff was lousy. At an estimated $50 per ton ex-vessel, the fishery was worth a grand total of $1.26 million.

Last year's grounds price was $150 per ton.

Togiak was like church the Sunday after Easter, with very few boats showing up.

Only 17 purse seiners and 24 gillnetters took part in the fishery, compared with 26 seiners and 37 gillnetters in 2013.

Can the once riotous Togiak herring fishery fall any farther?

State wins Cook Inlet salmon setnetters case

Here's the judge's summary judgment order.

For background on the case, click here.

1 dead, 1 hurt in F/V Alpine Cove refrigerant leak

Radio station KMXT in Kodiak has the story.

Who wants a piece of Adak pollock?

A 2004 federal law granted the Aleut Corp., landlord on far-flung Adak Island, exclusive and lucrative rights to harvest Aleutians pollock.

The pollock was meant to help boost economic development at Adak, a former naval station.

But Aleut was never able to make much use of its catch rights due to extensive regional fishing closures related to the endangered Steller sea lion.

Now it appears regulators might roll back the closures, and Aleut is inviting interest from pollock fishermen and processors.

Here's the solicitation.