The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has posted its statewide salmon forecast, and it calls for a much smaller salmon harvest this year. A reduced catch could be just what the doctor ordered with the processing sector struggling. Those troubles could crimp prices for fishermen, but a tighter supply of fish might help boost demand. Forecasters expect a commercial catch of nearly 136 million fish across all species. That would be a big drop from the 2023 total of 232 million. The statewide sockeye harvest is projected at 39.5 million fish, with 26 million coming from Bristol Bay. That compa ..read more

United Fishermen of Alaska is opposing Curtis Chamberlain and Märit Carlson-Van Dort for the state Board of Fisheries. Here's the letter ..read more

Wells Fargo Bank has filed a petition to appoint a receiver. The action is pending in King County Superior Court ..read more

Here's a brief press release ..read more

Here's the press release ..read more

The Alaska salmon fishery first qualified for the Marine Stewardship Council's blue ecolabel in 2000, and has achieved recertification a number of times since. The current certification expires on May 11, and the fishery appears well on its way toward earning another five-year extension. Alaska salmon producers consider the ecolabel important for accessing certain markets. But Canadian conservation groups are objecting to recertification of Alaska salmon fisheries ..read more

Details in this press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage ..read more

The Alaska Senate on Friday passed a resolution establishing a Joint Legislative Seafood Industry Task Force. The House will now take up the resolution, with a hearing set for 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Special Committee on Fisheries. The task force would address the "economic crisis" now facing the state's seafood industry. Fishermen are facing hardship, the resolution says, noting that "numerous seafood processing facilities are for sale, closing or planning to shut down for a portion, or all of, the 2024 fishing season." As currently written, the resolution calls for a task force of 16 memb ..read more

Federal officials today announced disaster determinations for the 2021 and 2022 Upper Cook Inlet eastside setnet salmon fisheries ..read more

Peter Pan Seafood Co. posted the following on Facebook: We're saddened to share that Peter Pan Seafood will be halting operations at its processing plants, leading to the discontinuation of both summer and winter production cycles for the foreseeable future. Efforts are underway to facilitate a smooth transition. For individuals who have worked or are working with Peter Pan Seafood as processors and are in search of job opportunities, we urge you to submit your application to Silver Bay Seafoods ..read more