Bristol Bay sockeyes garner 95 cents a pound

Published on July 22nd, 2010

By MARGARET BAUMAN

Commercial fishermen in the famed Bristol Bay wild Alaska sockeye salmon fishery were heading home in late July with smiles on their faces, warmed by base prices averaging 95 cents a pound for the 28 million reds netted.

"I think most fishermen were pleasantly surprised," said David Harsilla, president of the Alaska Independent Fishermen's Marketing Association, which has for more than 40 years represented the interests of Bristol Bay fishermen.

Harsilla, who fished for Alaska General Seafoods in north Naknek, said in an interview July 21 that harvesters he has talked with have been pleasantly surprised that the price came up to what they anticipated.

"We had a lot of nice fish this year and they are being shipped into markets that want them," he said. "More fish is being shipped out fresh."

Processor sources in Bristol Bay said that Yardarm Knot Fisheries was offering 96 cents a pound base price, while Trident Seafoods, Icicle Seafoods, Peter Pan Seafoods and Ocean Beauty Seafoods were all offering a base price of 95 cents a pound for reds. Leader Creek Seafoods, which has a profit sharing plan, does not post prices, but matches other companies' going home base prices right after the season, with profit sharing determined at a later date, company officials said.

The highest base prices posted for Bristol Bay sockeyes in the last 26 years was $2.11 a pound in 1988, and the lowest, in 2001, was 42 cents a pound. According to the latest price statistics posted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, that the 2008 base price in the bay averaged 73 cents.

Baywide, industry observers were predicting prices would be up because the relative lateness of the Bristol Bay sockeye run allowed processors to spend more time producing fresh and frozen fillets, and putting fewer sockeyes into cans, which have a lower value.

Margaret Bauman can be reached at 907-348-2438 or 800-770-9830, ext 438