Article Category: Bristol Bay Report

Harvesters Heading for Bristol Bay Are Cautiously Optimistic

Harvesters Heading for Bristol Bay Are Cautiously Optimistic

Some of the Bristol Bay commercial fishermen gearing up for the 2024 harvest of the world’s largest run of wild sockeye salmon say they’re anticipating a good season ahead, despite challenging market conditions, buoyed by cautious optimism that comes with the territory. Veterans of the fishery, in fact, told Fishermen’s News that they’re already seeing it as a year they can bank on. “I’m feeling real good about it,” said Antonio Arena, of Dillingham, Alaska, for whom this will be his 15th year fishing the bay, “I’ve seen upswings and downswings (over the years). I think (this season’s) going to be really solid.” Arena said that this year he’ll be selling his catch for the first time to Northline Seafoods, which is introducing its new vessel, The Hannah, to Bristol Bay. The salmon are ...
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Bristol Bay Braces for the Gold, a Forecast of over 51 Million Sockeyes

Bristol Bay Braces for the Gold, a Forecast of over 51 Million Sockeyes

Optimism rising as the pandemic ebbs, with an eye to another robust harvest Harvesters headed for the famed Bristol Bay wild sockeye salmon fishery are upbeat this year, buoyed by the forecast of a robust harvest, a reopening economy, more people cooking salmon at home and the ebbing of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Conditions are very favorable,” said Andy Wink, executive director of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA), which represents some 1,800 drift gillnetters. “There is high demand … and there is a lot less fear and anxiety this year because we have been dealing with the pandemic for a much longer time.” The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting a run exceeding 51 million red salmon, with a harvest of 36.35 million fish, which would be 13...
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