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Saint Paul Crab Harvest to be Processed at Unalaska
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Saint Paul Crab Harvest to be Processed at Unalaska

A processing agreement forged between the cities of Saint Paul and Unalaska, thanks to an annual exemption approved by National Marine Fisheries Service, will allow for processing of 1.5 million pounds of snow crab at Unalaska, with tax benefits going to Saint Paul. “Under the circumstances, it's a win-win for both communities,” Saint Paul City Manager Phillip Zavadil said when the deal was announced Jan. 21. Zavadil also said that the low north region snow crab total allowable catch (TAC) of 1,576,624 pounds and capacity issues associated with processing low amounts of crab at the Trident Seafoods plant on Saint Paul Island had made processing and custom processing of snow crab in the northern region non-viable. “After careful consultation with crab industry partners and cons...
Once-Prized Togiak Herring Has No Buyers
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Once-Prized Togiak Herring Has No Buyers

Back in the late 1990s, herring caught commercially off of Togiak, an Inuit village in the Dillingham Census Area of Southwestern Alaska, was worth over $1,000 a ton. And with an allowable catch of 20,000 tons, it would fetch fishermen $20 million. “In the heyday of the 1990s there were 300 seine boats and 500 gillnetters,” Tim Sands, area management biologist at Dillingham for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said. An ADF&G announcement released on Jan. 13 put the total allowable 2025 harvest at 45,761, but as of Jan. 27, there were no buyers, Sands said. With no buyers to purchase the commercial harvest, a ton of herring has no value, he said, adding that the last Togiak commercial herring fishery to have buyers was in 2022. The historic size of Togiak herring ...
Wild Alaska Pollock Season Faces Economic Competition from Russia
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Wild Alaska Pollock Season Faces Economic Competition from Russia

Harvests are underway in the lucrative wild Alaska pollock A season, with an overall 1.5 million metric ton total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. The fishery survived a potential domestic trawling ban, but still faces stiff economic competition from Russia. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council in December set the TAC at 1.375 million metric tons for the Bering Sea and 171,000 metric tons in the Gulf of Alaska. That decision came after the Alaska Board of Fisheries rejected proposed trawling bans in Prince William Sound. The volume of the TAC and the Alaska pollock biomass, which refers to the total weight of the pollock in a specific area, has remained relatively consistent over the years, clear evidence of the sustainable, responsible, science...
Aleuts, NMFS Reach Agreement on Joint Management of Federal Waters
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Aleuts, NMFS Reach Agreement on Joint Management of Federal Waters

Agreement has been reached between the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (ACSPI) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for joint management of federal waters off of the Pribilof Islands fishing community. The economy of Saint Paul Island is dependent primarily on commercial fisheries. The memorandum of agreement was signed Jan 16 by ACSPI President John Wayne Melovidov and Janet L. Coit, NMFS’ assistant administrator for fisheries. The MOA establishes a government-to-government relationship that recognizes each party's roles in stewarding the marine waters surrounding the Pribilof Islands, and notes the link of the Aleut people to the marine ecosystem surrounding their ancestral home, as well as NMFS's responsibility for stewardship of the nation’s ocean resources ...
Strong Runs Forecast for Copper River Sockeye, PWS Pink Salmon
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Strong Runs Forecast for Copper River Sockeye, PWS Pink Salmon

State fisheries biologists are predicting strong runs of sockeye salmon into the Copper River and wild pink and chum salmon into Prince William Sound for the upcoming 2025 commercial salmon fisheries in Alaska. An Alaska Department of Fish and Game forecast released Jan. 23 estimated the run of wild sockeye salmon into the Copper River fishery, which is scheduled to open in late May, as having a forecast range of 2.2 million to 2.9 million fish, or 55% above the total run 10-year average of 1.6 million fish. The Chinook salmon run into the Copper River, by comparison, is forecast with a range of 25,000 to 51,000 fish, or 25% below the total run 10-year average of 48,000 kings. For the odd-year run of pink salmon into Prince William Sound, biologists forecast a range of 8.5 mil...
BBRSA Announces Plans for Fleet Meetings, Also Offering Free Safety Instructor Training
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BBRSA Announces Plans for Fleet Meetings, Also Offering Free Safety Instructor Training

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association on Jan. 14 announced a series of fleet meetings to be held throughout 2025, beginning in early March. Scheduled meeting dates include March 5 in Anchorage and March 6 in Homer, Alaska. Also announced was a five-session online workshop from Alaska Sea Grant for those considering or currently involved in direct marketing seafood. The Zoom sessions are planned for the evenings of Feb. 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12. Topics include regulations, marketing, business planning and quality. Participants will learn how to start or improve an Alaska direct marketing operation from seafood marketing and quality specialists, regulatory officials and experienced direct marketers, all for a cost of $50. More information is available the BBRSDA ...
Pacific Cod Fish and Chips Proving a Popular Menu Item
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Pacific Cod Fish and Chips Proving a Popular Menu Item

Pacific cod harvested by pot and longline fishermen since their season opened on Jan. 1 has been a popular lunch and dinner item these days in Anchorage restaurants. And the groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands that opened on Jan. 20 are anticipated to soon  be delivering their catch to wholesalers and retail shops. As of Jan. 20, 10th & M, a popular retail seafood shop in downtown Anchorage, manager Tito Marquez said they were selling about 700 pounds a week of fresh Pacific cod fillets for $8.95 a pound, down from $12.95 at this time a year ago. Fred Meyer supermarkets had fresh Pacific cod fillets for $10.99 a pound and Costco was offering the fillets for $7.99 a pound. Several Anchorage restaurants have Pacific cod fish and chips entrees on their...
Alaska Pacific Cod Season Underway with Lowered TAC
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Alaska Pacific Cod Season Underway with Lowered TAC

Alaska’s Pacific cod A season got underway in January, with an overall total allowable catch set lower than for 2024. It’s a total decrease of just over 14,000 metric tons, or 31 million pounds. Based on historical trends, the online market insight website Tradex on Jan. 20 estimated the total Alaskan harvest of Pacific cod would range between 133,000 and 150,000 metric tons. At the lower end, this would represent a 10% decrease from the 2024 harvest, while the higher end would align closely with last year’s total. The Russian Pacific cod 2024 harvest in metric tons, by comparison, was 105,200 metric tons, or 72% of their total allowable catch and 61% of Russia's 2023 harvest of 107,900 metric tons. For 2025, Tradex noted, Alaskan cod may be in for some further price pressu...
GAPP Planning Ahead for Lenten Seafood Promotions
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GAPP Planning Ahead for Lenten Seafood Promotions

Lent doesn’t begin until early March, but Craig Morris, chief executive officer of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP), said Jan. 20 that his organization is ready with several collaborative seafood promotion to provide those observing Lent from March 5 through April 17. Morris said that Gorton Seafood plans a “The Sea Belongs to All of Us” campaign at retail to direct Lent-conscious consumers to the frozen seafood aisle with its iconic yellow bags of seafood, including their anchor, Alaska pollock battered fish fillets. Harbor Seafoods will promote the Skipper’s line of Wild Alaska pollock for sale at convenience stores and restaurants for those who prepare seafood for Lent, and High Liner Foods will promote its foodservice line of Alaska pollock products for limited time me...
Off-the-Boat Crab Sales at SF Fisherman’s Wharf Now More Accessible
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Off-the-Boat Crab Sales at SF Fisherman’s Wharf Now More Accessible

Aficionados of fresh Dungeness crab in the Bay Area now have easier access to purchase it from commercial crabbers thanks to installation of a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) float for off-the-boat sales at Fisherman’s Wharf. The port is completing the first phase of the Wharf J9 Replacement Project, featuring the new ADA-accessible float and road upgrades along Al Scoma Way in conjunction with this year’s off-the-boat sales. “We’re excited to deliver the first phase of this project to support our local fishers, increase public access and ensure the Wharf remains a vibrant hub for the community and local businesses,” Port of San Francisco Executive Director Elaine Forbes said. Wharf J9 lies in the protected shoreline harbor of the Outer Lagoon area of Fisherman's Wha...