Friday, July 18, 2025
- admin04655
- Jul 17
- 6 min read
Alaska
Alaska pink salmon season strengthens as industry eyes US retail opportunities
Alaska's Prince William Sound is already starting out on strong footing.
Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - July 16, 2025
The 2025 pink salmon season is gaining momentum in Alaska, with early catches from Prince William Sound aligning closely with historical averages, signaling a promising start for an industry looking to boost domestic market share.
Retail prices on sockeye salmon holding fast after harvest of 40M reds
Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - July 17, 2025
At the peak of the Alaska commercial sockeye salmon fishing season – with upwards of 40 million reds delivered to processors – prices for these nutritious, oil-rich reds are holding in the retail marketplace at $14.99 a pound and up.
US and Russian Frozen Pollock Roe Production Exceeds 50,000 Tons for Three Consecutive Years
SeafoodNews.com by Tom Asakawa - July 18, 2025
According to the Minato Shimbun report, the estimated production of frozen pollock roe in the first half of 2025, combined from the US and Russia, was approximately 56,000 to 57,000 tons, marking the third consecutive year that large supplies have exceeded 50,000 tons. US production increased by 7% to 21,000 tons, while Russian production remained flat or decreased slightly compared to the previous year, amounting to 35,000-36,000 tons.Although the bidding prices for new crop in both the US and Russia were revised downwards, prices for lower-grade products, which are in strong demand as inexpensive raw materials, saw smaller declines compared to higher-grade products. This led to a “narrowing of price differences,” according to trading company sources. The manufacturers for Mentaiko spicy roe and Tarako salted roe are currently unable to fully pass on rising production and sales costs to product prices. Therefore, a paradigm shift from business models centered on high volume and low-profit margins looms high. Russian Bid: Over 35,000 Tons, Similar to the Previous PeriodThe bidding for new crop Russian frozen pollock roe in Busan, South Korea, for the current period began in earnest in March and concluded in the first week of June. The smooth arrival of Russian transport vessels in Busan resulted in a slightly earlier conclusion of the bidding process compared to the previous period. The final listed volume, which combines those from the Bering Sea, Okhotsk, and East Sakhalin, is estimated at 35,000 to 36,000 tons, maintaining the high level seen in the previous period.In the Busan bid, over-the-counter transactions for small and off-grade products for the Korean market took place from January to early March. The STD (Standard Grade) for Japan was listed as of March 18th. With information circulating about good pollock catches and consistent roe production, the successful bid prices for STD saw an overall decline from the outset compared to the same period last year.In early April, the median price for STD was in the mid-to-high $5/kg range. Cases where prices did not meet the Russian side's desired prices were relisted. The median price for small roe, Gamuko (immature roe), and off-grade products (excluding STD) was in $3/kg to the high $4/kg range, broadly similar to the same period last year. Korean trading companies showed weak buying interest due to a poor exchange rate with the won’s depreciation against the dollar, as well as a decline in domestic demand caused by price increases.The market remained weak in April but stopped falling in May. The median successful bid price for STD in May was around $5/kg. In May of the previous year, it had fallen to the low $4/kg range. Japanese trading companies that had been observing the downward trend began to secure supplies in May. Buying for 2S (approximately 40 grams per skein as a guideline), small-sized products were particularly strong, indicating a firm market.For the first time during this period, many large-sized 2L (170-180 grams per skein, as a guideline) were listed and successfully bid at $7-8/kg. Additionally, this period saw the first successful bids by Chinese trading companies.According to a Japanese trading company source, “The East Sakhalin portion (just under 500 tons) in the first week of June seems to have mostly gone to Chinese trading companies, and they appear to have purchased a total of about 1,000 tons this period.” Attention is focused on how these will be consumed within China.Regarding STD prices this period, a trading company source stated, “While the high prices were lower than the previous period, the low prices increased, so the average is similar to the previous period. The yen price will be lower due to the stronger yen compared to the same period last year. However, Mentaiko (spicy roe) manufacturers are currently unable to reflect rising overhead costs in their product prices, leading to the view that product prices cannot be lowered.”US Bid: Production Exceeds 20,000 TonsThe production of Alaskan frozen pollock roe in the 2025 A season reached 21,038 tons, surpassing the previous year's 19,662 tons.According to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) saw an increase of 0.7% year-on-year to 18,207 tons, and a 79.9% year-on-year increase in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) to 2,831 tons, resulting in a combined increase of 7%.According to Japanese trading companies, the average size throughout the season was 80-90 grams, about 10 grams larger than the previous year. Particularly in the early stages, larger sizes were more prominent than usual, pushing up the average size. In the latter half, the fleet moved northward to avoid king salmon bycatch, which reportedly led to smaller skein sizes.Production progressed at a “very good pace” in the first half with good yields, says a Japanese trading company, though in the latter half, the relocation of fishing grounds led to a “drop in production efficiency and yields,” clearly dividing the season into distinct halves.Regarding the quality of the roe, trading companies recalled that “maturity was earlier than usual.” This year, some producers stopped producing lower-priced Mizuko partially spawned roe in the latter half of the season due to profit considerations. Additionally, some producers reportedly controlled their production volume throughout the season.Compared to the previous year, the production ratio of Standard (STD) and Second Standard (2nd STD) appears to have increased. Smaller sizes and Mizuko, which were abundant last year, have become less available. While labor costs are said to have stabilized, they remain at a high level, indicating the continued impact of high costs, as mentioned earlier.STD Prices Approximately 100 Yen LowerThe average successful bid prices for US products this year were: STD 1,090 yen/kg ($7.34/kg), 2nd STD 830 yen/kg ($5.59/kg), small 760 yen/kg ($5.12/kg), and Mizuko 460 yen/kg ($3.08/kg). STD and 2nd STD were approximately 100 yen/kg ($0.67/kg) lower than the previous year. Small and Mizuko, with reduced supply, were about 70 yen/kg ($0.47/kg) lower.The reasons for the lower prices compared to the previous year include the continued ample supply exceeding 50,000 tons from the US and Russia combined for the third consecutive year.Manufacturers of the Pollock roe products are believed to have had ample inventories, including high-priced inventories from 2023. The appreciation of the yen against the dollar compared to the previous year also played a role.
Federal Register
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/18/2025
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on continuing and revised information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/18/2025
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 total allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 07/18/2025
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
Copper River Salmon Jam, annual wild salmon bash, starts tomorrow
Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - July 17, 2025
The Copper River Salmon Jam, the annual cultural event celebrating Alaska’s wild salmon, is on from July 18-19.
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