Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Alaska ADF&G Prelim Report Confirms 2022 Bristol Bay Salmon Largest Inshore Run on Record SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - September 27, 2022 This year’s Bristol Bay salmon season was not only the largest run on record, but by a wide margin — the return of 79 million salmon was 81% above the 43.6 million average run for the latest 20-year period (2002–2021). It was only the fourth time on record that the Bristol Bay inshore sockeye salmon run has exceeded 60.0 million fish. Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game released the preliminary report on the season last Friday, with a final to follow in November. The 2022 Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run exceeded the preseason inshore forecast of 73.4 million fish by 8%. With the exception of Togiak, each district’s preseason forecast was exceeded by the actual returns. The commercial harvest of 60.1 million sockeye salmon, nearly identical to the 59.9 million preseason forecast, was the largest harvest on record, surpassing the previous record set in 1995 of 44.3 million sockeye salmon by 36%. All sockeye salmon escapement goals were met or exceeded, with a total bay-wide escapement of 18.9 million fish. The preliminary harvest estimates for other species are 8,374 Chinook, 301,816 chum, 9,040 coho, and 95,724 pink salmon. Exvessel value was estimated to be about $351.7 million, ranking first in the last twenty years, and was 110% above the 20-year average of $167.5 million. This year’s harvest of 60.1 million sockeye salmon was 104% higher than the recent 20-year average of 29.4 million for all districts. Sockeye salmon escapement goals were exceeded on the Nushagak, Wood, and Ugashik rivers, all other systems were within their respective escapement goal ranges (Table 3). Overall, run timing was one day early, making it the earliest since 2014. The preliminary coho salmon harvest in 2022 was 9,040 fish, which was below the recent 20-year average of 97,139 fish. The Nushagak District is typically the largest producer of coho salmon, though in 2022 Egegik District produced the bulk of the coho salmon harvest at 5,138 fish. Coho salmon harvest in the Nushagak District was 1,789 fish. In 2022, fishing ended early due in part to weather and processor interest. The full report can be found here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1235964/ADFG-Prelim-Report-Confirms-2022-Bristol-Bay-Salmon-Largest-Inshore-Run-on-Record National Experts discuss the best ways to boost US seafood consumption Seafood Source by Christine Blank - September 27, 2022 U.S. government experts and seafood industry insiders discussed the best ways to boost U.S. seafood consumption at the Seafood Nutrition Partnership’s State of the Science Symposium in Washington, D.C. on 22 September. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/food-safety-health/experts-discuss-the-best-ways-to-boost-us-seafood-consumption International Russia rethinks fishery strategy as trading realities set in Seafood Source by Chris Chase - September 28, 2022 Russia has adopted a new Agriculture and Fishery Development Strategy, after its previous strategy was rendered obsolete by the geopolitical upheaval caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/russia-re-thinks-fishery-strategy-as-reality-sets-in Russian Fishery Company-led group secures Marine Stewardship Council eco-label for pollock in another two fishing areas The group has now completed MSC certification in all its pollock fishing areas. Intrafish by Dominic Welling - September 23, 2022 Russia's Fishery Shipowners Association (FSA) -- whose members include Russian Fishery Company, the country's largest pollock harvester -- has been awarded Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for pollock fishing in the regions of Eastern Kamchatka and the Northern Kuriles. https://www.intrafish.com/whitefish/russian-fishery-company-led-group-secures-marine-stewardship-council-eco-label-for-pollock-in-another-two-fishing-areas/2-1-1306627 * Subscription required FYI’s Sea Safety and Survival (Drill Instructor) Training Friday, October 14, 2022 Westport, WA Washington Sea Grant is sponsoring a one-day Sea Safety and Survival Course (Drill Instructor) for commercial fishermen and charter boat operators. https://wsg.washington.edu/sea-safety-and-survival-drill-instructor-training-in-westport-oct-14-2022/ Pacific Seafood Processors Association 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: admin@pspafish.net; Website: www.pspafish.net Our office days/hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. 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