Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Alaska
Commercial red king crab fishery to open in Southeast Alaska for second year in a row
KFSK by Olivia Rose - September 4, 2026
Commercial red king crab fishermen in Southeast Alaska are getting a competitive fishery this year, the state Department of Fish and Game announced this week.
West Coast
BPA Reverses Decision to End Funding for Oregon’s Salmon SAFE Program, At Least for the Next Year
SeafoodNews by Peggy Parker - September 9, 2026
Last Friday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced that Bonneville Power Administration will reverse its decision to end funding for the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) Program immediately and will fund the program for one additional federal fiscal year.
The decision followed discussions with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Administrator Travis Kavulla.
The SAFE program raises millions of salmon each year, supporting recreational and commercial fisheries in the Lower Columbia River. BPA’s unexpected decision in June to end SAFE funding threatened more than 7 million salmon already in production and created an estimated $2.4 million funding gap for the three partners that operate the program: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Clatsop County.
“Salmon are central to the economic health of our coastal communities and to long-held fishing traditions of the Columbia River and our coast,” said Kotek. “When I heard that a federal funding decision could put millions of salmon and fishing opportunities at risk, resulting in economic harm to Oregon communities, I knew we needed to act. I appreciate Administrator Kavulla’s willingness to listen and change course. This one-year reprieve gives us time to keep working toward a long-term solution.”
The governor and Kavulla met twice in the past two weeks, with Kotek urging him to reconsider ending funding for the SAFE program. The reversal follows significant advocacy from the State of Oregon, Oregon’s Congressional delegation, members of the Oregon Legislature’s Coastal Caucus, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, and communities across the region.
“This was an all-hands-on-deck situation for everyone who loves salmon and fishing,” said ODFW Director Debbie Colbert. “I am grateful to the Governor, our Congressional delegation and state legislators for their help in getting this decision reversed. I continue to be blown away by the passion of Oregon’s fishing community and could not be more grateful for their advocacy.”
In its more-than-30-year history, the SAFE program has produced about 9 million salmon annually to support Oregon’s commercial and recreational fisheries. Nearly 35 percent of SAFE-produced spring Chinook and coho are caught by recreational anglers, while an estimated 99 percent of spring Chinook harvested in non-treaty commercial fisheries comes from the program.
SAFE also reduces pressure on wild salmon and provides an important food source for endangered southern resident killer whales. BPA’s June decision to end funding put 7 million salmon already in production at risk and threatened fishing opportunities across the Lower Columbia.
Historically, 10 to 15 million salmon migrated through the Columbia Basin each year, and today, that number is about 2 million. The one-year funding extension will allow the program to continue while state and regional partners work toward a longer-term solution.
Senator Murray talks fuel costs, tariffs with local maritime workers
Murray was joined by a roundtable of business owners, commercial fishermen and maritime workforce leadership to discuss the impacts of recent policy changes on the industry.
My Bellingham Now by Adam Rideout Redeker - September 3, 2026
Maritime industry workers in Whatcom County are voicing their concerns over federal policy changes.
International
Russia Cuts 2027 Pollock Quota by 2.7% Amid Stock Decline
SeafoodNews by Eugene Gerden - September 9, 2026
Russia has set new total allowable catch (TAC) quotas for pollock and other species for 2027, according to the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).
Russia's overall 2027 catch quota was set at 3.6 million tonnes, about 4% lower than 2026 figures. The pollock quota specifically was reduced by 2.73% year-over-year to 2.53 million tonnes.
Rosrybolovstvo did not disclose specific reasons for the reduction, though it is likely linked to declining stocks in some of Russia's major pollock fishing areas.
The bulk of the pollock catch will come from the West Bering Sea zone and the North Okhotsk subzone.
A growing share of Russia's 2027 pollock catch will be processed using modern trawlers equipped with full-cycle onboard processing equipment. Up to 60 such vessels have already been built, with that number expected to grow further by the end of 2026.
The new fleet allows catch to be processed directly on board rather than requiring shoreside processing.
For other key species, Russia set its 2027 TAC for cod at 142,630 tonnes (up 4.98%) and crab at 112,520 tonnes (up 0.2%).
The Far East is expected to account for roughly 70% of Russia's total fish and seafood production in 2027.
Labeling and Marketing
ASMI Consumer Research Finds Awareness Gap Fuels New Pan-European Alaska Surimi Campaign
SeafoodNews by Ryan Doyle - September 8, 2026
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has launched a new consumer research initiative aimed at reshaping how European shoppers understand surimi, laying the groundwork for a Pan-European Genuine Alaska Pollock Surimi campaign designed to strengthen the product's position across the continent.
Europe is already a significant outlet for Alaska surimi, importing approximately 40,000 metric tons valued at $87.5 million in 2024.
ASMI's new push aims to build on that base by tackling outdated perceptions of the product and reinforcing its quality, versatility, affordability, nutritional value, and connection to wild Alaska pollock.
To inform the campaign, ASMI surveyed more than 5,700 consumers across key European markets on their awareness, perceptions, consumption habits, and barriers to trying surimi. The results point to a familiar-name-but-misunderstood-product problem the campaign is designed to solve.
Awareness Is High, Understanding Is Shaky
Overall, 76% of respondents said they had at least some awareness of surimi, but only 59% correctly identified it as a seafood product made from processed fish protein. A notable share instead associated it with plant-based or tofu-based alternatives, or weren't sure what it was.
That gap looks fixable: once given a clear definition, 48% of respondents said they'd be likely to try surimi. Familiar dishes proved another effective entry point, with 37% saying they'd definitely try surimi if served in a familiar dish and another 41% saying they might — suggesting nearly four in five consumers are open to trial in the right culinary context.
Perceptions were more mixed on other fronts. While 61% viewed surimi as nutritious, opinion split almost evenly on whether it's "natural" (44%) or "artificial" (48%), pointing to lingering confusion about ingredients and processing. Still, more than half of respondents said they'd recommend surimi to others, and among those aware of the product but not eating it, the biggest barriers were taste/texture concerns, availability, and simply never having had the chance to try it — obstacles tied to trial and distribution rather than outright rejection.
Findings Drive New Consumer Campaign
ASMI is converting those findings into a new consumer-facing Alaska surimi website built to educate shoppers, showcase recipes, and drive trial, including an interactive myth-busting quiz targeting the misconceptions the research surfaced. The strategy: awareness is already strong, and targeted education can convert that awareness into purchase — repositioning Alaska surimi from unfamiliar to a versatile, high-quality seafood option rooted in wild Alaska pollock.
ASMI has not announced a launch date for the site, saying only that more details will follow.
3MMI - Pacific Cod Supply Outlook: Alaska B-Season Could Shift the Market
Tradex Foods - September 7, 2026
Pacific cod markets remain firm as Alaska enters a critical fall production period with harvest running roughly 7% ahead year over year and significant B-season fishing still remaining.
Federal Register
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 09/09/2026
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian district (WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.
FYI’s
NFI rebranding to National Seafood Association
SeafoodSource by Chris Chase - September 9, 2026
The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is planning a rebrand, which will involve changing its name to the National Seafood Association – a first since the organization’s founding.
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2026-09-03 Crab Disaster Declaration - Press Release
Wrangell Assembly Declares Local Disaster for Southeast Alaska Dungeness Crab Fishery
City and Borough of Wrangell - September 3, 2026
The City and Borough of Wrangell Assembly has declared a local disaster emergency in response to the significant decline of the Southeast Alaska commercial Dungeness crab fishery and its impacts on local fishermen, families and businesses.
Candidates Confirmed & Topics Released for the Alaska Gubernatorial Fisheries Debate on September 9, 2026, and the US House & US Senate Fisheries Debates in Kodiak on September 12, 2026.
Kodiak Chamber of Commerce - September 4, 2026
On Wednesday, September 9th at 7pm at the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium in Kodiak, AK, the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce & KMXT Public Radio 100.1 FM will host a fisheries debate for candidates running for Governor.
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