Pacific cod is an important component of Alaska’s groundfish production. Roughly 30 percent of non-pollock groundfish harvests in Alaska are Pacific cod. Like salmon a decade ago, the wild cod industry faces a near-term challenge from the aquaculture sector. Significant volumes of cultured cod are presently being raised in at least four countries. READ MORE
The 2006 Alaska salmon projection calls for a statewide harvest of 166 million fish. This is substantially below the record harvest of 221 million last year, but is consistent with the ten-year average (167 million fish) and would still rank among the top ten Alaska salmon harvests on record.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game has made a substantial adjustment to harvest and value statistics from the 2005 salmon season. The updated figures total 221 million fish, a new record. The largest adjustment was to the pink harvest, updated from 145 million to 161 million fish.
While the adjustment sets a new record for number of fish, the total poundage of 961 million pounds is slightly below the previous record poundage of 994 million, set in 1995. Pink salmon account for 58 percent of the 2005 harvest tonnage.
With the adjustments to harvest, total ex-vessel salmon value increased to $334 million for 2005, more than double the low point of $162 million in 2002. Average per-pound value for the harvest was 35 cents per pound, a five-year high.
The 2006 salmon ex-vessel price tracking program was launched in the first week of June. The price-tracking program is essentially an informal telephone survey of salmon prices in open fisheries throughout the state, conducted every two weeks. We have been conducting this portion of the SMIS program since 1999. READ MORE
Through June 12, halibut landings total nearly 23.2 million pounds (44 percent of statewide quota) and sablefish landings total 17.6 million pounds, 51 percent of the Alaska quota. READ MORE
Many participants in Alaska fisheries regard Alaska management as the best in the world and sometimes dismiss foreign fishery management as being unsustainable. However, recent reporting on the Barents Sea king crab fishery has shed light on some interesting details of a crab fishery which is proving to be a significant and evidently a long-term competitor for Alaska king crab. READ MORE
As of June 5th the Bering Sea snow crab and king crab fisheries were completed. Fishermen harvested 100 percent of the King crab quota and 99 percent of the Snow crab quota under the new rationalized fishery. READ MORE
Preliminary research on king crab cultivation is underway at the Kodiak fisheries research center. Researchers are raising king crab larvae to juvenile crab with the intent of eventually releasing them to the wild. Researchers in Alaska and elsewhere have successfully cultivated king crab larvae in laboratories, but little is known about survival rates upon release to the wild. READ MORE
The Seafood Market Information Service is funded by a portion of the seafood marketing tax paid by Alaska seafood processors. McDowell Group provides the service as a contractor to Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).
The Seafood Market Bulletin is currently published six times a year and is available online to permit holders, processors, and other industry participants free of charge. Sign up to receive email notification of the publication of new Seafood Market Bulletins.
Juneau Office
Mail: P.O. Box 21009
Juneau, Alaska 99802
Phone: 907-586-6126
Fax: 907-586-2673
Anchorage Office
1400 W. Benson Blvd,
Ste 350
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: 907-243-3200
Fax: 907-274-3201
