Details of 2013 Salmon Prices in Bristol Bay

Commercial fishermen in Bristol Bay are hoping for higher prices for their sockeye catch this year. That may or may not happen but last year’s prices are finalized. Recently the Alaska Independent Fishermen’s Marketing Association compiled the price information from last season. The base grounds price was about $1.50 a pound---- but that does not tell the whole story. The top base price reported was the $1.69 a pound paid by Leader Creek Seafood’s. However that was for chilled fish. Leader Creek reportedly paid an additional 5-cents for bled sockeye and another 2-cents for use of the much touted salmon slide. Fishermen also picked up another 15-cents a pound for following several practices intended to produce high-quality fish. That includes floating fish in water chilled to 39-degrees or less and keeping brailer weights at 500 pounds or less. AFIMA reports that Leader Creek paid 25-cents a pound for chums last year and 80-cents a pound for kings. Ocean Beauty Seafood’s apparently paid their fishermen a base price of $1.57 a pound with a 15-cent bonus for fish chilled using RSW systems. AIFMA confirms that the Ocean Beauty base price of $1.57 a pound included an adjustment of about 7-cents a pound that was paid in the spring. However, AIFMA notes that according to fishermen the adjustment was labeled as a “boat storage” payment. Ocean Beauty Seafood’s reportedly paid 35-cents a pound last year for chums with an additional 10-cents for chums that were chilled at the point of harvest. Trident Seafood’s reportedly paid a base price last year for sockeye of $1.53 a pound with a 15-cent bonus for sockeye chilled using RSW systems. AIFMA notes that according to fishermen Trident also paid out some production bonuses. For instance the base price jumped up to $1.59 a pound for fishermen who sold about 60-thousand pounds to Trident while the price was $1.63 a pound for the production of about 90-thousand pounds. The price for those who produced about 180-thousand pounds was $1.66 a pound. Trident apparently paid 45-cents a pound last year for chums. The base price posted by Alaska General Seafood’s, Icicle, North Pacific Seafood’s, Peter Pan, and Red Salmon was $1.50 a pound with each company paying a 15-cent bonus for RSW sockeye. AGS and Icicle reportedly paid 25-cents a pound for chums while North Pacific Seafood’s and Red Salmon paid 40-cents for chums and $1.50 for kings. AIFMA reports that, according to fishermen, North Pacific and Red Salmon paid their top boats a cash payment up to $20-thousand dollars. The Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission reports that 1,488 drift vessels fished in Bristol Bay last year with 304 of those vessels fishing as D-boats. CFEC notes that 170 vessels had estimated average catches last year of 123.8-thousand pounds with estimated average gross earnings of over $173.3-thousand dollars per vessel. 260 vessels posted estimated average catches of 81-thousand pounds with estimated average gross earnings of $113.4-thousand dollars per vessel. 358 of Bristol Bay’s drift vessels reportedly posted estimated average catches of 58.7-thousand pounds with estimated average gross earnings of $82.1-thousand dollars per vessel. CFEC notes that 700 of Bristol Bay’s drift vessel’s posted estimated average catches last year of 30.1-thousand pounds with estimated average gross earnings of $42.1-thousand dollars. AIFMA confirms that the price information included in their May newsletter were provided by fishermen. If you want to share any price information from last year or this year you can do so by sending KDLG News an email or giving us a call. The email address is mike@kdlg.org and the phone number is 842-5281.