The question on every Bristol Bay fisherman’s mind at this point in the season is base price: How much cash am I going to get for my salmon?
A few Bristol Bay processors said they’re still waiting on their corporate headquarters to release prices, but here’s what we do know as of Tuesday:
On Monday, Copper River Seafoods raised its price from $1.30 to $1.70 per pound for chilled, bled and separated sockeye only. Kings larger than 11 pounds bring in $3 per pound, and smaller kings go for $2 a pound. Copper River is paying 80 cents per pound on silvers, 45 cents per pound on chum and 30 cents per pound for pinks.
Trident Seafoods is paying $1.25 per pound for sockeye. Fishermen get a 15-cent bonus if fish are chilled, floated and bled. They’ll earn a 5-cent bonus for fish that are floated, or 5 cents for fish that are bled.
Ocean Beauty Seafoods also confirmed a base price of $1.25 per pound on sockeye. No details were available on quality bonuses.
As of July 19, Togiak Seafoods was paying $1.25 per pound of sockeye, but they said that price changes frequently. They were unavailable Tuesday to discuss updated prices.
Togiak Fisheries said they didn’t have prices yet, and Icicle Seafoods and Peter Pan Seafoods declined to comment.