The 2022 Alaska salmon season has formally began, and which means our full-season protection kicks off as effectively.

First up, as all the time, is the Copper River salmon season. The general run of salmon is nowhere close to as massive because the hype.

This 12 months’s catch within the Copper River district, nonetheless, is anticipated to be considerably higher than final season, in keeping with the Alaska Division of Fish & Recreation (ADF&G), with sockeye harvests projected to succeed in 716,000 fish, a greater than 75 p.c bounce over 2021.

Nevertheless, the 2021 season is not a excessive bar to cross. Final 12 months’s business Copper River sockeye catch of 408,000 was 68 p.c beneath the pre-season forecast of 1.29 million, and effectively beneath the 10-year common.

Monday, Might 16, 3:25 pm PST

Copper River salmon is already nearing $1,000 per fish

Prospects could have yet one more 12 months the place it is going to be dear to get their fingers on among the first Copper River salmon as corporations await their first shipments from the Prince William Sound salmon season opener in Alaska.

Excessive costs have not stopped consumers at Seattle’s well-known Pike Place Fish Market earlier than they usually actually will not this 12 months, regardless of inflation deflating client’s wallets this spring.

Learn the total story right here.

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Monday, Might 16, 8:30 am PST

Ice impacting fish run?

Fishermen are reporting to IntraFish that icy river circumstances might be impeding the circulate of Copper River salmon to fishermen’s nets regardless of the gorgeous climate.

“The primary two hours produced little or no,” Invoice Webber, a longtime Cordova fishermen, instructed IntraFish. “I had two small kings and one sockeye.”

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Monday, Might 16, 8:17 am PST

Let the video games start

Copper River salmon season has formally begun. Fishermen have set their nets, Peter Hoepfner, a longtime fisherman who gives product to Trident Seafoods from the fishery, instructed IntraFish.

“It is phenomenal climate,” he stated, with clear, sunny skies, and calm water for fishing.

Boats are nonetheless making their means into the water. The primary day of fishing can all the time be a little bit of a ready recreation.

“Generally these first openers might be slim,” he stated. “I’ve had 2-5 reds (sockeye) up to now. If I get 15, I can be completely happy.”

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Friday, Might 14, 10:00 am PST

Inflation be damned, patrons longing for Copper River salmon

Even with inflation driving up seafood costs, patrons appear intent on buying the primary Copper River salmon — even whether it is expensive.

“We’re undoubtedly planning on buying and having it accessible for our buyer base,” Matthew Davis, a seafood purchaser with US distributor Shamrock Meals, instructed IntraFish. “There is a good quantity of chatter from prospects about it – so I believe demand is unquestionably there.”

The small Copper River fleet is made up of impartial fishermen who function small 32’ boats. The fishing opener is Monday.

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Friday, Might 14, 9:00 am PST

How a lot Alaska salmon was caught final 12 months?

Properly, there have been some bumps through the season, however issues ended on a a lot brighter word than in 2020.

The 2021 business salmon fishery all species harvest was valued at roughly $643.9 million (€618.7 million), a major improve from 2020’s worth of $295.2 million (€283.7 million).

The Alaska Division of Fish and Recreation (ADFG) stated a complete of 233.8 million fish had been harvested, a greater-than-98 p.c improve from the 2020 whole harvest of 116.8 million fish. Of this whole, sockeye salmon accounted for roughly 56 p.c of the full worth at $361.4 million (€347.3 million) and 24 p.c of the harvest at just below 57 million fish.

Pink salmon accounted for roughly 28 p.c of the worth at $178.8 million (€171.8 million), and 69 p.c of the harvest with underneath 161.0 million fish.

For a dive deep into final 12 months’s season, you possibly can take a learn by our 2021 Alaska salmon weblog to trace each growth.