Fisheries

Value of 2020 Alaska salmon is lowest in 14 years

The volume harvested was also signifcantly lower than in 2019.

Bristol Bay fishermen not only had to deal with coronavirus concerns this year, but also with low prices and compressed runs.
Bristol Bay fishermen not only had to deal with coronavirus concerns this year, but also with low prices and compressed runs.Foto: Andy Straley

The ex-vessel value for all species harvested in the 2020 Alaska commercial salmon fishery fell 56 percent to $295.2 million (€249.8 million).

Adjusted for inflation, it is the lowest ex-vessel value for the fishery since 2006.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) said Monday a total of 116.8 million fish were harvested, a 44 percent decrease from 2019 and the thirteenth lowest since records began in 1975. In terms of weight, the all-species salmon harvest of 517.5 million pounds is the eighth lowest.

Of this total, sockeye salmon accounted for approximately 59 percent of the total value at $174.9 million (€148 million) and 40 percent of the harvest at 46.1 million fish. Bristol Bay, where the majority of sockeye salmon are harvested, had an estimated ex-vessel value of around $140.7 million (€119.1 million).

Pink salmon accounted for approximately 21 percent of the value at $61.8 million (€52.3 million), and 51 percent of the harvest at 59.4 million fish.

Chum salmon accounted for 9 percent of the value at $25.9 million (€21.9 million) and 7 percent of the harvest at 8.7 million fish. Coho accounted for approximately 6 percent of the value at $18.2 million (€15.4 million) and 2 percent of the harvest at 2.3 million fish.

Salmon fishing in Alaska this year was bumpy and marred by ongoing coronavirus concerns. Fishermen also learned in July they would be paid up to 65 cents less per pound for Bristol Bay sockeye, as foodservice sales worldwide collapsed because of the global pandemic.
(Copyright)
Published 10 November 2020, 00:30Updated 10 November 2020, 13:07
Alaska salmonPink salmonBristol BayCohoAlaska Department of Fish & Game