Alaska pollock buyers are making their way to the Seattle headquarters ofthe US pollock giants to begin B season negotiations, but without the leveragethey were hoping for: A Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified Russianpollock fishery.

While Alaska pollock suppliers and buyers canvassed by IntraFishoffered a broad range, they say US suppliers are opening up price negotiationsat around $3,300 (€2,484) to $3,400 (€2,559) / MT for MSC-certified PBO pollockblocks, delivered to Europe. Buyers and suppliers pegged $3,300 (€2,484) as theaverage price. The earliest offer reportedly came in at $3,100 (€2,333)/ MT,but the volume offered on that sale was not significant, the quality reportedlynot high, and came before the news on the delay of the MSC certification forRussian pollock, two US pollock suppliers told IntraFish.

"Prices