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Fisheries boosting prospects for Bristol Bay region

March 17th 9:42 pm | Margaret Bauman Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Healthy fisheries are boosting the region's economic prospects, while better care of the harvest and expanded processing facilities add to the value of the seafood, western Alaska's most valuable renewable resource, says the chief executive of Bristol Bay's major economic development entity.

The value of the wild sockeye salmon fishery has improved over the last four to five years, with prices per pound rising to $1.25 to $1.50, while canneries are modifying their production lines, based on market demand, said Robin Samuelsen, president and chief executive officer of the Bristol Bay Economic Development Association at Dillingham.

The canneries have been switching to production of headed and gutted and fillet product, and the overall quality of the fish has really improved, particularly with the icing project that BBEDC has going, Samuelsen said in an interview March 14.

"We are all modifying our production lines based on what the market wants," he said. If the market wants more fillets, we do more."

Care of the tons of salmon harvested has also become increasingly important.

"This year we are insulating a bunch of boats," Samuelsen said. "People are really seeing the advantage in price and overall quality. It's really catching on."

BBEDC, one of six community development quota groups established by the state to pump income into the fisheries economy of Western Alaska, has invested over $7 million in quality improvements. "We are doing everything we can to help fishermen out and turn this fishery around," Samuelsen said. "We still have a long way to go, but we see a clear path."

BBEDC is a 50 percent owner too of Ocean Beauty Seafoods, which has quota shares in Bering Sea Pollock, crab and Pacific cod, plus a salmon cannery in Bristol Bay. "Through our partners, we are doing everything we can to avoid Chinook salmon (bycatch) and we have some of the lowest counts," he said. "Our captains know that if they hear of kings being caught they avoid that area to the maximum amount possible. We want to avoid Chinooks at any cost. We are doing it with our gear and the knowledge of captains of boats. We will fish Pollock at a lower reate to avoid Chinook salmon. My board voted 17-0 to avoid Chinook salmon at all costs, and we are very proud of our record," he said.

At Togiak, BBEDC has been a major investor, with Copper River Seafoods, in a new processing facility.

"That $2 million (which BBEDC invested) has raised the hopes of that community," Samuelsen said.

"It's been a real model project. Top prices for fishermen and employment for people in the villiage. It has been a stellar project for Togiak."

Another sign of economic improvement in the wild salmon fishery has been the rising price of drift net permits in the Bristol Bay commercial fishery. They are now selling for about $150,000, compared to about $18,000 each six years ago, he said.

"Right now we are working with the state legislature to lower the interest rate on (purchase of) limited entry permits, so we can have young people purchase set net and drift permits," he said. '"The prices are going up on boats and permits, and that shows that the economy of the fishery is improving.

"We recognize that we have lost a lot of permits in the region, and are working to get those permits back into the region," he said. At present, fewer than 50 percent of the drift net permits are held by Bristol Bay residents, and about 50 percent of the set net permits, he said.

 

Margaret Bauman can be reached at mbauman@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2438

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