Fisheries

In late July, roughly 100 fishing vessels joined together on the Naknek River to protest this year’s sockeye price of 50 cents per pound. Now, fishing crews are calling for greater price transparency, including through a petition.

In this episode of Waypoints Radio, the BBRSDA explores not one but two different ways it can support getting more Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon into the marketplace: The Alaska Symphony of Seafood, and healthy retail partnerships.

In this episode of Waypoints Radio, the BBRSDA explores the basics of safety in commercial fishing, specifically in Bristol Bay. Dr. Leann Fay, Executive Director of AMSEA, and Gabe Dunham, Marine Advisory Program Leader for Alaska Sea Grant answer questions pertaining to common causes of injuries or deaths, best practices captain and crew can use to prevent them, and tips for new and seasoned fishermen to keep in mind while on the water this season.

In this episode of Waypoints Radio, BBRSDA Executive Director Andy Wink and Marketing Director Lilani Dunn answer some commonly asked questions the organization often receives from its members. These FAQs center on topics like marketing, prices and the relationship between processors, fishermen, and the BBRSDA.

The Skipper Science app is one tool in a larger arsenal developed by the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island in conjunction with their Indigenous Sentinels Network, a statewide network of tribes, researchers, and communities focused on conservation. The network is focused on the intersection of western science practices and a long tradition of indigenous and local knowledge practices.

Bristol Bay sockeye salmon are returning en masse and making their way upstream to find a mate. But in order to spawn successfully, these fish undergo a complex and dramatic freshwater transformation.

This summer, an unusual looking salmon tender is anchored in the Naknek-Kvichak District. The Aleutian Express is a historic, 3–masted schooner that came sailing up from Washington State for the Bristol Bay sockeye season. The vessel’s history extends back over a century, with many iterations of names, owners, and uses across Alaska and the west Coast. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon has more.

Bristol Bay’s commercial fishery puts thousands of people out on the water in small boats during the summer. And they all need somewhere to go to the bathroom. As KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon reports, poop can become a problem when dumped near shore and state officials are working to figure out just how crappy of a problem it is.

Five days after fishermen in Bristol Bay protested the record low price for sockeye salmon, processors still haven’t budged. Many fishermen are considering selling their permits and boats. But for young members of the fleet the decision on whether to return next year is especially difficult.

Bristol Bay sockeye are breaking records for abundance, but shrinking in size and weight. This year, fishing crews and biologists report fish coming back bigger and older, but fisheries researchers say it's an anomaly from the decades-long trend of declining sockeye size.