Low catches from both Alaska and Russia will likely lead to a global shortfall
Global market watchers say that this year may end up being one of the worst pink salmon seasons on record, and they predict that supplies will be tight. It’s a sharp contrast to 2023 which produced one of the best pink harvests ever.
As the peak pink harvesting weeks pass, the general consensus from fishery managers is that this year’s pink salmon returns appear to be very poor and that there are not currently any indications that the fish are late.
Heading into late August, the current combined harvest from Alaska and Russia – the world’s largest pink producers – is more than 80% lower than last year’s global total and 47% below the last even-year harvest.
“The current landscape of pink salmon supply is that the market is, and will be extremely short,” said Robert Reierson, President and CEO of Tradex.
For Alaska, the pink salmon catch was nearing 35 million fish by August 23 out of a forecasted 69 million for the season. That compares to a catch of nearly 155 million in 2023.
For Russia, This year’s forecast for pink salmon is predicted at 193,000 metric tons, or roughly 170 million fish.
Both combined, it’s estimated the total harvest will come in at around 137,000 metric tons, or 301.4 million pounds.
“This indicates that the current combined harvest for pinks from Alaska and Russia is over 80% lower than last year’s global total and 47% below the last even-year harvest,” Reierson said.
The general consensus from the Alaska Department and Fish and Game is that this year’s pink salmon returns overall appear to be very poor and there are not currently any indications that returns are significantly late.
Last year, overall pink salmon sizes globally were lower than both the 5 and 10 year averages. Larger fish came out of British Columbia/Canada at around 3.76 pounds, and the smallest came out of Russia weighing more than a pound less.
Alaska pink salmon update
Alaska has three primary pink salmon producing regions: Prince William Sound, Southeast and Kodiak.
The ADF&G weekly summary dated August 23 showed that at Southeast, the estimated pink salmon harvest was 16 million fish. “It is unlikely the preseason forecast of 19.2 million will be harvested,” the summary said.
At Prince William Sound, the pink salmon harvest was at approximately 4.82 million fish out of a projected catch of 20.53 million pinks.
At Kodiak, 6.43 million pinks were taken on a forecast of 8.8 million.
Statewide, the total Alaska pink salmon harvest was approaching 35 million humpies on August 23 – the forecast pegged the total take at nearly 92 million for the 2024 season.
Fishermen are reportedly getting around $0.25 per pound for pink salmon, similar to the price paid in 2023.
