Demand for fresh fillets of Copper River red salmon remains strong in retail markets, with prices in the Anchorage area ranging from $16.99 to $56.95 a pound, as other Alaska wild salmon fisheries start to compete in the marketplace.
The season is still in the early stages, with less than 1% of the projected annual harvest of 214.6 million fish caught through June 14. And in Prince William Sound, the harvest of sockeye and Chinook salmon are down 48% and 63% from year-to-date 2024 respectively, said Sam Friedman, a fisheries economist with McKinley Research, which compiles in-season salmon marketing reports for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.
This year the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) moved the fishing area offshore in parts of the Copper River District to protect chinook, which may have reduced the catch rate for sockeyes, Friedman said in his first in-season report of June 17.
Keta harvests in Prince William Sound are up this year. Most of the keta harvest has taken place in the western part of the Sound.
As of June 17, the preliminary harvest data showed a catch of 321,162 sockeye, 605,675 chum, 4,424 Chinook, 4,089 pink and 43 coho salmon. That total included the Copper River District preliminary catch report of 302,619 sockeyes, 15,436 chum, 4,146 kings, 29 pink and 23 coho salmon.
ADF&G forecasts improved sockeye, keta and pink salmon runs statewide in 2025, but another year of weakening Chinook runs.
Costco warehouses in Anchorage, which were offering fresh Copper River sockeye fillets for $16.95 a pound, ran out by June 17, but said more would be in their coolers by the next day. Carrs-Safeway stores were also out of Copper River sockeye fillets, on sale for $25.99 a pound for store card holders and $39.99 a pound for other shoppers, but said their display cases would have plenty more by the next day.
Fred Meyer stores were selling their Copper River reds for $16.99 a pound to store card holders and for $26.99 a pound to others. At New Sagaya fish shops business was good for Copper River red fillets for $18.99 a pound, and at the online FishEx shop the price was $56.95 a pound.
Meanwhile, wild salmon fisheries were opening up in the South Alaska Peninsula, where the preliminary catch report showed a harvest of 144,000 sockeye, 36,000 chum and 17,000 pink salmon. Statewide, the wild salmon harvest stood at 1.6 million fish, including 636,000 chum, 459,000 sockeye, 42,000 Chinook and 17,000 pink salmon.
