Japan: Herring Roe Supply from the US and Canada to Decrease by 60%

Kazunoko herring roe's raw material supply reached a significant turning point this year. The domestic herring industry has long been supported by North American roe-bearing herring supplied from Alaska and the west coast of Canada. Still, this year, the fishery in Bristol Bay has been postponed.

According to Minato Shimbun, after the herring fishing in Hokkaido ceased in the mid-1900s, Pacific spawners have carved out a history of developing production areas in North America, Russia, South Korea, and North Korea. Among them, the Bristol Bay...

Japan: Alaskan Black Cod Price Plummets From JPY 2200/kg in December to JPY 1200-1350/kg

According to a report by the Minato Shimbun, the price of 4/5-pound black cod from Alaska has fallen from the 2,200 yen/kg ($14.67/kg) it reached at the end of last year and, after the summer, it appears to range from 1,200 to 1,350 yen/kg ($8.00-9.00/kg). Due to the increase in quotas and the dominance of the Japanese market, the price decline is expected to continue despite the weaker yen. While trading company sources hope...

Everything You Need To Know About Alaska’s Red King Crab Fishery In 2024

There are a lot of questions surrounding Alaska’s lucrative red king crab fishery. And because there are four stocks, news of closures or openings can become confusing.

The fishery is managed by NOAA Fisheries, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Management is based on the size, sex, and the season, meaning that only male crabs of a certain size can be harvested, and that fishing can not take place during mating and...

President Biden Releases Statement on Passing of Eugene Peltola, Jr.

On Wednesday news broke that Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola, Jr., the husband of Alaska U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, died after a plane he was flying crashed Tuesday night in Alaska. Anton McParland, the Chief of Staff for Rep. Peltola, confirmed Eugene’s passing on X (formerly Twitter). Now President Biden has released a statement on the loss of Eugene.

The President’s statement can be read in its entirety below:

Jill and I send our love and prayers to Congresswoman Mary Sattler Peltola on the sudden death of her husband, Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola...

OPINION: State of AK, NPFMC Oppose Revisions to Fishing Laws

“Fishing is the beating heart of Alaska…We must do all we can to sustain our great fisheries and ensure that our resources are managed to benefit Alaskans first and foremost,” Governor Mike Dunleavy said in January 2022, when amid much hope and hoopla, he accepted recommendations of the Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force that he created by Administrative Order in 2021. The hardworking group met 45 times over the course of a full year and produced a comprehensive product.

That was followed in 2023 by a...

Alaska Symphony of Seafood Winner Barnacle Foods Introduces New Habanero Hot Sauce With Alaska Kelp

Seafood lovers will want to add a new condiment to their shelf. Barnacle Foods announced this week that they’ve launched a new product: Habanero Hot Sauce made with Alaska-grown kelp.

Described as the “perfect heat meets a touch of sweet,” hot sauce lovers will enjoy the burn of habanero with a hint of mango. The product description explains that “briny, umami-rich Alaska kelp melds this sauce making it worthy of dabbing on all your favorite foods for a bit of eclectic delight.”

“With each bite, we are sharing the flavors and...

Japan: Redfish from Alaska; Weak Yen Offsets Falling Import Value in Dollars

As of early September, the price of redfish or Pacific Ocean Perch (POP) produced in Alaska in 400/500-gram sizes is around 420-430 yen/kg ($2.84-2.91/kg), which has remained unchanged from a year ago. Although import dollar prices have fallen this year, the weaker yen has offset this, and new product prices are not expected to fall, reported Minato Shimbun.

This year, the price of Japanese imports in dollars has fallen. In addition to a slight increase...

Eugene Peltola, Husband of Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola, Dead in Plane Crash

Eugene Peltola, the husband of Alaska U.S. Representative Mary Peltola, died Tuesday night in a plane accident in Alaska. 

Eugene was said to be the pilot of the single-engine Piper PA-18 and was the only one on board the plane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incident happened shortly after takeoff at approximately 8:45 p.m. local time Tuesday. There are no further details on why the plane crashed, however a statement from a National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson said that the crash occurred after...

NOAA Cuts Ribbon on Renovated Ketchikan, Alaska, Port Facility

Today, federal, tribal, state and local officials joined NOAA leadership to cut the ribbon on the agency’s newly renovated port facility in Ketchikan, Alaska. The celebration was held to dedicate the facility and recognize the important partnerships in the area.

The facility will provide vessel support for NOAA research ships. The facility will also support NOAA Ship Fairweather, which is homeported in Ketchikan.

“Having a home base for NOAA to operate from in Alaska is integral to our science, and mission to ensure safe navigation and the growth of our blue...