Regional commercial fisheries and operations infuse more than $8.6 million into Norton Sound communities
UNALAKLEET—Hard working regional fishers and processors earned $8.6 million during the 2018 Norton Sound commercial fishing season. Norton Sound Seafood Products (NSSP) paid out $6.4 million to 219 salmon, crab and halibut fishers. Another $2.2 million was paid to 254 seasonal employees working in processing plants, at buying stations and on tender vessels.
“Through sheer hard work and by capitalizing on opportunity, Norton Sound fishers and processors once again made the commercial fishing season a record-breaking success,” Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) Board Chairman Dan Harrelson said. “Thanks to record coho and chum salmon runs, and continued robust markets for red king crab and halibut, NSSP operations and fishers both had an incredible season.”
Norton Sound salmon fishers delivered a record 3.6 million pounds to NSSP with an ex-vessel value of just more than $4 million. This shatters last year’s harvest record of 2.5 million pounds with an ex-vessel value of nearly $2.8 million. For coho alone, fishers delivered 1.8 million pounds with an ex-vessel value of $2.5 million. NSSP purchased nearly 1.7 million pounds of chum with a value of $1.35 million.
“The coho and chum harvest is what pushed this to a record season,” NSSP Manager William “Middy” Johnson said. “Crab and halibut quotas were down and their markets remained steady, but the coho and chum runs were strong. Norton Sound salmon fishers set their nets with every opening, so we not only had a record salmon harvest, but individual fishers had record seasons. These men and women have proven that if fishers are given the opportunity, they will work hard, set, pull and deliver.”
Commercial harvests are delivered directly to the NSSP processing plants in Unalakleet and Nome, along with buying stations in Shaktoolik, Koyuk, Elim, Golovin and Savoonga. Between these shore-based operations and seven tender vessels, NSSP paid out a total of $2.2 million to 254 individuals employed as processors, buyers, vessel crew members and office support.
For more information on the 2018 Norton Sound Seafood Products fishing season, contact Middy Johnson at (907) 624-3190 or middy@nsedc.com.
2018 NSSP Commercial Fisheries
|
Fishery |
Number of Fishers | Total Harvest (pounds) |
Ex-Vessel Value |
| Crab | 52 | 321,047 | $2,026,026 |
| Salmon | 152 | 3,678,285 | $4,003,199 |
| Halibut | 15 | 66,471 | $387,912 |
| TOTAL | 219 | 4,065,803 | $6,417,137 |
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