https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2...an-shutter-operations-processing-plants/

Too bad fisheries are in this condition.

It's only going to get worse.......a lot worse.

Now if we can only get the Pink hatcheries to shut down we may have a chance to save the rest of the salmon runs.

I doubt that will ever happen.

As a side note, our fish here have been growing like crazy due to favorable ocean conditions. Have only seen one whale this whole rearing season which is unusual, which tells me there is plenty of food elsewhere for them. All this equates to more salmon in the future.

Whales are pretty much gone. They say a 30% die off, but it feels like a 60-70%.

Whale population exploded due to protections, blob got some and killer whales got a taste for them.

The yen sucks and Russia flooded the markets. If Russia overfishes its stocks things might get interesting again.

Are they closing the plants due to to many fish? Or not enough?

Bad prices/exchange rates and a flooded market

Calvin,
Won't this closure prove to be disastrous to commercial salmon fisherman? Especially in the Bristol Bay region?

Chumdogs are the worst down here - I despise them. They stray from the hatcheries into other systems and crowd out native fish - mostly humpies. They don't even really raise humpies down in SE anymore. PWS is another story. I don't mind hatchery reds, silvers or kings. If it wasn't for hatchery kings, we wouldn't even get a chance and retain a few.

Chums pay the bills to raise kings

I suppose that's the case. I know the guy who runs Taku Fisheries here in J-town. He buys the hatchery's chums and silvers. Chums are mostly a roe market as I'm sure you know. Americans expect salmon to be pink or reddish, which chum is not. I worked at the local salmon bake for a few years. They only served fresh king. Just try giving some white king to a DSMFer - they'll accuse you of trying to swindle them. He says there is a good market for the "pale" salmon in Asia as they are used to all the fish they eat being white fleshed.

He was also looking at marketing the milt to the Japanese. Apparently, the milt can be used in women's cosmetics. You know, Asian chicks like j.i.z.z. on their faces