June 26, 2025 — Arobust harvest of Copper River sockeye salmon has not panned out for 2025, leaving customers scrambling in Anchorage, Alaska, as fillets disappear for the season, with prices ranging from $16.95 to $56.95 a pound.
Harvesters in the Cordova area of Alaska’s Prince William Sound brought in just over 60,000 reds in the commercial opener that ended on June 20. “They would have been looking at about 115,000 reds based on the anticipated opener on June 19,” said Jeremy Botz, a veteran fisheries biologist in Cordova with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle was posting availability of Copper River reds and Chinooks, including whole sockeyes for $124.99 and whole kings for $639.99. Fishmongers there also had plenty of fillets of sockeyes for $39.99 a pound and fresh kings at $119.99 a pound.
A total of nine Copper River openers beginning on May 22 brought in an estimated 362,983 reds, according to the latest ADF&G preliminary harvest report available on June 24. An update on the newest 48-hour opener was still being compiled.