Saving Seafood

ALASKA: Smarter nets and faster data for the Alaska pollock fishery

October 10, 2025 — In Alaska’s pollock fishery, the largest in the United States and among the most productive in the world, every tow carries not just pollock but the risk of catching salmon.

For decades, commercial fishermen and scientists have collaborated to reduce salmon bycatch, refining net designs, developing exclusion devices, and implementing vessel notification systems to steer clear of populated areas. New technology is emerging that utilizes artificial intelligence, specifically a tool called You Only Look Once, version 11 (YOLOv11), which could help fishermen and scientists evaluate salmon excluders more efficiently, accurately, and potentially at a lower cost.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

ALASKA: Two Economic Reports Highlight Pollock Industry’s Impact in Alaska

October 2, 2025 — A pair of new studies validate the economic importance of the Alaska pollock industry. The Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance (APFA) paid for two studies prepared independently by Northern Economics and the McKinley Research Group.

Both studies found significant economic impacts from pollock fishing and processing and contributions to Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups. The studies put the value of the fishery at the billions of dollars, including thousands of jobs in the seafood sector and the transportation and other support industries.

Read the full article at Alaska Business

Faster Analysis of Data to Evaluate Bycatch Reduction Efforts in Pollock Fishery

September 30, 2025 — Scientists used a model to detect and classify fish in videos more quickly than humans. The detection model is called You Only Look Once, version 11 (or YOLOv11). It’s helping scientists evaluate the effectiveness of excluders that help salmon escape from fishing nets intended to catch pollock.

YOLOv11 is an object detection deep learning model for images. Scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center customized it to detect and identify both pollock and salmon in fishing nets. This allows scientists to semi-automate the video review process used to evaluate the effectiveness of bycatch reduction devices. They can also observe fish behavior to improve the performance of these devices.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NPFMC says pelagic trawl gear impact needs further evaluation

June 17, 2025 — Federal fisheries managers have given the Bering Sea pollock industry until the December of 2025 to develop spatial closures for the 2026 groundfish A season to protect Bristol Bay red king crab.

The decision reached by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) at its June meeting in Oregon is based on new winter pot surveys, tagging data and other recent data sources, the council said in its motion of June 8. The council requested information from the industry to be presented at its December meeting in Anchorage.

The council also acknowledged the lengthy Pelagic Trawl Gear Innovation Discussion Paper available in May and requested an update on the progress of that initiative at its meeting of April 2026, by which time the field study portion of the protect for catcher processors is expected to be complete.

Read the full article at The Cordova Times

USDA awards USD 2.3 million in pollock contracts, seeks more bids on pollock, salmon

May 12, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded USD 2.3 million (EUR 2 million) in contracts for Alaska pollock, while asking for additional bids on contracts to provide millions of dollars’ worth of pollock and salmon.

The USDA awarded two contracts for 1,026,000 pounds of Alaska pollock products, with the largest, worth USD 1.45 million (EUR 1.3 million), going to Braintree, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Channel Fish. Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident Seafoods was awarded USD 829,996 (EUR 739,000) to supply frozen pollock sticks and nuggets.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Bids due 7 April for USD 50 million USDA pollock contract

March 31, 2025 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking for bids on Alaska pollock for domestic food distribution programs as part of up to USD 50 million (EUR 46 million) the agency said it would spend on the fish.

Suppliers that want to bid on the contracts for 1 million pounds of pollock fillets, nuggets, and sticks must submit bids by 7 April 2025. Deliveries will be made between 16 May and 31 July 2025.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

USDA buys over USD 100 million in domestic pollock, catfish, shrimp

March 8, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded nearly USD 47.5 million (EUR 43.8 million) worth of Alaska pollock contracts to seafood processors Trident Seafoods and Channel Fish Processing.

Additionally, the agency has awarded USD 29.3 million (EUR 27 million) in domestic catfish contracts destined for federal nutrition programs and USD 24.7 million (EUR 22.8 million) to several Louisiana-based seafood processors to supply U.S. shrimp.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

USDA sends out second-largest pollock bid invitation ever; offers due by late February

February 18, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking seafood suppliers to bid on significant quantities of domestic pollock, shrimp, and catfish.

The agency is asking for bids on more than 21 million pounds of Alaska pollock fillets, nuggets, and sticks for household food distribution through food banks. Offers are due by 27 February for deliveries that will be made between April and June 2025.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

ALASKA: Alaska’s “A” pollock season labeled make-or-break for fishing communities

January 27, 2025 — Alaska’s “A” pollock season kicked off on 20 January, and the Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance (APFA) is calling it a high stakes season for the economy of the communities it supports.

Alaska’s pollock fishery is one of the largest in the world, and last year it caught 99.9 percent of its 1,263,580 metric ton (MT) quota. In 2025, Alaska’s federal fisheries in the Bering Sea will be able to access 1.375 million MT, a 6 percent hike over 2024, and fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska will be allowed to target 171,000 MT.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource