Sockeye sales: Bristol Bay is the scene of Alaska's most valuable commercial salmon fishery, and the bay rang up big numbers again this season. The catch of nearly 20.6 million sockeye generated a preliminary ex-vessel value of $117.8 million, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said. Although the major processors paid gillnetters the same $1 per pound as last year, the tally fell well short of the 2011 preliminary value of $135.7 million. That's because last year's catch was larger, at 21.9 million sockeye. The fish were bigger, too, averaging 6.2 pounds versus 5.7 pounds this season. The fishery value typically rises a bit as processors pay fishermen post-season performance, quality, and sales bonuses.
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