Copper River sizzles, but Alaska sockeye outlook is choppy

摘要

As usual, opening day on Alaska's Copper River produced sizzling prices for commercial gillnetters. Fishermen pocketed 4 dollar per pound for sockeye, up from 3.60 dollar the year before. Kings brought 6.50 dollar, a boost of 50 cents over opening day2005. But not all Alaska sockeye fishermen are earning record prices. The sensational but fleeting Copper River prices, stoked by springtime gourmet demand across the continent, tend to mask the true economic health of Alaska's overall sockeye salmon fisheries.