Permit sales are picking up after a slow fall. A Cook Inlet drift permit sold at $30,000 this week, the same as the previous sale two weeks ago. We sold a PWS herring seine permit at $15,000 and have another offer of the same. Kodiak Tanner permits are getting a lot of attention following last week's announcement of a 5.8 million pound GHL. A < 60' permit sold at $80,000, up from last week's sale at $69,000, one leased at $12,000, and we have a new offer of $13,000 for a lease. We have a < 120' permit listed at $250,000 and listed an EMT at $40,000.

In the most anticipated news of the week, both the University of Washington's Alaska Salmon Program and the ADF&G published their 2023 Bristol Bay sockeye forecasts. The Alaska Salmon Program forecasts a total run of 50 million fish and a harvest of 35 million and ADF&G forecasts a run of 51 million fish and a harvest of 38 million. While the two forecasts differ as they usually do, they're both substantially lower than the 2022 run of 79 million fish and harvest of 60 million, and down 13% and 10% respectively from the 10-year average.

On that note, the Board of Fisheries' Bristol Bay meeting will be held November 29-December 3 in Anchorage (or tune in remotely). The deadline to comment is November 14th. If you're not sure what to expect or how to participate or comment, UAF Bristol Bay Campus is hosting a free online seminar with BOF Director Art Nelson on Tuesday, November 8. Be sure to register in advance!