Aside from Bristol Bay, permit prices generally dropped this week. We sold a Bristol Bay drift permit at $135,000 this week, which is up from the last sale at $132,000 two weeks ago, and our lowest asking prices are $150,000 for drift and $70,000 for setnet. In Cook Inlet, our lowest asking price for a drift permit is $26,000 and $15,000 for setnet. In PWS, our lowest asking prices are $92,000 for drift and $180,000 for seine. In Southeast, we sold a hand troll permit with gear at $9,000 and we have new low asking prices of $50,000 for drift, $8,000 for hand troll, and $22,000 for power troll. 

There have been above average chum landings for the majority of the 2023 season, with only one main surge during the last week of July. Typically, we see two surges of chums each season. The statewide chum harvest is about 22.5 million fish right now, up 58% from last year, and 54% from the five-year average. 

ADFG lifted vessel size limits for the remainder of the Chignik state waters Pacific cod season, starting October 31. There are over 2 million pounds left to catch with pot or jig gear and no gear limits in effect. 

Reminders:

ATTN COOK INLET DRIFT FISHERMEN: (don't tune out, this is important!) NMFS is looking for comments on the proposed federal management of the Cook Inlet fishery occurring in the EEZ (federal waters). Here's the gist of it:

"This action—Amendment 16 and the proposed rule—would result in separate federal management of salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ. The State of Alaska would continue to manage all salmon fishing within state waters. Federal management would implement new requirements for commercial drift gillnet vessels fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ. Fishing in the EEZ would occur on Mondays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning on or after June 19 each year until either the total allowable catch is taken or August 15. Commercial fishing vessels would have to obtain a federal permit, maintain a fishing logbook, and have a vessel monitoring system installed on their vessels. Commercial fishing vessels would not be allowed to participate in the federal fishery at the same time as participating in the state water fishery."

For more information, read the full text of the proposed rule in the Federal Register. These are massive changes. If you have thoughts to share, please submit a written comment. NMFS is required to respond in writing to all comments. To comment, click the green button at the top that says "submit a formal comment."

ICYMI: here's the 2023/2024 proposal book for regular cycle Board of Fish meetings on Upper Cook Inlet, Lower Cook Inlet, and Kodiak finfish.