Very little activity in the quota market during the past week. A small block of 3A halibut sold at $20.00 and a block of WY sablefish went for $6.75. No recent black cod prices to report, but the ex-vessel prices for halibut are surprisingly strong for this late in the season with Homer buyers paying around $6.50. If you find these dock prices useful, and you’re making a delivery or have delivered recently, please let us know what you got paid!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling quota, a reminder that NMFS/RAM will stop processing transfers at the end of the year and won't resume processing quota share transfers until the new divisors are published and permits are issued. That usually happens in late February or early March.

The IFQ halibut and sablefish season ends at 11:59pm on Saturday, December 7th. With just over two weeks left to go, the statewide halibut TAC is 79% harvested, with 2C at 87%, 3A at 89%, 3B at 86%, 4A at 55%, 4B at 31%, and 4C/D at 40%. The statewide sablefish TAC is 58% landed, with AI at 4%, BS at 33%, CG at 75%, SE at 81%, WG at 67% and WY at 81%. [more] 

Here's the November Groundfish Harvest Report.  

The IPHC will hold it's Interim Meeting electronically November 25-26. The stock assessment hasn't been published as of today, but the space-time modeling of the FISS data has been, and it doesn't look as bad as I expected it to, so maybe there's hope yet!

The NPFMC will meet in Anchorage December 2-10. The Council will set TACs for BSAI and GOA groundfish and Norton Sound Red King Crab, will set charter halibut management measures for the 2025 season, review the Amendment 80 Program Review Report and the IFQ Program Review Report, and more. The comment period opens November 15 and closes at 12:00pm AKT November 29.

What Else?

Rumors abound this week that Silver Bay Seafoods is in talks with OBI Seafoods to take control of OBI's 10 Alaska plants and buying stations. OBI hasn't confirmed the outcome of any talks, but did say they were investigating collaborations.

President-elect Trump's choice for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick (who will oversee NOAA and choose who gets to head up NMFS) has also been tapped to oversee the Office of the US Trade representative. Trump's agenda includes a 10%-20% universal tariff on all imported goods, ratcheting up to 60%+ on goods from China. Lutnick's stance on fisheries and seafood is unclear, but his support for tariffs appears strong.

The USDA awarded over $2 million in contracts for 920,000 pounds of Alaska pollock products to Trident Seafoods ($1.6 million) and Channel Fish ($448K). 

In total, Kodiak, St. Paul, Dillingham, Juneau, Hoonah and Anchorage will receive over $104 million in federal grant funds for port and maritime infrastructure improvements. 

Scientists are still studying whether the release of hatchery pink salmon is affecting other species. There's a growing group who believe such large hatchery releases are detrimental, but others think that the pinks are just a drop in the bucket and can't be responsible for downward trends in other stocks.

ASMI's annual All Hands on Deck Conference will be held in Anchorage December 3-5. Register in advance whether you plan to attend in-person or virtually.

The winners of AFDF's 2024 Alaska Symphony of Seafood include Teriyaki Salmon Jerky by Fable Fish Company, Miso Black Cod Deli Kits by Alaskan Leader Seafoods, and Holdfast Kelp Vodka produced by Uncharted Distillery. (Twist my arm, I guess I'll try them.)

Alaska Sea Grant is hosting a five-session direct marketing workshop for those considering or currently direct marketing seafood in Alaska. The program is entirely online, held in the evenings, 5:30-8:00 pm December 2, 4, 6, 9 and 11. The cost is $50.

American Seafoods CEO Einar Gustafsson has left the company rather abruptly after just two and a half years. He'll be replaced by Inge Andreassen, the current Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President.

Heads up charter halibut operators: NMFS has proposed a new fee starting in 2025 to support the Recreational Quota Entity Program. The rule would require a charter halibut stamp for all guided anglers for each day they intend to retain halibut. The proposed fee for the stamp is $20.00. If implemented, the funds would help increase the amount of halibut available to the charter sector, which would ease restrictions (ie # of days, size of fish). The comment period ends December 2. Comment here (AFTER reading the rule, as many questions and concerns are answered in the document).

Aberdeen, Washington-based Circle Seafoods purchased another barge to convert to a floating processor. Circle Seafoods is also currently building a freezer barge and hopes to have both operational for the 2025 Southeast salmon season (drift & seine).  

The Joint Legislative Seafood Task Force met last week, where they heard from a wide swath of guest speakers. A video recording will be posted here soon.

NOAA Fisheries published an action plan to improve its Seafood Import Monitoring Program, which will focus on "combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and bolstering seafood traceability."

This week's Alaska Fisheries Report: Kodiak's small Tanner season, the unifying bond of salmon through time and cultures, and the dismal Kodiak salmon season summary. 

Last week's Bering Sea Barometer: "November brings rough seas to the Bering Sea; the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery is nearly wrapped up; and Silver Bay Seafoods plans to take over two Peter Pan plants — in Port Moller and Dillingham."