To celebrate the record-setting wild salmon fishing season in Bristol Bay, Alaska, several Washington, D.C., U.S.A. restaurants are featuring salmon from the area this week.
From 20 through 24 September, select Washington, D.C. restaurants are participating in the second Bristol Bay Salmon Week, sponsored by the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association.
Bristol Bay is home to the world’s most prolific commercial wild sockeye salmon fishery, responsible for producing more than half of the sockeye sold worldwide, BBRSDA said in a press release.
During the 2021 Bristol Bay fishing season, a record-setting 66 million wild salmon returned, allowing for a near-record harvest of more than 40 million sockeye salmon.
“This marks the seventh-consecutive season the runs have exceeded 50 million fish. These returns support over 10,000 jobs and a billion-dollar annual economy associated with the over 130-year-old commercial fishery and a thriving sport fishery,” BBRSDA said.
Bristol Bay Salmon Week is a “great opportunity to get delicious wild sockeye on menus and plates while telling the unique story of the connection between the Bristol Bay region and fishing,” BBRSDA Marketing Director Lilani Dunn said.
“Telling this story is critical to our way of life,” Dunn said.
Participating restaurants include The District Fishwife, Donahue, Cinder BBQ, Ford’s Fish Shack, Hatoba, Maketto, Mike’s Restaurant and Crabhouse, Oceanaire, and others.
“We are well aware of the challenges the restaurant industry currently faces, and deeply appreciate all of our partners who have come together to help celebrate and protect Bristol Bay and its salmon,” Dunn said.
Photo courtesy of BBRSDA.
