The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association has announced five U.S. retail partners for the 2019 season, beginning this month.
New Seasons Market in the Seattle-Tacoma region, H-E-B in Texas, QFC in Washington, Rosauers Supermarket in Eastern Washington, and Wegmans in New England are the partners for this season with New Seasons, H-E-B and QFC returning as existing partners.
The association provides consumers with a locator application so that they can find the closest realtor to them that offers Bristol Bay sockeye salmon.
“Whether you are a consumer, restaurant owner or grocery store manager, the Fish Finder will direct you to the perfect source for Bristol Bay sockeye salmon,” the locator’s website touts. “Our salmon can be shipped, shopped or picked up. You are clicks away from finding your perfect catch!”
This season, almost 1.6 million sockeye salmon have been harvested from Bristol Bay, with 26 million projected to be harvested by the end of the season. The pre-season forecasts for the Bristol Bay sockeye season differed slightly, with the University of Washington predicting 44.6 million fish to return and the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game predicting 40.2 million to return. Some researchers at the University of Washington believe that the difference between the forecasts is because the university has incorporated new models and formulas into its research.
Last year’s sockeye run in Bristol Bay was the largest season on record.
