The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) and the Copper River Prince William Sound Regional Seafood Development Association (CRRSDA) are launching a collaborative marketing effort for wild salmon.
The two associations represent the salmon industry in their respectiveareas in the U.S. state of Alaska. Throughout the summer, both associations will showcase the unique characteristics wild salmon in each region have through the use of marketing campaigns.
“We are thrilled to join forces with another regional marketing group to inform and celebrate the exceptional qualities of wild Alaska salmon,” CRRSDA Executive Director Christa Hoover said in a release.
The two associations said they will also be training retail partners and marketing wild salmon with digital campaigns and social media to “showcase the authentic tales of both fisheries and their salmon, emphasizing sustainability, fishing narratives, and environmental impact.” The new campaigns will emphasize the sustainability of wild salmon and showcase the story of how the species goes from the boat to consumer’s plates.
"With both regions’ fishing seasons, U.S. consumers, retailers, and restaurants have a wonderful opportunity to savor fresh wild Alaska salmon from early May through the summer months,” BBRSDA Executive Director Lilani Dunn said.
Alaska’s salmon sector has had a difficult start to 2024. In January, OBI Seafoods announced it will not be opening its summer fish-processing plant in Larsen Bay. Wells Fargo followed that news up by filing a legal request for beleaguered Peter Pan Seafoods to be put into receivership.
Meanwhile, Trident Seafoods sold off multiple Alaska-based processing facilities, as high catch and low prices squeezed the industry.
The Bristol Bay sockeye forecast is also predicting a smaller run than the year prior, with the harvest size estimated to come in at 39 percent less than the 10-year harvest average.
