Alaska’s Bristol Bay salmon return about average this year, with higher prices paid to fishers

Alaska’s 2026 Bristol Bay sockeye run totaled 45.7 million fish—the first year since 2014 the run fell below 50 million—and was slightly below the 20‑year average. Harvest of 30.1 million sockeye earned $264 million in ex‑vessel value, 21 % above the long‑term average.