Prices for ready-to cook large fillets of sockeye salmon may fluctuate, depending on content and packaging. Costco stores recently moved from offering two to three sockeye fillets in a Syrofoam dish wrapped in clear plastic wrap to a single large refreshed sockeye fillet in a hard, clear plastic package that sells for $13.99 a pound. Photo by Margaret Bauman

A robust harvest in the famed Bristol Bay wild sockeye salmon fishery means that the average price per pound on the succulent fish is a bargain at retail shops these days, says Andy Wink, executive director of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA).

While shoppers may be seeing inflated prices for other sources of protein, wide availability and deals on wild sockeye salmon at retailers like Costco, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, QFC and more offer further appeal for America’s favorite fish, he said.

Wild sockeye salmon, which comes predominantly from Bristol Bay, is known for its ruby red color, great taste and nutrient density. It’s also easy to prepare by grilling, broiling, sautéing, roasting, poaching, steaming, and smoking. With lower wholesale prices on sockeye salmon and high prices for many other protein options, retailers nationwide are offering temporary price reductions.

While prices of raw fillets of ready to cook wild Alaska sockeye salmon have remained relatively stable, prices have risen for processed seafood, such as these popular Trident Seafoods salmon burgers, due to rising costs of processing. Photo by Margaret Bauman

Wild sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay is available at seafood counters, in cans on shelves, and also in the freezer section. To find a store offering Bristol Bay sockeye check out the Fish Finder at https://bristolbaysockeye.org/find-your-fish/.

“Now is the time to stock up on Alaska sockeye and consumers can feel good about having this wild, sustainable fish on their tables. In addition to home cooks, we encourage retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, and importers to reach out to us to collaborate on ways to showcase this tremendous protein,” says BBRSDA Marketing Director Lilani Dunn.

While prices for the ready-to-cook fillets of wild salmon from all over Alaska have remained relatively stable, prices have climbed with more upscale packaging, including at Costco stores, which now feature large single sockeye fillets in clear individual packages, rather than two or three fillets in a clear plastic wrapped Styrofoam container. Processed sockeye salmon, such as Trident Seafoods salmon patties, have gone up considerably in price, due to the increased costs of processing.

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For more information and cooking tips visit www.bristolbaysockeye.org.

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association is a fishermen-funded group with the mission to increase the value of the Bristol Bay fishery through education, quality outreach, and marketing.

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