The Bristol Bay 2026 Commercial Salmon Fishing Outlook provides general information to fishermen, processors, and the public about the upcoming Bristol Bay salmon season.
Included is the general framework for management of each of the five major districts and the 2026 sockeye salmon forecast.
Find the document here.
Alaska Airlines is once again offering a discount code for BBRSDA members for flights to and from Bristol Bay for the 2026 fishing season.
Over the past couple years, BBRSDA has been in discussions with Alaska Airlines to explore the possibility of arranging bulk ticket purchase discounts for our members. This approach could provide greater flexibility and deeper savings, but it’s a complex process—and the first step is assessing interest from the fleet. After success with the program last year, it is being extended to us again. Ultimately, this effort is about creating a win-win opportunity for the fleet and Alaska Airlines, helping our fishermen save more of their hard-earned money.
Alaska Airlines and BBRSDA are partnering to offer BBRSDA members 5% discount codes on flights to and from King Salmon and Dillingham this summer.
Codes apply to flights that are:
Inbound to King Salmon and Dillingham between June 6-16
Outbound from King Salmon and Dillingham between July 19-29
Codes are valid until these dates of travel or until the user cap is met but overall ticket prices do increase as the travel dates approach. For the best price book early and use the codes.
Only one code is accepted per reservation, if you would like to use a code for both your inbound and outbound flight, you will need to buy one way tickets.
To receive the codes – please email info@bbrsda.com so that your membership (BB drift permit holder) can be confirmed.
BOARD OF FISH TESTIMONY
Although the deadline for on-time written testimony has passed, there are other ways to make your voice heard at the Board of Fish meetings.
You can still provide “Record Copies” (RCs) at the meeting – the online portal will go up at the start of the meeting 1/13
Public Testimony in person – Individuals are typically limited to 3 minutes; Advisory Committees and Regional Advisory Councils usually receive 10 minutes. To sign up you have to attend the meeting in person and go to the boards support table and fill out a blue card.
BBRSDA has developed a guide to support informed participation in the Alaska Board of Fisheries process, with a focus on proposals affecting the Nushagak District King Salmon Stock of Concern Management Plan.
EMAIL TO REQUEST GUIDE: info@bbrsda.com
This matters now because the Alaska Board of Fisheries is considering Proposals 44 and 61–68 that would substantially alter the Nushagak District King Salmon Stock of Concern (SOC) Management Plan; the guide helps participants share clear, credible testimony grounded in the plan’s original intent and the reality that Chinook recovery must be evaluated over an appropriate biological timeframe.
The BBRSDA guide provides practical background and structure to help participants engage effectively in the Alaska Board of Fisheries process related to the Nushagak District King Salmon Stock of Concern Management Plan.
Specifically, the guide includes:
Plain-language background on how the Nushagak SOC Management Plan was developed through a multi-year, stakeholder-driven process
Explanation of the plan’s intent, including what it was designed to do—and what it was not designed to accomplish on short biological timelines
Summary of documented outcomes from the plan’s early years of implementation, based on available analyses
Context for current Board of Fisheries proposals and why timing and regulatory stability matter for evaluating conservation effectiveness
Guidance on effective testimony, including how to communicate clearly, factually, and credibly in both oral and written formats
Key message themes to help participants stay focused and consistent
Best practices for responding to Board questions while maintaining credibility and discipline
To request a digital copy, please email info@bbrsda.com and we will provide the guide directly.
For those in Anchorage, printed copies are available in the BBRSDA Board of Fisheries Resource Room (limited quantities): Space 7 in the Summit Hall on the lower level of the Egan Center
Call to action
👉 Email info@bbrsda.com to request the BBRSDA guide
(Survey was open September 2025 – January 12, 2026)
IMPORTANT NOTE: BBRSDA’s Member Survey garnered 242 responses from drift permit holders representing 13.4% of all Bristol Bay drift permit holders. Based on this sample size, the results have a +/- 5.86% margin of error at the 95% confidence level.
THIS DOCUMENT contains the survey results..
BBRSDA gained a valuable new team member this month, we are excited to welcome Mariah Clemens as BBRSDA’s Program Coordinator.
Mariah brings years of professional experience in communications, education and project management with a strong background in community wellness and sustainable fisheries. She has led initiatives in health education, digital engagement, and community partnerships within Alaska, and has hands-on experience managing Bristol Bay salmon operations.
Mariah holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in environmental and biological sciences and is passionate about sustainability and supporting coastal communities. She currently resides in Petersburg, AK.
BBRSDA’s Frances Bursch asks Mariah about her connection to her work and Bristol Bay salmon:
How long have you fished Bristol Bay?
My first season in Bristol Bay was in 2014, so I’ve been fishing for 11 years now. Before that I had done some commercial fishing out of Southeast, both gillnetting and seining. I got my first jobs walking the docks and cold-calling skippers. My husband, Jake, and I bought our boat, Epick, in 2019 and have been running the business together for the past 6 years.
What makes you passionate about BBRSDA’s mission?
Bristol Bay is the best place on earth. It’s where I’ve made some of my best friends and best memories. It’s also allowed my family to carve out a living through commercial fishing. BBRSDA’s mission to increase the value of the fishery benefits all aspects of the fishery I love – the place, the people, and the salmon. Everything BBRSDA does year round to support the fishery has the potential to make a great difference for all of us fishermen making our living during the short and sweet sockeye run.
What is your favorite way to enjoy Bristol Bay Sockeye at home?
It depends on the time of year! For winter, I’ve started making a Finnish salmon soup recipe lately that is amazing. Fresh dill and leeks make that sockeye flavor pop! In summer, I love eating a grilled fillet that’s been marinated in Yoshida’s teriyaki.
What are some fun stories you’ve had over the years fishing?
There are a few –
I got to experience the glory of being top boat for Icicle (back in the day) for around a week, on the Little Fish, a sturdy Marco. Ugashik was great that year and I was working with the best crew ever. The glory of it all lasted until we got paid only 50 cents per pound. I still feel like that season may have just been a dream.
I found out I was pregnant with my first baby just weeks before heading to Bristol Bay in 2018. My husband was crewing with me on the same boat and we decided to just keep it a secret from our skipper. Somehow he didn’t suspect a thing when I suddenly got seasick that season after never having issues before! This baby is now almost 7 years old and, still, when he does anything out of pocket, I blame it on the Nush fishing schedule.
When you aren’t fishing or working, what can we most likely find you doing?
You’ll find me chasing around my two kids, running on the backroads and trails of Mitkof island with my dog, or cooking something good in my kitchen.
Announcement of 2025 Board of Directors Election Results
Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA)
Date: December 10, 2025
The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) is pleased to announce the official results of the 2025 Board of Directors Election, which was conducted from November 25, 2025, through December 9, 2025. A total of 407 ballots were submitted out of 1,513 eligible voters (a valid phone/or email address was required to have received a ballot).
ELECTION RESULTS
Seat A – Alaska Resident
Winner: Doug Morgan
Doug Morgan received 97.61% of the votes cast and meets the requirement of receiving the most votes.
Seat D – Non-Alaska Resident
Winner: Sean Guffey
Sean Guffey received 97.83% of the votes cast and meets the requirement of receiving the most votes.
Seat G – Open Residency (Preferential Voting)
Winner: Casey Coupchiak
Following Round 1 of preferential tabulation, Casey Coupchiak received 51.62% of the vote, exceeding the required majority.
We congratulate the newly elected directors and thank them for their commitment to representing the Bristol Bay drift gillnet fleet. We also extend our appreciation to all candidates and members who participated in this important process.
If you have any questions about the election or BBRSDA governance, please contact us at info@bbrsda.com.
This study updates a 2009 McKinley Research Group report demonstrating the lost economic opportunity associated with foregone harvest in the Bristol Bay sockeye salmon fishery with data for the 2020 to 2024 harvest seasons.
Foregone harvest occurs for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to processing capacity, fleet effectiveness and participation, management policies and decision, and natural conditions, such as compressed run entry, unforeseen weather patterns, and variance from predicted run strength.
For purposes of this analysis, the impacts of foregone harvest are expressed as lost revenue to harvesters, processors, and local and state governments. The Foregone Harvest Report is an isolated data set and does not account for the management and market factors that also influence outcomes.
Memo Re: Inflation-Adjusted Bristol Bay Ex-Vessel Salmon Prices