Alaska fishermen caught 30 million wild sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay this summer.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This October is National Seafood Month, and Alaska's Bristol Bay is giving seafood lovers 30 million reasons to celebrate. Americans already have a strong appetite for salmon; it is the nation's second-most consumed seafood. Bristol Bay in western Alaska is the world's largest source of wild sockeye. The fishery supports roughly 8,000 commercial fishermen and generates economic activity for rural Alaska communities throughout the region.
Consumers nationwide can use Bristol Bay's online Fish Finder to buy this year's wild sockeye catch directly from fishermen who ship across the U.S. or find retailers carrying Bristol Bay sockeye nearby.
"These fish make a pretty amazing journey back to Bristol Bay every summer" said Doug Morgan, longtime Bristol Bay fisherman and president of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association. "We get to be there to catch them, but the story doesn't stop with us. When you buy Bristol Bay sockeye and bring it home, or order it on a menu, you become part of that journey too. You're helping keep this fishery and the communities around it going strong."
VERIFIED NUTRITIONAL POWERHOUSE
An independent analysis conducted earlier this year puts numbers behind the nutritional value of this abundant wild protein. Testing of Bristol Bay sockeye found a single 113-gram serving contains:
23 grams of protein
163% of the daily value for vitamin D
56% of the daily value for selenium
Compared with USDA reference data for farmed Atlantic salmon, Bristol Bay sockeye contained 40% more EPA omega-3, 2.6 times more vitamin D and 4.3 times more calcium. The analysis also found no detectable microplastics in any Bristol Bay sockeye samples tested.
"Bristol Bay sockeye is a true product of place, shaped by one of the most pristine ecosystems on Earth," said Lilani Dunn, BBRSDA Executive Director. "These findings put numbers behind what Bristol Bay fishermen have known for generations: this salmon is exceptional. It is nature's perfect protein."
Visit https://bristolbaysockeye.org/ for wild Bristol Bay sockeye salmon recipes, cooking tips, fishermen profiles and more.
ABOUT BBRSDA
The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) is a fishermen-funded group working to increase the value of the Bristol Bay fishery through education, quality outreach and marketing.Â
MEDIA CONTACT
Christine Fanning, Brand Partnerships & Retail
Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association
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