Copper River Salmon is back with its most inflated price yet
May 17, 2022, 5:59 PM | Updated: 8:14 pm
(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The first shipment of Alaska’s Copper River salmon arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Tuesday morning, marking the start of the season for the popular fish.
Tuesday’s shipment was the first of many this year. Three to four of these flights will touch down daily through the season, according to Adam Drouhard, Alaska Airlines’ Managing Director of Cargo.
Meet the godfather of the Copper River salmon craze
More than 17,000 pounds of Copper River salmon were flown into Seattle for the annual spring tradition.
Copper River salmon season usually runs mid-May through June.
Prices for the fish are up 10% since last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Copper River salmon now costs $34.99 a pound with the Seattle Fish Company, according to KIRO 7. Getting it delivered to your home would cost an extra $65.
Customers are shelling out record amounts for the fish in pre-orders. A whole sockeye totals around $200, while other customers are paying nearly $75 per pound for sockeye fillets.
Customers are willing to pay even more of a premium for Copper River king salmon at around $90 per pound for a whole fish that is 10 pounds as part of a pre-order totaling just under $900. They’re also paying around $130 per pound for a king fillet.
At Pike Place Fish Market, a 10-pound whole Copper River king salmon costs about $900.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, this year’s commercial Copper River salmon harvests are projected to reach 716,000 fish.
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