The world's largest fishery got even bigger when managers boosted the 2002 Bering Sea pollock catch to a whopping 1.5 metric tons, or 3.3 billion pounds. Alaska pollock could be the next to get the very green nod of approval from the Marine Stewardship Council. Pollock fillets made huge inroads in European markets, especially Germany.

The 31-million pound snow crab quota was taken in 23 days by a fleet of 186 vessels. The price was 1.40/lb.

Kodiak Tanner crab yielded a scratchy catch of half a million pounds. That's the next fishery to go the way of limited entry. Meanwhile, Southeast crabbers saw the best Dungeness season ever with a record harvest of more than six million pounds.

The Bristol Bay red king crab fishery had a quota of 9.27 million pounds, up 30 percent from the previous year. The fleet of 242 boats took the catch in just 68 hours, beating last year's record pace of 80 hours. Processors paid $6.15/lb in Dutch Harbor and $6.45/lb in Kodiak.

An industry-funded $100 million vessel buyback program will provide an interim relief valve for Bering Sea crab fisheries.

Alaska's halibut catch fell shy of the 59 million-pound catch limit. The fishery enjoyed sky high prices all season, topping $3.00/lb at the end in mid-November. The halibut harvest for 2003 should be about the same poundage.

The threat from farmed halibut retreated somewhat (for the time being), as growing the fish in captivity has proved tricky. European farmers instead turned their attention to cod.

B.C. fish farmers sent their first small lots of black cod to market, hailing it as a "prime candidate" for the industry. A report by the B.C. government said that once farmed black cod is produced in large volumes, it could depress prices by 40 percent. The report predicted production of 16,000 tons by 2021. Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Maine were successful at spawning America's first halibut in captivity. Their project is funded with a $25 million grant from the USDA.

Wild salmon continued to get clobbered by a global glut of farmed fish, and there's no end in sight.

Americans purchased nearly 31 tons of farmed salmon in the first two months of 2002, an increase of 40 percent from the same time last year. The February import of 15,784 tons (up 37 percent) is the highest volume ever. Fresh fillets are the largest single product, followed by frozen fillets. Chile claimed 52 percent of the total market, followed by Canada. One trade association said "there does not seem to be an end to the market grown in the U.S." Chilean imports increased nearly 200 percent over the last five years, and accounted for 60 percent of all U.S. salmon imports.

The value of Alaska's 2002 salmon season was $140.6 million for a catch of 130 million fish. Warehouses bulging with canned pack of sockeye and pinks continued to drag the industry down.

The Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force proposed by Senator Alan Austerman of Kodiak was greeted with bipartisan support and $900,000 in funding. The group will formulate ways to restructure and revitalize the salmon industry, and it will be a first order of business with the Alaska Legislature in late January.

Legislators asked the U.S. government to put the skids on farmed salmon imports from Chile during the four main months of the wild salmon season.

Bristol Bay's sockeye salmon catch came in at 10 million fish valued at roughly $25 million, the lowest value since 1977. Bristol Bay sockeye went for 40 cents a pound, the lowest price since 1975. As much as 60 percent of the fish was put into cans. Bristol Bay landings now make up less than three percent of the world's total salmon supply. Sockeye accounted for only 20 percent of Japan's salmon purchases, down from 57 percent in 1993-94.

Western Alaska was again declared an economic disaster sector due to so many back to back busts in Bristol Bay and on the Yukon. Meanwhile, the season's first reds and kings from Copper River flew out of retail stores at $19.99/lb.

More main stream media came out against farmed fish because of the use of antibiotics, colorants, insecticides, and damage to the environment, most notably Gourmet Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times.

Smoked Salmon Sprinkles from Trapper's Creek Smoking Company of Anchorage again grabbed the grand prize for best new product at the Alaska Symphony of Seafood contest. The company has won more awards than any other entrant.

Pink salmon roe became so popular with Japanese children, owners of sushi bars expect sales to increase by 40 percent.

The Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy came to Alaska as part of the first review of national ocean policy in more than 30 years. Both groups will provide recommendations to Congress this year.

The newly dubbed NOAA fisheries (formerly known as NMFS) dedicated 10 percent of its 2,5000 staff to working on more than 100 lawsuits filed against it, mostly by environmentalists or fishermen seeking changes in management.

Candidates for governor came to Kodiak to talk fish in April, which also marked a two-day Salmon Summit that included Senator Ted Stevens.

Barbara Belknap, one of the industry's most dedicated and industrious crusaders, said so long to the world of seafood marketing after a 12 year career at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, including five years as director. Former USCG Admiral Ray Riutta took over the helm.

Voluntary guidelines for country of origin labeling were issued for all seafoods. Mandatory labeling will follow soon. Likewise, organic labeling requirements began in October. New seafood labeling requirements in Japan and Europe will help also consumers distinguish between farmed and wild salmon at retail counters.

"Eat fish, be healthy" was a theme that made headlines all year. Studies around the world credited omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon for - developing better eyesight in babies Eeating fish five times a week cuts the risk of a stroke in half (eating just one portion cuts the risk by 22 per cent)... eating fish (or fish oils) fends off Alzheimer's and other forms of dementiaE helps reduce teenagers' headachesEreduces depression Erelieves arthritis and irritable bowelsE cuts the risk of prostate cancer in halfE protects against diabetic kidney diseaseE calms irregular heartbeat and reduces risk of heart attacksEprotects smokers from lung cancerEreduces the risk of premature birthsE a calcium compound found in salmon may play an important role in treating osteoporosis in post menopausal womenEand women who eat oily fish when pregnant promote brain development in their babies.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts received a $1 million federal grant to develop tasty foods that contain health-building fish oils. Japanese sushi was added to school lunches in Scotland to provide a more healthy diet for school kids.

Fish brains have an amazing ability to regenerate brain cells that far surpasses all mammals, including humans

Shrimp and farmed salmon were the two best selling items in U.S. restaurants.

Costco continued to buy about 600,000 pounds per week of fresh, boneless/skinless farmed salmon from Chile, but only about 750,000 pounds per year of Alaska salmon.

Alaska salmon and other seafood made sports headlines by feeding the U.S. Olympic Ski and Snowboarding Team at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. (Ten of the 34 medals won at the Winter games were taken in those sports.) It was also featured at the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Tournament. Alaska canned salmon was partnering with NASCAR's Kyle Petty. The Anaheim Angels also scored some wild salmon during the World Series, in honor of player Tim Salmon.

Japan remained Alaska's top customer for seafood, followed by Korea, Canada, Germany (up more than 240 percent based on demand for pollock fillets), and China.

Two thirds (77 permit holders) of Chignik's seine fleet opted in for the experimental fishing co-op that operated for the first time last summer, and were allocated 70 percent of the sockeye harvest. A lawsuit against the co-op failed.

Kodiak-based free-lance writer Laine Welch can be reached via e-mail at (msfish@ptialaska.net).