By Margaret Bauman
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Snopac Products Inc. announced Jan. 17 that its new processing facilities in Dillingham will be ready for an anticipated 40 million sockeye salmon run in Bristol Bay this summer.

The Seattle-based fish processing firm, which operates exclusively in Alaska, has purchased the former Dragnet Fisheries facility in Dillingham and is expediting all efforts to have the plant operational prior to the celebrated sockeye run, said spokesman Norm Van Vactor.

State fisheries biologists forecast a Bristol Bay sockeye run in excess of 40 million fish, with a harvest of about 31 million reds. During the peak of huge runs like the one anticipated this summer, harvests will sometimes exceeded processors' capabilities. Snopac's new plant will offer harvesters more options for delivery.

Since 2005, the independent, family-owned processing company has operated a 336-foot floating salmon processor on the east side of Bristol Bay.

The new plant on the Wood River in Dillingham “is an exciting addition to Snowpac that diversifies the company and reflects a growing global market for wild sustainable salmon,” Van Vactor said. “We envision a shore plant that integrates fishers, community support and a processing plant to produce a high quality product. The Alaskan sockeye fishery is one of the largest and most sustainable in the world, and we want to reflect that with our name, in our words and with our actions.”

Van Vactor said the company hopes to be up to 50 percent of what its 2009 capacity will be in time for the 2008 sockeye run. He estimated the plant will employ 100 workers. The company may process some halibut in late May and early June, but the bulk of this year's processing will be the sockeye run, he said.

The Dillingham facility will be Snopac's first shore-based plant in Alaska. The company is also a processing partner with Silver Bay Seafoods, which opened a new plant in Sitka a year ago.

Snopac officials have already met with leaders of the new Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, whose aim is to improve the quality and price paid for Bristol Bay salmon.

The new plant will enhance the processing capacity of the bay, said Bob Waldrop, an industry observer and executive director of the seafood development association.

“This will give us more competition at least on the west side of the bay. There is some thought that because they are starting today that they will build a contemporary plant to meet the needs of the contemporary market, with diverse product forms,” Waldrop said.

“Our goals are to develop the fresh market as much as we possibly can,” Van Vactor said.

Margaret Bauman can be reached a margie.bauman@alaskajournal.com.