By Laine Welch
For the Journal

Salmon fisheries are now in full swing in many parts of Alaska, primarily for kings and reds. From now through early fall, runs of chums, pinks and cohos will also arrive in regions from Ketchikan to Kotzebue. State managers are projecting near record catches of pinks, chums and sockeye salmon in Alaska this season. If their predictions hold true, the state's total salmon catch will approach 200 million fish, making it the third largest harvest ever.

The most notable focus of the 2004 season is the projected sockeye catch of 50 million fish, well above the five-year average of 31 million. The boost is due to the outlook at Bristol Bay - home to the world's largest red salmon run - where this summer a harvest of 35 million reds is projected, double the five-year average of 17 million fish.

Processors admit they will be hard pressed to handle all the red salmon if the huge run comes in. The scenario is likely to result in some new twists to traditional marketing in Bristol Bay, especially as it applies to our No. 1 customer, Japan.

Exports of frozen sockeye to Japan have been on a downward spiral for years, and reached a low point of 39 percent last year. Market analyst Bill Atkinson reports that market prices for frozen Bristol Bay sockeye have remained below $2.50 per pound for three years, a sharp contrast to the current enthusiasm and record prices for wild salmon in the U.S. market. Based on this year's processing capacity, Atkinson said Japanese buyers estimate Alaska packers will only be able to purchase about 25 million fish, or about 10 million more than last year.

According to the Salmon Market Information Service (SMIS), less interest by Japanese buyers has two important implications: First, Bristol Bay processors will probably continue to focus on canned rather than frozen production, and second, significant amounts of sockeye are - hip, hip, hooray! - earmarked for the U.S. market.

The SMIS said processors are intent on developing a strong, U.S. customer base for large volumes of Alaska sockeye salmon. Considering the limited interest from Japan and the strong U.S. demand for wild salmon, the incentive to do so is at a high point.

Industry reports show that prices for fresh wild fish in Seattle are nearly double from last year. European buyers are also placing orders for fresh sockeye and frozen sockeye fillets. In other good news, canned inventories are reportedly limited and sales are expected to be good.

It all has fishermen hoping the higher wholesale prices will trickle down to them in the form of hefty retro payments after the season. Kodiak fishermen were generally getting the same price for their sockeye as last year at 53 cents a pound, with 5 cent bonuses for chilled fish, another nickel for (cold) deliveries and retro payments based on wholesale prices. At King Cove, early sockeye prices were reported at 46 cents to 47 cents a pound.

Live fish cures asthma

More than 200,000 people last week flocked to the southern India city of Hyderabad to swallow live fish, hoping it will cure their asthma and other breathing disorders. For over 155 years, the Bathini Goud family has been administering the fish treatment that requires patients to swallow the fish that has been treated with a special mix of herbs. (The most popular fish is murrel and the traditional medicine is a closely guarded secret.) For the treatment to work, a patient must return for the next five years and follow a strict 45-day diet.

The New Delhi Times reported that over the years doctors have warned that the unorthodox cure has no scientific validity. But millions swear by the live fish treatment, and are convinced it brings permanent relief from breathlessness and wheezing. For the first time a team of doctors will study the contents of the magic cure. The Times said all 22 members of the Goud family are involved in the asthma cure business except for the daughters. They are not privy to the secret because they marry into other families.

In a related story, shrimp shells are also being touted as a treatment for asthma and allergy sufferers. Scientists at the Medical Research Council in England are using ground-up shrimp shells stirred into a nasal spray to treat all kinds of respiratory tract allergies. Their goal is to use the spray in young children and babies to prevent allergies from developing at all. Meanwhile, Japanese scientists claim proof that wasabi, the green horseradish served with sushi, contains isothiocyanates, compounds that destroy bacteria causing tooth decay. These substances also are said to also protect against cancer and asthma.

Frozen salmon touted in press

Seen in an article from Philadelphia's phillyburbs.com extolling the wonders of wild salmon: For those who can't bear to be without salmon in the off-season, there are some alternatives. A few stores have begun to carry farm-raised organic king salmon - the same species as the most prized wild salmon, raised on feed that purportedly doesn't have PCBs and other contaminants. And now, some fish markets substitute defrosted frozen wild salmon when they can't get fresh - the fish is frozen at sea immediately after it's caught, so it's generally of excellent quality.

In fact, in a blind taste testing conducted by Chef's Collaborative, a network of chefs committed to sustainable cuisine, salmon frozen at sea came out on top, beating out fresh wild king salmon from Oregon. So maybe frozen fish is the answer for the cold days of winter. But right now, it's salmon season, and the fishing boats are hauling in the first of the catch. Salmon lovers across the country are heeding the call of the wild. It's time for the feasting to begin.

Kodiak-based free-lance writer Laine Welch can be reached via e-mail at msfish@alaska.com.