Why Salmon Season is Peak Shipping Season in Alaska

Alaska is known globally as a top spot for commercial salmon fishing, and it takes a massive shipping effort to get the salmon to the rest of the world. Here's why salmon season is a crucial time for getting supplies into and out of Alaska.

Global Demand for Salmon

Salmon is one of the most desired fish worldwide. Many countries far from the U.S. depend on Alaska to supply most of their salmon. As a result, sending millions of pounds across the globe requires a large number of ships and substantial resources. Countries like China, Japan, and many in Europe are eager for this salmon, making the complex task of transporting large quantities out of Alaska over long distances a significant consideration.

Shipping the Harvesting Supplies

Catching millions of pounds of salmon requires a significant amount of specialized gear. Think of it: everything from the large nets and processing equipment used on fishing vessels to the infrastructure needed for shore-based processing plants. All this gear—tons of it—has to be shipped into Alaska before the fishing even begins. Moving these supplies can be expensive, but the revenue generated from the salmon makes it completely worthwhile for the suppliers.

Shipping the Shipping Supplies

Before any salmon can be moved, the shipping supplies themselves need to arrive safely where they're needed. This means fleets of trucks navigating Alaska's rugged and wild landscape, full of thick forests and snowy roads. This challenging environment often makes truck travel slow and difficult, adding another layer to the shipping puzzle.

Shipping the Salmon

Alaska exports approximately 26 million pounds of salmon annually, valued at around $3.3 billion. This task requires a significant amount of hard work at every stage of the salmon industry, from fishing to packaging, shipping, and getting it to stores. Many dedicated people work tirelessly to manage this monumental task.

Moving millions of pounds of salmon also requires various forms of transportation and storage. While trucks manage overland transport, a significant portion of the fresh catch is flown out via air cargo for rapid delivery, and large volumes of frozen and processed salmon are shipped by refrigerated barges and container ships. Specialized crates and coolers are, of course, required to keep it safe and fresh. During salmon season, the demand for all these shipping supplies in Alaska reaches an all-time high, as many salmon need to be transported.

Here at Alaska Air Forwarding, we're dedicated to being part of this huge effort. While we at Alaska Air Forwarding don't ship the actual catch, we do offer top-notch shipping across Alaska, moving essential fishing supplies by land, sea, or air during this busy salmon season. These efforts are what keep the state of Alaska at the very top of global salmon exports.