Molly Dischner

Every year dozens of boats travel back to Bristol Bay. Some ride on tenders or cargo ships, and some steam themselves around False Pass, a journey of more than 1000 miles that can be treacherous. But about 60 boats, most from Homer and Kodiak, take a different route across the Chigmit Mountains on the Alaska Peninsula. KDLG's Molly Dischner tagged along with a captain and crew bringing their 32-foot drift boat back to the Bay after a winter of maintenance in Homer.Download Audio

Setnetters in the Nushagak Section had their first opportunity to put their nets in the water Sunday night.

Every year, millions of sockeye salmon return to Bristol Bay, headed for spawning grounds in area rivers. Little is known about what happens to outbound juvenile fish each spring. Download Audio:

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting strong sockeye salmon returns to Bristol Bay this summer, and Copper River Seafoods is getting ready to open a processing plant in Naknek and buy fish from the Naknek-Kvichak District, where 18 million sockeye are expected to be available for harvest.

The Marine Stewardship Council will facilitate mediation for the salmon processors who disagree about who can participate in the client group that has the council’s sustainability certification. Back in April, ten of Alaska’s major salmon buyers asked to rejoin the label they dropped in 2012, saying it will help them tap back into picky European markets.