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Abstract
Fishermen, as price-taking producers in a perfectly competitive fishing market, are at the mercy of many
and biological market factors that effectively determine the price they receive for their catch. In the
world’s largest Sockeye salmon fishery of Bristol Bay, Alaska, ex-vessel price (the price fishermen
receive) has a high degree of volatility subject to market and biological conditions of the fishery. This
research article highlights the significance of many different factors that affect the final ex-vessel price
that fishermen in Bristol Bay, Alaska receive for their catch in order to allow for more efficient fishing
production decisions. Time-series data collected predominately from the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, among other sources, is statistically analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares regression. The
results obtained from the analysis suggest that salmon export markets, inputs to production, and
substitute goods influence the ex-vessel price of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon.