Silver Bay Seafoods Ends Cordova Processing for 2026 Citing Low Forecasts

Along Cordova’s waterfront, fishermen and plant workers learned in late February that Silver Bay Seafoods will not operate its Cordova processing plant for the 2026 salmon season. Branson Spiers, chief operating officer, said Feb. 24: “Silver Bay Seafoods will be buying salmon in all Prince William Sound drift and seine fisheries in 2026 and we will continue to provide fleet services in Cordova.” Spiers added: “Given the low salmon forecasts in PWS, we’ve developed an operational plan that prioritizes fishermen opportunity and economics, with processing planned in Valdez and Seward.”

The operational shift was driven by sharply lower pink salmon projections for Prince William Sound. The Prince William Sound Aquaculture Association predicted a run of 6.4 million humpies for 2026, compared to the 28 million fish forecast in 2025. By contrast, Valdez was reported to have a better forecast of roughly 10.8 million fish, although officials there were still awaiting final numbers.

Cordova officials flagged concerns early in the month. At a Cordova City Council meeting on Feb. 18, council member Kasey Kinsman thanked remaining local processors while acknowledging the hard outlook: “I don’t fault Silver Bay, but wanted to convey my gratitude for the local processors that continue to operate.” Kinsman also told the council, “Thank you for choosing to operate in Cordova, even in what might be a devastatingly forecasted year for the 2026 season… Thank you for choosing to keep your doors open, thank you for choosing to keep people employed.”

Silver Bay said it will retain a small presence in Cordova to support harvesters. The company plans to have a crew of about eight employees providing facility operations and fleet support, including ice, fuel and gear for Cordova fishermen. The firm also noted that most of this year’s harvest will go to cost recovery, a shift that reduces common-property availability in Prince William Sound and concentrates fishing opportunity where hatchery or broodstock arrangements apply.

Industry outlets used different verbs for the move - idle, suspend or halt - but the operational facts are consistent: no Cordova processing in 2026, purchases in all PWS drift and seine fisheries, and processing routed to Silver Bay facilities in Valdez and Seward. Trade reporting identified Silver Bay Seafoods as Seattle, Washington-based. The company also projected a potential reversal if abundance improves: “In 2027, Silver Bay expects to see higher forecasts and will adjust its operational plans accordingly.”

Key unanswered details remain local and practical: exact staffing impacts at Cordova beyond the eight-person operations crew, freight and logistics for shipping raw salmon to Valdez and Seward, and the quantitative share of the catch expected to be processed for cost recovery versus common-property sale. For Cordova and PWS harvesters, the 6.4 million humpie forecast and the cost-recovery reality will shape incomes and vessel decisions through the 2026 season, while 2027 forecasts will determine whether processing returns to town.