Farmed Salmon Prices Enter Summer Season Decline Farmed salmon prices have been in decline since Memorial Day weekend with traders reporting quiet demand in the market with inventories well supplied. This is a typical time of the year to see farmed salmon prices come down. Salmon starts to compete with other, more grill friendly protein options at the retail level. Buyers also begin to source wild-caught salmon from Alaska as those supplies come become readily available. The seasonal decline is not as pronounced in 2017 as it’s been in past years and these prices are still at record levels. Amazon announced a deal to buy Whole Foods Market for about $13.7 billion. The grocer will continue to operate stores under the Whole Foods Market brand, the companies said. John Mackey will continue as chief executive of Whole Foods, and the company's headquarters will remain in Austin, Texas. Amazon and Whole Foods expect to close the deal during the second half of 2017. The first interpretive report issued from the Port Moeller Test fishery, released yesterday, suggests that the forecast 41 million sockeye run for the Bay is on track. It is too early at this stage to release stock composition or run size estimates, but early indications are that the current surge of fish is destined for Egegik, the river system with the highest volume forecast for this year. The report shows that the 2017 run timing is earlier than years when the run has been late, and is later than years when the run has been early. This suggests a run timing right around the long term average. In other news the Alaska House passed a modified operating budget that tilts toward House priorities along with an expanded Permanent Fund dividend on Thursday evening. This budget now goes to the Senate for approval. If the Senate turns down the spending plan, lawmakers would have to open a second special session to pass an operating budget and avert a government shutdown July 1. Finally, Indian seafood exports are expected to grow 20 percent this year from higher shrimp sales to the US market. "With exports to US setting new records and the markets' rising appetite, the industry is confident of a strong growth for the Indian shrimps. By our current estimates, it would be a surprise if Indian exports don't bring in growth in excess of 20 per cent y-o-y (year on year)," said Rahul Kulkarni, director, WestCoast Group, a leading seafood exporter from India. Have a great weekend.