An economic analysis of the market for Alaska wild salmon protein concentrate in China

Abstract

The Alaska wild salmon industry has been in economic turmoil for many years. Plagued by increased production of farmed salmon, wholesale and ex-vessel prices for nearly all Alaska wild salmon species and products are at all time lows. The incentive to harvest the flesh of the lower-valued wild salmon species, such as the Alaskan pink and chum salmon, have led to discard problems. There are no seafood products currently made from the late season roe-stripped carcasses and the meat cannot be readily sold due to its perceived poor quality. The fishers and the processors are now faced with a problem of selling wild salmon products of little economic value. This study reports on an effort to investigate a potential Chinese market for Alaskan salmon protein concentrate (a powder product derived from Alaskan wild pink and Chum salmon). Personal surveys of Chinese consumers were conducted in five Chinese cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Baoding, Shijianzhuang, and Wangdu) to determine if this newly developed product would be valued by Chinese consumers. The relative important characteristics of wild salmon protein concentrate made from pink and chum salmon are compared to the existing protein concentrate consumed in China, made from Chinese grass carp, utilizing conjoint analyses.