SOME 18,000 pounds of fresh Copper River salmon arrived in Seattle on a fish-filled Alaska aircraft - marking the start of the salmon season that is anticipated by seafood lovers throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. By noon on Friday, Alaska Air Cargo was expected to deliver a total of 50,000 pounds of Copper River salmon to the Lower 48 with more scheduled on later flights, the airline said in a statement.

'This year, we are flying in the first catch of coveted Copper River salmon on the largest flying salmon in the world - the Alaska Airlines Salmon-Thirty-Salmon,' said Jason Berry, managing director at Alaska Air Cargo.

The carrier flew nearly 14 million pounds of fresh Alaska seafood to the Lower 48 states and beyond last year, including more than 85,000 pounds of Copper River salmon.

WORLD SHIPPING