Washington's commercial black cod fishery continues to gain momentum as landings and consumer demand reach new highs.

According to the Chinook Observer, commercial sablefish (black cod) landings in Washington have increased every year since 2019, climbing from 533 metric tons to more than 2,515 metric tons in 2025. The fishery generated $8.7 million in revenue last year, and fishermen are already on pace to challenge that mark again in 2026, with 2,448 metric tons landed so far this season, worth about $7.3 million at an average dockside price of $1.38 per pound.

The species, prized for its rich, buttery flavor and high omega-3 content, has also seen growing demand in domestic markets. Eryn Domeyer, director of operations at Tre-Fin Seafood Market in Ilwaco, Wash., told the Chinook Observer that black cod has overtaken albacore tuna as the company's best-selling seafood after customers increasingly sought it out at farmers markets and retail locations.

While long favored in export markets, particularly in Japan, sablefish is now appearing more frequently on restaurant menus and in seafood markets across the Pacific Northwest, reflecting its growing popularity among U.S. consumers.