ANALYSIS: Shrimp Farmgate Prices Fluctuate in Mekong Delta with Factories at One-Fifth Capacity

The severe consequences of a prolonged lockdown are weighing on Vietnam’s manufacturing and export orientated industries.   

With 114,260 official infections as of Tuesday, Vietnam's economy is faltering.   

New orders to curb the spread of the Delta variant have led to sharp reductions in factory output. Vietnam's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) - a measure of manufacturing performance (above 50 representing an expansion, below 50 representing a contraction) - dropped sharply to 44.1 in June from 53.1 over the previous month, ending a six-month period of growth...

Global Tuna Alliance Backs MSC Push for Improved Management Across WCPFC Tuna Stocks

The Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) welcomed a factsheet on the Western & Central Pacific tuna published by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) this week.

The MSC warned that 22 tuna fisheries in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) could face certification suspension. Both the MSC and GTA believe the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which oversees the stocks, must act to develop improved harvest strategies to ensure the stock remains sustainable.

Tom Pickerell, Executive Director of the GTA, said...

8.2 Earthquake Hits Alaska Peninsula, Largest Since 1964 9.2 Magnitude in Prince William Sound

Last night at 10:16 p.m. local time a 8.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded 75 miles off the south coast of the Alaska Peninsula. It is the second worse earthquake in Alaska’s recorded history, just one magnitude below the Good Friday earthquake in 1964 that ravaged much of Anchorage and triggered a tsunami that changed the topography of Prince William Sound. It is currently the second largest recorded earthquake in the world. 

Last night’s 8.2 quake was centered 20 miles below the sea floor, 75 miles  ...

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Landings and Prices Show Ongoing Roller Coaster Ride

The good news in the Gulf of Mexico is that shrimp price are up. The bad news: landings are down.

According to the Southern Shrimp Alliance, reporting data from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center's Gulf of Mexico updated shrimp landings information, Texas landings are the lowest they've been in the first half of a year in the last 20 years. With the updates, shrimp landings in 2021 are reported to have been 25.6 million pounds, down from 26.5 million pounds last year and 38.6 percent below...

AquaBounty Technologies Names Pioneer, Ohio, As Location For New Salmon Farm

AquaBounty Technologies is headed to Ohio! After months of speculation about the location of their new farm, the land-based aquaculture company announced on Thursday that they’ve identified Pioneer, Ohio, as the location for their first large-scale commercial facility.

“We are excited to announce Pioneer, Ohio, as the location of our next farm,” said AquaBounty CEO Sylvia Wulf. “After an intensive analysis of the site data and the completion of substantial due diligence, Pioneer met our selection requirements. The village of Pioneer, Williams County...

After Three Openers, Area 2A Halibut Season Allocation is Almost All Caught

That's all, folks: The 2021 halibut season's over for fishermen in Washington, Oregon and California.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission said the Area 2A Pacific halibut non-treaty directed commercial fishery attained enough landings to close the fishery for the rest of 2021.

The 2021 total allocation for the directed fishery was 116.17 metric tons, or 256,122 pounds. The IPHC estimates 104.97 mt, or 231,423 pounds were landed during the three 3-day openers in June and July this year.

"Given this estimate, its preliminary status, and that...

JAPAN: May Air Cargo Imports Up 33.1% In Volume, 27.4% In Value

According to the May import statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, marine products brought in by air freight maintained a recovery trend. The cumulative value also exceeded the same period of the previous year. Compared to 2019, before the COVID crisis, the quantity has recovered to 90%, and the value increased significantly, reports Suisan Keizai.

In May, the actual results of air transported imports (fishery products and preparations) were 4,556 tons; up 33.1%, and 6,726.2 million yen ($6.13 million)...

Wild Alaskan Company Commits to Sustainability with Public Benefit Corporation Filing

The Wild Alaskan Company has made a big splash over the past year. The direct-to-consumer company providing members with Alaskan seafood grew tremendously during the pandemic, according to CEO Aaron Kallenberg.

One of the key messages of the growing company is sustainability. Kallenberg’s family has a long history in the state of Alaska, and he joked about his family, “Literally writing the book on Alaska sustainability” as he held up a copy of his grandfather’s fishery conservation thesis...

Alaska Health Care Officials: Chance of ‘COVID Surge’ Grows by the Day

“Right now, based on the trends we’re seeing, the likelihood of a significant COVID surge is increasing by the day,” Jared Kosin, president of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association, said Monday. “And our health care system is in a far more fragile state than it was a year ago. We’re extremely concerned.”

On Tuesday, Kosin and others met with Governor Dunleavy to convey the urgency of the situation to unvaccinated Alaskans, Kosin told the Anchorage Daily News in a report published yesterday.

Governor Dunleavy issued...

USDA Seeking Bids for Canned Salmon Products

The USDA issued an open purchase request for canned salmon products to be used in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs on July 26.

In all, the USDA is seeking bids for 74,480 cases of canned red salmon.

The USDA said that acceptances will be announced by midnight on August 13, 2021 and deliveries will be made between October 1 and December 31, 2021.

Find the open purchase request on the FDA website here.

In May 2021, the USDA sought bids on frozen salmon fillets...

Poaching Remains A Pressing Problem for Russian Fish Sector Despite State Efforts  

Poaching remains a pressing problem for the Russian fish sector despite efforts taken by the state to fight it in recent years, according to recent statements made by some local analysts in the field of fisheries and Russian media reports.   

According to the Russian Izvestia business paper, citing Rosryblovstvo, in the first months of the current year, domestic fisheries inspectors revealed over 18,000 violations of national fishing legislation, which resulted in the seizure of almost 27 tons of illegally produced fish and seafood...   

Fiscal Year 2022 Fee Rates Announced For FDA’s VQIP and Third-Party Certification Program

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the fiscal year 2022 fee rates for importers approved for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP), and accreditation and certification bodies interested in participating in the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program (TPP).

VQIP is a voluntary, fee-based program for expedited review and importation of foods from importers who can achieve and maintain the safety and security of their supply chains.

FY2022 VQIP user fee rate will be effective on August 1, 2021 and supports program benefits from...

Fisher vs. Fisherman: What Do They Prefer?

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Fisher or fisherman – what term do they prefer? 

Our language has evolved and changed to try and become more gender neutral and ‘politically correct’. For example, policeman to police officer, fireman to firefighter, and now fisherman to fisher.

Since the beginning of time the word fisherman has been used to describe a person who captures fish and other animals from a body of water. Fishing is one of the oldest occupations in history.

Fish Radio asked fishing men and women of Kodiak what...

Nominations for Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Ends July 29

NOAA Fisheries is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, and the application deadline is tomorrow, Thursday, July 29.

The Committee researches, evaluates, and provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce and NOAA on the development and implementation of agency policies that address science and regulatory programs that are critical to the mission and goals of NOAA Fisheries. They are looking for members that have experience across the wide spectrum of commercial, recreational, aquaculture and subsistence fisheries, as well as...

Subway Urging California Judge to Throw Out Lawsuit 

Subway is calling on a California judge to end the lawsuit over its tuna sandwiches. 

The sandwich chain has been embroiled in legal drama since January when Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin of Alameda County filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that Subway’s tuna sandwich is “made with anything but tuna.” Dhanowa and Amin ultimately abandoned their original claim, but updated their lawsuit last month to call Subway’s sustainability claims into question. 

“Defendants label and advertise the Products as...

Western Central Pacific Ocean Tuna, a Key Source of MSC Certified Product At Risk of Suspension

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) said that 22 tuna fisheries in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) may face an MSC-certification suspension.

The WCPO is home to over half of the global tuna catch and represents 73% of all MSC-certified tuna. The MSC noted that the failure of these fisheries to retain certification could undermine years of work towards sustainable tuna fishing.

The fisheries in the region were initially certified with a requirement for fishing nations to agree on measures to ensure...

Coast Guard Helps 5 Aboard Fishing Vessel Following Collision Near Port O’Connor Texas

The Coast Guard assisted five crew members aboard an 84-foot fishing vessel near Port O’Connor, Texas on July 26.

The crew on the fishing vessel, Aiden Boy, reported a collision with another fishing vessel, Joseph Vu approximately 15 miles off Port O’Connor. The Coast Guard said that neither crew was in distress.

Following an alert from the Aiden Boy, a Coast Guard Station Port O'Connor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew launched to respond. The crew arrived on the scene and confirmed both vessels were disabled...

Kvarøy Arctic Announces Recipients of its Women in Aquaculture Scholarships 

On Tuesday salmon farmer Kvarøy Arctic announced the recipients of their Women in Aquaculture scholarship program. The company is proud to award two $10,000 scholarships, along with an in-person internship in Norway, to Oyebadejo Augustina from Nigeria, and Marta Carvalho from Portugal. 

Augustina is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Technology in Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Her long term goal is to set up a training center in her community so she can...

Proof of Vaccination to Dine? Some Restaurants Introduce New Requirements To Stop Spread of COVID-19

On your way out to dinner you check your pockets for your keys, phone and wallet. Now add your vaccination card or negative COVID test into the mix. 

While that may not be a reality across the United States just yet, a growing number of restaurants are requiring proof of vaccination before allowing a customer to dine indoors. 

Like the mask mandates, requiring proof of vaccination is up to each business. And a growing number of restaurants in big cities are attempting to...

USDA Eyeing 320,000 Pounds of Catfish Products in Latest Open Purchase Request

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) invited firms to sell catfish products for use in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs on July 28.

Bid acceptances will be announced by midnight on August 11, 2021 and deliveries will be made between January 1 and February 15, 2021.

The solicitation calls for bids on 320,000 pounds of frozen breaded catfish strips.

Back in May 2021, the USDA issued a purchase request for nearly 2.7 million pounds of...

PODCAST: A Deep Dive into Foodservice's Road to Recovery

On this episode of the SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Ryan Doyle take a deep dive into foodservice's road to recovery.

This episode is part of Urner Barry’s Insights Spotlight week. Registering for the Insights Spotlight also includes complimentary access to COMTELL. Find more content on foodservice recovery by visiting comtell.com/insights.

PWS Pink Harvest Now at 23.3 Million, 2.5 Million Chum, Statewide Catch About 47% of Forecast

The Prince William Sound seine and gill net fleets are 1.5 million pink salmon away from reaching the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s pre-season forecast and are so far twice the volume landed at this time two years ago. Historically, Alaska’s pink salmon runs are significantly larger in odd years than even years, so comparisons are made to two-year ago runs. 

Overall, salmon landings in Alaska are just over 89.5 million salmon as of Monday, made up of 50.4 million sockeye...

Market Briefing: The Road to Recovery in Foodservice

A special Foodservice Recovery edition of Urner Barry's Market Briefing is now available as part of the Insight's Spotlight on COMTELL!

Urner Barry is the leading provider of protein market news and information in the food industry. Through daily canvasses of the trade and an unrivaled historical database, our analysts are uniquely positioned to report on the underlying conditions and significant disruptors to the market. In this Market Briefing, Urner Barry reporters outline the latest action in the commodity protein markets, highlighting seasonal factors, disruptors, and current supply and demand fundamentals.

Access the latest UB Market Briefing HERE.  

Big Rock Oyster Co. Completes Recall of 12K Oysters Received from Unapproved Source

Big Rock Oyster Co., a Massachusetts-based company, completed a recall of 12,000 individual oysters received from an unapproved source.

The harvest of the recalled oysters occurred on June 29 and July 13. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) said recalled product was distributed to dealers and retailers in Massachusetts, New York and Florida.

The recall was first initiated on July 15 and wrapped up on July 23, per the MDPH.

A total of 8,500 oysters were harvested on June 29 from MA-SC19 on June...

Louisiana to Begin Accepting Applications For Round 2 of CARES Act Funding in August

Another state is moving forward with distributing the second round of CARES Act funding provided for fisheries relief. 

Last week SeafoodNews reported that Massachusetts began sending out applications to distribute their $23.6 million in fisheries relief funding. Now, Louisiana is getting ready to begin accepting applications for the funds, which are part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that applications for the $12.4 million in financial assistance available to...

Sysco Partners With SAVRpak to Change the Future of Food Delivery

There is nothing worse than ordering takeout or delivery and getting soggy food. But that might be a thing of the past thanks to Sysco’s new partnership with SAVRpak.

The global foodservice distribution company announced on Tuesday that they’ve entered into an exclusive partnership that will deliver SAVRpak’s patented food preservation technology to independent and local chain restaurants nationwide. This new, paper and plant-based solution will be available to order through Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions platform.

For those unfamiliar with SAVRpak...

Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization: "Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act" Introduced

Last Friday the long-awaited “Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act”, a reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), was introduced by Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Ed Case (D-HI). Huffman is chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee, within the House Natural Resources Committee. 

This is the first time the MSA, the preeminent law on the management of the nations fisheries from 3- to 200-miles, has addressed climate change.

In the 44-year history of the law, there have been many improvements, but...

Shrimp Industry Shares Concerns Over Offshore Wind Energy in the Gulf of Mexico

The winds of change are coming to the Gulf of Mexico -- and, similar to scallopers in the New York Bight, groundfish fishermen in the Mid- Atlantic and New England, and fishermen on the West Coast, shrimpers are feeling the pressure.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance recently filed comments with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in response to its request for input regarding potential commercial wind energy leasing on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf.

BOEM is in the midst...

Fishermen Push BOEM for Changes to New York Bight Wind Lease Areas

Last week, scallop fishermen and industry advocates urged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to adjust the proposed New York Bight offshore wind lease areas.

The Fisheries Survival Fund explained that the industry officials asked BOEM officials on an online call to create a buffer zone to protect the valuable scallop fishery in the region.

“Proposed lease areas need to be thoroughly re-evaluated to reduce impacts to scallops and scallop fishermen, who operate in the most valuable federally managed fishery,” the Fund wrote in a press...

Regal Springs Welcomes Laurent Develle as New Head of Corporate Affairs

Tilapia farming company Regal Springs is welcoming a new head of Corporate Affairs. The company announced this week that Laurent Develle will be stepping in for Peter Hajipieris, the company’s current Executive Vice President of Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer. 

Develle is the founder of Develle Insights, where he offers clients services like serving as their interim or longer term outsourced General Counsel/ Compliance Officer/ Corporate Affairs or Sustainability Officer, or serves as their external legal and/or sustainability advisor/lawyer on specific projects...