Mexico Receives Green Light to Export Wild Shrimp Into United States

Mexico’s Conapesca (National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries) said the U.S. government has granted certification for Mexican shrimp to again be exported to the U.S. market.

The U.S. determined that Mexico’s program to protect sea turtles through Sea Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in its shrimp fisheries, is comparable to its own protection measures.

The U.S. announced a ban on Mexican shrimp imports on April 30, as SeafoodNews reported.

“The Department suspended the certification of Mexico because its sea turtle protection program is no longer comparable to that of the United...

Chinese Seafood Market is Expanding

Seafood has grown in popularity among China’s next generation of foodies within recent years. The proportion of seafood purchase to urban household consumption raised from 23% to 30% now, while that of livestock meat has dropped from over 60% to less than 50%, according to a research report from the China Hospitality Association released on October 9.

Though China’s seafood consumption per capita has contracted from more than 30 kg in 2019 to 26.42 kilo in 2020, the number is impressive considering the destructive influence of COVID-19 last year...

Halibut, Sablefish Quota Share Updates

Quota shares of Alaska halibut are in high demand but good luck finding any. Dock prices remaining in the mid-$6s and topping $8 per pound have kept a lid on any sales at Southeast, and the Central Gulf and Western Gulf.

“ For 2C, 3A and 3B, specifically, it is incredibly tight, there is virtually no 3A on the market right now.   Recent sales for mid-size, Charlie class blocks were maybe $42 a pound. But good luck finding one, you could have $42 a pound...

Oregon Adopts Dungeness Crab Management Plan, First FMP on the West Coast

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted regulations last week for implementing the Oregon Dungeness Crab Fishery Management Plan, the first Dungeness crab fishery management plan to be developed on the West Coast.

The FMP describes the status of Dungeness crab and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's management of two commercial crab fisheries, bay and ocean, and the recreational crab fishery in the bays and ocean.

Dungeness crab is an iconic Oregon species and forms the economic backbone of commercial activity along the coast, including ...

Salmones Austral Unveils Secret Island Brand, Providing Chilean Salmon Doorstep Delivery

Chilean salmon farmer Salmones Austral launched Secret Island, a brand that will allow consumers to prepare flash-frozen salmon from Chile right in their own kitchens.

Secret Island products will feature a number of delivery options to meet every customer’s needs. Packages of 6 oz. portions include:

"Everyone should be able to enjoy healthy meals at-home and we wanted to accomplish that without having to sacrifice on quality or convenience," said Daniel Del Coro, Head of US Business Development for Salmones Austral...

Ivar's Soup and Sauce Co. Recalls Clam Chowder Due to Potential Presence of Plastic

Ivar’s Soup and Sauce Company, based in Washington, recalled its 14 sleeves of refrigerated Kettle Classic Clam Chowder With Uncured Bacon because of the possibility that the product may contain hard, sharp opaque plastic pieces.

The Clam Chowder product is labeled as Costco Item #1270666, packaged in 2-24oz Sleeved Packs. It was distributed to Costco stores exclusively for retail purchase by consumers in the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin...

USDA Awards $10 Million to Address Challenges for Land-based Salmon Production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $10 million, its maximum allowable amount to projects that are working to solve land-based salmon aquaculture challenges.

The projects will be led by University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) professor Yonathan Zohar.

“The mission is to enable an innovative, effective, and sustainable U.S. Atlantic salmon production platform that will transform the U.S. food and aquaculture systems and secure and increase high-quality and affordable seafood production for the world,” says Zohar, director of the Aquaculture Research...

COVID-19 Positivity Rate Highest Ever As Epidemic Trajectory Declines in Alaska

Alaska’s public health experts who look at the changes in daily cases say the recent high daily counts are now in a decline and forecasted to drop to half in about 12 weeks. The projected slow decline began in mid September  when model projections were over 1,000 cases per day to now, when daily counts are averaging about 740. These levels are still higher than the worst of the pandemic in Alaska prior to vaccinations being available. 

But the delta variant, which is far more contagious than the ...

First Philippines Fishery to Recieve MSC Certification

The Philippines Small Scale Yellowfin Tuna Handline Fishery has just made history by being the first Philippines fishers' organization to achieve certification to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for sustainable fishing.

The Philippines is a big player in fishing, specifically small-scale fishing. This achievement makes a contribution to the Philipinnes national economy for both income and employment. Now having the MSC certification entails that the tuna from fishery will include a blue MSC label on their packaging products for retail.

“This is a historic certification that marks..."

Japan’s August Surimi Imports, Production Output, Consumer Surimi Spending

August Surimi Imports Increased for Three Consecutive Months

Imported surimi totals in August 2021, announced by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, hit 18,289 tons, a significant increase of 41.3% from the previous year. It has increased for three consecutive months, reported Kamaboko News.

The cumulative total from January to August was 134,337 tons, which is 10.5% higher than the same period of the previous year.

In August, imports from the United States were 13,324 tons, a significant increase of 68.9% from the previous year...

Optimism Fuels Interest in AK Salmon Permits

Optimism is the word that best sums up the attitude among most Alaska salmon fishermen after a good season, according to people in the business of buying and selling permits and boats.

Most fishermen in major regions ended up with good catches and dock prices were up from recent years. That’s pushed up permit prices, notably, at the bellwether fishery at Bristol Bay where drift net permits have topped $200,000.

“The highest has been $210,000. But it's a pretty tight market,” said Maddie Lightsey, a broker at Alaska Boats and Permits...

Albertsons Sees More Inflation

Albertsons Cos. projected higher inflation for the rest of the year, driven by higher supply-chain and labor costs across the food industry.

The Boise, Idaho-based supermarket chain is passing through some price increases to shoppers but said it is also offering cheaper alternatives. Executives said consumers are still spending heavily on groceries as they stay at home and cook more than they did before the pandemic.

"We have not seen material change in customer behavior," Chief Executive Officer Vivek Sankaran said Monday during a call with analysts.

Food companies say they have been...

Pacific Council Hires Merrick Burden as New Executive Director

Fisheries economist Merrick Burden knows about resiliency. He's been working on projects revolving around fisheries and climate change at the Environmental Defense Fund. Now he'll take on a new, but somewhat familiar challenge: the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Burden will take over as Executive Director in mid-November. The Council met in executive session last week in a final interview for three applicants. Subsequently, the Council offered the position to Burden. He accepted and the Council plans to make a formal announcement ...

Red Lobster’s Ultimate Endless Shrimp Promo Available All Week

Red Lobster announced that its Ultimate Endless Shrimp special will be available for the entire week, from open until close.

The seafood chain invited its customers to mix and match its shrimp endlessly, all day, every day.

During the Ultimate Endless Shrimp event, guests can choose two of their favorite shrimp preparations, and when they are ready, order additional shrimp dishes one at a time. Each Ultimate Endless Shrimp meal is accompanied by a choice of side and unlimited Cheddar Bay Biscuits®.

The Ultimate Endless Shrimp lineup includes...

ENGOs File Suit Over Hatchery Salmon Designed to Help Southern Resident Orcas

The latest clash over salmon in Washington includes a new lawsuit asking the state to review its decisions aimed to help the southern resident killer whales.

Conservation groups Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler filed the suit last week in King County Superior Court, arguing the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has been ignoring the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act since 2018, the groups said in a press release. The state suspended ...

Alaska Seafood Industry Leader Chuck Bundrant, Dies at 79 

Chuck Bundrant, a true legend in the Alaska seafood industry, passed away October 17th at home in Edmonds, Washington, surrounded by his family and friends. 

“We honor his passion, vision, generosity and unwavering determination to create opportunity for all,” said Stefanie Moreland, Trident Seafoods spokesperson. “He leaves us with his great expectation and abiding challenge to achieve the impossible while looking out for one another along the way.”

Bundrant’s legacy was forged in Alaska during the years when foreign fleets were legislated out of U.S. waters and opportunities emerged for U.S...

ANALYSIS: Assessing the Snow Crab Market Following Alaska Quota Reduction

With the announcement out of Alaska last week that the Bering Sea Snow crab quota will drop 88 percent to 5.6 million pounds, market participants continued to see an increased buzz around crab products. The Canadian snow crab market trended slightly higher on both 5-8s and 10-ups on Thursday out of both Newfoundland and the Gulf. Most participants reported they were closely holding current inventories and putting some customers on allocation.

Prior to the scientific findings in Alaska where recruitment of snow crab was found to be very...

Would You Quit Your Job for $110,000? This California Swordfish Catcher Said No

As the morning fog peeled off the docks of Santa Barbara Harbor recently, fisherman Gary Burke eyed all that’s left of a fleet that once helped satisfy America’s insatiable appetite for swordfish: four old vessels with splotches of rust showing through peeling paint.

Decades ago, there were more than 100 such ships in Santa Barbara alone, towing mile-long drift gill nets in choppy seas far beyond the breakwater. Today, there are perhaps a dozen in the entire United States, and they will probably soon be...

Chilean Salmon Exports Recover to Pre-Pandemic Levels in Q3, US Recovery Strong

The Chilean Salmon Council (CDS) unveiled its latest “Quarterly Salmon Export Report” that found exports of salmon and trout have recovered to near pre-pandemic levels during the third quarter of 2021.

“The positive growth and the results of two consecutive quarters confirm the consolidation of the recovery in Chilean salmon exports to the world and allow the recovery of pre-pandemic levels after a very complex year 2020 for all industries and where salmon farming was no exception,” the executive director of the Salmon Council...

September Sales of Fresh Tuna Imports at Toyosu Market Fell 60% to 570 Fish

The number of imported fresh tuna received at Tokyo's Toyosu Market in September, which Jiji Press calculated, was 570, a decrease of 58.8% from the same month of the previous year. Typically, the volume of transactions increases in September, but it is the smallest in the past 20 years. In addition to wild bluefin tuna, wild southern bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna decreased by nearly 60%, reported Minato Shimbun.

The total number of bluefin tuna decreased by 59% to 329...

RODA Files 60-Day Notice Intending to Sue Federal Government Over Vineyard Wind Project

The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), a coalition of fishing industry associations and companies has filed a 60-day Notice of Intent to sue the federal government over its approval of the Vineyard Wind 1 project.

RODA alleges that the government has violated multiple laws including the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act following the approval.

If the government is unable to remedy these violations within 60 days after the Notice was filed, RODA...

Wild Planet Foods Takes Home Good Housekeeping Sustainable Innovation Award

Sustainability-focused canned seafood company Wild Planet Foods won the Good Housekeeping's Sustainable Innovation Award in the "Smarter, Healthier Food & Kitchen" category for its Ready-to-Eat Wild Tuna, Bean & Corn Salad.

Wild Planet’s product features a blend of responsibly sourced, 100% pole & line caught wild skipjack tuna, organic, non-GMO sweetcorn, carrots, red peppers and red beans.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from Good Housekeeping for our Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salad Bowls," said Bill Carvalho, President and Founder of Wild Planet Foods...

China's White Shrimp Prices Dip as Shopping Season Comes to an End

After the holiday shopping frenzy, farm gate prices of white shrimps have contracted in most regions of China at the start of October; though price increase has also been seen in a few. And the reduction is more obvious in southern China than in the northern and eastern regions, as statistics from HAID Group show.

In the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, the decrease ranges from 0.5 yuan/jin (1 jin=0.5 kilo) to 4 yuan/jin. The price of those weighing at 40 shrimps/jin have...

Kishida Approves Fuskushima Wastewater Release Plan For 2023, Korea and China Strongly Disagree

Japan’s new prime minister Fumio Kishida visited Fukushima last Sunday and announced that the planned mass disposal of wastewater stored at the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant could not be delayed, despite concerns from local residents. Those remarks were quickly criticized by China, North and South Korea, and others since Kishida's predecessor first announced the plan last April. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant had a triple meltdown in 2011 after a massive earthquake and tsunami. 

Kishida, who was named prime minister on October 4, followed the tradition ...

Russia’s Primorye Fisherman Hope for Successful Catch and Exports This Year

Fishermen of the Russian Primorye region, Russia’s second-largest fish-producing region have begun pollock fishery as part of the B fishing season (October – December) in the North Okhotsk subarea, planning to start to catch in the Western Kamchatka area on November, 1 of the current year.  

According to the press service of the Primorye region, this year local fishermen have produced over 625,000 tons of fish and seafood, including about 420,000 tons of pollock and 76,000 tonnes of herring...

Private Equity Firm Announces New Seafood Platform After Trio of Acquisitions

ACON Investments, a private equity firm, hae formed a new sustainable seafood platform, ‘Atlantic Sustainable Catch’ (ASC),

The ASC consists of North American firms Northern Wind Inc., Suncoast Seafood Inc. and Raymond O'Neill & Son Fisheries Ltd. ("ROSF"), recent acquisitions made by ACON.

The new platform was described as a leading producer of scallops and lobster, with nearly 600 total employees across five locations in Massachusetts and New Brunswick, Canada. The trio of companies also have a history of working with some of the largest retailers, restaurant groups, and food distributors across...

Blue Star Foods Moves Forward with B.C. Land-based Steelhead Farm

Blue Star Foods announced that its subsidiary, Taste of BC Aquafarms, has completed a preliminary design layout for a 1,500 tonne Steelhead Farm in British Columbia.

BC Aquafarms leaders, worked alongside PRAqua, an aquaculture design and technology provider, to design a standardized module that will be used to initially develop up to 1,500 Tonnes of annual production and is ultimately expected reach up to 21,000 Tonnes of annual production over the next few years...

Kingfish Company Lands Retail Partner in Italy

The Kingfish Company, a land-based Yellowtail producer, announced it has landed another retail partner; this time coming in the form of leading Italian retailer Conad.

Conad will see that Kingfish’s Dutch Yellowtail is available across the country and the news follows the farmer’s Q3 business update that highlighted the company’s record sales, record volumes and increased capacity.

Kingfish also noted that The Ricciola Kingfish will be sold under Conad’s own brand, Percorso Qualità, certifying a guaranteed highly controlled supply chain...

Maine Lobstering Union Lands Injunction to Halt Right Whale Lobster Fishing Area Closure

The Maine Lobstering Union (MLU) was granted emergency relief by U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker on October 16 to halt an impending closure of a lobster fishing area off Maine.

The closure was set to be implemented as part of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)’s Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Modifications announced at the end of August.

After learning of the closure, the MLU, along with other industry groups including the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA), sued the NMFS over the right-whale related...

China: Tilapia Farm Gate Prices Mostly Rise as Retail Prices Dip

During early October, farm gate prices of tilapia have increased in many regions of China compared with the previous week, and markets look hustling with trucks driving there for purchase. However, retail prices have either stayed stable with little increase or shown signs of contraction.

In Hainan, for example, farm gate prices of mid-sized tilapia have raised by about 0.05 yuan/jin (1 jin=0.5 kilo), according to statistics from Fishfirst. Apart from limited supplies, trucks driving there from Zhanjiang to buy are also one main reason...