Study Proposes Changes in Length of Food Chain May Explain California Anchovy Cycles

Up one year, down the next. Or every few years. Regardless, explaining why northern anchovies are prevalent one year but disappear the next has been difficult to discern -- until now.

New research from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists discovered ecological correlations that could help explain the booms and busts of California’s anchovy population. If the correlations hold up to further research, they could one day help inform management of California’s anchovy fishery and improve ...

UPDATED: A Timeline of the Trade Petitions Addressing Antidumping Duties on Shrimp

In late October the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) filed trade petitions seeking antidumping duties on imported frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador and Indonesia, and countervailing duties on imported shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. 

ASPA said in a news release that the U.S. shrimp market has “been overwhelmed by massive quantities of underpriced shrimp imports, resulting in unsustainably low dockside prices, falling domestic market share, significantly lower profit margins, and historically high inventory levels.” To counteract this...

Whales, Turtle Further Delay California Crab Season

Pots are on the dock and ready to be put on vessels to fish for Dungeness, but California-permitted crabbers have no place to put their gear yet. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham on Thursday declared a continued delay of the commercial season due to whales and sea turtle entanglement risk.

The assessment this week included the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group reviewing the Department's preliminary assessment. According to the Working Group report, one proposal received only limited support ...

Japan: Imported Crab Sales Are Brisk; Orders Surge for the End of the Year

Lower prices for crabs, including those from Russia, have led to more active crab shipments when demand is high at the end of the year. Minato Shimbun interviewed multiple trading companies, manufacturers, and processors. It found that "crab sales have increased by 50% compared to the previous year," said manufacturer sources, and "We have received many additional orders, which has increased by 50% compared to the original order volume up to around September." Several processors indicated that the business is doing well...

Better Seafood Board Names Dave Wier As New Chair; Welcomes New Board Members

Ahead of the new year, the National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) Better Seafood Board (BSB) is welcoming a new chair and new board members.

Dave Wier, the Executive Vice President at The Fishin’ Company, and a current BSB member, has assumed the chairmanship of the group. In addition to Wier’s new appointment, BSB has also welcomed five new members to their board as their 15-member board rotates five seats annually. The new additions to the board can be found listed below...

Stolt Sea Farm Begins Construction To Expand Hatchery in Galicia, Spain 

Stolt Sea Farm has started construction on the expansion of their sole hatchery in Galicia, Spain. 

The company announced their plans to expand their hatchery operations in late July after getting the greenlight from the regional government. The project was initially expected to start in October, but officially commenced on November 28.

“This is a date that will forever remain in our memory; it is a truly special moment for us all at Stolt Sea Farm,” commented Jordi Trias, President of Stolt Sea Farm. “Expanding broodstock and hatchery capacity for sole is an essential milestone...

ANALYSIS: October U.S. Shrimp Imports Reach High Single-Digit Growth Again

In data released today, U.S. shrimp imports in October followed last month’s trend with high single-digit growth rates. At 167.961 million pounds, this was 9.8 percent above last year. This was the fourth straight month of gains after the long period of year-over-year declines. This year-to-date figure of 1.433 billion pounds compressed to 8.8 percent below last year through October.

It marked the first time that all top five trade partners were net gainers together since...

CAIA: Ottawa Anti-Salmon Farming Billboards Removed for False Advertising

Anti-salmon farming billboards around Ottawa have been removed for false advertising. The false statements included claims from eco-activist group Wild First that “Open-net pen salmon farms are banned in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska.” Based on this inaccurate information, the ads called on Ottawa to “remove all salmon farms from B.C. waters.”

The letter of complaint filed by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) has provided clear evidence that the farming of finfish (including salmon) is not banned in California, Oregon, or Washington...

FFAW Responds to NL’s MOU to Advance Offshore Wind Power

This week Dr. Andrew Furey, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Jonathan Wilkinson, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on offshore wind. The MOU allows NL to “take the regulatory lead on offshore wind projects within its inland bays to enable the development of offshore wind projects in NL that will power the province’s economy forward.”

“Newfoundland and Labrador is rich in renewable energy resources that make us well positioned to meet our net-zero targets...

Bumble Bee Seafoods Partners With “Even Stevens” Star Christy Carlson Romano

Millennial Disney icon Christy Carlson Romano is the latest star to partner with Bumble Bee Seafoods. Ahead of the holidays, the seafood brand is encouraging consumers to turn to tuna before their meals with their new “Eat BEEfore You Eat” campaign. 

“I know that for my family, the days leading up to the big holiday celebrations are filled with errands, to–do lists, and a lot of time in the kitchen preparing for big meals,” said Carlson Romano. “That’s where Bumble Bee can come in handy, in a..

Cooke Aquaculture Lands GSA’s Steven Hedlund as Director of Public Affairs

Cooke Aquaculture has landed Steven Hedlund as their Director of Public Affairs. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Steven to Cooke Aquaculture USA in Maine,” said Joel Richardson, VP of Public Relations at Cooke. “He brings an impressive set of skills from decades of experience in the seafood industry, and he is passionate about environmentally sustainable seafood production, promoting the benefits of aquaculture in the local food system, and preserving Maine’s heritage of a vibrant working waterfront.”

Hedlund started his career in seafood with...

Japan: Oyster Exports in 2023 Remain Strong But Hit a Plateau

There is a feeling that oyster exports have reached a plateau. In 2021 and 2022, the volume and value reached record highs, but in 2023, the pace is slightly lower than last year (January-September cumulative total). The main reason was a decrease in oyster production in the first half of the year due to sluggish growth in Japan's principal producing areas. Furthermore, China has suspended imports of Japanese marine products due to the release of ALPS-treated water into the ocean. The main export destinations are...

Russian Fish Sector Shows Stable Growth Rates This Year

Despite the ever tightening sanctions, Russia is actively increasing exports of its fish and fish products this year and achieving good production dynamics.

According to official data of Rosrybolovstvo, over the 11 months of this year fish exports from Russia grew by 13% in annual terms and amounted to 2.1 million tons.

Frozen fish accounted for 1.6 million tons of this volume (+14% year-on-year), and fish fillets and other fish meat accounted for 202,000 tons (+1%). In value terms, exports increased by 1% to...

Reflecting On 2023 King And Snow Crab Market Dynamics

The U.S. economy has continued to defy expectations, showing resilience in the face of uncertainty. The third--quarter GDP growth surged to an impressive 5.2% offering a hopeful signal that a recession might be averted, even as inflation takes a cooling stance. However, economist now expect growth to slow in the fourth quarter as consumers pull back on their spending. The Federal Reserve has not confirmed but most economist believe that they have enough leeway to hold interest rates steady in December in spite of being above the 2% goal...

CNA Issues Warning To Ecuador Shrimp Sector About Tax Reform Project

Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) is warning the shrimp sector that changes are coming with the Tax Reform Project.

Late last month CNA notified industry members about the National Assembly’s “Law of Economic Efficiency and Employment Generation,” which creates a new sales tax. According to CNA, this new tax could decrease working capital and subtract liquidity from the entire value chain. 

“Imposing a 3% sales tax would result in the decrease of our limited working capital, leaving us without the necessary liquidity to operate...

Russian Fishermen Put Big Hopes on Japanese Market in 2024

Russia has reached an agreement with Japan on fishing quotas within a 200-mile zone for 2024, according to a recent report from the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

The annual negotiations, which have been taking place since 1984, began on November 27. The countries set fishing quotas and the number of vessels that can fish within a 200-mile zone.

According to the agreement, in 2024 Russia and Japan will reduce fish catch in quotas by 6,000 tons...

StarKist Debuts New Tuna Pouches and Kits

StarKist is introducing some new options for tuna lovers that are always on the go. 

“At StarKist, we’ve always been dedicated to not only offering the highest quality products but also innovating with tuna, salmon and chicken to meet the growing consumer demand for nutritious, convenient and flavorful protein options,” said Tom Aslin, the Vice President of Marketing & Innovation at StarKist. “Our new products in the ‘Creations’ Pouch and ‘Lunch-To-Go’ Kit line embody this commitment, bringing convenience and lean protein without sacrificing taste.”

StarKist’s Tuna Creations line is expanding with a...