VIDEO: Newfoundland Snow Crab and Lobster; Peter Pan Halts Operations

Join Seafoodnews Weekly Video hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they take a look at the top stories of the week, including Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters and processors finally coming to an agreement to start the snow crab season. Plus, learn more about the 2024 lobster pricing formula out of NL. And get all the details on Peter Pan’s surprising announcement regarding operations...

Bringing Offshore Wind Knowledge to Oregon: New Sea Grant Staff Will Facilitate Community Engagement 

Oregon Sea Grant has plans to help the public learn and engage in offshore wind discussions -- and that includes hiring a new specialist.

Oregon Sea Grant and the Oregon State University Extension Service welcomed Sara Swett as their new Extension specialist in marine renewable energy and communities. Swett, who has a master’s degree in marine policy from the University of Delaware, started her new position on ...

Farmed Atlantic Salmon Spot Prices Rise in Chile and Norway in March

The average price for Chilean farmed Atlantic Salmon rose by $0.83/kg (+10.6%) in March 2024, reaching $8.69/kg.

However, the price dropped by $0.63/kg (-6.8%) y-o-y. The m-o-m increase may be due to the increased demand during Easter festivities and difficulties reaching the harvest volume target because of microalgae bloom during the warm season and low oxygen levels. Both of these environmental challenges likely disrupted the normal feeding process, resulting in lower growth...

NPFMC Issues “Notice of Council Action” on Chum Salmon Bycatch in Bering Sea Pollock Fishery

A “Notice of Council Action” was released last week by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council explaining the April decision to make changes to a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) focused on bycatch reductions of Western Alaska chum salmon in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. The motion made by the Council earlier this month was the result of three days of presentations from advisory bodies, staff, and other experts along with verbal testimony from 100 stakeholders, after more than 300 written comments were submitted to...

Puget Sound Tribe to Receive $206K in Federal Salmon Disaster Funding

Salmon fisheries on the West Coast have been hit hard in the past few years, with mulstiple requests for disaster aid from the federal government. The most recent group to receive a funding allocation is the Squaxin Tribe in Washington.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced Thursday that an allocation of $206,000 will address a fishery resource disaster that occurred in the 2020 Squaxin Island Tribe’s Puget Sound fall chum salmon fishery.

“This funding will help to address the impact ...

Asda Issues Recall Of Incorrectly Coded Cooked And Peeled King Prawns

UK retailer Asda issued a recall this week for its Succulent Cooked & Peeled King Prawns. According to the company, the product was incorrectly coded, which could make it unsafe to eat.

The brand’s cooked and peeled king prawns are packaged in a 210g container. Packages with a batch number of L66000 and a barcode of 5057172032648 were labeled with an incorrect “use-by” date. The date issued on the product is December 21, 2024, but actually should be April 21, 2024...

@FAN Spa Executive Director Explains the Latest Harmful Algal Bloom in Chile

Chilean salmon farmers are currently dealing with a new harmful algal bloom threat. 

The harmful algal bloom — identified by marine biologists @FAN spa. as Heterosigma akashiwo, a ichthyotoxic microalgae — was first detected in the Los Lagos region on April 1 in the area of Hornopirén and its surroundings. Fabiola Villanueava, a marine biologist/ phytoplankton analyst and executive director @FAN spa., told Seafoodnews that this specific algal bloom can cause irritation of the gill tissue, which could potentially lead to mortality. 

Mortality is not necessarily guaranteed with this type...

Fishery Products for Pets Attract Visitors at Japan’s Largest Pet Products and Services Expo

Interpet, a globally renowned exhibition of pet products and services, took place from April 4 to 7 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo. This event, which is Japan's largest in the pet industry, saw participation from 739 companies across 14 countries (567 domestic and 172 overseas). The number of visitors reached a record high of 67,023. Notably, the exhibition showcased unique pet foods made from marine products, sparking interest and indicating potential for further growth in this sector.

According to a pet food manufacturer at...

Building of New Fish Trawlers and Crab Catchers is Seriously Delayed in Russia

Building of new fish trawlers and crab catchers in Russia is seriously delayed due to Western sanctions, which limit the supplies of needed on-board equipment and components.

That poses a threat for the existing agreements between Russian fishermen and the state, which provided quotas in exchange for the building of new fish trawlers and processing infrastructure.

Due to the current situation, the government is considering the extension of construction time for both fish trawlers and crab catchers. As part of these plans...

NL 2024 Lobster Pricing Agreement Released; Find Out What Changed From Last Year

Harvesters and processors in Newfoundland and Labrador may have struggled to come to a pricing formula agreement for snow crab this year, but the same can’t be said for lobster. On April 15, the day of which the binding Collective Agreements are to be in effect for lobster, the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) Union released their lobster pricing agreement.

This year, the minimum price for lobster will be $3.25CAD for all Urner Barry Price listings up to...

American Shrimp Processors Association Calls For Ban on Indian Shrimp Made With Forced Labor

The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) has taken two actions in the last week in its continued fight against shrimp from India made with forced labor. 

“The brutal working conditions documented in India’s shrimp industry are appalling,” said ASPA President Trey Pearson. “These producers exploit the most vulnerable workers imaginable, and then export their artificially low-priced product to the United States, harming our own domestic shrimp harvesters and processors. ASPA will do everything we can to fight back against these abhorrent practices and...

4 Of The Biggest Takeaways From The 2022 Fisheries Economics of The U.S. Report

Earlier this month, NOAA and the Department of Commerce released the Fisheries Economics of the United States 2022 report, a 28-page document that demonstrates the “integral role fisheries play in our economy and the success of our fishery management program.” Below are four of the biggest takeaways on the commercial fishing and seafood industry: 

Total Economic Impact

In 2022, U.S. commercial fisheries brought in $183.4 billion in sales; an 11% decrease in inflation-adjusted dollars from 2021. Looking at total jobs, commercial...

ANALYSIS: Farmed Salmon at Retail Wanes

The market conditions in the farmed salmon complex post-Easter appears to be highly dependent on country of origin.

On the Chilean side, with Easter behind us, retail demand has dwindled. Retail buying opportunities or promotions were down significantly the week after Holy Week. The amount of buying opportunities recorded was the lowest number of promotions the market has seen in two years outside of the week of Thanksgiving in the United States. When retail demand wanes, the fresh spot market feels it, almost instantaneously. Fresh Chilean fillets moved lower both Tuesday and...

PODCAST: Norway Snow Crab MSC Certified; Seafood Expansion in WIC; and More

Join Seafoodnews Podcast hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about Norwegian snow crab receiving MSC certification; seafood’s expansion in WIC; and much more! 

Listen to the Seafoodnews Podcast on Soundcloud and Apple Podcasts.

California Gov. Newsom Wastes No Time in Requesting Federal Aid for Salmon Fishery

In the wake of last week's Pacific Fishery Management Council decision to close California's sport and commercial salmon seasons for the second year in a row, Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately followed up with a request to the federal government for aid.

The April 11 letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo requests an expedited determination of a fishery resource disaster determination for Sacramento River fall Chinook and Klamath River fall Chinook salmon fisheries.

"A host of factors have...

ASP Offers $3 Per Pound To Start Snow Crab Season In NL, But FFAW Doesn’t Bite

Are snow crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador ready to hit the water? The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) approached the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) with another offer on Thursday. But FFAW didn’t bite.

Newfoundland and Labrador holds the largest quota in Canada for snow crab, with the total allowable catch (TAC) for this year set at 57,586 tonnes. And despite the season officially opening last Saturday, and harvesters in other regions already reporting landings, NL harvesters have...

China’s Import of Live Seafood in 2023 Highest in Recent Years, Growth Expected in 2024

USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service released a report last month detailing the distribution channels for live seafood in China, potential market opportunities, and updates for 2024.

As the world’s largest consumer of seafood China is also the world's largest seafood producer, mostly due to aquaculture. 

“Estimated wild-caught production is significantly less than demand and continues to decrease due to tighter government regulations and deteriorating fishery resources,” the report notes. Seafood demand continues to grow, however, “with an increasing preference for high-quality products,” the report ...

February Sales of Imported Fresh Tuna at Toyosu Market Plummet 

According to data compiled by Jiji Press, 180 imported tuna arrived at the fresh tuna section of Tokyo's Toyosu Market in February; about a quarter of the 670 in the same month last year. In addition to sharp declines in bluefins and southern bluefin tuna, no bigeye tuna arrived.

Suisan Keizai Shimbun reported that the total number of bluefin tuna was 93 (compared to 398 in the same month last year). This year there were no Korean purse seine fish, compared to 350 fish a year ago. The mainstay...

Australian Rock Lobster Fishers Hope for Trade Relief

Australian lobster fishers are calling on China to act before the end of the financial year and peel back trade barriers stopping live and chilled exports, after it lifted heavy tariffs for the wine industry last month.

There have been no direct live lobster exports from Australia to China since 2020, when a $2 million shipment was stuck on the Shanghai tarmac after China's customs agency claimed the lobsters were contaminated.

While Chinese authorities recently lifted onerous tariffs on the Australian wine industry...

REPORT: Red Lobster Considering Filing For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Bloomberg reports that Red Lobster is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to the outlet, sources close to the situation say that the seafood restaurant chain is looking to restructure its debt.

Red Lobster’s financial troubles have been well documented — most recently with the “successful” Endless Shrimp promotion, which resulted in the chain losing millions of dollars. In November Red Lobster posted an operating loss of more than $11 million in Q3, calling the Endless Shrimp offering a “key factor” in the loss...

FDA Issues Advisory For Certain Oysters From Republic of Korea

The FDA has issued an advisory, warning restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell certain oysters from the Republic of Korea. The oysters in question could potentially be contaminated with norovirus.

According to the FDA, the frozen, raw, half-shell oysters from Korea were purchased by restaurants and food retailers in California. The oysters are in lots B231126, B240103, and B240214, and were processed in Tongyeongsi on 11/27/2023, 1/4/2024, and 2/15/2024. The oysters may be labeled with...

ANALYSIS: Live Lobster - Spring Preview

As the Canadian spring season approaches, many eagerly anticipate its arrival. The scarcity of supplies experienced during the fall and winter has been notable and, for some, challenging. While the cause of this shortage may be subject to debate, it is noteworthy that interrupted fishing due to windy weather conditions has been observed in both Maine and Canada. According to Mintec Analytics, in December, average daily wind gusts in Canada surpassed historical expectations by 25%, while in Maine during January, they exceeded historical averages by...

Peter Pan Halts Operations For Summer And Winter Production Cycles For The “Foreseeable Future”

Peter Pan Seafood’s fate has been up in the air since the company announced in January that it would be closing its King Cove plant for the winter fisheries of cod, whitefish and crab. Now, the company has confirmed that it will be “halting operations at its processing plants, leading to the discontinuation of both summer and winter production cycles for the foreseeable future.”

The decision to halt operations comes just a few weeks after Peter Pan...

ANALYSIS: Navigating Shifts in the 2024 Sockeye Season

The 2024 sockeye season presents notable changes compared to recent years. In 2022, there were record landings in Bristol Bay, resulting in a robust frozen supply leading up to the 2023 season.

At this time last year, talk of frozen 2022 product in the millions of pounds, coupled with another strong forecast, created uncertainty heading into the fresh season. Prices on frozen sockeye fillets, for example, saw a steep decline as many sellers reduced prices to stimulate sales and maintain product flow in an effort to...

FFAW And ASP Come To Agreement To Start 2024 Snow Crab Fishery

Snow crab harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are ready to hit the water. The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) Union and Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) finally reached an agreement Sunday evening, ending the week-long delay to the start of the season.

Last week, ASP submitted an offer to FFAW of $3/ lb. to get harvesters in the water. The organization said that the $3/ lb. would stand for the first three weeks of the fishery before moving to the formula that...

Entangled NARW Spotted Off Coast of Rhode Island; 6th UME Documented For 2024

A sixth Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for North Atlantic right whales (NARW) has been documented for 2024. 

NOAA Fisheries confirmed last week that an entangled NARW was spotted approximately 50 miles south of Block Island, Rhode Island. The whale has since been identified as #4143, an adult male that was first seen as a calf in 2011. Survey reports reveal that #4143 was last seen gear-free in Cape Cod Bay in March 2024. However, according to the recent sighting, the whale now has...

Dunleavy Says Pebble Should Proceed, Files Suit in Alaska Court to Reverse EPA’s Decision

The State of Alaska filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) again last week, this time for illegally vetoing further development of Pebble Mine — located at the headwaters of Bristol Bay — before a U.S. District Court in Alaska.

Governor Dunleavy’s lawsuit over what his attorney general calls “a blatant affront to the sovereignty of Alaska” follows a March 18 lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (based in Washington, D.C.) for “the past and future losses stemming from the EPA decision,” amounting to...

Russia Increases Sturgeon Catch In Effort To Diversify Its Fish Catch

Russia plans to diversify its fish catch by increasing the catch of certain fish species, according to recent statements made by representatives of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) and local media reports. 

As part of these plans, the beginning of active sturgeon catch in the Sea of Azov will be increased. This has been recently confirmed by Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo. According to Shestakov, there are also plans to increase sterlet in certain areas of the Volga and to create conditions for an...

2024 Snow Crab Landings Update For NL, Gulf and the Maritimes Region As Of April 12

It has been a week since the snow crab fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador opened, but harvesters still have yet to hit the water as the standoff over pricing continues between the Fish, Food and Allied Workers and the Association of Seafood Producers. 

Newfoundland and Labrador has the largest quota in Canada, with the total allowable catch (TAC) for this year set at 57,586 tonnes. But while snow crab has yet to be landed in NL, the fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...

Recall Issued In Canada For Mowi Cold Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a recall on Wednesday for Mowi brand cold smoked Norwegian Atlantic salmon. The products in question were distributed in Ontario from March 27, up to and including April 10. The government agency noted that the product is being recalled because it may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Clostridium botulinum can cause some serious health risks, including facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking and...