Today's Main Story:PEI Lobster Season Looking Weaker Than Last Year; Landings Hampered by Wind, Cold
In the third week of May, lobster prices are high in PEI and Nova Scotia, and boats are reporting pounds per day landings much lower than average. There has been limited fishing due to high winds. On the north shore of PEI, there was just one day last week when landings per boat were over 1,000 pounds. With three weeks gone out of an eight-week season, it is likely that it will not be possible for PEI harvesters and processors to make up the volume writes John Sackton.
The first 20,000 pounds of Copper River salmon arrived in Seattle this morning on the traditional Alaska Airlines seven-thirty-salmon plane. The first 12-hour opening ended yesterday night. We don't have ADF&G numbers yet, but Alaska airlines has three cargo planes scheduled today that will bring 60,000 additional pounds of salmon to Seattle and other markets.
In other news, McDowell Group reports on several factors that have positioned global salmon prices to recover this year and into next year. The report released by ASMI discusses how prices should increase based on more limited supplies and a shift in global currencies. “Based on current market conditions and harvest expectations, it appears probable that prices will begin improving in 2016 and there is an excellent chance total ex-vessel (dockside) value will rebound in 2017,” the report said.
Meanwhile, the owner of the now shuttered Sea Hag Seafood lobster processing plant in Tenants Harbor, Maine hopes to avoid auctioning off the property. “I am still striving everyday to bring a deal to the table that will delay the auction and return our processing business to operation,” said the facility's owner Kyle Murdock. The plant and 7.5 acres of waterfront property are set to be auctioned off on June 17.
Finally, in China, fear of disease has caused some early harvest of small shrimp in Guangdong Province, leading to a decline in price for shrimp. Additionally, brood stocking has been postponed for about half a month and overall stocking rate has dropped 20 to 30 percent.
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