Today's Main Story: Canada's Northern Cod Biomass at Highest Rate Since 1992 as Stock Recovery Continues
Canadian fishery scientists reported Newfoundland's cod biomass at its highest level since 1992. A report from the DFO said the stock in the 2J, 3K and 3L regions has increased to an estimated 538,000 tons of fish. The stock is still at 34 percent of the level needed to lift the "critical" designation, but the findings show the fishery is in recovery. "The stock is still not up to the level that it was, say, back in the 1980s when we had a substantial fishery," John Brattey, a cod research scientist with DFO. "But the basic message is the news is good, and the stock is going up quite well."
Chilean farmed salmon producers are close to getting their operations in Chiloe back online after nearly two weeks of protests among artisanal fishermen limited production in the market. Protesters had set up blockades on the few major highways commercial farmed salmon producers use to truck harvested fish to processing centers on Chiloe island. The Chilean government is close to a deal that is expected to end all of the blockades and get production going by next week.
In other news, a drop in shrimp output rattled the Indian feed industry. Last year Indian shrimp production fell 12 percent by volume compared to 2014 levels because of the EHP disease that stunted shrimp growth. The decline in volumes impacted India's aquaculture feed industry since shrimp accounts for 70 percent of the country's farmed fish production. Indications are for shrimp volumes to rebound in 2016.
Meanwhile, we run a profile on the history of family-run Taylor Shellfish Farms, the largest producer of farmed shellfish in the US. Last year the company produced, harvested and sold 50 million oysters, 4 million pounds of Manila clams, 1 million pounds of mussels and 700,000 pounds of geoduck clams. “If you’ve eaten fresh oysters anywhere in this country, it’s not unlikely they came from Taylor Seafood,” said Bill Dewey, Taylor’s director of public affairs.
Finally, two powerful earthquakes struck Western Ecuador on Wednesday very close to the epicenter of last month’s 7.8 magnitude quake that rocked the Pedernales region. The quakes did not deal nearly as much damage to Ecuador's infrastructure compared to last month’s seismic activity. Reports did confirm downed power lines and structural collapses. People were evacuated from buildings out of precaution. One death was reported.
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