California Crabbers and Processors Settle for $3 Per Pound; Season Opens to Rough Weather
Unable to achieve consensus on the issue of price, the California crab fleet will start fishing with an ex-vessel price of $3 per pound. The first local crab of the season will be delivered to northern California ports on Thursday, Dec. 1. The Humboldt Fishermen's Marketing Association reported rough ocean conditions and a very large northwesterly swell that was expected to produce unsafe conditions on the ocean and in Humboldt Bay Bar. The weather did prevent some fishermen from setting out.
Seafood wholesalers at Tsukiji may sustain losses of 4 billion yen per year in the wake of Tokyo's decision to postpone opening the new market in Toyosu by at least one year. The Tokyo Seafood Wholesalers Association estimates that the dealers who initially planned to start operation at Toyosu in November have already sustained losses of about 435 million yen since November 7, the date initially set for the opening of the new market. The association estimates that its members will incur costs of about 300 million yen per month because of the botched move. New Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the government will determine by next summer whether or not the Tsukiji Fish Market should be moved to the new market site in Koto Ward.
Meanwhile, the largest Canadian lobster season, in Southwest Nova Scotia LFA 33 and 34, is underway. Crews left to dump pots early this morning. The first haul backs are allowed at midnight tonight. However a storm system forecast for Wednesday could prove disruptive, and it is doubtful that full-scale landings will be crossing the dock until later in the week.
Russia’s leading fish producer Karat plans to invest between US$250 and US$300 million so it can expand its seafood producing and processing business over the next several years. A significant part of the investment will go towards expanding fishing activity within Russia's territorial waters, particularly in the northwest part of Russia as well as the Far East. Additionally, Karat wants to expand fishing to overseas waters, including the North Atlantic, the west coast of Africa and the Pacific Ocean.
Finally, sales data from some of China's largest e-commerce retailers shows shrimp and seafood were among some of the top selling items during Single's Day. Alibaba, Zhangzidao, Gfresh and other online retailers reported seafood sales as high as ten times normal figures, with shrimp among the most popular items. Single's Day is one of the largest one-day sales periods for retailers in China.
We've produced a new podcast today that can be downloaded or streamed to iPhone and Andriod mobile devices through iTunes, Google Play or SoundCloud. Today's show recaps some of last week's top news stories, feedback is welcome on the content.
To Read Full Story Login Below.