Japanese Crab Negotiations with Newfoundland Full of Uncertainty Sources in Japan say that the negotiations with Newfoundland snow crab packers are in a high state of uncertainty. Although there were reports of a price of $6.95 between one or two packers and a Japanese buyer, others in Japan say there was a condition on this contract that limited the amount of product to only a portion of what the buyer purchases in the first week. Overall the Japanese see great uncertainty in the market and expect the situation to clarify more once production is in full swing in both Newfoundland and the Gulf. Nearly half of all the natural World Heritage sites on the planet are being ravaged by poachers who are driving some endangered animals towards extinction, according to a report from the World Wildlife Fund. The illegal wildlife trade was estimated to be worth some $19 billion, making it the fourth largest international criminal trade after drugs, guns and human trafficking, according to the ‘Not For Sale’ report. The report warned that species listed on the landmark Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) are being killed. "The current international approach to preventing illegal harvesting of Cites-listed species in World Heritage sites is not working, and stakeholders must redouble their efforts and address all parts of the wildlife trafficking value chain," the report said. In other news, fishermen are petitioning the New England Fishery Management Council to protect tuna and other fisheries from the herring fleet by agreeing to have measures asking for year-round closures of up to 50 miles east of the Cape. “There’s a strong feeling that fisheries that used to happen here have been displaced by 10 years of intense herring removal,” said John Pappalardo, executive director of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, and a member of the New England council and its herring committee. Meanwhile, Bristol Seafood in Maine is looking to capitalize on the growing interest in the social responsibility of seafood as its New England scallops are the first domestic fishery in the country to earn certification from Fair Trade USA. To achieve the certification, companies need to submit to an audit and interviews to make sure the food is produced with fair working conditions and environmental stewardship along the supply chain. Fair Trade USA also certifies shrimp from Mexico, yellowfin tuna from Indonesia, and skipjack and yellowfin tuna from Maldives. "There's a certain sanctity to food when it comes to the story about it," said Peter Handy, president of Bristol "It tastes better the more you know." Finally, Maruha Nichiro expects higher costs of purchasing seafood from overseas suppliers to cut into its profits by about 12 percent. Maruha's purchasing costs abroad are rising due to the yen's depreciation.