MSC Could be Kiss of Death for West Coast 
Groundfish
A news analysis by John Sackton and Susan Chambers explains how the Marine Stewardship Council is rushing to praise the recovery of the West Coast Groundfish fishery even though fishermen are unable to land more than 19 percent of its allowable harvest. The key issue is not the sustainability of West Coast stocks since a strong recovery program is in place. Rather, it's that West Coast harvesters are hampered by a management system that fails to allow for a sustainable harvest. "That is why we feel the MSC’s embrace of the West Coast fishery is potentially a kiss of death, as they become an impediment to the desperate reforms needed to keep a healthy and sustainable fishery economically viable," writes John Sackton.
China's shrimp prices are in decline because of as a flood of weak and sick shrimp to hit local markets in recent weeks. Weaker market behavior was also attributed to a decline in demand in major cities likes Beijing and Shanghai because of good supplies of local shrimp.
In other news, Russia's federal fisheries agency Rosrybolovstvo made a record $319 million from the sale of crab quotas during a recent auction. The biggest fight was for opilio snow crab quotas. Leading Russian fish producers and well-known oligarchs were locked in the most serious bidding wars for the quotas. This included companies like TURNIF, which is part of the Russian fishing company.
Meanwhile, the research vessel Pandalus, assigned to the Port Moller test fishery in June and July, encountered a mechanical problem last night and is undergoing repairs in Port Moller today. No test fishing will be done today, but program managers expect the vessel to be back tomorrow. Missing one day of data is not as critical now as it would be, say, a week from now.
Finally, Alaska's Governor Bill Walker brought the state's legislators back for a second special session so the lawmakers can hash out a state budget and prevent a government shutdown on July 1. The Republican-led state Senate gaveled out Friday morning, rejecting a last-ditch operating budget offer from the largely Democratic House majority, which had adjourned Thursday evening. Four minutes after the Senate's adjournment, Walker signed his proclamation convening the next special session.
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