Spain bans CP shrimp as tuna industry wants Thai product out of EU trade deal
Reports indicate that Spain has called for an import ban on shrimp from CP Foods while the country’s tuna industry wants Thailand’s canned tuna products eliminated from an EU free trade deal; all fallout from the labor abuse allegations in Thailand’s shrimp supply chain. Two Spanish retailers have already stopped sourcing shrimp from CP, adding to a number of EU supermarkets to end their supplier relationship with the company. At the same time Spain’s Association of Fish and Shellfish Manufactures wants Thailand’s canned tuna products removed from a free trade deal. Thai officials are accusing Spain of unfairly cracking down on the seafood industry and have invited Spanish officials to inspect Thailand’s labor conditions for themselves.
Some Bristol Bay salmon fishermen were disappointed with the $1.20 per pound advanced priced for Bristol Bay sockeye. Several fishermen had anticipated a $2.00 per pound opening price. The harvesters said expectations of a large Fraser River run are why this year’s base price came in under their estimations.
In other news US scallop imports are trending well above year ago levels and the five-year average at 31 and 30 percent respectively. The increase is largely driven by shipments from China. Sources say buyers have gone to overseas markets for lower priced scallop alternatives since prices here in the US are at or near record levels due to a lower domestic supply.
Finally, Zhangzidao has expanded its live seafood market in China through its new subsidiary Ocean Food. The company is based in Shanghai and has a 10,000 hectare storage capacity that is already holding US live lobsters and Dungeness product.
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