Major seafood companies call for US ban on imports of Russian king crab, pollock, salmon
A majority of the major Alaskan and West Coast Seafood Processors are calling on Congress and the President to enact a retaliatory ban on Russian seafood imports. Icicle, Ocean Beauty, Peter Pan, Trident, Unisea along with Alaska General Seafoods, Alyeska, Westward, and North Pacific Seafoods, and with the Bering Sea crab harvesters, all joined in this call for a trade action. The call for a ban on Russian products is likely to get some Congressional support, particularly from the Alaskan delegation. However, according to John Sackton a complete ban would upend the king crab market, and would impact users of Russian pollock and salmon in the US, which include the major customers of a number of companies calling for the ban on Russian products.
In other news live lobster prices in New England ticked up a bit this week as reports are trickling in that Maine's lobster catch is falling below expectations at this point in the season. According to traders the market is up as the lighter supply has been met with heavier demand from Asian buyers.
The Department of Commerce upheld higher duty rates for Indian shrimp exporters in its final determination for the 8th period of review. Exporters including Devi Fisheries and Falcon Marine saw their rates rise. The duties will take effect upon their publication in the Federal Register, which should be sometime late next week.
Finally, an independent group will review NOAA’s latest assessment of the Gulf of Maine cod stock next week in New Hampshire. The federal assessment found that the fishery’s condition remains in dire straits despite severe quota cuts last year. Members of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Scientific and Statistical Committees will conduct the review of both old and new data and methodology used.
Have a great weekend.
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