Top Story: Fraser River sockeye run revised downward 

News Summary:  The idea that a massive late season Fraser River sockeye run would blow plants out of the water is not happening. In the latest in season assessment, the Fraser River Panel has revised run estimates downward to about 10% below pre-season forecasts. They also say that high water temperatures are contributing to stress on sockeye, and that many will not make it to spawning areas. 

US shrimp imports through July set a record for volume, with total imports now up 12.8% higher than July last year, and 6.5% above the long term average since 2006. To us this begged the question of whether this is due to an attractive market, or to overall increases in Global production. When we looked at imports to Japan and Europe we got the answer - production in Ecuador and India is supporting growth overall, and global production is definitely headed higher this year. 

Norway may actually ship the most salmon ever to the US this year, following the problems they have selling to Russia and China. With present trends, shipments will exceed 2010, during the ISA crisis, and may even approach the volumes seen in the late 1980’s. 

John Hathaway, owner of Shucks Lobster, writes to dispute our account of the double lobster MSC certification in Maine. He says that the other companies were never barred from joining the original client group, but that the original group did want to maintain control in the hands of Maine companies. He says they were open about the finances and costs, and allegations to the contrary are not true. 

You will be hearing a lot more about the push to get the FDA to change the name of Alaska pollock to just pollock. At a time when seafood mislabeling and fraud is a high priority of consumers, the industry, and government, there will be a lot of interest in the FDA rectifying the existing consumer confusion over the name ‘Alaska Pollock’. Between 31% and 44% of fish US consumers consider to be produced in Alaska, is actually product of Russia. Today we highlight a video on this issue, produced by Steve Minor and Abundant Oceans. We expect Congressional delegations will weigh in on this also. 

I will be traveling in Newfoundland until the middle of next week, and Mike Ramsingh will handle the news summary. Feel free to email stories to any of our editors and writers - their contact information is on the left hand side of our website.

John Sackton, Editor And Publisher , Lexington, Massachusetts 

Seafood.com News 1-781-861-1441 

Email comments to jsackton@seafood.com

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