Top Story: Salmon surpasses tuna as 2nd most consumed seafood in the U.S.
News Summary: The 2013 per capita seafood consumption figures, released today by NFI, show that overall per capita consumption has been stable in 2013, but beneath that there was a big shift in which products Americans are eating. Salmon, based on record landings of pinks in Alaska, has surpassed tuna as the second most popular seafood item after shrimp. Consumption of cod and catfish/pangasius also notably increased.
With the current decline in salmon prices stretching for months now, retailers are not decreasing prices. Instead they are taking the opportunity to rebuild margins. Normally there is a lag of several months between the time wholesale fresh salmon prices fall and when retailers begin reflecting lower prices in their stores. Given projections of a strong market in 2015 based on restrained growth, it is unlikely that retail price reductions will be that great.
We have a very negative take on the Oceana report alleging (falsely in our opinion) widespread mislabeling of shrimp. The report seemed timed to come after California had adopted a labeling law pushed by Oceana that would have required sellers to use the common name - not the FDA designated name - for seafood items. It would have meant 40 different descriptions for shrimp. But the law was vetoed, so Oceana was left holding the bag, trying to make a case for fraud when every single restaurant and retailer in their study was following FDA rules and regulations. It would be a new day if media refused to highlight such unscientific and misleading reports - but environmental money talks loudly.
We want to call attention to our new video, produced by Steve Minor, on GSSI- The Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative. The FAO, which produced the criteria used as a basis for seafood sustainabilty has been critical of GSSI expanding its mandate. We interview Lahsen Ababouch, head of the FAO fish policy and economics division, on the need for, and outcomes of the GSSI.
Something is happening with bluefin tuna. A fish which has widely been portrayed as nearly extinct and subject to completely out of control fishing, is coming back due to strong and effective management measures. In the Southern Pacific, the stock is the healthiest it has been in years. In the Atlantic there is a significant recovery. And in the Eastern Pacific, Japan has taken the unusual step of urging a polite boycott of Mexican bluefin, so long as Mexico continues to oppose IATTC conservation measures. How long do you think it will be before the success of bluefin stock recovery is acknowledged by NGO’s. How about never? Is Never good for you?
Finally, there are some potentially big ramifications if one of the regional fisheries management organizations lists Pacific Andes huge processing vessel - formerly the Lafayette, now the Damanzaihao, as a possible IUU ship. The head of the Southern Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization wrote Peru’s director of fishing that the vessel will be listed for severe breaches of the convention, i.e. not reporting anything they catch. A vessel officially blacklisted by an RFMO cannot trade or enter port in many states. Unless this matter is quickly corrected, it could have the same supply chain ramifications for Pacific Andes with fishmeal that CP and other Thai firms endured when charges of forced labor were made.
Western retailers almost universally have iron clad commitments to avoid IUU fishing, and should the fishmeal pipeline get tainted, it will cause a huge reaction.
Have a good weekend.
John Sackton, Editor And Publisher , Lexington, Massachusetts Seafood.com News 1-781-861-1441 Email comments to jsackton@seafood.com Subscription info: Seafood.com is a subscription service, published by Seafood.com and Urner Barry. Urner Barry's COMTELL subscribers receive Seafood.com news as part of their subscription package. Other companies and individuals need to subscribe to read our stories. If you or your company has not signed up yet, please consider doing so.
2014 Subscription prices for Seafood.com News are $26 monthly for a single user, $43 for 2-5 users, and $62 for 6-20 users. For questions about subscriptions or passwords, please Urner Barry at 1-800-932-0617, or subscribe on-line with a credit card by clicking the subscribe button.
Subscribe Here.
To Read Full Story Login Below.