Across Alaska, Early Salmon Catches Underweight
The ADF&G has confirmed that Alaska’s salmon catch so far this season has produced smaller-sized fish compared to past seasons, particularly for sockeye and chum salmon. State workers and fishermen have been noticing drops between a half-pound and a pound. “Copper River sockeye are the smallest we’ve ever measured,” said ADF&G Biologist Steve Moffitt. “This size-at-age is the smallest we’ve ever measured, and the overall size is the smallest we’ve ever measured.” Authorities have not determined what has caused the season’s early-run of fish to grow smaller.
Virginia crab meat distributor Casey’s Seafood has been accused of falsely labeling imported crab meat as a “Product of the USA.” Documents filed in a US District court in Norfolk allege that the company mislabeled crab meat at is processing facility in Newport News and then sold it to retailers both in Virginia and out-of-state. "In June 2014, I received information from private individuals regarding Casey Seafood Inc. substituting foreign crab meat for domestic Atlantic blue crab ... and falsely labeling it as 'Product of the U.S.A.,'" said NOAA Investigator Christopher McCarron in a sworn statement. No charges against Casey’s or its owners have been filed.
In other news Louisiana will close its remaining inshore state waters to spring season shrimp fishing on July 2 to allow shrimp more time to grow out to a marketable size. This extends the closure to the state's inshore fishery that was first announced on June 19. The spring season had been producing an abundance of smaller-sized white shrimp, which contributed to downward pressure on PUD prices in the market.
Finally, Maine’s Lobster Marketing Collaborative says high priced lobster will not impact its campaign to step-up lobster promotions across New England and in other major metropolitan markets. Live market prices are trending at three-year-highs in June as traders continue to report thin summer-season supplies.
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