Red Lobster Promotes Horace Dawson to CEO Following Kelli Valade’s 2022 Departure

Red Lobster officially has a new CEO. The seafood chain announced this week that they have promoted Horace Dawson to Chief Executive Officer.

Dawson has been with Red Lobster since 2014, serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, where he was responsible for legal affairs, communications, risk management, and government relations. Prior to joining Red Lobster he worked for Darden Restaurants, first as Senior Associate General Counsel when he was hired in 2003, and later being promoted to VP, Division General Counsel. Over the years...

ANALYSIS: Wild Salmon Week in Review September 10-16

With the peak of coho season now behind us, Alaska coho landings for the year so far have reached 2.03 million fish as of week 38 (September 10-16, 2023). This figure represents a 31% increase compared to 1.55 million fish that were landed last year in the same timeframe. However, it falls approximately 24% below the five-year average of 2.69 million fish.

Notably, the Copper River district is experiencing much higher landings compared to the previous year in recent weeks...

Japan: 2022 Surimi Product Output Fell 3% to 470,000 Tons

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced the production volume of surimi products for 2022 on September 6, and the production volume of so-called kamaboko products, excluding fish sausage, was 412,855 tons, falling 2% compared to the previous year, to 9,627 tons.

According to Kamaboko News, demand for surimi products increased last year from 2020, which was the lowest in the past half-century, and some people believed that the demand for surimi products had hit the bottom. Some people have expressed concerns.

The reasons behind...

6th Bristol Bay Wild Salmon Celebration Makes a Big Splash in Washington D.C. 

If there is a handbook on how to protect a community through collaboration and creative thinking, it would be written by Bristol Bay residents. Their incentive is the salmon run that has sustained Alaskans and members of First Nations long before Alaska was a state. 

The most recent example of this rare collaborative effort is the sixth annual Bristol Bay Wild Salmon Celebration held in the nation’s capital last week. It hit D.C. during Bristol Bay Salmon Week, when a diverse group of Washington, D.C.-area restaurants ...

Everything You Need To Know About Alaska’s Red King Crab Fishery In 2024

There are a lot of questions surrounding Alaska’s lucrative red king crab fishery. And because there are four stocks, news of closures or openings can become confusing.

The fishery is managed by NOAA Fisheries, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Management is based on the size, sex, and the season, meaning that only male crabs of a certain size can be harvested, and that fishing can not take place during mating and...

VIDEO: High Liner's Interim CEO; NARW Funding; Pringles & Caviar

Join SeafoodNews Managing Editor Amanda Buckle as she highlights the top three stories of the week, including the appointment of High Liner Foods' interim CEO and new funding for North Atlantic right whales. Plus, learn more about the Pringles and caviar trend that has produced a unique collaboration.

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry’s GLOBAL PROTEIN SUMMIT, the premier conference for education in the poultry, red meat, and seafood sectors. Gain insight into protein market demand, global issues affecting the market...

NFI, Seafood Producers Draft Sign On Letter Highlighting Priorities For 2023 Farm Bill

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the Seafood Harvesters of America (SHA), Pacific Seafoods, Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA), the At-Sea Processors Association (APA) and Trident Seafoods have drafted a national sign-on letter that highlight three priorities for U.S. seafood producers to be included in the 2023 Farm Bill. 

According to the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Congress passes legislation that “sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy” every five years. This is commonly referred to as the Farm Bill...

CDC Issues Health Advisory on Vibrio Infections Moving North in Warming Waters

On September 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory to public health departments and others about an increase of Vibrio vulnificus infections, including wound and foodborne infections, particularly in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico or East Coast. The cause: warmer coastal sea surface temperatures. 

Reports from Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina have increased this summer and include five fatalities. The other notable difference is  — with five fatalities just this summer — they weren’t from eating exposed shellfish, but from ...

WPRFMC, American Samoa Leaders Frustrated by Fishery Management Through Sanctuaries and Monuments

“You must be mindful of the decisions you make…so that the interests of small fishing communities are not disregarded” was the main message heard in the remarks of the Honorable Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who opened the 195th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

“The ocean and its marine resources have sustained our Fa‘asamoa for thousands of years. These abundant natural resources have provided food on our table and supported our people, especially during calamities,” noted the Governor...

Arctic Fish Gives Update On August 2023 Salmon Escapement

An August 2023 escapement at Arctic Fish’s berths in Kvígindisdal in Patreksfjörður is now under investigation by Iceland’s food and veterinary authority, MAST. 

Arctic Fish released a statement on August 21 confirming that they found two holes in their pen, which were subsequently reported to the Norwegian Fisheries Agency and Norwegian Food Agency.  The cage had approximately 70,000 salmon. After harvest there was a deviation of 3,500 fish. The company activated its response plan and worked closely with the above mentioned agencies. 

"We regret that farmed salmon...

The Caviar Co. Teams Up With Pringles After Unique Pairing Goes Viral on TikTok

“Once you pop the fun don’t stop.” Add caviar into the mix? Well, it’s a combo that you likely didn’t know you needed to try.

Caviar has been going viral on TikTok due to an unlikely pairing with everyone’s favorite stackable potato-based chip. The trend was sparked by "Real Housewives of New York City" star Erin Lichy, who only recently joined the reality series in season 14. Lichy served a caviar and Pringles pairing at her Hamptons home...

The Chinese Fishing Industry: A Global Threat To Fishing Resources That Must Be Contained

Overfishing, overexploitation of resources and reports of forced labour and exploitation of crews: Chinese offshore fishing is a threat that has long been denounced by many actors and NGOs in the maritime sector. However the extent of its operations is hard to know. Having reliable and concrete information on catches made by the Chinese fishing industry is the first objective of the report adopted today at the initiative of Renew Europe in the Parliamentary Committee on Fisheries (PECH) on the implications of Chinese fishing operations on...

Thai Union Kicks Off Zero Discharge Project At Samut Sakhon Fish Plant

Thai Union Group announced this week that they have kicked off its Zero Discharge project at its Samut Sakhon fish plant. The project is a milestone towards the company achieving a key SeaChange 2030 sustainability goal.

The seafood leader revealed this past July that they were launching SeaChange 2030 as the next stage in its sustainability strategy to “help reshape the seafood industry with solutions across people and planet that better sustain a future for all.” As part of their commitment, the company put forward its entire 2022...

India Can Become Major Importer of Russian Pollock Fillets This Year

India can become a major importer of Russian pollock fillets already in the short term, according to recent statements made by some leading Russian analysts in the field of fish business and local media reports.

This has also been recently confirmed by President of the All-Russian Association of Fisheries (VARPE) German Zverev.

As Zverev said during the recent press-conference organized by the Russian TASS newswire, among the priority markets for Russian fishermen are Latin America for white fish, pollock fillets and cod products...

Russia Plans to Increase Fish Exports to China This Year

Russia plans to increase fish exports to China this year in an attempt to replace Japan, which lost the Chinese market due to the conflict over water from Fukushima.

So far, approximately 900 Russian companies have received permission to export seafood to China. The Russian state expects that due to events around Fukushima, this number will increase, although some local analysts said that Russia already supplies a significant part of catch, mainly white fish and pollock to China, while Japan typically supplied other products to the Chinese market...

The Winding Glass: High Interest Rates Create A Seafood Inflection Point

Stephen Stills in his song "For What It’s Worth": “Something is happening here and what it is ain’t exactly clear.”

That’s where we are today in the global seafood industry.

Some species have passed through price collapse, inventory adjustment, volume rebound into a new normal, such as crab and lobster. Other species are still in the thick of it like cod, pollock and sockeye salmon.

More and more I am convinced we are not going back to our idea of normal. What’s changed are interest rates and inflation...

PODCAST: GAPP CEO Craig Morris Previews Annual Meeting and Pollock People Campaign

Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers CEO Craig Morris joins the SeafoodNews Podcast to preview the organization's upcoming event and Pollock People campaign.

This episode of the SeafoodNews Podcast is brought to you by the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers’ annual Wild Alaska Pollock meeting, taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle on September 28, 2023.

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers, also known as GAPP, is working to promote Wild Alaska Pollock in...

Today's Top Story: Red Lobster Promotes Horace Dawson to CEO Following Kelli Valade's 2022 Departure

Red Lobster officially has a new CEO. The seafood chain announced this week that they have promoted Horace Dawson to Chief Executive Officer. Dawson has been with Red Lobster since 2014, serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, where he was responsible for legal affairs, communications, risk management, and government relations...

ADF&G’s Three-River Index Lowest on Record, Pollock Fleet’s Chinook Allocation Unchanged
[Editors Note: Updated Sept 21, 9:16 PDT]

Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game released their Three-River Index last week, a dire report of Chinook salmon run size in the Unalakleet, Yukon, and Kuskokwim River that is used to inform the amount of Chinook salmon the pollock trawl fleet in the Bering Sea may take in 2024.

The pollock fleet, made up of a little over 100 participants, go to great lengths to avoid Chinook salmon, which occasionally travel with schools of pollock. Trawl vessels skippers ...

Seattle Sports Executives to Discuss Seafood’s Opportunity in Entertainment Venues at GAPP Meeting

Seattle sports will take center stage at the September 28th Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting during a panel focused on seafood’s opportunity in sports and entertainment venues nationwide, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today. Brian Carriveau of Climate Pledge Arena, Taylor Graham of the MLS Seattle Sounders Football Club, Chris Voigt of the MLB Seattle Mariners and Justin Moser of the DubSea Fish Sticks will join GAPP CEO Craig Morris on stage to talk about the missing ‘winning ingredient’: Wild Alaska Pollock in...

Norcod Granted New Production Site in Nordland County

Norcod has been granted permission to establish a new production location in Nesna municipality with a total maximum allowed biomass (MAB) of 3,599mt. Bjørnvika is the company's second location in Nesna and, together with Labukta, forms a production cluster with a total capacity of 7,200 mt MAB.

"Norcod has been very well received by Nesna municipality, which we highly appreciate, and we look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation. We will keep on working together successfully in the future. We consider this second site...

The Retail Rundown: Fall-ing into Seasonal Trends

It’s the end of an era…or at least, a season. Pumpkin everything has already been underway for a couple of weeks and the fall equinox officially arrives on Saturday, September 23^rd.

Grocers are increasingly highlighting autumn retail trends consistent with indoor oven cooking, resulting in shifting feature volume from grilling cuts to cooler-weather items like roasts.

Beef roasts have seen a notable uptick in feature volume since the beginning of the month, currently claiming 22% of total beef ads. Comparatively, the roast category accounted for 14% of beef ads...

AquaMaof Promotes Eli Amar to CEO

Eli Amar, AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies’ VP of Strategy and Finance for the last four years, has been promoted to CEO. The leader in Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology announced the appointment on Wednesday. In addition, the company also confirmed that former CEO David Hazut will become new Chairman of the Board.

“This is an exciting moment for AquaMaof, and I’m sure that under Eli’s leadership, the company will break through to new records and achievements,” said Hazut. “As one of the company’s founders and the new Chairman of the board, I have full confidence in Eli, and together with the great management and employees of AquaMaof, the company will reach remarkable achievements.”

Notice Issued on Outbreak of Suspected Botulism in Bordeaux, France Linked to Sardines

An investigation is underway of a suspected botulism outbreak linked to sardines in Bordeaux, France. 

The Canadian government issued a notice on September 14 that public health authorities in France are investigating 10 suspected cases of botulism. Three of those 10 cases are Canadian residents. 

Botulism is a serious disease that can be spread by eating food or driving beverages contaminated with a toxin produced by a specific type of bacteria. Symptoms of foodborne botulism can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, blurred or double vision and....

Oregon Lawmakers Urge NOAA to Protect Port Orford Weather Buoy

The Port Orford weather buoy, affectionately known as "Buoy 15," is too important for decommissioning, according to federal lawmakers.

Rep. Val Hoyle and Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, all Democrats, sent a bicameral letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration opposing the agency’s plan to potentially decommission weather buoy 46015 off the coast of Port Orford, Oregon.

In August, NOAA's National Weather Service said the agency's budget is forcing the Weather Service to re-evaluate the necessity of keeping Buoy 15 -- and others ...

Independent, Dems Count on Kelp for Critical Coastal Community Flexibility

What do Maine, Oregon and California have in common? Senators who are looking to restore seaweed ecosystems. More specifically, kelp.

Democrats Jeff Merkley, Ore., and Jared Huffman, Calif., and Independent Angus King, Maine, recently introduced the bicameral Help Our Kelp Act.

Over the last 50 years, the changing climate, poor water quality and overfishing have damaged between 40 and 60 percent of our kelp forests, the senators said in a press release. Kelp forest ecosystems not only provide food and habitat for hundreds of fish and ...

Japan: Redfish from Alaska; Weak Yen Offsets Falling Import Value in Dollars

As of early September, the price of redfish or Pacific Ocean Perch (POP) produced in Alaska in 400/500-gram sizes is around 420-430 yen/kg ($2.84-2.91/kg), which has remained unchanged from a year ago. Although import dollar prices have fallen this year, the weaker yen has offset this, and new product prices are not expected to fall, reported Minato Shimbun.

This year, the price of Japanese imports in dollars has fallen. In addition to a slight increase...

Canadian Court Fines 4 Vessel Masters After Boundary Bay Crab Fleet Investigation

An investigation into the Boundary Bay commercial crab fleet by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers has resulted in the Surrey Provincial Court issuing fines to four vessel masters.

Viet Dam, the master of the Pacific Falcon, was the first to plead guilty to illegal fishing in U.S. waters and fishing more traps than allowed under his license. Dam pleaded guilty to the accusations, which date back to 2019, on June 23, 2023. He was fined $38,000 and forfeited 83 traps...

High Liner Foods Names Paul Jewer as Interim CEO Following Hepponstall Departure

On Friday High Liner Foods (TSX: HLF) announced the appointment of Paul Jewer to the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer, leading the company while the Board of Directors completes a comprehensive internal and external search for a President and Chief Executive Officer.  

Jewer has been High Liner's Chief Financial Officer since February 2014. The company said he will continue to oversee this function.  

The Canadian-based company, one of the largest seafood firms in North America, announced three weeks ago that CEO Rod Hepponstall was...

Norway Offers NOK 2 Million in Grants To Encourage Gender Equity in Fishing Industry

Despite Norway’s reputation for being one of the more gender-equal countries in Europe, the government is offering grants totalling NOK2 million (US$185,050) for ideas that would make its fishing industry more gender equal.

"It must be safe to be a fisherman on board all fishing boats, no matter what. Although many have come a long way, the industry still has a job to do. I hope that these projects contribute to us paving the way, seeing more women in the fishing industry, and ...