Strong Start for Gulf of Mexico Shrimp in January; Texas Leads in Landings

This year is looking a whole lot better for Gulf of Mexico shrimpers, particularly Texas shrimpers, as January landings are the best since 2012, according to the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

The SSA put the recent NMFS data into historical context for its January compilation report, reported earlier this week.

In January, 4.1 million pounds of shrimp were landed in the Gulf of Mexico, up from 2.8 million pounds in January 2020 and 2.4 million pounds in January 2019, according ...

Overall Consumption of Wild Alaska Pollock Dipped in 2020, But GAPP Finds Bright Spots 

Although Americans consumed less pollock in 2020 compared to the year prior, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) was pleased to report that a record 61% of Pollock fillets consumed in the U.S. was of domestic origin.

With the increased market share for Wild Alaska Pollock, GAPP believes that its product is “on the rise” with an additional 10 million consumers knowing the product's name and attributes than 2019.

“Despite last year’s challenges related to an unpredictable global pandemic, the bright spot was that Wild Alaska...

AquaBounty Provides Virtual Tour as They Prepare for First Harvest of AquAdvantage Salmon

There are a lot of questions about the first genetically engineered salmon, but AquaBounty is doing everything they can to educate consumers and customers about the company and their product. As the company prepares for their first harvest of AquAdvantage salmon, they’ve launched a virtual tour to show the process from start to end, beginning with their broodstock facility on Prince Edward Island.

AquaBounty President and CEO Sylvia Wulf said on a press call earlier this week that the company wanted to provide a media day at...

These Are the Top 15 Categories Seeing A Spike in Sales Thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Last March the coronavirus upended our daily lives when lockdowns were put in place across the country. Normal shopping trips to the grocery store—for those that didn’t turn to delivery—became panic-ridden affairs as shelves were wiped clean of things like toilet paper, cleaners, meats, and canned goods. Now, a year later, shopper intelligence leader Catalina, is reporting on how COVID-19 has had a lasting impact on retail trends and shopping behavior...

SalMar to Enhance Focus on Offshore Fish Farming as Executive Shifts Roles

SalMar is looking to strengthen its “substantial endeavors” in offshore fish farming and has promoted Group CFO & COO Trine Sæther Romuld as CFO & Director of Strategy at SalMar Ocean.

Romuld will shift to the new position once a new Group CFO is recruited, the search is already underway, and she is expected to take the new position on September 1, 2021.

“SalMar’s focus on the open ocean marked the start of a new era in the seafood industry...

Ocean Beauty Launches New Website After Merger to Form OBI Seafoods

Last May Ocean Beauty Seafoods and Icicle Seafoods announced the merger of their salmon and Gulf of Alaska groundfish operations to form a new company called OBI Seafoods. Now, Ocean Beauty just announced that they’ve launched a new website which redefines the company’s strengths following the merger. 

“Ocean Beauty Seafoods is now focused on our extensive distribution operations and our smoked and value-added seafood product lines, and our new website now reflects that,” explained Ron Christianson, VP of Sales and Marketing for the company...

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Launches Satellite Program to Track IUU Fishing

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has launched a new program that will use satellite technology to detect “dark vessels” engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

With the help of the Department of National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada’s Centre for Security Science, Global Affairs Canada, and MDA, the CAD 7 million Dark Vessel Detection program uses satellite technology to locate and track vessels whose location transmitting devices have been switched off, sometimes in an attempt to evade monitoring, control and surveillance...

Alaska Fish Radio: Young Fishermen’s Fellowship Program Calls For Mentors

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – 

The call is out for fishing groups or businesses to partner with young Alaska fishermen to help them hone skills in management, advocacy, research, marketing, conservation, business and more.

It’s the fifth year for the Young Fishermen’s Fellowship Program, an arm of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council. Jamie O’Connor is Working Waterfront director -

“The program is really energized to help young fisherman bridge the gap between the water and the waterfront and help to diversify their experience within the fishing industry...

NaturalShrimp Appoints CNBC Contributor Peter Najarian to Advisory Board

NaturalShrimp has appointed Peter Najarian to its advisory board. The RAS shrimp firm is hoping to utilize Najarian’s experience as a figure in finance to help launch its La Coste and NaturalShrimp Iowa locations.

“We could not be more pleased to have Pete join our advisory board at such a pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Gerald Easterling, CEO of NaturalShrimp. “Pete is arguably one of the most seasoned capital market and entrepreneurial thought leaders in the country. As we continue preparing to launch both our La Coste and NaturalShrimp Iowa locations...

Permanent Protection for Bristol Bay: Jay and Bella Hammond National Fisheries Area?

The United Tribes of Bristol Bay (UTBB), Bristol Bay Native Association and Bristol Bay Econimic Devlopment Corporation are spearheading an effort to get permanent protection of the Bristol Bay watershed, including land proposed for the Pebble Mine, by declaring it a National Fisheries Area. The distinction is a new one and would require Congressional action.

The effort is supported by other organizations in the region and throughout the state, as a way to permanently bar mining but allow fishing, hunting and other traditional activities.

The plan would amend ...

USCG Announces Formal Investigation into Coastal Reign Capsizing off Oregon

The U.S. Coast Guard announced today it is formally investigation the F/V Coastal Reign's capsizing on Feb. 20 that resulted in the loss of two lives off of Tillamook, Ore.

The crew of the 38-foot vessel Coastal Reign were attempting to cross the Tillamook Bay Bar inbound when the vessel capsized with four crewmembers on board, the USCG said.

The small vessel and crew from Warrenton had been fishing during the Dungeness crab season and attempted to cross the bar at Tillamook Bay. It was not...

New Offshore Wind Partnership Aims to Engage Maryland, East Coast Fishermen

U.S. Wind is teaming up with Sea Risk Solutions to work with fishermen on the East Coast.

The company said earlier this week that Sea Risk's Wolfgang Rain and Ron Larsen will act as U.S. Wind's fisheries liaisons for the commercial and recreational sectors.in Maryland and the greater Delmarva region. The partnership is designed to ensure ongoing, consistent dialogue with fishermen as development activities ramp up. Efforts will focus on the ...

New Zealand King Salmon Financials for Last Half of 2020 Measure Impact of Pandemic

“Despite a challenging year with the Covid-19 pandemic still affecting our business, sales volumes in the six months were almost identical to the previous year,” said John Ryder, Chairman of New Zealand King Salmon. “This result is encouraging considering the ongoing restrictions on foodservice, particularly in the US and Europe.”

Earlier today, the New Zealand Kind Salmon (NZX & ASX:NZK) reported financials for the six months ending December 31, 2020. Despite damage to the market from COVID-19, revenue of $82.4m was down by less...

Friend of the Sea Recertifies SAPMER's Indian Ocean Tuna Fishery

Friend of the Sea announced it has renewed its certification of the SAPMER purse seine fishery in the Indian Ocean. The company can continue displaying the Friend of the Sea logo on its products.

SAPMER was described by Friend of the Sea as a pioneer in the French Austral Seas, operating a fleet of four deep freezer longliners that fish for Patagonian Toothfish, along with a pot vessel fishing for rock lobster.

15 years ago, it began tropical tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean and operates nine super-freezer purse seiners freezing Yellowfin and Skipjack down to -40 °C...

Pan-Seared Shrimp is Back at Pancheros for a Limited Time

‘Tis the season for limited time seafood offerings! The latest franchise to announce the addition of seafood to their menu is Pancheros Mexican Grill. The restaurant chain has brought back their pan-seared shrimp just for Lent. 

Pancheros offers create-your-own burritos, burrito bowls, salads, tacos and quesadillas. Guests usually have their choice of fresh cut, marinated grilled steak, slow roasted, seasoned pork carinates, marinated, all white meat chicken, or plant alternative Tofusada. Now, until April 4, customers can add Pancheros’ sweet and tangy shrimp to their order...

Scandies Rose Hearing Begins With Moment of Silence for Victims, then MayDay Call

The U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation and Safety Board began the virtual inquiry into the sinking of the F/V Scandies Rose yesterday with a moment of silence for the five men lost on New Years Eve 2019 and their recorded mayday call. 

Captain Gary Cobban Jr. was heard in the recording calling out Mayday! Mayday!”, giving his longitude and latitude, then as listeners online heard the vessel’s alarms going off and men’s voices shouting in the background, Cobban repeated himself, there was static, then...

Maine Gov. Janet Mills Warns Draft Right Whale Biological Opinion Will be Devastating For Lobstermen

Maine’s Governor Janet Mills is speaking out on the North Atlantic right whale draft Biological Opinion. The Maine Department of Marine Resources filed comments with NOAA late last week regarding the draft Biological Opinion for 10 fishery management plans in the Greater Atlantic Region, focusing on the North Atlantic Right Whale. Governor Mills’ “grave” concerns were outlined in a cover letter included with the DMR’s comments.

One of the issues regarding the draft Biological Opinion is that it calls for a...

OSU, USFS Scientists use eDNA to Track Salmon, Trout Diversity

Have river water? Welcome to efficient salmonid genetic diversity testing.

New research by Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service scientist shows that DNA extracted from Oregon and Northern California rivers water samples can be used to estimate genetic diversity of Pacific salmon and trout. Their findings were recently published in the journal Molecular Ecology.

The findings also could influence conservation and management policies, the researchers said in a press release from Oregon State. A number of the species are listed as threatened or endangered under state or ...

High Liner Foods Reports Earnings Jump in Back-to-back Years

Value-added frozen seafood company High Liner Foods reported its financial results for Q4 and the fiscal year 2020 touting an increase in its adjusted EBITDA in back-to-back years.

For the year, High Liner’s adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of sales increased to 10.6% compared to 9.1% and Adjusted EBITDA increased by $2.7 million, or 3.2%, to $88.0 million compared to $85.3 million. The company’s net income also increased by $18.5 million, or 179.6%, to $28.8 million compared to $10.3 million...

O’Charley’s Introduces 2 New Seafood-centric Menu Items with ‘A Taste of the Sea’ Specials

O’Charley’s Restaurant + Bar is ready for Lenten season with its new “A Taste of the Sea” seasonal specials featuring two brand-new menu items.

The restaurant chain with 161 locations across 17 states is welcoming the Bayou Salmon, a 9 ounce salmon filet with Cajun seasoning on a bed of rice, topped with shrimp, red and green peppers, onions and tomatoes that have been tossed in Cajun cream sauce.

The other addition is the Island Salmon...

Blue Star Foods to Keep Hayden IR as Investor Relations Consultant

Blue Star Foods announced the retention of Hayden IR to provide investor relations and financial communication services to Blue Star.

Hayden IR will help the sustainable seafood company with its investor relations strategy and work to broaden the awareness of the Company within the investor and financial community.

“We believe Blue Star has made considerable progress and has emerged as a leading source of sustainable seafood products, ideally positioned for ESG and sustainability-focused investors,” commented John Keeler, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer of Blue Star...

New $27M Ocean Supercluster Project to Create 138 New Jobs in Aquaculture Industry

On Thursday Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the launch of their Integrated Operations and Real-Time Analytics Project. The nearly $27 million project, which will be led from Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia, will help bridge gaps between land, sea-based and processing operations that exist in the aquaculture industry. The project will aid in the creation of 138 new jobs, including 20 at project implementation.

“We are thrilled to announce the $27 million Integrated Operations and Real-Time Analytics Project led from...

Alaska Fish Radio: Economic Study Will Assess Human Side of Pacific Halibut Fisheries

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch. 

Who are the users of Pacific halibut and how do they use it?  

Responses to a stakeholder survey will help yield results for a first of its kind study that aims to characterize the economic contribution of the Pacific halibut fisheries to all regions.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is the first regional group in the world to do such a study, saying that understanding the human dimension is part of its mandate for optimum management...

NaturalShrimp Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Assets of Hydrenesis for $12.5M

Yesterday NaturalShrimp, the Dallas-based aqua-tech developer of enclosed, salt-water systems for growing Pacific white shrimp, signed a Letter of Intent to purchase aquaculture assets of Hydrenesis Aquaculture of Pompano Beach, Florida. The agreement is for $12.5 million, which includes $5.5 in cash and the balance in NSI common stock.

"NaturalShrimp has been working with Hydrenesis since 2018 on several solutions for the industry with the team at Hydrenesis,” said Gerald Easterling, CEO of NaturalShrimp. 

“We currently have trials on going in ...

Nueva Pescanova Embraces a New Future by Eliminating Almost All Inherited Debt

The Nueva Pescanova Group, a leading multinational seafood company, recently approved a plan to refinance its debt.

At a general meeting this week, Nueva Pescanova partners approved a debt capitalization of 542.2 million Euros, the company said in a statement. ABANCA will capitalize all of the company's bankruptcy debt and is now Nueva Pescanova's sole creditor. It creates a more stable footing for the Group.

The meeting was the starting point for overcoming the bad financial situation in which Nueva ...

Plant-based Manufacturer Modern Meat Launches in IGA, Fresh St. Market Grocery Stores

Modern Meat’s plant-based ‘Crab’ Cakes will now be on the shelves of retailers IGA and Fresh St. Market, subsidiaries of Georgia Main Food Group.

Through the deal with Georgia Main, a business that has been in operation for over 118 years will now feature the plant-based brand’s Meat Burgers, Crumble, 'Crab' Cakes and Meatballs.

Georgia Main has over 30 retail locations throughout British Columbia, Canada.

"We continue to make great strides toward our retail strategy and see strong...

JBS Showcasing New Seara Fish Product Line at Middle East Food Trade Show

JBS kicked off this week at the 2021 Gulfood, the largest food trade show of the Middle Eastern market, by showcasing its recently launched Seara Fish product line.

The company has one of the main stands at the event hosted in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates and on display will be its portfolio of Seara Fish products including Tilapia Fish Fillets, Salmon Chunks and Salmon Steaks that are ASC-certified.

JBS is also featuring the line’s latest launches: the Paella Kit, Mussels, Squid Rings and four options of Shrimp, one of them breaded...

Grupo Sahlman and its Companies Become Carbon Neutral Certified

Grupo Sahlman announced this week that they are among the first companies in Central America to receive Carbon Neutral Certification, which is extended by the Costa Rican Technical Standards Institute (INTECO, acronym in Spanish). 

Grupo Sahlman consists of several Nicaraguan companies, which are all owned by Tampa-based shrimp production business Sahlman Seafoods. The companies have collectively been working towards the certification from INTECO, ensuring that all of their operations are sustainable and efficient.

“Having been declared a carbon neutral company has a positive impact on...

ANALYSIS: Lobster Prices Firm as Industry Faces Supply Shortage

Competition for product from shippers, and the live market has...

Thai Union Nets Record Profit as Sales Jump During Pandemic

Thai Union reported solid results for Q4 2020 and the entire year, as it said consumers chose Thai Union products as they stayed at home with families during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the final quarter of 2020, Thai Union posted total sales of THB 33.46 billion (USD 1.1 billion), a year-on-year increase of 1.9 percent. The company’s operating profit rose 26.1 percent to THB 1.94 billion, with net profit up 37.9 percent to THB 1.46 billion.

For the entire year, sales came in at THB 132.4 billion (USD 4.4 billion), an increase of 4.9 percent...