Salmon Suppliers Work Hard to Expand in Lucrative Chinese Market

Salmon has been widely received among Chinese consumers, and the past few years have seen a great increase in the country’s salmon imports. These imports are expected to continue to grow within the coming years, according to recent media reports. This is good news for overseas suppliers, and some have taken action to better promote their products and grab more of the market share in China.

Consider the examples of Chilean salmon suppliers whose salmon exports to China have skyrocketed by 32 times in the past 16 years thanks...

Louisiana Governor Edwards Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Fisheries

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced on Monday that he has requested that the federal government declare a fisheries disaster for the state. The declaration would provide financial assistance for fishers, processors, docks and the state as they work to rehabilitate important fishery species.

As SeafoodNews.com previously reported, the Bonnet Carré Spillway has been wreaking havoc on fishermen. Due to the high water events and the opening of the Spillway, statewide shrimp landings for both brown and white shrimp combined have...

ANALYSIS: Venezuela Crab Meat Imports into U.S. Drop Dramatically

Venezuela’s market share has grown in 2019. Through April, Venezuela owns a 14.6 percent market share; a rise from their 9.97 percent market share last year at the same time. Year-to-date figures are up 49.1 percent and currently 2.5 million pounds have been imported into the U.S. market this year. Venezuela is the second highest importing country to Indonesia, who is the far and away leader in the category.

However, with the country’s current political climate, imports into the...

Climate Study Forecasts Impacts on Fishing Fleets From New England to the Mid-Atlantic

A team of researchers at Rutger’s University published a case study in how fishing communities will need to respond to climate change, showing that most from North Carolina to Maine will face declining fishing options unless they can adapt by catching different species or fishing in different areas.

"Some communities like Portland, Maine, are on track to lose out, while others like Mattituck, New York, or Sandwich, Massachusetts, may do better as waters warm," said senior author...

Eric Schwaab Joins Environmental Defense Fund as Senior VP of Oceans Program

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has hired Eric Schwaab, former head of National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as their new Senior Vice President of the Oceans program.

“Eric’s passion for the oceans, his deep technical and management expertise on fisheries issues and his experience as a leader makes him a perfect fit,” said Amanda Leland, EDF’s Executive Vice President in an announcement yesterday. “Over more than two decades, he has worked in nearly all aspects of conservation and he understands what is required to drive impact at...

Coast Guard Searching for Missing Florida Fisherman Off Cape Canaveral

The U.S. Coast Guard has been searching for the captain of a 46-foot fishing vessel called the Day Boat Too, who went overboard 300 miles east of Cape Canaveral at approximately 2:57 a.m. on Sunday, June 16.

The missing Captain has been identified as Russell Miner. Miner was on board the Day Boat Too with two other individuals when he went overboard. Shortly after receiving the call, a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules aircraft was launched to search for the missing fisherman...

Captain D’s Opens 105th Restaurant in Georgia

Fast casual seafood restaurant Captain D’s continues to expand in the state of Georgia. The company announced the opening of its 105^th restaurant in the state. The new location opened in Hazlehurst and will be owned by multi-unit franchisee Robert Wiggins of Rocket Enterprises, LTD.

Wiggins owns multiple food services franchises in the Southeast and he is eyeing two more Captain D’s locations. He plans to open the new restaurants by 2021. Wiggins currently operates franchises including Arby’s, Checker’s and Huddle Houses...

ANALYSIS: Farm Raised, Asian, Raw P&D, Tail-On, White 16-20 Shrimp Changes Longer Term Weakness

The shrimp market has been in almost continuous free-fall since October 2017; especially value-added shrimp products. Now, roughly halfway through 2019, a look at a price chart on Farm Raised, Asian, Raw P&D, Tail-On, White 16-20 shrimp is like looking in the mirror and things look back at you in opposite fashion. Around May 20 prices crossed last year's levels. Over the first 24 weeks last year, prices...

LISTEN: Gulf of St. Lawrence Closures; Trident's Partnership With Nancy Fuller; and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione - and special guest Ryan Doyle - as they talk about the Gulf of St. Lawrence fishing closures; Tridents Seafoods' new partnership with Food Network star Nancy Fuller; issues surrounding the Bonnet Carre Spillway; and the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.

This week's episode is brought to you by Foreign Trade Data. Reduce uncertainty, minimize risk and uncover opportunities with the only website designed exclusively for the seafood import/ export community...

FCC Future Leaders Canada Program Starts Strong

This year, the Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) launched a new sector-specific career development program.  The huge success of a similar program in the US gave us confidence that Future Leaders Canada would be valued by the sector.  Our expectations for the first year were modest to build momentum for future years.  The response and reactions from the sector during the application phase were encouraging.  In the end, we have seven very strong Future Leaders in our inaugural class.

Our first session started Sunday May 12th in Ottawa...

The Winding Glass: We Need a New Magnuson Act to Deal with Climate Change Impacts on Fisheries

[The Winding Glass is an opinion and commentary column from SeafoodNews Founder and Publisher John Sackton.]

50 years ago fisheries were in crisis.  The prevailing international law allowed no national control of ocean activities beyond 12 miles.  

Similar fishing situations were occurring around other coastal nations. 

The key features of the Magnuson-Stevens Act passed in 1976 were regional councils,  the best available science, and to involve all stakeholders in the council and decision-making process.

Today we are facing a new crisis...

2019 Gulf of St. Lawrence Halibut Quota Increases 15% Above Last Year’s Quota

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans raised the total allowable catch for Atlantic halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to 1,492 mt, a 15 percent increase over last year’s quota. The decision was announced June 12 in a statement from the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) headquartered in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

“The increase is welcome news to harvesters who have long asserted the flourishing stock warrants an increase to the harvest level. While a 15 per cent increase is certainly beneficial to...

VIDEO: Gulf of St. Lawrence Closures; Trident & Nancy Fuller; ASMI's Exec Director; Dead Zone

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they discuss the latest Gulf of St. Lawrence fishing closures; Trident's partnership with Food Network star Nancy Fuller; ASMI's new Executive Director; and the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone.

This week's episode was brought to you by Foreign Trade Data. Reduce uncertainty, minimize risk and uncover opportunities with the only website designed exclusively for the seafood import/ export community.

Rep. Huffman and 53 Members of Congress Call Pebble DEIS “Indefensible”

In a strongly worded letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army R.D. James and Commander of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers in Alaska, California Rep. Jason Huffman and 53 other members of Congress criticized the Draft Environmental Impact Statement the Corps has submitted for the Pebble Mine complex at the headwaters of Bristol Bay.

“We write to express our deep concern regarding the proposed Pebble Mne in Bristol Bay, Alaska,” the letter began. “Bristol Bay is a national treasure that supports the world’s greatest wild sockeye slamon fishery...

Fisheries Survival Fund: Issues with NOAA’s “HabCam” Will Hurt 2019 Atlantic Sea Scallop Survey

Issues with the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s “HabCam” habitat mapping camera will result in changes to the 2019 Northeast sea scallop survey.

The HabCam can ride just above the ocean floor and provide an extensive look at Atlantic sea scallop. In general, the camera is becoming a staple for NOAA research and surveillance.

The issues with the $450,000 HabCam began on June 6 when it struck an object. According to NOAA, divers were able to recover the camera and repair it, but...

Thai Union's Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Receives Seafood Champion Award

Dr. Darian McBain, Thai Union Group's Global Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, received the Seafood Champion Award while at SeaWeb Seafood Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, this week.

The Seafood Champion Award features four categories, including Vision, Leadership, Innovation and Advocacy. Dr. McBain  received the award in the Vision category, which was created to recognize individuals or organizations that have shown "outstanding leadership in promoting environmentally responsible seafood, leading to industry innovation and change."

"I'm incredibly honored to receive this award...

Trivial and Mysterious Shortbelly Rockfish Threatens West Coast Trawl Fisheries

An unremarkable and non-marketable rockfish has been showing up in trawl nets off the West Coast this year and in high enough numbers that NMFS notified industry to avoid them.

Shortbelly rockfish is a fast-growing rockfish species that has a relatively short lifespan for a rockfish: roughly 30 years. They also mature quickly, within 5 years, and they grow to reach about 13.5 inches. Until 2018, they were rarely seen in large numbers as bycatch in trawl fisheries. This year, trawl fisheries already...

Pebble Mine Draws More Opposition From NPFMC, AK Communities, Congress

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

The plans for the Pebble Mine at Bristol Bay have drawn broadening backlash despite the mine’s backing by the Dunleavy administration.

The City of Kodiak, Aleutians East Borough and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council are now all on record opposing the draft environmental impact statement for the massive mine, saying it is flawed, does not go far enough and leaves more questions than answers. 

At Kodiak, where over 500 resident fishermen and tenders work at Bristol Bay, city council members said...

Thai Union Launches #GhostGearReborn Campaign

Thai Union joined forces with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative in 2018, and earlier this month the company continued their efforts to reduce plastic waste and abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear by launching the #GhostGearReborn campaign. Thiraphong Chansiri, President and CEO of Thai Union Group PCL, participated in a dive with 40 other experienced divers as part of the company's effort to combat ghost gear.

"Protecting our seas is not only our industry's responsibility, but also essential to its survival," explained Chansiri. "We plan for this dive to be one of...

StarKist Battles Gov’t Demand for $100 Million Fine, Says it Should Pay $50 Million

StarKist is the last remaining corporate defendant in the tuna price-fixing lawsuit bought by the US government.  It is contesting a government filing asking for a $100 million fine.

At the same time, StarKist has made a number of settlements with customers that arose out of the price-fixing scheme.

During the first weeks in June Starkist announced a number of settlements.  On June 5th, StarKist settled with  CVS Pharmacy, Affiliated Foods, Associated Grocers of New England, Western Family Foods...

Alarmingly High Bottlenose Dolphin Deaths in Gulf of Mexico Trigger Another UME Declaration

Nearly 300 bottlenose dolphin deaths have been reported across the northern Gulf of Mexico beaches from the Florida panhandle to Louisiana, triggering another Unusual Mortality Event, or UME from NOAA Fisheries.

“Today we are declaring an Unusual Mortality Event for common bottlenose dolphins from Franklin County in Florida to the state of Louisiana,” said Allison Garrett, Public Affairs for NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region.

“As of June 12, there have been 279 strandings, three times the historical average in the Gulf.”

Garrett said there are 17 stocks of ... 

Russia Plans Development of Commercial Deepwater Crab Harvesting

The Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) will put an additional 40,000 tonnes of deepwater crab up for auctions next year, according to recent statements of an official spokesman for the Agency.

As it was reported, these deepwater stocks were discovered this year as part of a joint work conducted by the experts of Rosrybolovstvo and the scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

The types of crabs that will be put for auctions have not been disclosed yet. However, according to some sources in Rosrybolovstvo, the range of species will...

North Pacific Council FMC Changes Pollock and Cod Allocations in Gulf of Alaska

In an effort to improve management efficiencies, increase yields at a time when the fish are more valuable and easier to catch, and avoid in-season redistribution as well as bycatch, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council adopted measures that changed the equal four-season TAC allocation to two seasons for pollock and tweaked the status quo allocation for cod of 60:40 (allocation percentages to A and B seasons respectively) to 64:36. The final action was taken at the June meeting in Sitka...

Trident Seafoods Partners with Food Network Star Nancy Fuller

Food Network star Nancy Fuller is the new brand ambassador for Trident's Louis Kemp brand Crab Delights.

Trident Seafoods announced the partnership with the star of "Farmhouse Rules" on Thursday, revealing that the move is part of their effort to connect "healthy and easy-to-prepare seafood with current food and lifestyle trends." And Fuller is wasting no time in making that connection. Those that visit the Louis Kemp website can find Fuller's 5-minute "Easy Breezy Crab Dip" recipe, or her "Red, White & BBQ Pizza" recipe...

China’s White Shrimp Market Overshadowed by Low Prices

White shrimp prices have been in decline in China’s main aquaculture regions since late April, and due to prevalent disease, a general attitude of depression haunted the South China market in May when the weather is changeable. For example, the incidence rate of disease has reached about 70% in Zhongshan of Guangdong and trhe local price dropped by about 10 yuan/jin (1 jin=0.5 kg; $1.44/jin USD). Meanwhile, the prices have also dropped by about 5 yuan/jin ($0.72/jin USD) to 7 yuan/jin...

FFAW: To Protect Cod Stock, Action Needs to Be Taken to Control Seal Population  

FFAW is calling on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to "take action to control the overpopulation of seals." The call for action comes after the DFO announced the management plan for certain groundfish species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the total allowable catch (TAC) for 3Pn4RS cod.

The management plan for 3Pn4RS cod sets the TAC at 1000t for a two-year period, which is a 68% reduction from the previous season. The reduction is a result of the increasing rate of...

WDFW, Partners Apply to Lethally Remove Sea Lions from Columbia River, Tributaries

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with a consortium of state and tribal partners, submitted an expanded application to lethally remove California and Steller sea lions preying on threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia River and its tributaries.

California sea lions -- and increasingly, Steller sea lions -- have been observed in growing numbers in the Columbia River basin, especially in the last decade. These sea lions prey heavily on salmon and steelhead runs listed under the Endangered Species Act, including...

Walmart Foundation Awards IJM Grant to Combat Human Trafficking in Thai Fishing Industry

The Walmart Foundation has awarded the International Justice Mission (IJM) a grant to continue to address human trafficking in the Thai fishing industry. This is the third grant that IJM, the world's largest international anti-slavery organization, has received. IJM previously received a grant from the Walmart Foundation, in addition to a grant from the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

"Because of the Walmart Foundation's investments in IJM over the last several years...

Salmon Harvests in PWS and Copper River Strong, Pre-Season Showing in Chignik Worrisome

Harvest and escapement statistics from the Copper River and Prince William Sound are above preseason forecasts, but Chignik’s early showing of salmon past the weir are significantly below forecasts. Meanwhile, the Port Moller Test Fishery, the best indication of what’s ahead for Bristol Bay, is just starting to gather numbers.

Cumulative harvest for sockeye in Area E, Prince William Sound and the Copper River, was 694,000 reds as of June 6. Harvest from the 48-hour Copper River District period that began on June 6 is...

NFI Working With IBM to Launch Seafood Blockchain Pilot

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) announced earlier this week that they are working with IBM's Food Trust, blockchain-enabled system to launch a seafood supply chain traceability pilot program.

"Blockchain technology has the potential to transform any industry, especially when we have multi-stakeholder environments, businesses and organizations participating," Raj Rao, general manager with IBM Food Trust said in a press release. Blockchain can digitize information, capture it in a decentralized system and convey it in a secure way and allows for permissioned viewing rights. We are delighted to...