Vietnam Takes Advantage of U.S.-China Trade War

President Donald Trump’s recent tweets about tariffs and China has hit both the U.S. and China hard and also influenced global markets. Some countries will likely suffer, while some are believed to benefit from the fight between the two large economies. Vietnam is likely to be a winner in this trade war.

America’s higher tariffs on Chinese commodities are expected to encourage more Americans to purchase basa from Vietnam as substitutes for China’s tilapias. Meanwhile, Vietnamese seafood exporters also intend to seize this opportunity and expand...

Alaskans Enjoy the Journey of the First Copper River Salmon of the Year

After a long, white winter, summer colors are starting to show. The air smells different. Alaskans are starting to stay up later, maybe a little too late on these final school nights. The sun and all of its promises are being revealed. And, the first taste of the season is finally here: Copper River salmon.

Thursday morning Skip Winfree from 10th & M Seafood climbed into an Alaska Central Express plane along with a Channel 2 crew to chase the salmon in Cordova.

Excitement filled the air...

VIDEO: Cheddar Bay Biscuits; DFO Closes Fishing Areas; Consumers Sue Canned Tuna Companies

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they discuss the latest on the temporary closing of fishing areas in the Gulf and Quebec regions due to the presence of North Atlantic Right Whales, as well as the suspension of air service to and from Venezuela. Plus, learn more about Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits Sweepstakes in honor of National Biscuit Day! Enter for a chance to win an insulated fanny pack by tweeting @RedLobster what you love most about their Cheddar Bay Biscuits using #CBBSweepstakes...

Frankenfish Name Embraced by Makers, Updates

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

The makers of genetically modified salmon are now embracing the “Frankenfish” name saying it’s much like the Frankenstein monster in the book written in 1817.

Undercurrent News reports that Sylvia Wulf, CEO of fish maker AquaBounty Technologies, said “It was the uneducated mob that didn’t understand the benefits of the science that killed Frankenstein. Let’s applaud the Frankenfish, because it’s designed to solve real-world global challenges.”

Wulf was speaking at a Recirculating Aquaculture System Technology (RAStech) conference this week in Washington, D.C...

Trident Seafoods' Dan Murphy Joins Seafood Nutrition Partnership's Board of Directors

Dan Murphy, Trident Seafoods' Executive Vice President for North American Sales, is the newest member of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership's Board of Directors.

"I am honored to join the Seafood Nutrition Partnership Board of Directors," Murphy said in a press release. "I have admired and respected SNP for the important work the organization is doing to help Americans get healthier with seafood and help move the needle on seafood consumption in the U.S."

Murphy has more than 25 years of experience in the seafood industry...

New Season of "Chef's A' Field: Good Catch" to Feature Sustainable Seafood

Sustainable seafood is the star of the latest season of "Chefs A' Field: Good Catch."

Produced by Warner Hanson Television, season five of the award-winning public TV series will feature the nation's best chefs as they "get on board for a culinary adventure from sea to table." These chefs, including "Top Chef" alum Jennifer Carroll and James Beard Award winner Gavin Kaysen, will leave the kitchen in search of sustainable seafood. During each episode a different chef will...

Captain D's Reopens Corporate-Owned Tennessee Location A Little Over Year After Fire 

Captain D's announced earlier this week that they have reopened their corporate-owned Gallatin, Tennessee, location a little over a year after the restaurant was destroyed in a fire.

The Gallatin location had been open since September 1975, but burned down in a fire last March. The fast casual seafood chain has since rebuilt the restaurant with their new 2,400 square-foot prototype, which features indoor seating for 62 people. Thanks to the new restaurant prototype, Captain D's was able to create an additional 15 jobs...

DFO Temporarily Closes Fishing Areas Due to Presence of North Atlantic Right Whales

Beginning on Friday, the DFO will temporarily close fishing areas in the Gulf and Quebec regions due to the presence of more than three North Atlantic Right Whales. The endangered whales are reportedly within a zone situated outside the dynamic management area in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.  

According to the DFO, the closures will follow a grid system. The following grids will be closed beginning at 5 p.m. ADT on May 17: GU42, GU43, GU44...

Economic Reports Show Seafood, Transportation Industries Contribute Billions to Northwest Economy

Commercial fishing facilities on Port of Seattle property hauled in over $671.3 million, supporting over 7,000 direct jobs in 2017, according to a report released yesterday by the Port. Add recreational boating related facilities to that and the total economic impact reaches $1.3 billion supporting nearly 11,000 jobs.

In 2017, gross earnings in Alaska's fisheries totaled more than $1.0 billion. The revenues generated in 2017 by Port of Seattle vessels from fishing in Alaska-$455.0 million-represented 44% of all gross earnings from the North...

Bipartisan Group in Senate Introduce Bill to Restore Funding to Fishing Safety Training Grants

Last Friday a bipartisan group of coastal senators introduced a bill that restores the federal share of fishing safety training and research grants back to 75 percent, up from the 50% cut made 2018 legislation. The bill would also reauthorize the safety training and research programs for $6,000,000 per year for 2019-2021.

The bill, dubbed the Funding Instruction for Safety Health, and Security Avoids Fishing Emergencies (FISH SAFE) Act, was signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Markey (D-MA)...

Seven Seas International USA Recalls Biltmore Smoked Salmon Due to Possible Health Risk

Seven Seas International USA, LLC of St. Petersburg, Florida, announced on Wednesday that they are recalling their 4 oz. Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The 4 oz. Biltmore Smoked Sockeye Salmon was sold in black printed carton sleeves and has the "Biltmore" brand name printed on the front. The product was distributed in Florida by Publix Grocery stores and can be identified by the 4-digit product code...

Benchmark's New Land-Based Salmon Egg Production Facility to Open Next Week

Norway's Benchmark is set to open their new land-based salmon egg production facility next week.

The facility, SalmoBreed Salten, has been under construction for a little over a year. Located in Sørfold in Northern Norway, SalmoBreed Salten was designed with the highest standards of biosecurity in mind. The facility, which has the capacity to produce 150 million eggs annually, can hold stock from egg to final mature broodfish. According to the company, the production is equivalent to approximately half a million tons of harvested salmon...

New Rules to Protect Chinook Salmon in Fraser and Avoid "Path to Extinction"

On Monday, Canada's Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard ran an op-ed in the Vancouver Sun, acknowledging that "British Columbians are rightly concerned about the state of several wild Pacific salmon stocks. I share that concern."

Jonathan Wilkinson is also the Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, and acknowledge how important salmon are to his constituency.

"I know that salmon are more than just food. They are intrinsically linked to our cultural identity, they are fundamental to Indigenous communities, and they are...

Alec Brindle Leaves Legacy of Leadership and Philanthropy

Alec Brindle, a leader in Alaska’s seafood industry for six decades, died Sunday, May 12, 2019. He was 80 years old.

Brindle was the son of one of the original owners of the Wards Cove Cannery near Ketchikan and with his brother Winn Brindle, oversaw the family’s salmon and later groundfish plants throughout the state. The Brindle family helped shape Alaska’s seafood industry from the early days of pre-statehood to its current position as the largest employer in the state.

Alec Brindle, Sr. was known for his generous nature, wit...

Op-Ed: Murkowski's Lack of Oversight on Pebble

It’s May and my pre-fishing season to-do list is growing longer along with the Alaskan days. Springtime momentum is building toward the crescendo of the salmon fishing season in Bristol Bay.  Along with all of the pre-season boat preparations I am preoccupied with Pebble Mine, which is hurtling at breakneck speed through the permitting process. The US Army Corp of Engineers is at the helm with the throttle maxxed and they’re ignoring the hazards and shoalwater they are tasked to navigate. The proposed mine plan and...

Florida Stone Crab Season to Close on Thursday

Florida's commercial and recreational stone crab season officially closes on Thursday, May 16 in an effort to help conserve the state's valuable stone crab resource.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the last day of harvest of stone crab claws is May 15. Commercially harvested stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the five-month closure, however, the claws must have been placed in inventory prior to May 16 by a licensed wholesale or retail dealers.

The stone crab season will...

Red Lobster Launches Cheddar Bay Biscuits Sweepstakes in Honor of National Biscuit Day

Tuesday was National Biscuit Day, and in honor of the special day, Red Lobster created a limited-edition, insulated Cheddar Bay Biscuit Fanny Pack. Yes, you read that right. You can now get your hands on a Red Lobster insulated fanny pack, created specifically to keep your Cheddar Bay Biscuits warm.

"We know that the biggest temptation for our guests driving with To Go in the car is to sneak a few bites on the way to their final destination," Red Lobster President and...

ANALYSIS: Record Spread Continues Between 5-8 and 8-up Canadian Snow Crab

The price spread between Canadian 5-8s and larger Canadian snow crab, 8-up and 10-ups, has been in an unprecedented situation throughout most of 2018, and now there is a more substantial spread in 2019. The first most significant price difference happened at the beginning of the 2018 season. After the opening prices had settled and the spread between 5-8s and 8s out of Newfoundland was $0.75, the largest price spread since the fall of 2013 where it hit $0.95...

Fisheries Debate Over Marine Parks Heats Up On Eve of Australia’s General Election

The war of words is heating up in Australia as the country readies itself for another general election tomorrow. Among many contentious issues is whether Australia’s fisheries resources are sustainably managed and whether an agressive plan to expand the creation of marine parks -- in which commercial fishing would not be allowed -- should be continued.

The current debate was triggered a year ago when a paper written by lead author Graham J. Edgar declared the 31 percent decline in catch over the past decade meant that...

U.S. Department of Transportation Suspends Air Service to and from Venezuela

The U.S. Department of Transportation Office issued a notice this week announcing the suspension of air service to and from Venezuela.

Venezuela imports fresh crab meat that is flown into the U.S., and the suspension of air service could potentially impact the market. A majority of this product is used on the East Coast of the U.S. With the summer season quickly approaching, this suspension is coming at a time that is the highest demand period of the year. 

So far for this year, Venezuela has sent...

Alaska’s Bear-Viewing Industry Threatened by Pebble Mine

Another industry besides fishing has weighed in on how Pebble mine -- a proposed copper-gold-molybdenum mine at the headwaters of Bristol Bay -- could cost the state millions of dollars in lost revenues and hundreds of jobs if it is approved. 

A new study by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers highlights the strong and growing economic value of bear-viewing on the west side of Cook Inlet, where the Pebble Partnership hopes to build a major transportation corridor and industrial export facility.

Along with the full remifications of of a catastrophic failure...

Crab House Trading Corp. Recalls Over 36,000 Pounds of Frozen Siluriformes Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Wednesday that Los Angeles-based Crab House Trading Corp. is recalling approximately 36,040 pounds of frozen Siluriformes products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection. According to the news release, the recall is specifically for yellow walking fish.

The frozen Siluriformes products from Crab House Trading Corp. were shipped to retail and wholesale locations in California. The vacuum-sealed packages contain frozen "TRIPLE PEARL HEADLESS-CLEANED YELLOW WALKING FISH...

Legal Seafoods, Lobster Gram Named 'Best of 2019' By TopConsumerReviews.com

Legal Seafoods and Lobster Gram have once again secured the title of "Best of" by TopConsumerReviews.com.

TopConsumerReviews.com is an independent organization that provides unbiased reviews of products available for online purchasing. The site named Legal Seafoods as the top-ranking Best Seafood Store for 2019, with Catalina Offshore Products coming in second place, and The Crab Place coming in third. Lobster Gram was named the best online lobster retailer, with Legal Seafoods coming in second and Lobster Anywhere coming in third...

Florida Stone Crabbers Experienced Crustacean Frustration This Season. They Say Red Tide is to Blame.

The stone crab harvest was down this year -- way down -- and local crabbers say it was because of red tide.

With Wednesday marking the final day of harvest for the 2018-19 season, several Cortez crabbers left their boats tied up at the dock, rather than scouting for the hard-to-find crustaceans.

"It's been a very slow year," said Brian Ibasfalean, production manager for A.P. Bell Fish Company Inc. "The boats are way off. (Tuesday), it was about 15 pounds of stone crab...

Consumers Sue Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea and StarKist Over 'Dolphin-Safe' Claims

Class action lawsuits were filed by consumers in California on Monday against tuna companies Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist. The suits allege that despite the "dolphin-safe" claims on their products, the companies actually employ fishing techniques that kill or harm dolphins.

The consumers state that the dolphin-safe labels on products from Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist, are not only false, but misleading, which violates the laws of several U.S. states. In addition, the lawsuits state that StarKist...

ANALYSIS: Tariffs High, Inventory Holdings Low

Seasonally, January brings in the highest volume of product from China, however, this was not the case for the start of 2019. January imports fell way below average with importers rushing product into the country in December 2018 to get ahead of the 25% tariff originally set for a January 1^st, 2019 start date. With a 90-day window to prepare after the 10% tariffs were set in place, the industry was able to evaluate their current inventory levels and make a necessary plan of action for how they will proceed accordingly...

Sea Delight Joins NFI's Crab Council, Red Crab Council

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) announced on Wednesday that Florida-based Sea Delight has become the 33rd member of NFI's Crab Council, and the 11th member of their Red Crab Council. The announcement came shortly after the company, which was founded in 2006, expanded their product line to include both blue and red swimming crabmeat.

"Sea Delight upholds strict product integrity specifications throughout our supply chain," said VP of Sales Alex Cook. "A central feature of our new line of crabmeat products is Sea Delight's commitment to crab sustainability throughout...

Pebble Mine vs. Salmon Fishermen Gets Heard in Court, No Judgment Yet  

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Pebble Mine versus Alaska salmon fishermen gets a day in court. The state sides with Pebble.

If Governor Mike Dunleavy was giving his position on the Pebble Mine to a room full of  Bristol Bay fishermen  he would say “rather than developing minerals across the globe, in locations with little or no environmental safeguards, we should be doing our part here to allow Alaska resources to move safely to market.”

That’s according to spokesman, Matt Shuckerow...

Italian National Pleads Guilty After Attempting to Traffic Cocaine on Fishing Vessels

Gabriele Biondo, an Italian national, has pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking. Biondo, as well as several co-conspirators, was connected to the seizure of over 1,500 kilos of cocaine bound for Europe aboard fishing vessels.

The Justice Department reports that Biondo and his co-conspirators were trafficking Colombian cocaine by boat via Venezuela to Spain, Puerto Rico, and other locations. Boats carrying the cocaine would meet fishing vessels located offshore. The drugs would then be transferred to the fishing vessel for transport to Europe...

A View from the Top of the World: Interview with Salmon Group CEO- Women in Food and Agriculture

Back when Anne-Kristine Øen, CEO of Norway-based Salmon Group joined the industry, she recollects, there were not many women among management, particularly in the most senior roles. These days, however, it is a pleasure to notice that an increasing number of senior positions go to women.

Throughout a career including stints as Communication Manager at Odfjell, the Grieg Group, and Marine Harvest, as well as General Manager at Maritime Bergen, Anne-Kristine has had the chance to observe...