Slade Gorton CEO Kim Gorton Testifies at House Committee on Small Business Hearing 

On Wednesday morning Slade Gorton CEO Kim Gorton testified at the House Committee on Small Business Hearing about the impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on food systems, specifically the harm that the outbreak has caused the seafood supply chain.

"More than 1.7 million Americans work in the U.S. seafood industry, half a million of whom work in the middle of the supply chain, many for small family run companies like mine," Gorton said. "Without us the fishermen's bounty would never make it off the docks....

Salmon Facing Harsh Market in China

Under the influence of this epidemic, salmon is facing a harsh Chinese market both online and offline. Though they have re-entered some supermarkets and stores in September, the rebound has not come yet, and many industry participants are still struggling. No one knows for sure when the fish can rekindle consumers’ passion.

After interviewing nine supermarkets in mid-September, one Beijing journalist found that salmon sales are still far from satisfactory, and there has been fewer types of products available. In spite of documents to prove safety, many consumers are still worried and...

Oregon Rep. Bonamici Requests Virtual Community Meeting To Address Pacific Seafood COVID Outbreak

Following news of a new COVID-19 outbreak at Pacific Seafood's Warrenton plant, Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici is requesting that the seafood company and Oregon Health Authority hold a virtual community meeting.

Bonamici, who represents the 1st District of Oregon, wrote in a letter to Pacific Seafood and the Oregon Health Authority that she's "deeply concerned" about the COVID-19 outbreak at the Warrenton facility. As SeafoodNews reported earlier this week, the company confirmed that they currently have 94 positive COVID cases among workers...

Russia Experiences Boom of Pollock Consumption  

The COVID-19 pandemic in Russia and associated negative consequences for the country’s economy has led to a growth in demand for pollock among local customers.   

According to recent statements made by the experts of the Russian Pollock Association (ADM), the pandemic has had a negative effect on the income of local customers, forcing them to shift to more affordable fish products. Pollock currently remains sone of the most affordable fish species in Russia, in terms of its cost.

That has already resulted in the increase of pollock supplies to...

Study to Dive Into Impact of COVID-19 On UK Seafood Industry

A UK based research team led by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) has started to look into the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the UK’s seafood sector.

The last massive economic crash in 2008 saw serious impacts to the seafood sector. With its processing and logistics within the supply chain from farming and fishing to its end destination on supermarket shelves or restaurants, it took longer for the industry to recover than most. Throw in questions over Brexit and concern for the country’s seafood sector is serious...

Halibut Survey Called a “Resounding Success”

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

A “resounding success” is how scientists summed up this summer’s Pacific halibut survey despite it being shortened and scaled down a bit due to the Covid pandemic.

The so-called fishery-independent setline survey (FISS) uses standardized methods to track trends in the Pacific halibut stock which ranges from the west coast and British Columbia to the far reaches of the Bering Sea.

This summer 11 longline vessels took halibut scientists aboard for two months to fish at 898 survey stations, down 30% from the...

New England Fishery Management Council Reelects Chair, Vice-Chair and Adds Pair of Members

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) reelected Dr. John Quinn of Massachusetts to serve as chairman and Eric Reid of Rhode Island to serve as vice chairman for another year.

Dr. Quinn will now enter his fifth year as chairman. Prior to his election to chairman, he served as vice chair for three years. Dr. Quinn began his work on the Council in 2012 but has a long history of work with the fishing industry including...

Seafarers UK Releases Report Highlighted Financial Struggles of Country’s Coastal Fishermen

Seafarers UK, in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University released research exploring the financial difficulties of fishermen in the UK who rely on small-scale fishing.

The research, titled ‘Fishing without a Safety Net: The Financial Resilience of Small-Scale Coastal Fishers, their Families and Communities’ will provide recommendations for Government, charity and industry to improve the financial resilience of fishing families around the UK.

Seafarers and company proposed “boosting financial literacy in fishing communities to improve financial planning; improved Government welfare support, plugging crucial gaps in the current system that disadvantages fishers..."

Atlantic Sapphire Concludes First Land-based Fish Harvest in U.S.

Atlantic Sapphire, a land-based salmon farmer announced it has completed the first harvest of commercial Atlantic salmon at its U.S. facility in Florida. The number of salmon was not shared in the company’s announcement but volumes are set to be increased in the coming weeks.

The company announced recently that it expects a harvest of about 10,000 tons annually. In the long-term, the company netted permits that will allow them to produce up to 90,000 tons on site, with a target volume of 220,000 tons by 2031...

Mystery of Foreign Marine Debris on Bering Strait Beaches Focus of NOAA’s ORR

Something happened this past spring or summer near the Bering Strait that released an unusually large amount of flotsam or jetsam — no one knows yet which it is — on beaches from Shishmareff in Alaska’s far Northwest to Nome and along the shoreline of St. Lawrence Island. Was it a ship sinking, or just someone throwing lots of garbage overboard?

NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and Emergency Response Division, part of their Office of Response and Restoration, is looking into it.  They have partnered with groups to establish ...

Image Credit: NOAA

Cooke Confirms Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus at Cold Ocean Salmon Grip Cove Farm Site

Cooke Aquaculture confirmed over the weekend that Cold Ocean Salmon's Grip Cove farm site near Gaultois, NL, has received positive test results confirming Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAv).

According to the statement from Cooke, the farm site contains seven cages that are stocked with approximately 485,000 Atlantic salmon. While ISAv is a naturally occurring virus and not a human health or food safety issue, the company is planning to remove the fish using approved and biosecure Standard Operating Procedures...

Louisiana Governor Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Fisheries Impacted by Hurricane Laura

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to request a federal fishery disaster to be declared following Hurricane Laura.

Hurricane Laura, a deadly and damaging Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, made landfall in Louisiana in late August, bringing with it sustained winds of 150 mph. According to reports, Hurricane Laura tied the 1856 Last Island hurricane as the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the state.

The hurricane did substantial damage to...

As Climate Change Threatens Maine Fisheries, It’s Not All Bad News for Oysters

Despite the threat climate change poses to longstanding Maine fisheries such as lobsters and softshell clams, and the harm it already has inflicted on northern shrimp and groundfish, there is one Maine fishery that has seen rapid growth in the past decade and is expected to continue expanding: oysters.

Eastern oysters are native to Maine, and have long been harvested as food along the coast, as evidenced by piles of ancient shell middens found along the banks of the tidal Damariscotta River. The river is where the...

Red Lobster Introduces New Daily Deals to Lure Dine-In Customers

Need a reason to visit Red Lobster every day? The popular seafood chain has just introduced their new daily deals menu. Beginning Monday, Red Lobster diners can take advantage of a different deal on delicious seafood each weekday.

Ultimate Endless Shrimp Monday allows guests to mix and match Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp, Walt's Favorite Shrimp, Garlic Shrimp Scampi and Wood-Grilled Shrimp Skewers for just $17.99.

Bring your date for Two for Tuesday, where diners can enjoy two lobster, shrimp and salmon meals for $49.99....

Japan Fisheries Association to Host Ecolabel Workshop at the Seafood Show Tokyo

The Japan Fisheries Association will hold an ecolabel workshop with stakeholders, including Marine Ecolabel Japan (MEL Japan) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), on September 30 at the 22nd Japan International Seafood Show held at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Tokyo. According to Suisan Keizai Shimbun, the workshop will discuss the theme "For the Fisheries Industry to Shine in the Post-Corona Society." 

Professor Hiroyuki Matsuda, Researcher of Environmental Information, Yokohama National University, will give a keynote speech on...

The Hartman Group's Shelley Balanko on Consumer Buying Trends in a Pandemic

During extraordinary times, insights into consumer behaviors become more vital than ever to businesses. The Hartman Group, a food culture consultancy, provides such trends, insights, and strategic counsels to professionals in the food and beverage industry. The company conducts its own primary research with expertise in areas including sustainability and the health and wellness consumer.

In 2012, the Hartman Group developed the Eating Occasions Compass, a database that documents the who, what, when, where, and why of eating occasions in the United States...

Pacific Seafood Outbreak Update: Company Confirms 94 Current Positive COVID Cases

Pacific Seafood confirmed over the weekend that their Warrenton plant has a total of 94 positive COVID-19 cases. Of those cases, 86 of them were from last week, while eight were from the week prior.

Clatsop County’s Public Health Department released a notice last week reporting a “major outbreak” at Pacific’s Warrenton plant. According to the report, 77 out of the plant’s 159-member night shift tested positive for the virus. As a result, Pacific temporarily suspended operations as they tested their day shift workers...

China Closes its Door to Fewer Shrimp in August

According to Chinese customs, this August 133.681 tons of shrimp products have been rejected upon their entry into China, and they have been either returned or destroyed. Among them, 106.078 tons are said to be white shrimp from Ecuador, while 27.603 tons are black tiger prawns from Vietnam.

As available statistics show, the number of white shrimp, which were denied entry, has dropped by about 61% this August to 106 tons compared with 275 tons in July. Though August’s rejected shrimps are all from Ecuador...

Fishing Industry Pens Letter Pushing for Improvements to the OFFSHORE Act

Leaders from almost 50 fishing industry organizations submitted a letter to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources looking for changes to the Opening Federal Financial Sharing to Heighten Opportunities for Renewable Energy (OFFSHORE) Act.

“These proposed changes would ensure that research and mitigation funds are properly directed and efficiently used, and that federal labor standards are applied consistently to offshore development activities,” the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) wrote in a press release...

Thai Union Invests in Four Food Tech Companies Through Venture Fund

Thai Union Group announced it has invested in four food tech companies through its new venture fund.

The company said it has invested in Alchemy Foodtech Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based diabetes food tech innovation company; Manna Foods Co, an insect tech and e-commerce company in the U.S.; and HydroNeo GmbH, an aquaculture technology company based in Germany and Thailand.

The first three companies were involved in Thai Union’s SPACE-F, the first food tech incubator and accelerator program in Thailand. SPACE-F was founded along...

Tim Ørting Joins Sysco as Executive VP & President, Foodservice Operations – International

Sysco announce on Wednesday that they have hired Tim Ørting as their new executive vice president and president, foodservice operations – international.

Ørting joins the team at Sysco after working with international dairy cooperative Arla for the past 30 years. He most recently served as Arla's executive vice president, international.

In his new position at Sysco, Ørting will be leading the company's operations in Canada, Europe, the Bahamas and Latin America, where he will be overseeing the development and execution of key strategies for growth in these geographics...

SeafoodNews Podcast: The Pebble Tapes, Trump's Surprise Bumble Bee Tuna Mention and More

A brand new episode of the SeafoodNews Podcast is out on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify! This week SeafoodNews managing editor Amanda Buckle talks about the secret Pebble Tapes; Trump’s bizarre Bumble Bee tuna shout out; Blue Harvest Fisheries’ purchase award from the USDA; and the U.S. resuming shellfish trade with Europe for the first time in 10 years.

This episode was brought to you by Urner Barry’s epic online event, the Executive Conference and Global Protein Summit, taking place from October 6-9. Learn more about the event and sign up here.

Nation’s Fishery Councils Recommend Ways to Support American Seafood, Improve Coordination with NMFS

An executive order, changes to National Environmental Policy Act measures, guidance related to overfishing and a National Seafood Council were among several issues fishery leaders from around the country discussed last week. The biannual meeting of the Council Coordination Committee was held virtually, but hosted by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.

Leaders from all eight regional councils had the opportunity to talk with National Marine Fisheries Service managers during the open public meeting.

Subsequent to the CCC's meeting in May, all eight Councils ...

Fishermen Groups Concerned About At-Sea Monitoring Expansion

Fishing organizations including the Northeast Seafood Coalition are concerned about the potential of universal at-sea monitoring requirements for commercial groundfish vessels the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is currently mulling.

The Coalition, the Associated Fisheries of Maine and other Northeast organized seafood sectors have raised issues about the cost and effectiveness of the monitoring expansion. Groups submitted public comments on the NEFMC’s Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan, which deals with changes to the monitoring requirements, the Coalition explained in a press release...

Alaska Senate Fisheries Debate Calls for Questions

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Got questions for the US Senate candidates when they face off over fish?

Questions and topics are being solicited for Kodiak’s October 10^th debate which is the first to feature the candidates for U.S. Senate.

“It’s going to be an hour and a half long debate between Senator Sullivan and Dr. Al Gross.”

Sarah Phillips is director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, which has been hosting debates for Alaska governor and Congressional candidates since 1999...

Startup Develops Plastic-free, Fully Compostable Packaging Made from Sugarcane

W-Cycle, an Israel-based startup developed a plastic-free packaging created with sugarcane waste that is fully compostable and durable enough to hand hot and greasy food called SupraPulp.

The product is also microwave safe and can be reheated in an oven, convection oven or steam cooker.

SupraPulp is patented, field-tested, and an ideal replacement for plastic, aluminium, or foam containers, the company said in a press release. It is made from 100% renewable sugarcane fibers, called bagasse, the dry, pulpy fibrous matter that remains after sugarcane or sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice...

Japan Fisheries Association to Host Ecolabel Workshop at the Seafood Show Tokyo

The Japan Fisheries Association will hold an ecolabel workshop with stakeholders, including Marine Ecolabel Japan (MEL Japan) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), on September 30 at the 22nd Japan International Seafood Show held at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Tokyo. According to Suisan Keizai Shimbun, the workshop will discuss the theme "For the Fisheries Industry to Shine in the Post-Corona Society." 

Professor Hiroyuki Matsuda, Researcher of Environmental Information, Yokohama National University, will give a keynote speech on...

Carthage Crabs Enters Joint Venture With Azzure Mar Seafood Products To Expand Line in US Market

Carthage Crabs, a New Jersey-based supplier of Mediterranean Blue Swimming Crab and Seafood from Tunisia and Morocco, announced on Tuesday that they have entered into a joint venture with Azzure Mar Seafood Products. The joint venture allows Carthage Crabs to expand their product line in the U.S. market.

"We are very excited and confident that, with their extensive experience including a national salesforce, working with Azzure will produce a very successful joint venture...

Holland Fisheries Event Launches Online Exhibition After Cancelling October Show Due to COVID-19

Stichting Visserijdagen Urk, the organizer of the Holland Fisheries Event, announced that they are moving forward with an online exhibition following their decision to cancel the October 2020 show due to COVID-19.

On October 2 the Holland Fisheries Event, together with its media partner, Dutch trade magazine Visserjinieuws, will be launching an online exhibition news reel. The exhibition will be anchored by Klaas-Jelle Koffeman, chairman of Visserijdagen Urk, and feature an interview with the new mayor of Urk...

Bundrant Lauds Departing Senior Executives as Trident Begins ‘Transition’

What’s ahead for Trident Seafoods, the largest vertically-integrated seafood company in North America and one of the largest seafood companies in the world, has not yet been made public, but it appears to be starting with a planned departure of three high-level executives in the company.

IntraFish broke the story last Friday with word from Trident CEO Joe Bundrant that three key executives are departing Trident Seafoods as part of a company reorganization.

Vic Scheibert, president of Alaska Operations; Allen Kimball, executive vice president of...