U.S., UK Reach Agreement Regarding Large Civil Aircraft; Will Not Impose Tariffs Related to Dispute

Just a few days after the United States and European Union announced a cooperative framework to address the large civil aircraft disputes which have been raging since 2004, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced on Thursday that they have also reached an agreement with the United Kingdom.

“Reaching an agreement with the United Kingdom to finally put the large civil aircraft disputes behind us is a great step forward for our relationship,” said United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “I want to thank...

OSHA Updates Guidance For Protecting Workers From Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated their guidance for protecting workers and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The changes made focus on protections for unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk workers.

“Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace” was initially posted by OSHA on January 29. On June 10 the government department released some changes to the document, which was created to “help employers and workers not covered by...

Alaska Scallop Fishery Opens July 1

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

One of Alaska’s smallest and priciest fisheries gets underway on July 1 – weathervane scallops.

The fleet size is limited by federal licensing for only 9 permits, but just two boats take part in the fishery which spans from Yakutat to the Bering Sea and can run through the winter.

“It’s pretty specialized. It’s not something you can get into easily. A fair bit of institutional knowledge and also specialized gear.  Lots of people have some Tanner crab pots lying around their back yards but...

White Shrimp Are Seeing Price Decline and Uncertain Future in Chinese Market

White shrimp have suffered from continuous price contraction from May to early June. With increasingly large aquaculture scale in recent years, some insiders have worried if farmers will be able to earn satisfying profits or not, considering factors like greater supplies, higher disease incidence and uncertain seed qualities.

Shrimp prices plummeted to great extents in China’s Jiangsu province in late May, and some traders complained that it is difficult to continue their business. And there are few signs of market rebound...

Wildfish Cannery and Barnacle Foods Launch Limited Release Octopus in Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce

You’re not going to want to miss this collaboration between Wildfish Cannery and Barnacle Foods. The two Alaska-based companies have joined forces to release a special, very limited small-batch of Wildfish Cannery Octopus in Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce. 

Wildfish Cannery has been in business since 1987 and is now run by the founder’s grandson, Chef Matthew Scaletta. Barnacle Foods was founded in 2016 by Matt Kern and Lia Heifetz, but the relatively new company has...

FFAW, ASP Submit Summer Shrimp Prices to Standing Fish Price Setting Panel

The Standing Fish Price Setting Panel is holding a hearing today regarding the summer price for shrimp.

FFAW said in an update that negotiations regarding the price were held this week, but that after three days they remained too far apart from the Association of Seafood Producers’ (ASP) offer. The two organizations ultimately submitted their prices to the Standing Fish Price Panel. FFAW submitted a price of $1.22 per pound, which they say “accurately reflects the current...

Samherji, HS Orka Agree to Develop Land-based Salmon Farm with 40,000 MT of Capacity

A subsidiary of Iceland-based seafood firm Samherji has reached an agreement with HS Orka, along with landowners to develop a land-based salmon operation with the capacity to produce up to 40,000 metric tons of salmon per year.

According to Samherji, the Samherji fiskeldi operation will be located in the Resource Park by the Reykjanes Power Plant. The company said it has secured access to sea and electricity to handle the capacity as well...

DFO Provides Update Following Lobster Science Partnership Roundtable

In late May, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced the Lobster Science Partnership Roundtable to bring scientists, Indigenous partners, commercial fishing representatives, and other key researchers together to discuss lobster stocks in the country.

After hosting a Lobster Science Roundtable on June 15, the DFO thanked the 40-plus participants for their contributions when discussing the work that needs to be completed for lobster science.

The participants talked about specific lobster science projects they would like to undertake, and what they could each contribute, the DFO said. The group also showed interest...

Some Relief For Seafood Industry Thanks to Airbus-Boeing Deal

On Tuesday the United States and European Union announced a cooperative framework to address the large civil aircraft disputes which have been raging since 2004. As part of the agreement, the U.S. and EU have agreed to move away from “past confrontation in pursuit of a cooperative future by suspending the tariffs related to this dispute for five years.”

“After years of bitter litigation and weeks of intense diplomacy, we have reached a deal on a set of high-level principles that resets U.S.-EU engagement in...

H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act of 2021 Introduced To Ease Issues Related to Visa Cap

Yesterday the H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act of 2021 was introduced. The new federal legislation, if passed, would address the long-running issues related to the annual H-2B visa cap.

The seafood industry is one of the many industries throughout the U.S. that rely on H-2B visas. H-2B visas are used by U.S. employers to fill temporary seasonal jobs. For example, Maryland’s crab picking houses turn to these temporary workers during their busy summer season in order to meet demand...

Commercial Fishermen Push CDC to Continue Mask Guideline Updates

A few days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated mask guidance aboard vessels on June 11, commercial fishing groups applauded the work by Senators for the changes but the groups do hope that more updates are on the horizon.

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA), the United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), and the Seafood Harvesters of America (SHA) sent thanks to Senator Maggie Hassan, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) for their work to update the mask policy aboard fishing vessels...

Salmon Fishing Season Gaining Momentum in Russia 

The salmon fishing season is gaining momentum in Russia, with the expected catch of 459,000 tonnes, including about 359,000 tons in Kamchatka.

It is expected that most of the planned catch (up to 70%) will account for pink salmon. At the same time the share of chum salmon and sockeye salmon in the overall structure of catch will reach 20% and 7% respectively.  

In addition to Kamchatka, among the other biggest salmon-producing regions in Russia this year will be the Sakhalin Region and Khabarovsk Territory, with the planned catch volumes of...

Nova Scotia Approves Hatchery License for First Nation and Cooke Aquaculture’s Salmon Division

The Millbrook First Nation has received approval from the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) to assign its aquaculture License of a land-based fish hatcher to Kelly Cove Salmon, the salmon farming division of Cooke Aquaculture Inc.

“Millbrook First Nation is looking to the future to ensure our people stay connected to local seafood through innovative ways. Farming Atlantic salmon through best practices in association with Cooke Aquaculture as a world leading company provides us with...

China's Customs Agency Temporarily Suspends Imports of Certain Seafood Items After COVID Detection

China is once again temporarily suspending seafood imports following the alleged detection of coronavirus on packaging. 

Last week the General Administration of Customs made multiple announcements about taking preventive measures against seafood companies from India and Pakistan. Six Indian companies— M/S Arya Sea Foods Private Limited, M/S RVR Marine Products Limited, Liberty Frozen Foods PVT LTD, M/S Jagadeesh Marine Exports, M/S Nezami Rekha Seafoods Private Limited and M/S Vanita Cold Storage—were flagged by Chinese customs officials after the positive detection...

JAPAN: May Sales Of Imported Fresh Tuna Down 26.5% to 725; Lowest Record At Toyosu Market

The total number of fresh imported tuna that arrived in May at the Toyosu Market in Tokyo, which Jiji Press compiled, was 725, a decrease of 26.5% from the same month of the previous year. The number of bluefin tuna, southern bluefin tuna, and bigeye tuna decreased across the board to below 1,000 in total, further below the recent year's minimum of 986 in the same month, reported Suisan Keizai.

The total number of bluefin tuna was 147, a decrease of 20.5%...

BOEM and USACE Collaborate in Atlantic to Meet Offshore Wind Goals 

As the Biden administration continues to push for 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy in place by 2030, interagency cooperation also increases.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced this week they have entered into an agreement in support of planning and reviewing renewable energy projects on the outer continental shelf.

The agreement will allow the Army Corps to provide BOEM additional scientific and technical resources needed to evaluate offshore wind projects on the OCS. While the ...

Stop & Shop Follows Local Seafood Program With Consumer Survey on Seafood Preferences, Sourcing

Last month, retailer Stop & Shop launched its annual local seafood summer program which adds to the grocer’s seafood selection by featuring fresh seafood from local purveyors.

As it gears up its seafood program, Stop & Shop released findings from a customer survey regarding seafood preferences including preparation methods and the importance of local seafood sourcing.

In general, 95% of survey respondents said they liked seafood. A good sign for the company that is expanding its seafood counter in the coming months...

Maine’s A.C. Inc. Acquires a Pair of Shellfish Businesses

A.C. Inc., a Maine-based seafood harvester and distributor has purchased a pair of local fishing companies, Beals Lobster Company and Close to Coast Seafood.

The pair of companies are headquartered in Jonesport, Maine and will expand A.C.’s operations with new vessels and buying stations across the state.

A.C. said the Beals Lobster Company purchase will add four vessels that will support its hardshell clam business.

“We are seeing a substantial increase in demand for our hardshell Ocean Clam and mahogany clams from national retail buyers,” said...

Top Chilean Soccer Player to Star in Campaign Showcasing Country’s Salmon, Other Top Exports

Star Chilean soccer player Alexis Sanchez was named the face of Prochile’s “Unboxing Chile” campaign which will promote Chilean salmon and other products from the country as it looks to promote exports in new markets.

The campaign aims to show the country’s salmon is “reliable, sustainable and of quality, attributes that are recognizable in the Chilean striker and that allow bringing national production closer to other nations.”

“We hope that this campaign will show the talent of southern Chile, increase our country's awareness...

Pebble to Conduct Field Program During Bristol Bay Salmon Harvest

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., the Canadian owner of Pebble Limited Partnership, will be conducting an annual field program at the headwaters of Bristol Bay during July, the peak time for sockeye salmon to be returning to the area.

Pebble’s 2021 field program is focused on “environmental management, sustainability and regulatory compliance” according to the press release.

In March 2019, Stephen Buckley, Mining Section Chief for the state’s Division of Mining, Land, and Water, sent a letter to Pebble’s Tim Havey, Pebble’s Environmental Manager outlining the requirements of the Miscellaneous Land ...

Senator Chuck Schumer Introduces Fluke Fairness Act of 2021

On Wednesday Senator Chuck Schumer of New York introduced the Fluke Fairness Act of 2021, a bill created to “provide for an equitable management of summer flounder based on geographic, scientific and economic data and for other purposes.

The summer flounder fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to the North Carolina/ South Carolina border. According to a 2020 study from the Science Center for Marine Fisheries, summer flounder landings are worth an estimated $26.5 million when landed at docks in the Mid-Atlantic states...

USDA Announces Additional $700 Million in PPE Grants to Small Businesses, Seafood Processors

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, has increased costs to seafood processors during the pandemic but the USDA wants to help cut those costs.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Tuesday additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack announced plans to use available pandemic assistance funds to address a number of gaps and disparities in previous rounds of aid. As part of the Pandemic Assistance initiative announced in March, USDA pledged to ...

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission Draws Ire of Nations, Industry, and NGOs on Yellowfin Tuna

The Indian Ocean’s yellowfin tuna is currently the most overfished tuna stock in the world. In 2016, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) adopted a resolution reducing the fishing allowance of the species by 15 percent to help rebuild the population. After five days of negotiations, IOTC members were only able to reach agreement to limit catch to 400,512mt. That catch level is 61,000mt above a level agreed to by the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), an industry group.

In the years since 2016’s resolution, the ...

Arthur Treacher Ready to Expand With New Franklin Junction Partnership

The revival of Arthur Treacher is on!

As SeafoodNews reported earlier this month, Nathan’s Famous announced plans to relaunch the seafood fast food chain as a ghost kitchen concept. Now, they’re partnering with Franklin Junction, “the innovative growth platform for restaurants navigating the age of digital ordering and delivery.”

Franklin Junction matches brands with “Host Kitchens,” which are existing restaurants that have the capacity to add a variety of delivery-only menus. This gives brands the opportunity to expand into new markets through a delivery-only presence and...

ASC Introduces New Feed Standard Aiming to Solve Aquaculture Supply Chain Issues

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC) unveiled a Feed Standard aiming to tackle the issue of unsustainable and irresponsible practices across the aquaculture feed supply chain.

After years of development by feed producers, retailers, NGOs, farmers, and other stakeholders the new Standard will require feed mills to meet environmental and social requirements; source ingredients from socially responsible suppliers; and use environmentally responsible raw materials.

Chris Ninnes, ASC CEO, said: “Aquaculture is already providing over half of the seafood consumed around the world...

Alaska Mariculture Alliance Invites Founding Members

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

Alaskans who are engaged in or interested in mariculture are invited to become founding members in a new group that will advance the growing industry across the state.

The newly formed Alaska Mariculture Alliance (AMA) is a private non-profit successor to a five-year task force formed in 2016 by Governor Walker and re-authorized in 2018 by Governor Dunleavy. The task force will sunset on June 30.

“One of the priority recommendations was to create a long term entity that would...

Southeast Alaska Dungeness Crab Fishery Opens Today

The 2021/2022 commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Southeast Alaska opened this morning but fishermen won’t know this year’s catch limit or how long the season will last for another two weeks. 

“The [Alaska Fish and Game] department will use catch and effort information from the first seven days of fishing to predict total harvest for the season, which will be compared to regulatory thresholds described in the Southeastern Alaska Area Dungeness Crab Management Plan to determine season length,” ADF&G management biologist said in an announcement released last week ...

A Higher Quality Requirement is a Way Out for China’s Tilapia Industry

After shifting greater attention to China’s domestic market, Hainan’s tilapia industry has tailored marketing campaigns to lure foodies at home. For example, in 2020 it renamed high-quality tilapias as Hainan sea bream and drafted relevant standards in order to ensure consumers that their qualities are the same as exported ones.

Its efforts seem to have paid off. As statistics show, recent sea bream sales of several leading companies in Hainan have ballooned by about 300% to 500% compared with the same period last year...

Three U.S. Military Branches Partner in Bristol Bay to Support Salmon Fleet for a Safe Season Ahead

In a safety summit of sorts, three branches of the U.S. Military have joined forces for a marine safety deployment in Bristol Bay. The two-week long effort is to provide support to the region’s 2021 commercial salmon fishing season.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Task Force (MSTF) members partnered with Alaska Army National Guard and Civil Air Patrol flight crews yesterday left Anchorage for Bristol Bay’s Dillingham, Egegik, and King Salmon.

The Coast Guard MSTF members were flown by...

Global Aquaculture Alliance 2020 Annual Report Notes Work with Members and Certifications During Pandemic

The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) unveiled its 2020 Annual Report and the group highlighted the progress it made towards United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), commitment to its members and its work with certified facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am incredibly proud of my GAA associates for their achievements in 2020. We should also be proud of the women and men in the industry who surmounted the challenges of 2020 with courage and commitment. Just think what we can achieve in 2021 and beyond...