UK Chef Shortage Influencing Wholesale Shrimp Market 

The UK's chef shortage has been a well-documented challenge for the hospitality industry, even before the pandemic hit. 

While British restaurants began serving indoors back in May this year, following a five-month ban, they continue to struggle to find enough staff as Brexit and a string of lockdowns drove workers out of the industry.  

Brexit is arguably the biggest hindrance to kitchen staffing, with many workers unable to return due to skilled visa requirements which has left foodservice exposed.  

With COVID-19 and...

Alaska to Get Billions From Biden’s $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Biden administration’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will funnel billions to Alaska to support essential ferry service, airport and harbor improvements, water and wastewater projects, relocating coastal communities forced elsewhere due to climate change, improve and expand broadband access, shore up severely strained health care facilities, and more. 

“This landmark legislation could not have come at a more urgent time,” said Rep. Don Young, who attended the signing ceremony. “This infrastructure bill represents what very well could be our last chance to ...

SeafoodNews Closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26

SeafoodNews will not be publishing on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in observance of Thanksgiving. We will return to our normal publishing schedule on Monday, November 29.

In the meantime, catch up on our recent major news stories by checking our Featured Stories page. 

You can also watch all the latest SeafoodNews Weekly Videos here or listen to the latest SeafoodNews Podcast episodes here.

From all of us here at SeafoodNews, we wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday! 

Captain Phip’s Seafood, Owner Jamie Harrington, Sentenced for Federal Visa Fraud

Captain Phip’s Seafood, a seafood wholesaler in Secretary, Maryland, has been sentenced for federal visa fraud.

The company, which is primarily in the business of production and distribution of ice, as well as the processing of seafood, has participated in the H-2B work visa program for more than a decade. The H-2B work visa program allows a company to obtain temporary foreign workers to fill seasonal positions. From 2013 through 2018, Captain Phip’s Seafood “routinely sought prevailing wage determinations for multiple job descriptions, and then...

Record Salmon Catch in Russia This Year Does Not Lead to Decline of Prices in Local Market

This year salmon catch in the Russian Far East will amount to 538,000 tons. According to recent statements, made by representatives of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo), it will be the third best result in the history of the Russian fishery, being only slightly lower than the figures of 2009.

Traditionally the bulk of salmon catch in Russia accounted for the Kamchatka region, which this year is almost 80% higher than in 2020...

Japan: October Seafood Imports Fell Year-on-Year After Four Months

Imports of seafood (excluding non-edible marine products) slowed again, falling below the same month last year for the first time in four months, according to the October Trade Preliminary Report released by the Ministry of Finance on November 17. Import value remained positive due to rising procurement costs, Suisan Keizai reported.

Imports in October were 150.067 tons and 131,997 million yen ($1144.15 million), a decrease of 8.1% in volume and an increase of 10.8% in value compared to the same month of the previous year...

Alaska Symphony of Seafood: "And the First-Round Winners Are .... "

After a year of cancelled events, Alaska’s Symphony of Seafood is back — leading with Alaska salmon, pollock, sablefish, and kelp. Yes, the Alaska seaweed won the Alaska Symphony of Seafood first place award for the Foodservice category last week at Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle. 

Three kelp companies submitted products for competition: Barnacle Foods, Premium Aquatics and Seagrove Kelp of Doyle Bay in Southeast Alaska. Markos Scheer of Seagrove Kelp accepted the award for their Alaska Grown Ribbon Kelp.

Maine Governor Mills Announces Steps to Prepare for Offshore Wind Investments

Maine Governor Janet Mills is preparing her constituents for offshore wind following the recent start of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S.

Last week U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland joined Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to mark the groundbreaking of the Vineyard Wind 1 project. And that project is just the tip of the iceberg for offshore wind. On Tuesday the Mills Administration announced the next steps in the Maine Offshore Wind Initiatives efforts to prepare the state’s commercial seaports to...

NFI Crab Council Congratulates Sri Lankan Blue Swimming Crab FIP on Sustainability Award

The National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council congratulates the Sri Lankan Blue Swimming Crab Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) for its Best Projects Sustainability Award 2021 from Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Managing Director of Taprobane Seafoods, Timothy O’Reilly, accepted the award noting that, “this FIP has long been a precompetitive collaboration focused not only to the health of the resource but the health of the communities that harvest it, the very definition of sustainable and socially responsible seafood. For our company, commitment to this kind of...

Federal Fisheries Disaster Declared for 2019 Atlantic Herring Fishery

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that a federal fishery disaster occurred for the 2019 Atlantic herring fishery.

A disaster request was filed by a number of Northeastern states, a release from NOAA explained and Raimondo determined the disaster on November 22.

“Fishery disasters don’t just impact local communities—they ripple out into the broader economy impacting consumers and businesses far beyond the coast,” said Secretary Raimondo. “Resilient and sustainable fisheries are not only essential to our coastal communities...

Bumble Bee Names Senior VP of Sales as Leadership Team Grows

The Bumble Bee Seafood Company announced Laura Chamberlain as its new Senior Vice President of Sales.

Bumble Bee described Chamberlain as an accomplished sales executive who will work to position the company as a “best-in-class partner for retailers across all channels while continuing to grow the shelf-stable seafood category.”

Chamberlain enters the role with over 25 years of experience across CPG sales including Danone North America, The Hershey Company and Clorox. Chamberlain was recently recognized by Target for “Best in Class Partnership for her work...

New Type of Ice Cube Could Revolutionize How Food is Kept Cold

Who says ice has to melt?

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a new type of ice cube that not only doesn’t melt, but is compostable and anti-microbial.

“When ice melts, it’s not reusable,” said Gang Sun, Professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. “We thought we could make a so-called solid ice to serve as a cooling medium and be reusable.”

And the researchers at UC Davis believe that this “new ice cube” could “revolutionize how...

Acme Smoked Fish Foundation Launches With Goal to Fund Climate Change Solutions

Acme Smoked Fish Corporation is launching a new non-profit arm, the Acme Smoked Fish Foundation, with the goal of supporting climate change innovation and educational grants in the seafood industry. The foundation is currently raising funds in honor of Eric Caslow, the co-chairman of Acme Smoked Fish who passed away in February of this year.

“Eric had the joy of leading the company alongside his brother Robert for decades, and he was deeply proud of Acme, his family and his colleagues...

PODCAST: Fish Fixe Co-Founders Melissa Harrington, Emily Castro Reveal What's Next After 'Shark Tank'

Fish Fixe co-founders Melissa Harrington and Emily Castro join the SeafoodNews Podcast to give behind the scenes details about their "Shark Tank" episode and reveal what's next after Lori Greiner's investment.

This episode of the SeafoodNews Podcast is brought to you by Urner Barry's COMTELL. Urner Barry’s COMTELL has long been the primary source for reliable protein market prices, news, and analysis. With over 16,000 active quotations and unique datapoints, COMTELL supports users in leveraging expert market intelligence and pricing data to negotiate...

Fish Factor: Alaska Lawmakers Put Party Politics Aside to Protect Fisheries

A grilling on fish that is taken as bycatch didn’t satisfy the appetites of a bipartisan group of Alaska legislators at a special hearing on November 15 by the House Fisheries Committee.  

“We probably could not be more diametrically opposed on many things but we are frustrated with the waste of the resource and we are in lock step. It's all about the best economics and the best stewardship of our resources,” said Kevin McCabe (R-Big Lake) who devoted his entire November Capital Report to the topic...

ZAGO, Blue Ocean Gear Smart Buoy to Help Eliminate Ghost Fishing Gear

The smart Farallon Buoy, created by Blue Ocean Gear, was described as a solution to the global ghost gear issue facing the seafood industry.

The buoy features real-time tracking and monitoring of deployed fishing gear to anywhere in the world, whether on land or sea through a mobile app or web interface, ZAGO, a creator of sealing fastener and switch boots for manufacturers in marine and other industries, explained.

The Farallon Buoy can recognize when it is in or out of the water and can alert the user...

King’s Seafood Company Files Complaint On Behalf of Customers, Employees After Data Breach

Consumer rights law firm Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP has filed a complaint on behalf of King’s Seafood restaurant chain following an August 2021 cyber-attack and data breach.

The complaint was filed on behalf of customers and employees of King’s Seafood Company.

The chain was subject to a data breach where on or about August 23 the company learned personally identifiable information ("PII") of employees and customers was hacked. According to a release from the law firm, the hacker gained access...

Sysco Unveils Science-Based Climate Goal; Commits to Reduce Emissions by 2030

Sysco announced what it described as an “industry-leading” climate goal to reduce emissions across its operations and entire value chain.

The emissions reduction target is in line with the Paris Agreement and is a key part as the company works to reduce its carbon footprint over the next decade.

Sysco said its pursuing validation of the goal by the Science-Based Targets initiative and aims to:

- Reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 27.5% by 2030...

Blue Swimming Crab Meat Inventories Thin, Raw Material Pricing Full Steady to Firming Overseas

The blue swimming crab meat market has been steady to full steady over the last several weeks. Market participants report modest sales. Inventories range between thin and more moderate as compared to several months ago. Raw material pricing, however, is still reported to be full steady to firming overseas. Logistics issues also remain at the forefront of discussions about market conditions. The red swimming crab meat market has trended steady to full steady as well but...

California Rescues Young Chinook During Drought; Releases Into Klamath River

Thanks to some quick planning, young fall run Chinook have a chance to survive and return to the river. Those returns could help fishermen and tribes depending on those fish for their livelihoods and sustenance.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife began releasing juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon into the Klamath River recently now that river conditions have improved with cooler temperatures and increased flows that give the young salmon their best chance at survival and reaching the Pacific Ocean.

More than 2 million baby Chinook hatched in early...

COVID Concerns Cancel 2022 Maine Fishermen's Forum

The 2022 Maine Fishermen's Forum has officially been canceled. The Board of Directors announced their decision Tuesday afternoon.

“We have concerns about ensuring health and safety in a venue that hosts thousands of attendees including families, fishermen, scientists, fishery regulators, trade show vendors and hotel staff especially given that COVID infections are currently on the rise in Maine,” said Forum Board President Steve Train. “The decision to cancel did not come easy, but ultimately, we decided to err on the side of caution. We look forward to 2023 when we can once again... 

New Zealand Company FlipFarm Wins Global Aquaculture Innovation Award

Congratulations are in order for FlipFarm Systems, a New Zealand-based company that has developed a semi-automated method for turning oyster-growing cages.

FlipFarm Managing Director Aaron Pannell presented his company’s technology at the Global Seafood Alliance’s (GSA) virtual GOAL event last week. The technology, which connects Hexcyl Pro baskets to a backbone that rolls up on the side of a harvesting vessel, won GSA’s annual Global Aquaculture Innovation Award.

“FlipFarm Systems is honored to be awarded the Global Seafood Alliance Innovation...

Cooke’s Cold Ocean Salmon Reports ISA Detections at Newfoundland Salmon Site

Cold Ocean Salmon Inc., owned by Cooke Aquaculture, reported that it received two detections of Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAv) at its North West Cove marine site, in Newfoundland, Canada on November 19.

The detection was found in a single salmon cage at the facility. The site is located in Hermitage Bay and is currently being harvested; the cage is stocked with 47,000 Atlantic salmon, per Cooke Aquaculture.

The firm explained that ISAv is a naturally occurring virus in the ocean and is not a human health, or food safety issue...

Toyosu Market October Imported Tuna Sales Down In Wild Bluefins from North America

According to the October fresh tuna sales results at Tokyo's Toyosu Market, compiled by Jiji Press, imported tuna decreased by 49% from the same month of the previous year to 497 fish. Southern bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna also dropped, Minato Shimbun reported.

The total number of bluefin tuna was 479, a decrease of 46%. Wild fish from both North America and Norway was less than the previous year. Fish from Canada, the primary supplier, was 306 (446 in the same month of the last year)...

SURVEY: Inflation Leads to Thanksgiving Cutbacks

Prices are going up and consumers are cutting back -- at least according to a new survey conducted by Numerator, a data and technology company. While holidays are normally a time of splurging, Numerator’s survey found that inflation is expected to impact Thanksgiving shopping for 78% of consumers this year. 

Research firm NielsenIQ reports that the price of frozen whole uncooked turkeys in the four weeks before Nov. 6 rose 15.6% from the same period in 2020. And while most expected price increases in the Thanksgiving categories, the rise in cost has resulted in...

Canadian Plant-Based Meat, Seafood Producer Launches Products in Australia, New Zealand

Plant-based food company Modern Meat, based in Vancouver announced it has finalized an agreement with Viveri Pty to produce and distribute its portfolio of meat and seafood alternatives through Viveri's distribution network located in Australia.

Modern Meat said Viveri will market and sell the plant-based options to retailers across all channels including supermarkets, natural grocers, independents and e-commerce.

"It's an exciting time for Modern Meat as we take our wholesome plant-based products to a growing market overseas, stated Tara Haddad, Founder of Modern...

Crabbers Can Celebrate a Merry Christmas This Year: Season Opens Dec. 1 in Most Areas

For the first time in several years, the stars aligned so Dungeness crabbers can look forward to an early Christmas.

It's been awhile since northern California, Oregon and Washington could open all at once, on the traditional Dec. 1 season opening. This year, meat recovery rates show very full crab. Domoic acid levels are nearly negligible. Whales have moved on - for the most part.

Pre-season testing for meat recovery for the stations off Washington, Oregon and California were completed and the results show...

USCG Icebreaker Back After Circumnavigation of North America via Northwest Passage

On Saturday, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, one of the nation’s two icebreakers, returned to their home port of Seattle after a 22,000-mile, 133-day deployment that circumnavigated North America.

Under Commanding Officer Capt. Kenneth Boda, the crew supported high-latitude oceanographic research missions, participated in an international search-and-rescue exercise, and engaged in exercises with surface ...

Commander Philip Baxa, operations officer aboard Healy, hugs his family at the Base Seattle pier Saturday, Nov. 20. (USCG photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Clark)

Florida-based Grouper, Snapper Supplier Launches Direct-to-Customer Website

Wild Seafood Co., a supplier of specialty fish, Grouper and Snapper based in Madeira Beach, Florida has unveiled a new website, WildSeafoodMarket.com offering fresh catches to consumers.

The company supplied fish commercially across the nation since 2011, focusing on species including Amberjack, Lionfish, Cobia, and Mahi Mahi. The majority of the fish caught and sold is Grouper and Snapper, with Wild Seafood Co. supplying about 35,000 pounds of both species monthly in Florida and the rest of the nation.

Wild Seafood believes this new website...

Australian Seafood Industry Fires Back After release of Minderoo Foundation’s Global Fishing Index

On Sunday the Minderoo Foundation’s Global Fishing Index was released. The new report claims that the decline in fish populations is “far worse than previously estimated.” And the Australian seafood industry is already firing back.

Australia’s Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said that a report released on the health of global fish stocks should be “taken with a grain of salt.”

“Science and facts are essential to a strong and sustainable fisheries industry,” said Assistant Minister Duniam. “Australia’s world-leading management and governance of...