Red Swimming Crab Meat, Tilapia Not on Tariff Exclusion List

On Thursday the USTR issued a Notice of Product Exclusion Extensions. While the notice included a handful of seafood items, including Alaskan sole and snow crab meat, there were two items noticeably absent: tilapia and red swimming crab meat.

As most people following the tariffs will recall, in September 2018 the U.S. Trade Representative imposed an additional 10% duty on goods from China with an annual trade value of approximately $200 billion. The move was part of the action in the Section 301 investigation of China’s acts...

Alaska Daily Case Count Drops, Seafood Related Cases Remain 10-11% of Total Statewide

Alaska’s daily case counts of the coronavirus have dropped from the highs seen in late July, with most of the last week’s daily cases below 100. That changed yesterday when news came of an outbreak at the OBI Seafood’s Alitak plant on Kodiak Island of 37 employees. 

The state’s COVID-19 dashboard at press time reported cases only through Wednesday, August 5. At that time, seafood-related cases remain about 10% of the total positive cases in the state. 

The Alitak cases include one found on...

Cordova is First to Ask State and Commerce Dept. to Declare Twin Disasters: Fishery and Economic

On Wednesday, August 5, the Cordova City Council unanimously passed a resolution encouraging the state and the Secretary of Commerce to declare fisheries disasters for two years: the 2018 Copper River Chinook and sockeye salmon runs and the 2020 Copper River and Prince William Sound Chinook, sockeye and chum salmon runs. The resolution also urges state and federal governments to declare a “condition of economic disaster in Cordova as a result.” 

The fishing town of Cordova, located in South-central Alaska between the Copper ...

25% Tariff Exclusions Extended for Certain Crab Meats, Alaskan Sole

On Thursday the USTR issued a Notice of Product Exclusion Extensions — one day before the exemptions were set to expire.

In September 2018 the U.S. Trade Representative imposed an additional 10% duty on goods from China with an annual trade value of approximately $200 billion. The move was part of the action in the Section 301 investigation of China’s acts, policies and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation. That additional duty was increased to 25% in May 2019...

NJ and MA Members of Congress Request More COVID-19 Relief Assistance For Nation’s Fishing Industry

Members of Congress from New Jersey and Massachusetts have sent letters to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi requesting assistance for the nation’s fishing industry in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. 

“New Jersey was among the hardest and earliest hit states by the pandemic and continues to have one of the highest counts of COVID-19 cases in the nation,” reads a letter from NJ’s representatives, including Frank Pallone, Jr. and Andy Kim...

ANALYSIS: June Snow Crab Imports Significantly Higher Than Cyclical Behavior; Up 47% From June 2019

June 2020 imports, released on August 5, are above 2019 levels. According to the data, year-to-date levels are up 3.3 percent. On a month-to-month basis, imports in June were higher than imports in May 2020 by 24.2 percent. When comparing to June 2019 is where we see the most significant upward comparison of 47 percent higher than the same time last year. Overall snow crab imports are also 47 percent higher than the 3-year average...

All Hands Event Goes virtual, Asks Public for Ideas, Internet Reliability

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

Alaska’s most popular annual seafood marketing meeting is making plans go online instead of in person. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s annual “All Hands” meeting typically brings a huge mix of industry and interested public together to “talk fish” – but Covid has corked the event for this year. Ashley Heimbigner is ASMI communications director:

“Typically, this event is held over the course of several days in Anchorage where we can all get together in the same room and have these conversations...

Seafood Task Force Submits Recommendations to Help Level the Playing Field for U.S. 

This week the Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force, which is co-chaired by the Department of Commerce dn the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, submitted their recommendations to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. According to NOAA, the recommendations are “intended to support fair market access for U.S. seafood products through trade policy and negotiations.” 

As previously reported in July, NOAA was seeking requests for written input from interested parties on how best to achieve the objectives of...

Sturgeon Aquafarms, Marky’s Begin Sales of Beluga Caviar After Recovering From 2018 Hurricane 

Sturgeon Aquafarms and Marky’s announced this week that they are now selling domestic, genuine beluga caviar. 

In 2003 Mark Zaslavsky, Managing Partner of Sturgeon Aquafarms and CEO of Marky’s, brought Caspian beluga to the U.S. to provide safe and natural conditions for growing the broodstock at Sturgeon Aquafarms. Two years later U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services banned all imports of beluga products due to the rapid decrease of the wild population in the Caspian Sea. Since then Zaslavsky has participated in efforts to reinvigorate the...

ANALYSIS: Whole Tilapia Gaining Traction in U.S.

The most recent June imports were released yesterday and the data is showing a growing volume of whole tilapia being imported into the U.S. While both fresh and frozen whole tilapia imports have surpassed previous year-to-date numbers, fresh tilapia has already exceeded the previous years total volume.

This year, January through June volume of fresh whole tilapia is recorded at 4.8 million pounds, while the previous 3-year total average is 4.1 million pounds. Of this year's 4.8 million pounds, 3.9 million pounds of that product is...

USDA Authorizes Purchase of $30 Million in U.S. Produced Shrimp

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is doing their part to help the seafood industry. The USDA announced this week that they have authorized the purchase of $30 million worth of shrimp to alleviate food insecurity in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gulf coast shrimpers have been struggling throughout the pandemic. With restaurant closures and restrictions, demands for fresh shrimp has been “almost non-existent,” according to some. In late May the price of brown shrimp was about $1.50 a pound compared to...

Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease in the Week Ending August 1 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the figure for initial unemployment claims was 1,186,000 for the week ending August 1. This figure represents a decrease of 249,000 from last week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up slightly from 1,434,000 to 1,435,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,337,750, a decline of 31,000 from the week prior.

For the week ending July 25, the adjusted insured unemployment rate was 11%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate. The 4-week moving average was...

DFO to Open the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program on August 24

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan announced the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program will open for applications on August 24, 2020, through to September 21, 2020.

The CAD $469.4 million programs will work within the unique pay structures and seasonal nature of the fishing sector as it works to provide support for Canadian harvesters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding is the largest investment in the sector in almost 20 years...

Japan Fisheries Agency Warned 318 Foreign Fishing Vessels to Leave Due to Crackdown Around Yamato Bank

On July 31, the Fisheries Agency announced the clampdown status on foreign fishing vessels in the waters around the Yamato Bank of the Sea of Japan. Earlier this year, the agency issued a warning to a total of 318 foreign fishing vessels (465 on the same day last year). Of these, the Agency ships attacked 142 boats (115 ships) with water cannons to remove the illegal fishing vessels from Japan's waters, explains Suisan Keizai.

The number of fishing vessels that invaded and...

JAPAN: Frozen Black Cod Price Keeps Falling

Frozen black cod imports have been in the 5,000-ton range since 2015. The unit import price has been declining since peaking in 2017 when a buying spur from the consuming countries pushed it to a limit. According to Minato Shimbun, the price has begun falling to an acceptable level since imports are increasing.

In 2012, imports were over 8,000 tons, and the average unit price per kilo was 1024 yen. Later, demand increased mainly in large-sized fish bodies in the United States, China, Singapore, etc., and prices continued to rise until...

ASMI Japan Hosts Alaska Seafood Fair at Major Supermarket Chains

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is organizing the “Alaska Seafood Fair” in cooperation with Sogo & Seibu Co., Ltd., and Ito-Yokado Co., Ltd. at Sogo, Seibu, and Ito-Yokado supermarkets.

You can purchase Alaskan sockeye salmon, black cod, Atka Mackerel, Pacific Ocean Perch, Fish roe (Ikura salmon caviar, Sujiko salted salmon roe, Alaska Pollock roe, and Herring roe), among others at the select stores. ASMI Japan will also carry out a present campaign to win a year-end gift (worth 5000 yen) to 30 people who purchased the campaign's...

European Demand Set to Bolster Vietnam’s Shrimp Exports 

Described by the European Commission as "the most ambitious free trade deal ever concluded with a developing country" the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) and the subsequent removal of high basic tax rates is expected to increase European imports of seafood from Vietnam.   

While global shrimp demand has been negatively impacted by a decline in foodservice activity, the EVFTA has been hailed as key mechanism to facilitate Vietnam’s international shrimp trade.  

As the second largest export market for seafood, second only to the U.S., Europe is expected to...  

Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” Smaller Than Forecasted 

In June NOAA released their annual prediction for the Gulf of Mexico “dead zone,” which forecasted that the area, which has low to no oxygen, would be “larger-than-average.” Now, two months later, scientists with the government agency are saying that the dead zone measured “smaller-than-expected.”

According to NOAA’s scientists, the dead zone this year is approximately 2,116 square miles, which is equivalent to 1.4 million acres of habitat that is potentially unavailable to fish and bottom species. The area was initially believed to be approximately 6,700 square miles...

NOAA to Host Webinar on Observer Redeployment for Northeast Fishermen

Save the date! On August 14 NOAA will be hosting a webinar for those with questions regarding observer redeployment in the Northeast.

The webinar will cover the waiver process and history, observer service provider and agency responsibilities, as well as health and safety and risk mitigation and management. Time will be left at the end of the webinar for a Q&A session for those that still have concerns or questions. 

As SeafoodNews previously reported, Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver announced late last month that observer coverage...

AquaBounty Previews Exciting Advances In Second Quarter Financial Results 

AquaBounty Technologies CEO Sylvia Wulf is “eagerly” looking forward to what the future holds for the aquaculture company.

This week AquaBounty released their financial results for Q2 and the six months ending June 30, 2020. According to the company, cash and cash equivalents were $10.0 million as of June 30,2020. To compare, they were at $2.8 million at December 31, 2029. However, in February the company completed a public offering of common shares that provided $14.5 million in net proceeds...

NOAA Launches Right Whale Slow Zones Campaign

NOAA Fisheries has launched a new Right Whale Slow Zones campaign following the death of a North Atlantic right whale calf in June.

As SeafoodNews previously reported, a deceased North Atlantic right whale was spotted off the coast of Elberon, New Jersey on June 25. The whale was identified as a male calf of #3560, and marked the first observed right whale death in American waters this year. A necropsy ultimately revealed that a vessel collision led to the whale calf’s death. Evidence showed...

ANALYSIS: June Shrimp Imports Significantly Higher From Last Month, Slightly Below Last Year

June shrimp imports were released yesterday and declined year-over-year for the second straight month, but at a much smaller rate than May. The data showed June imports at 112.282 million pounds, only three percent below last year’s 115.744 million pounds. The June figure was nearly 29 million pounds above May imports of 83.357 million pounds.

Urner Barry Consulting Economist Angel Rubio predicted the total to come in at 112.5 million pounds. This was considered a surprise number to many who suggested...

Omega Protein Shares Support of ASMFC Decision on New Menhaden Management Approach

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) decision to adopt an ecological reference points (ERPs) approach for menhaden was supported by Omega Protein, the primary player in the fishery.

According to the Virginia Mercury, ASMFC board Chairman Spud Woodward described the adoption of the ERPs as ““a paradigm shift in management.” This new approach will look beyond abundance and death rate of menhaden and look towards the role it plays in the greater ecosystem.

“Instead of looking at managing menhaden as a single species, we are managing menhaden..."

Early Results of 2019 Northern Bering Sea Study Say Cod Not Likely to Overwinter Under Ice

Early results of a pop-up satellite tagging project last summer suggest Pacific cod aren’t likely overwintering under the ice of the northern Bering Sea. 

The Alaska Science Center (NOAA Fisheries) partnered with the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and fishermen from Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island for research on Pacific cod movements. 

Lead NOAA Fisheries researcher Susanne McDermott told KNOM Radio in Nome, AK that after tagging 38 fish last year, none of them stayed in ...

Retailers, Seafood Companies Urge Governments to Address Outbreak of New Disease in Shrimp Farms

A number of retailers and seafood companies, including Chicken of the Sea, High Liner Foods, Fortune International and Beaver Street Fisheries, as well as the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, are calling on the governments of China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to take action about an outbreak of new disease in shrimp farms.

“Governments need to take action now to stop disease outbreaks in shrimp farms,” said Anton Immink, aquaculture director at SFP. “Disease disrupts the reliability of supply chains, threatens seafood sustainability and jobs, and...

Senators Reintroduce Food Supply Protection Act Amid COVID-19 Crisis

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reintroduced the Food Supply Protection Act. The bill is aimed at protecting the food supply chain with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting farmers, workers, food banks and families.

“The COVID-19 crisis has continued to disrupt our nation’s food supply chain, creating a ripple effect that’s harming our families, farmers, and workers,” said Senator Stabenow. “Our bipartisan bill will help strengthen our food supply by redirecting food to families and helping farmers and processors retool their operations. It is critical that it becomes law as soon as possible..."

Merck Animal Health Acquires IdentiGEN 

Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, today announced the completion of its acquisition of IdentiGEN, a leader in DNA-based animal traceability solutions for Livestock and Aquaculture from MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

IdentiGEN’s technology combines each species’ unique DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and data analytics to provide an evidence-based animal traceability solution, called DNA TraceBack, to accurately and precisely trace beef, seafood, pork and poultry that is verifiable from farm-to-table.

Food producers, processors and retailers are looking for accurate and complete animal traceability solutions that provide full accountability, as well as...

Botaneco Completes Trials for Plant-based Protein Ingredient for Aquaculture Feed

Boteneco, a company developing a plant-based protein ingredient for aquaculture feed completed key trials as it moves closer to bringing its product to market.

The new ingredient features canola protein, a large-scale, sustainable and nutritious choice for the fish farming industry. The ingredient was tested at the at the Centre for Aquaculture Technologies in Prince Edward Island, the canola-based ingredient has a 75 per cent protein content and showed excellent feed acceptance, salmon growth and weight gain, Protein Industries Canada said in a press release...

Injured Oregon Fisherman Rescued by Coast Guard 150 Miles Off Yaquina Bay

A 24-year-old fisherman was rescued by the Coast Guard on Tuesday after sustaining an injury while on Piky, 63-foot commercial fishing boat.

The Coast Guard Station at Yaquina Bay received a call for help at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Piky was offshore from Yaquina Bay, Oregon, when fishermen Nathaniel Miller suffered a serious eye injury and vision loss. Miller was reeling in a tuna when a line slipped and a swivel tackle hit him in the eye...

PERSPECTIVES: Six Programs to Virtually Promote US Seafood Products Overseas

Are you a seafood supplier headquartered in the Northeastern US looking for new and creative ways to market your products overseas, especially in today’s travel restricted environment? Food Export–Northeast, the recognized leader in helping to connect the region’s suppliers to overseas buyers, has several programs that can help you promote your business virtually.

Below are six (6) programs to consider:

1. Branded Program is a cost-sharing program that allows seafood suppliers promoting US-origin fish and shellfish to obtain reimbursement for up to 50% of their marketing or promotional dollars when targeting international audiences. These funds can be used to support activities like...