Clatsop County Confirms New COVID-19 Case at Pacific Seafood's Warrenton Plant

Clatsop County Public Health Director Michael McNickle confirmed on Wednesday that a worker at Pacific Seafood's Warrenton plant has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Clatsop County Public Health Department reported three new local COVID-19 cases on Wednesday — a male between the age of 60-69, a male between the age of 40-49, and a male between the age of 30-39. The male in his 40s was identified as the Pacific worker. All three individuals are said to be recovering at home...

Ecuador Reinforcing Biosecurity Measures for Shrimp Exporters

In an effort to guarantee the quality and safety of shrimp from Ecuador, the Ecuadorian Food Safety Quality Undersecretariat (SCI) announced this week that measures are being implemented by aquaculture establishments that export to the Chinese market.

According to SCI, companies must reinforce and ensure disinfection and hygiene measures for personnel, especially those in contact with the product and packaging. In addition, companies must provide personal protective equipment and supplies to prevent contagion between workers and possible contaminated surfaces. Diagnostic tests for COVID-19 will also be performed periodically...

Weekly Unemployment Claims Remain Elevated

The U.S. Labor Department reported 884,000 first-time filings for unemployment claims, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. For the week ending August 29, the advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 9.2%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the unrevised rate the week before. Continuing claims from those filing for at least two weeks rose from the week prior, reaching 13.385 million. That is an increase of 93,000 from last week's report and an indicator that job improvement through the summer may be tailing off as fall begins.

For the week ending September 5, the 4-week moving average was 970,750, a decrease of 21,750 from the previous week's revised average. Claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program continued to rise, increasing more than...

Sanford CEO Volker Kuntzsch Resigns After 7 Years at the Helm

Top New Zealand seafood company Sanford announced its CEO, Volker Kuntzsch will step down after spending seven years atop the company.

Company Chair, Sir Rob McLeod said Volker made a “transformational impact on Sanford.” McLeod specifically noted the culture Volker was able to establish at the company.

“Volker has helped transform Sanford into a progressive, values-based company with an outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and to Sanford’s people. On behalf of the Sanford team, we are grateful to Volker for his leadership and thank him for a seven-year contribution as our chief executive,” McLeod said...

Alaska Lawmakers Praise Trump and Perdue on Tariff Relief Program for Seafood Industry

As Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue announced a $530 million Seafood Trade Relief Program on Wednesday, Alaska’s Congressional delegation thanked the administration and lauded the beneficiaries in Alaska.

“As I often say, Alaska is the superpower of seafood for our nation, and our fishermen are America's ultimate small businesses,” said Senator Dan Sullivan, in a press release issued by Alaska's senior senator Lisa Murkowski.

“This is because of the men and women who work long hours, employing tens of thousands of Alaskans, and contributing billions of...

Editorial: Seafood Worker Story Not Fair or Balanced

We have no desire to critique the public radio station's work but last week we had several people ask what we thought of station intern Corinne Smith's story that aired on KFSK. The story highlighted seafood workers' summer employment experiences in Petersburg under the state's Covid-19 mandates.

The piece fell far below the level of excellence usually attained by the station's news department. More work was needed to add balance to a story that could have highlighted the achievements of both cannery officials and the employees during this difficult year...

B.C. Fish Farming May Be In Hot Water Due to Climate Change

B.C. farmed salmon may be pushed off people’s plates by climate change in the coming decades.

Global warming is likely to significantly reduce the areas suitable for the farming of Atlantic salmon along the West Coast, according to a recent UBC study.

Tropical or subtropical regions are likely to see the biggest declines in the number of species they can farm in oceans due to climate change, said Muhammed Oyinlola, the study’s lead author...

Study Discovers Bias in Lice Counts on Farmed Salmon When Done by Farm Operators

Mandatory self-monitoring can save taxpayers money, but a study out of Simon Fraser University found bias in the routine counting of sea-lice on farmed salmon in pens off the coast of British Columbia.

The scientists found that industry's monthly counts two species of sea-lice are underestimated significantly. Canada's federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans found the numbers increased by a factor of nearly 2 for one species of lice and just over a factor of 1 (in other words, doubling the amount) for ...

China Cancels Certificates of Places of Origin for Higher Seafood Imports

Under the influence of coronavirus, seafood exporters have encountered great challenges in the Chinese market. Relevant industry participants there are also faced with unsold seafood. Many are worried and not sure if exotic seafood can survive bad news and rumors. And it's unclear how much it will take to finally regain consumer confidence in the future.

Though there are uncertainties looming ahead, the industry can get some comfort from an announcement that the Chinese Customs Agency released on August 28, which shows that the government stands behind seafood imports...

Russian Fishermen May Face Significant Decline of Catch 

According to recent forecasts, Russian fishermen may face a significant decline of catch due to the overall reduction of fish stock in the domestic territorial waters, a further expansion of the Russian fishing fleet and the generally wasteful nature of fisheries in Russia.

The Pacific Research Fisheries Center (TINRO) estimates that the increase of capacities of the domestic fishing fleet and the decline of fish stock may lead to the reduction of total allowable catch of some fish species by almost two times by 2025, compared to the current figures...

Canadian Council of Fisheries Discusses What’s Next Following COVID-19 Pandemic

The Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) held a virtual meeting on Thursday to discuss the impact the pandemic has had on the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector and how to position the sectors for successful recovery.

CCFAM also discussed job creation, reducing the impact of invasive species and continued financial support for the industries heavily impacted by the virus.

"Today's meeting is an important step in Canada's road to economic recovery. While the global pandemic has underscored our vulnerabilities, it also offers us a chance to 'build back better'...

Japan's Five Medium-Sized Bottom Longliners Retire From Fishing Inside Russian Waters

Nemuro City's six bottom longline vessels of 50 tons or more will retire because Pacific cod's catch allocation decreased significantly at the fishery negotiations for the coast of Japan and Russia held in December last year. The annual negotiation determines the conditions for fishing operations. The low catch quota for 2020 called for all six vessels to retire. Five of these vessels will be out of business due to Japan's international fishing vessel reduction project based on reorganizing the international fishery operations...

OPINION: Strict Enforcement of Saury Catch Quotas Needed for North Pacific Countries

Continuing from the previous season, Pacific saury (sanma) catches in Japan have reached a record low in 2020.

Saury prices have been soaring, as the popular fish are reaching the table far less often in Japanese households. 

Among the primary causes of the scarcity are reported to be overfishing by large foreign fishing vessels, along with rising sea temperatures affecting the fish migration to northern waters.

As the kanji characters for Pacific saury or sanma read “autumn swordfish,” the fish is synonymous with the flavor of fall, and is eaten throughout the season in Japan...

NAMIBIA: Defence Wants Release of Fishrot Accused

DEFENCE lawyers representing the seven men charged in the two criminal cases about alleged corruption in Namibia's fishing industry are opposing a further postponement of the matters and want the accused to be released from custody instead.

During a hearing in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday, four of the defence lawyers involved in the two cases objected to an application from the prosecution for the two matters to be postponed again.

Addressing magistrate Vanessa Stanley, Florian Beukes, who is representing former minister of fisheries and marine resources...

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...

ANALYSIS: Squid Imports Lowest in Over 20 Years

The imported squid market is experiencing record low year-to-date imports in over 20 years. So far this year, from January through July, squid imports total 52.4 million pounds while the previous 5-year YTD average for the same timeframe is 86.4 million pounds, a 34-million-pound deficit. Not since 1999 when import volume totaled 47.2 million pounds have we seen imports this low for the first seven months of the year.

Replacement prices overseas remain elevated due to the...

Atlantic Sapphire Executive Leaves; Company Mulls $100 Million Private Placement

Top land-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire said its CFO Jose Prado, stepped down from his position alongside its announcement of a potential $100 million private placement.

Prado will be replaced on an interim basis by Karl Ø. Øyehaug. Prado’s departure comes just after Atlantic Sapphire’s Q2 financial release, which highlighted cost overruns for Miami facility investments.

Atlantic Sapphire’s potential private placement will help pay off current debt and boost expansion plans. It also represents 12.3% of the company’s capital at current share price levels...

Red Lobster's Nelson Griffin Joins Seafood Nutrition Partnership Board of Directors

Nelson Griffin, the Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Red Lobster, has joined the Seafood Nutrition Partnership's (SNP) Board of Directors. As a veteran of foodservice and consumer package good procurement and supply chain management, Griffin brings a wealth of experience and thought leadership to SNP.

"We are thrilled to have Nelson join the board," said SNP Board Chair Steve Hart. "He brings decades of experience in supply chain best practices that will provide great direction for the future of SNP, and he believes in...

Sysco Introduces ‘Foodie Solutions’ to Help Customers Approach Foodservice During COVID-19 Pandemic

As foodservice operators continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic and states begin to lift restrictions like indoor dining, Sysco has launched Foodie Solutions, a platform created to support foodservice operates during this time.

Through perspective from supporting restaurants and operators across the U.S. Sysco identified essential tools to help customers respond quickly to the changing environment and new trends that have developed during COVID-19 shutdowns.

“Foodie Solutions’ comprehensive suite of toolkits is designed to help operators drive traffic..."

CDC Study: Adults With Covid-19 About 'Twice as Likely' to Say They Have Dined at a Restaurant

Adults who tested positive for Covid-19 were approximately twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant in the 14 days before becoming ill than those who tested negative, according to a new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In addition to dining at a restaurant, case-patients were more likely to report going to a bar/coffee shop, but only when the analysis was restricted to participants without close contact with persons with...

VASEP: Vietnam's Cephalopod Exports See Uptick in June

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Vietnam’s cephalopod exports were up 6.5% to over $48 million after decreasing in the past three months.

COVID-19 hit exports of cephalopods as half-year exports were down 16.9%, netting $240 million through June. With limited supply of raw materials for production, China remained Vietnam’s most stable market in the first half of 2020.

In June, positive growth was shown for cephalopods in many markets including South Korea, ASEAN, China, the US, Taiwan, and Israel, according to...

Blow for Bangladesh's Female Crab Farmers as COVID Stops Exports

Family incomes plummet at cooperative that helped empower women as lucrative trade with China is suspended

Female crab farmers in Bangladesh are struggling to feed their families after exports to China collapsed due to COVID-19, a charity has warned.

Despite the crab harvesting season being in full swing in Mongla, southern Bangladesh, continued lockdown across the nation and the closure of lucrative external markets have impacted not only farmers’ livelihoods but also the country’s GDP, which relies heavily on the $43m (£33m) crab export industry, according to the charity Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)...

New Fishermen Left Out of COVID-19 Support Programs

The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association is trying to get federal support programs for fishermen changed so people new to the industry can qualify.

The association says these new fishermen don't qualify for the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant program, the Canada Emergency Business Account or the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.  That's because they need to supply information about their previous work in the industry.

"There are several of the programs that require one or two years of previous financial information, which of course...

Maine Scallop Fishers Will be Allowed Same Quota This Season

Maine's scallop fishers who plan to participate in the coming fishing year will be allowed the same harvesting levels as last season.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources said scallopers who work most of the coast will be limited to 15 gallons per day. Fishers in the Cobscook Bay area will be limited to 10 gallons per day. Those are the same limitations as the 2019-20 scallop season.

The season is scheduled to run from November to April, with different fishing days for scallopers who operate boats and those who dive for the shellfish...

Hokkaido Fall Chum Fishery Opens, Total Return Estimate at 19 Million Fish

Fall chum fishing in Hokkaido began on August 30. Last year, the total harvest fell below 50,000 tons for the first time in 41 years. While the fish's return estimate is less than 20 million at 19,093,000 fish, landed prices as of September 9 were 30-40% higher at 541-1330 yen/kg ($5.10-12.53/kg) for female fish 10-20% higher for males at 209-770 yen/kg ($1.97-7.25/kg), according to Minato Shimbun Newsletter...

New Zealand MPI Reduces Catch Limits for Blue Cod in Southland

Catch limits for Blue Cod off Southland have been reduced in a bid to rebuild population numbers.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash announced a series of changes to catch limits on Friday, after public consultation in June.

“Public consultation showed ongoing concerns from many people about the current state of the Southland blue cod fishery. The science also shows a decline,” Nash said.

The popularity of Blue Cod meals had led to concerns of possible overfishing and the total catch limit would be reduced by 527 tonnes from October 1, he said...

USDA Providing $530 Million to Support U.S. Commercial Fishermen Impacted by Retaliatory Tariffs

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide approximately $530 million to support the U.S. seafood industry and fishermen who have been impacted by the retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments.

"Many nations have not played by the rules for a long time, and President Trump is the first President to stand up to them and send a clear message that the United States will no longer tolerate unfair trade practices," said Secretary Perdue...

Foa & Son’s Michael Lieberman Discusses Hard Marine Cargo Insurance Market, Cold Chain Monitoring

The seafood industry has faced a tremendous challenge in the face of COVID-19. Surely 2020 can’t throw another curveball. Think again.

The commercial insurance marketplace is experiencing the hardest market conditions faced in well over a decade—maybe two. All coverage lines, from credit to liability, are seeing considerable annual increases. The D&O insurance market was up an astounding 44% in the first quarter of 2020.

One particular area of coverage, Marine Cargo Insurance, is no exception...

Georgia Fishing Industry Now Eligible to Apply for CARES Act Financial Assistance

Georgia is ready to distribute nearly $2 million in funds to commercial fishermen, wholesale dealers, and others in the seafood industry who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27. The CARES Act included $300 million in fisheries assistance funding, but it wasn't until May that NOAA even released a breakdown of the funds...

First BAP Certification in Norway's Salmon Farming Industry Awarded to Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett 

The first salmon farm in Norway to earn the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, is Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett, known in the United States as Kvarøy Arctic. BAP is a division of Global Aquaculture Alliance, who announced the news on September 8.

“It’s our intention to secure the full 4-star rating and we’re in the process of that review now,” says Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen. “This is an important first step for our company to demonstrate our commitment to the highest sustainability standards, and an example that ...