Alaska Delegation Leads Bipartisan Support for Young Fishermen's Development Act in New Congress

Alaska’s Congressional delegation are spearheading a bipartisan effort in Congress to enact the Young Fishermen's Development Act, legislation to benefit the nation’s fishing communities by establishing the first national program to support young men and women entering the commercial fishing industry. 

Representative Don Young (R-AK), along with Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) co-authored HR 1240, the House bill.

Senator’s Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski ...

Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Raises $90 Million for New Shrimp Plant

Zhanjiang Guolian announced that the company has secured $90 million (CNY 606 million) in new funding through a private share placement in China.  This is 18 months after their original announcement.

The original plan was to raise $111 million for replacing their primary shrimp production plant with a new state of the art facility.  They also had originally looked to raise other funds for expanded aquaculture and operating capital.

The company plans to carry out the 24-month-long project of healthy...

New Lobbying Push for American Aquaculture Act Launched by Seafood and Environmental Coalition

The Stronger America through Seafood Coalition is renewing its congressional push to get an Aquaculture Bill through Congress.

The US lags far behind other countries in aquaculture production, and the technology for large scale remotely operated offshore aquaculture is advancing rapidly.

US development has been stymied by political opposition, and the initial efforts of NOAA produced a plan so flawed that potential investors ran the other way.

The coalition is made up of some of the largest US seafood companies, buyers such as Red Lobster...

Smoked Alaska Seafoods Recalls Product Due to Possible Botulism Risk 

Smoked Alaska Seafoods, Inc. of Wasilla, AK is recalling all jars and cans of Smoked Silver Salmon in 6.5 oz. containers with the production code of AL81111133 on the bottom of the jar or can because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. 

Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

The Smoked Silver Salmon was sold to distributors throughout the state of Alaska primarily...

Thai Union, WWF-UK Recognized at 2019 Edie Sustainability Leaders Awards

Thai Union and WWF-UK took home top honors at the 2019 edie Sustainability Leaders Awards in London earlier this month.

The edie Sustainability Leaders Awards recognizes “excellence across the spectrum of sustainable business; from the best efficiency programs through to product innovation, from stakeholder engagement and CSR initiatives to the people making it happen.” Thai Union and WWF-UK took home the award as recognition of “how partnerships can help drive change on a global scale.”

“Together with WWF, Thai Union are taking...

Sea Watch Celebrating National Clam Chowder Day by Providing Thousands of Bowls to Shelters

Are you a traditional New England Clam Chowder lover? Or are you Team Manhattan Clam Chowder? Whether you prefer your clam chowder with a tomato-base, bacon, or even hot peppers, everyone can get on board to celebrate National Clam Chowder Day on February 25.

This year, Sea Watch International is celebrating National Clam Chowder Day by taking a warm cup of chowder to warm someone’s heart. The clam processor announced this week that in honor of the day, they will be providing thousands of...

Phillips Foods Launches 3 New Value-Added Options

Phillips Foods has launched three new value-added options with millennials and foodies in mind: Crispy Dim Sum, Crab Rangoon, and Shrimp & Grits. The three new frozen products were designed with quick and easy preparation in mind – without sacrificing flavor.

Check out the product descriptions below:

Crispy Dim Sum

The perfect option for a party, Phillips Foods’ Crispy Dim Sum features three varieties: Shrimp Spring Rolls, Shrimp Wontons and Shrimp Money Bags. Each item is made with a crisp wonton wrapper and...

San Diego Restaurant Lionfish Recognized as 2019 James Beard Foundation Smart Catch Leader

Clique Hospitality’s Lionfish, located inside the Pendry San Diego Hotel, has been recognized as a James Beard Foundation Smart Catch Leader for 2019.

The James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch program was created by chefs to honor their colleagues who focus on a sustainable seafood supply chain when creating their menu. And this year Executive Chef Jose “JoJo” Ruiz did just that. With the aid of Chef Ruiz, Lionfish offers their diners local and sustainable products from the “sea to the table...

Coast Guard, Good Samaritan Rescue 5 Crew Members After Cod Boat Sinks Off Dutch Harbor

On Friday the Coast Guard aided a good Samaritan fishing vessel in rescuing five people after a cod boat sank approximately 40 miles west, southwest of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. 

According to a press release from the Coast Guard, the fishing vessel Pacific 1 began taking on water and was listing heavily with five people aboard. A good Samaritan fishing vessel, Kona Kai, located the five Pacific 1 crew members in an inflatable lift raft that was deployed when their vessel sank...

Russia Plans Accelerated Research Activities and Construction in Domestic Industry

Russia plans to significantly increase funding of research and development activities in the domestic fishing industry during the next several years, according to recent statements of some senior officials from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and local fishermen.

For this purpose, up to RUB 33 billion ($500 million USD) will be allocated in the building of new research vessels intended for Russian fishermen and marine scientists.

This has already been confirmed by the head of Rosrybolovstvo, Ilya Shestakov, who said at the initial stage...

Bumble Bee Foods Settles Price-Fixing Lawsuit with Sysco

Bumble Bee Foods has settled the tuna price-fixing lawsuit that was brought to them by U.S. food distributor Sysco.

News that Sysco was suing Bumble Bee, as well as Chicken of the Sea and StarKist, broke in January 2018. Sysco filed the suit in Houston, and alleged that the three big tuna companies had secretly agreed to reduce the size of their tuna cans and raise prices as a way to increase profits. In addition, the lawsuit charged that the tuna companies had promised not to offer...

Spending Bill Ensures Better Catch Accounting for Gulf Anglers

WASHINGTON - Included in the spending bill passed by Congress yesterday, which averted another government shutdown, was an important boost to modernize data collection of recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. The bill included up to $10 million to implement electronic reporting on federally permitted charter-for-hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Electronic logbooks, or eLogBooks, are used by recreational for-hire vessels in Europe, Australia, and Canada where they were implemented last year. Alaska’s sport charter fleet can use either eLogBooks or paper logbooks ...

Mowi Aqua Feed Plant in Scotland Expected to Start Production in Q2

Mowi ASA's (formerly Marine Harvest) aqua feed plant in Skye, Scotland is nearing completion and is expected to start production in Q2, Kim Døsvig, the company's Head of Treasury and Investor Relations Officer told investors yesterday.

King Crab and Lobster Again Shine for Chinese New Year, 'The Most Important Dinner in China'

China’s largest-scale shopping carnival has come to an end with the ending of its lunar New Year holiday recently. Impressively, its residents spent more than 1 trillion yuan celebrating the holiday. One new feature of festival consumption is that imported commodities have become increasingly popular and affordable for frenzied Chinese consumers.

According to Alibaba, the country’s e-commerce giant, king crabs have become a hot choice for the festival feast. Their sales ballooned by 769% on its T-mall platform around...

Maryland Crab Industry Nervous About H-2B Visa Situation, Can’t Take Another Year With No Staffing

A meeting of Maryland’s crab industry processors and other stakeholders was held in Hooper’s Island last week, and the primary topic was concern over H-2B visas.

For years, Maryland crab picking houses relied on workers from Mexico who were highly trained, and would return each year to work at the same picking houses.  That was possible because under prior laws, returning H-2B visa workers did not count under caps on total visas, and were not subject to the annual visa lottery...

Tanner Crab Fishing Opens in Southeast Alaska

The season for tanner crab in Southeast Alaska opened last Tuesday with 62 vessels carrying almost 5,000 pots registered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. That amount of effort  coupled with the current estimated mature male biomass, will result in two additional days of season length in “core”, “non-core”, and “exploratory” areas. 

The season opened at 12:00 noon last Tuesday and will close in “core” fishing areas at 12:00 noon next Tuesday, February 19, 2019. “Core” fishing areas are listed in ADF&G’s announcement here. ...

Bruce Gabrys, Alaskan Fisherman, Financial Planner and Resource Advisor (1955-2019)

Bruce Gabrys, an Alaskan who excelled at so many enterprises he defied sector-defined labels, died January 30 at home in Eagle River, surrounded by his family. He was 63.

A 40-year Alaska fisherman, Gabrys fished first in Cook Inlet as skipper of a drift boat for salmon, then in the Gulf of Alaska, longlining for halibut in Area 3A. He also made a living as a certified public accountant and financial planner.

Gabrys participated at every level of Alaska’s state and federal fisheries management ...

News Summary February 19, 2019 

Today's Main Story: Bangladesh Government Decides to Start Piloting Vannamei Shrimp Farming

Today's lead item reports that the Bangladesh government has decided to start farming vannamei shrimp on a pilot basis. Two entrepreneurs will be able to launch the farming before commercial production becomes available...

Nueva Pescanova Group Launches Fish Solutions Website to Support Foodservice Professionals

The Nueva Pescanova Group is working to ensure that the hospitality sector has access to the best product offerings and specialist advice for business management. On Monday the company announced the launch of their new Fish Solutions site, a website designed with food professionals in mind.

According to the company, the website will bring the hospitality sector closer to the seafood products and services that Nueva Pescanova offers. In addition, the new site will “meet consumers’ needs with quality food solutions consistent with different market trends...

U.S. Coast Guard Partners with Canada’s DFO on Fisheries Enforcement Operations in South Pacific

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mellon crew has been working alongside Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to enforce fisheries laws with partner nations in the South Pacific.

“The U.S. is advancing a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that excludes no nation,” said Capt. Robert Hendrickson, chief of response for Coast Guard 14th District. “We are redoubling our commitment to establish alliances and partnerships while expanding and deepening relationships with new partners that...

Sysco Adds Portico Classic Wild Alaska Pollock Bites to Cutting Edge Solutions Platform

Portico Classic Wild Alaska Pollock Bites are the latest seafood item to be added to Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions platform.

Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions Platform features new and exclusive products from Sysco that “offer on-trend flavors, labor saving solutions and menu versatility.” The product line first launched in October 2015 and was created to “assist customers with refreshing their menus, driving increased traffic, and streamlining back-of-house operations.”

Back in September Sysco announced the addition of...

Clearwater Requests Advanced MSC Audit of Lobster Fishery, Audit to Review Lobster Pot Conviction

Halifax-based Clearwater Seafoods is looking to advance their annual Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) audit. The company confirmed in a press release that, at their request, conformity assessment body Lloyd’s Register will conduct the surveillance audit in April, instead of when it is typically done in June.

“The Canadian offshore lobster fishery was the first on the Eastern seaboard to be certified under the MSC standard and continues to be a model for sustainable fisheries management,” said Christine Penney, VP of Sustainability and Public Affairs...

Grocery, Beverage Sales Increase 1.9 Percent Over November-December Holiday Season

According to the latest information released from the Commerce Department, 2018 holiday retail sales increased 2.9 percent over the same period in 2017 to $707.5 billion. While a jump from 2017’s $687.9 billion in sales over the holiday period, the increase is a far cry from the forecast that the National Retail Federation (NRF) released in October.

Prior to the start of the holiday rush, NRF’s forecast predicted retail sales – excluding automobiles, gasoline and restaurants – to increase between 4.3 percent to 4.8 percent over...

Southern Oregon Crab Under Evisceration Order Again

After waiting two months for the Dungeness crab season to open in southern Oregon, crab from the are must now be eviscerated before being sold due to elevated levels of domoic acid. The meat remains safe for consumption.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced late Thursday the establishment of a biotoxin management zone from Bandon (43° 07’) to the California-Oregon border (42° 00’), effective immediately. Traceability measures will be used to ensure whole crab are...

Chile Looks to Salmon Stability for a Profitable Business Model, Expects Moderate Growth for Years

In a recent interview with Aslak Berge of Salmon Business, Arturo Clement, former CEO of Multiexport and current president of SalmonChile, says that Chile is poised to grow at a moderate, profitable pace for the next five or six years.

This year, Chilean output should grow from 649,000 tons to 674,000 tons, a rate of 3.8%.  Clement sees no barriers  to continuing this growth rate for an extended period of time.

“We have the best performance ever,” he said, adding that...

Sustainability Rating Drops for Clearwater's Offshore Lobster Fishery

Clearwater Seafoods' offshore lobster fishery in Eastern Canada has lost its "recommended" rating from Ocean Wise, a seafood sustainability recommendation program of the Vancouver Aquarium.

It's more fallout from a 2018 conviction for what the Crown called a "gross violation" of a Canadian fisheries regulation by Halifax-based Clearwater.

In a separate action, the Marine Stewardship Council, another much larger eco-sustainability organization, has moved up its scheduled "full surveillance audit" of Clearwater's offshore lobster fishery by two months to April.

Clearwater asked for the early audit...

Salmon Price Drop May be Aggravated by Late Start of Lent this Year

With Valentine’s Day now upon us, there is usually anticipation in the farmed salmon market of an uptick in demand and activity. This year does not appear to be the case.

The farmed salmon market is adjusting lower and has been since the beginning of 2019, more dramatically the past 4 weeks.

This year there is an unusually long period between the end of the December Holidays and Lent. In 2019 Lent does not begin until March 6. That is 20 days after valentine’s day...

India Shrimp Rejections for Antibiotics Spike in January 2019

India shrimp rejections for January 2019 have spiked significantly, according to FDA import refusal data.

This past January the FDA refused 32 shrimp entry lines from India. Of those 32 refused entry lines, 26 were related to banned antibiotics. Looking back to January 2018 there were 14 shrimp refusals from India, however, none of the refused entry lines were due to banned antibiotics. In fact, in 2018 the FDA only refused 15 shrimp entry lines from India for antibiotics. This means that one month in 2019 had...

Happy Valentine’s Day! Name a Salmon After Your Ex Before It’s Fed to a Bear

Valentine’s Day is a day about love. But for some, it’s a painful reminder of a relationship that didn’t work out. Well, Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Oregon has a solution for those with a broken heart: name a salmon after your ex before it’s fed to a bear.

“Let our 1,000 pound bears tear into your ex… Did you fall hook, line and sinker for someone who broke your heart?” reads the promotion. “Kodi and Yak would love to help you get...

Jet.com partners with New York’s Fulton Fish Market

Jet.com’s new City Grocery experience now features a New York landmark: The Fulton Fish Market.

Walmart subsidiary Jet said Wednesday that it has begun offering customers fresh seafood through the famous Manhattan venue for daily purchase. Under the partnership, Jet shoppers can order sustainably sourced seafood such as fresh bronzini, wild Chilean sea bass and wild yellowfin tuna and have it shipped to them the same day. The products are all fresh and never frozen, the companies noted.

Initially, 24 Fulton Fish items will be sold via...