Virtual Marketing Outshines Others in Facilitating Chinese Seafood Market Revival

Online channels have been rising to prominence as seafood marketing tools in China, a country haunted by the coronavirus outbreak and also market bust during this Chinese New Year. These platforms not only boost the country’s domestic sales volumes of seafood, but also push upward some of their prices.

A case in point is the one-week-long virtual seafood festival initiated by Shenzhen Commerce Bureau, Tecent, JD and Weiku Seafood. About 100 tons of seafood have been sold in this shopping carnival, which ran from...

Trucking Association Urges Government to Make COVID-19 Testing Available for Truck Drivers

Truck drivers are some of the essential workers keeping the supply chain moving during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, according to reports, there have been issues regarding getting products to COVID-19 hot spots. With more truckers getting placed on pandemic sick leave, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is calling on President Trump to make coronavirus testing more readily available to those safeguarding the nation’s supply chain.

“Small-business truckers and professional drivers are the vital link to it all...

Seafood Nutrition Partnership Launches New Campaign: ‘Eat Seafood, America!’ 

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) has launched a new campaign: “Eat Seafood, America!”

The new campaign was created to encourage those staying home to stay healthy with good food and nutrition. As SNP explains, staying healthy takes pressure off our healthcare systems. And staying healthy with nutritious meals is relatively easy when seafood is involved. 

“There is strong scientific evidence that eating a balanced diet with seafood rich in micronutrients and omega-3s reduces risks of chronic diseases, boosts immunity, and reduces inflammation in the body,” said Dr. Tom Brenna...

Louisiana Representative Secures Purchase for 20 Million Pounds of Gulf Shrimp to Help Food Security

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves, representing South Louisiana, helped secure 20 million pounds of domestic shrimp which will be purchased by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The shrimp will come from Louisiana and Gulf Coast shrimpers and processors. Graves sent a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to thank him for directing the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) branch for purchasing the shrimp

The AMS will distribute the shrimp through various food security programs. Graves worked alongside the AMS and American Shrimp Processors Association through...

The Winding Glass: Can Seafood Distributors Survive, and What Will This Summer Look Like?

Datassential reported this week that foodservice sales were down 65% across all sectors due to the impact of COVID-19.  But focusing on those sectors most important to the seafood industry, which include midscale restaurants, casual dining, fine dining and institutional users outside of healthcare, the average loss of business was close to 80%.

Further, 86% of all restaurants who were doing take-out said it just didn’t cut it in terms of volume. Most operators expect this situation to last at last three to...

TAKING STOCK: An Overdue Financial Market Correction, Impact on Seafood Shares 

The emergence of a global common enemy in the form of COVID-19 quickly erased all-time highs in mid-February as international stock markets went into deep sell-off mode.   

While coordinated efforts by central banks in the form of rate cuts and asset purchase programs did little to ward off the initial downturn, market volatility has since eased, though susceptibility remains.   

Keeping with previous analyses, this week's "Taking Stock" is a recap of key dates amid the recent stock market correction...

Alaska Wants Input on Distributing Cod Crash Relief Funds; Better Make It Quick, Deadline is April 10

The State of Alaska wants input on plans to distribute nearly $24.5 million in federal disaster relief funds for stakeholders and communities hurt by the 2018 Gulf of Alaska cod crash.

Better make it quick – the deadline to comment is April 10.

Cod is Alaska’s second largest groundfish harvest (after pollock), but the Gulf stock dropped by 80% in 2018 following a three year heatwave that disrupted food webs, fish metabolism and egg survival on the ocean floor. It combined to...

Pacific Council Approves Sardine Harvest Including More Data From Special Fishery for 2020

In its first fully-virtual meeting to avoid spreading COVID-19, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council approved catch specifications for Pacific sardines, allowing for a special fishery that will inform future stock assessments. Pacific sardines have not had a commercial fishery for six years, based on a stock assessment showing low biomass and no recruitment that has been at the center of a years-long controversy. 

“One thing everyone agrees on is the need to improve the sardine stock assessment,” stated Marc Gorelnik, vice chair of the ...

Japanese Shrimp Imports Fall 11.7% in February

The Japanese Ministry of Finance announced that shrimp imports in February fell 11.7% year-on-year to 12,570 tons, and the value was down 9.2% to 14,485 million yen ($133.5 million). Processed products such as sushi shrimp and shrimp for fried cooking saw the biggest decrease. The amount of frozen shrimp in another category, which includes farmed shrimp, also decreased. The reaction from January, when imports were large, led to these decreases, reports Suisan Keizai Shimbun.

In February, imports of other frozen shrimp, including farmed shrimp such as Banamei...

C3 Launches Delivery-Only Sushi Concept, Plans to Expand to Major Metro Areas Across U.S.

C3 (Creating Culinary Communities), a subsidiary of sbe Entertainment Group, a hospitality company has launched a delivery-only sushi restaurant concept, Krispy Rice.

Krispy Rice is currently operating in Los Angeles and C3 is eyeing an expansion to other major cities including New York, San Francisco and Miami in the coming months.

The goal is to operate at 75 locations within the next two years. C3 Is hoping to find similar success to its Katsuya concept featuring spicy tuna krispy rice, which Krispy Rice was...

ANALYSIS: Crab Meat Industry Frozen in Place During COVID-19 Pandemic

As the crab meat industry navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic, the market is reacting much like many of the other frozen or shelf-stable seafood items, somewhat frozen in place.

The crab meat market is watching the situation at home. Foodservice sales have dwindled considerably, while retail and club store sales have increased. But with a majority of crab meat normally consumed outside of the home, market participants are also closely keeping an eye on overseas production. Crab meat producing countries, like...

Boston Seafood Show Venue Turned into Coronavirus Field Hospital

Last month the Boston Convention Center was supposed to host Seafood Expo North America (SENA), the largest seafood trade show in North America. This month the 516,000 square foot building will be a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients. 

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) was set to host the 40th edition of SENA, also known as the Boston Seafood Show, from March 15-17. However, due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the show organizers, Diversified Communications...

DFO Temporarily Waives At-Sea Observer Requirements Due to Coronavirus

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced on Thursday that all at-sea observer coverage is temporarily waived due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

The new requirement means that “all fishing activities authorized under the Fisheries Act must be carried out without any at-sea observer being onboard fishing vessels.” In addition, the order states that “any person authorized to carry out fishing activities under the Fisheries Act is required to not authorize any at-sea observer to come on board any fishing vessel.” This order is in place for...

University of New England Shares NSF Grant on Lobsters and Climate Change

A study on how warming ocean water impacts the early life stages of lobster will bring together two undergraduate colleges, a premier research institution, and a state agency. 

The University of New England applied for the $860,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and intends to share it with Hood College in Maryland, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

The focus of the study is the impact of a warming Gulf of Maine on lobster larvae and their success in...

Seafood Expo North America Rescheduled; Boston Seafood Show to Take Place in September

Diversified Communications, the organizers of Seafood Expo North America (SENA), announced on Thursday that the event has been rescheduled for September.

SENA, also known as the Boston Seafood Show, was scheduled to take place from March 15-17. However, Diversified ended up postponing the event in early March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“After many weeks of monitoring the evolving situation around COVID-19 and evaluating the full spectrum of feedback we received among hundreds of calls and emails, we, Diversified Communications, have decided that...

ANALYSIS: Pollock Block Market Thriving Amid COVID-19

The market for reprocessed pollock blocks has remained steady amid all the disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak. The Alaskan pollock "A" season runs from January through April in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea with many vessels currently headed back home after finishing their first fishing season of the year, as planned, with supply intact. With fleets having been out at sea since January, there has been little threat or exposure to the crew aboard the vessels to the virus...

COVID-19: Updated Compendium of Closures/Meeting Changes

Several state and federal agencies and private businesses made announcements over the past month about closures and changes to schedules or logistics due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. SeafoodNews.com staff broke the story about the coronavirus in January and have kept our readers updated about how the pandemic is affecting the seafood industry. In that vein, the SeafoodNews staff is keeping a list of meeting and event changes and announcements that could affect your business. We will update the list as new announcements are made ...

Canada Names Seafood Industry As Essential Service, Amid Announcements of Wage Supports

In a joint statement from the Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA), members thanked the government for their “collaborative hard work to support the fish and seafood sector, especially in light of today’s recognition of the Canadian fish and seafood industries as essential services as announced by the latest COVID-19 guidance.”

Federal recognition of the industry’s wild harvest and aquacultur workers is an important milestone for Canada’s seafood producers as seasons open on both coasts for fisheries and shellfish. The “essential”...

Maine Senators Ask Secretary Ross to Quickly Release $300M in COVID-19 Relief Aid for Fishermen

In late March the United States Senate voted 96-0 to pass a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package. The bill earmarked $300 million to provide assistance to fishery participants affected by COVID-19. Now, almost two weeks since the stimulus package was passed, representatives from Maine are urging the government to quickly provide relief.

“The seafood and aquaculture industries are experiencing severe financial harm from disruptions to supply, demand, and labor caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Susan Collins...

Alaska Fishing Updates for April

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch … Fishing updates and new names for the Fish Board.

There’s lots of spring fishing going on all across Alaska. As always, catches of pollock, cod, and a big mix of other whitefish are still coming in from the Gulf and Bering Sea.

Kodiak’s roe herring fishery kicked off on April 1 with a nearly 1,500 ton harvest limit. About 8 boats are out on the water amid reports of lots of good looking fish.

Kodiak also will get a Dungeness crab opener on May 1...

Unemployment Claims Top 6 Million as Coronavirus Keeps Businesses Closed

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, during the week ending March 28th, the increase in initial unemployment claims due to the impact of the coronavirus reached 6,648,000. This is an increase of 3,341,000 from the previous week's revised level. States continued to identify increases related to the services industry broadly, again led by accommodation and foodservice.

However, state comments indicated a wider impact across industries. Some states cited social assistance and manufacturing. Meanwhile, an increasing number of states identified...

Chilean Salmon Farmer Invermar Reports Mass Coho Mortality Due to Algae

Invermar is reporting a mass mortality of coho salmon at their farm in the Quellon, Los Lagos region. 

According to Sernapesca, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, Invermar notified them of the sudden mortality on Thursday. The farm had 937,257 salmon that weighed approximately 780 grams each. Sernapesca reports that “the number of affected fish is being evaluated in the field due to the presence of the microalgae Cochlodinium sp.”  Cochlodinium is a species of red tide known for causing fish deaths. 

The statement from Sernapesca does not...

Boston Sword and Tuna Opens New 50,000 Square Foot Processing Facility 

Boston Sword and Tuna announced this week that they have opened their new 50,000 square foot processing facility. 

The facility, located at 10 Codfish Way in Boston, boasts a continuously controlled temperature monitoring system with instant access to temperature readings while on and off-site. The facility also has a completely automated ozonated water system, which also has on and off-site monitoring capabilities. Other features at the facility include a completely automated sanitation system, which includes door foamers to ensure...

ANALYSIS: West Coast Halibut Season Opens Amid COVID-19

The fresh west coast halibut season began on March 15 amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Initial “first fish” sales were somewhat unsettled and reported to be in the mid $7.00 range, settling at $6.26 to close the month - a  10-year low. Current market prices for whole fresh 20-40 lbs., are 19% lower than their 10-year average of $7.77.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, fresh seafood sales have been constrained as demand has shifted from...

New Executive Order Delays Requirement for Maine Seafood Dealers, Processors to Renew Licenses 

Seafood dealers and processors in Maine are being provided with some temporary economic relief thanks to a new Executive Order issued by Governor Janet Mills last week. The new order delays the requirement for Maine seafood dealers and processors to renew their license.

According to a bulletin sent out by the Maine Department of Marine Resources, required fees for annual license renewals will be postponed for two months. This only applies to those who are renewing a license. Anyone who is applying for...

Notice to Seafood Importers: FSVP Inspections Now Electronic Until Further Notice

The Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) announced last Friday that inspections under the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals (FSVP) will be conducted remotely during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Because of the travel restrictions, social distancing, and other advisories associated with the COVID-19 outbreak, most routine onsite inspections are impractical. Until now, FSVP inspections to review importer’s records have been conducted at the company’s place of business. The rule mandates certain risk-based activities to be performed to verify that...

DFO Delays Snow Crab Season in Newfoundland and Labrador Until April 20

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced on Thursday that there will be a delayed opening to the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab season.

“While the management approach for the 2020 Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery has not been finalized, the fishery will not open before April 20, 2020,” reads a statement from the DFO. “A decision on the 2020 management approach is expected in the near future and once finalized the details will be communicated broadly.”

As SeafoodNews previously reported, FFAW-Unifor sent a letter...

Are 'Family Meal Deals' at Restaurants the New Normal?

Independent and chain restaurants have been adjusting to the change in traffic due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). A majority of states have mandated or suggested that restaurants close their dining rooms in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Although sales are not where they would normally be, many have been able to transition to a take-out model, offering meals through curbside pickup, delivery or drive-thru services. But with self-distancing measures being extended and more states putting in place...

ANALYSIS: February Shrimp Imports Grow 20.1 Percent

February imports were released today and show a 20.1 percent increase in the amount of shrimp entering the U.S from a low February 2019 base. There were relatively few restrictions during this time and most of the product was already in transit.

Of our top five trade partners, India (+29.2%), Indonesia (+27.4%), Ecuador (+45.4%), Vietnam (+22.5%), and new country Mexico (+11.1%) all shipped more. Meanwhile, Thailand (-20.1) again shipped less and moved into sixth place in February 2020.

India again accounted for over 40 percent of trade...

Kodiak Tanner Crab is a Wrap, Dungeness Up Next

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Kodiak wraps up Tanners; Dungies are up next.

Kodiak’s Tanner crab fishery wrapped up a few weeks ago after a longer than usual two month opener in one region. As expected, it was slow going for 49 boats that dropped pots for a 400,000 pound catch limit. The average CPUE (catch per unit of effort) was 12 crabs per pot.

“Everyone who wanted to go went out and gave it a good shot for a...