Crabbers Pull Up Record Catches in the Gulf of Alaska

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

Crabbers throughout the Gulf of Alaska are enjoying some great hauls, most recently for Tanners at Southeast Alaska.

The 11 day February fishery produced 1.26 million pounds, the fourth largest catch in the past 15 seasons for nearly 70 permit holders.  At an average price of $3.72 per pound, the fishery was valued at $4.2 million at the docks, the highest since 1999.

For golden king crab, which also opened in February, four out of seven fishing districts remain open...

Camanchaca Reports Financial Loss of $7.5 Million Due to Harmful Algae Bloom in Los Lagos Region

Salmones Camanchaca, a subsidiary of Camanchaca, is reporting a financial loss of $7.5 million related to the harmful algae blooms in the Los Lagos region.

As SeafoodNews has been reporting for the past few weeks, salmon farming centers in the Los Lagos and Aysén region in Chile have had to activate contingency plans due to harmful algae blooms. In mid-March Camanchaca had reported that the algae bloom incidents killed 162,000 salmon at a pair of their seawater farming sites...

COMTELL Insights Spotlight: Future-Proofing the Supply Chain FaQ

Available on the COMTELL Platform and brought to you by Urner Barry Insights

If you’re in the food business, you’re probably wondering about future-proofing the supply chain. Given what we’ve seen over the last year—and what we’re still contending with—the task of managing supply chains has become more challenging than ever (and it was no picnic before, we know!). That’s why Urner Barry is bringing together exclusive Insights through original reports, interviews, videos and podcasts in a special April Spotlight dedicated to the biggest supply chain issues the industry is currently facing.

This Spotlight, Future-Proofing the Supply Chain, will take place April 26-30^th, 2021, and can be accessed through Urner Barry Insights on the COMTELL platform.

Segments will include...

NPFMC Moves Abundance-based Management of Halibut Bycatch Forward 

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) took action last week to make final changes in the draft analysis (DEIS) of management alternatives to put halibut bycatch from the Bering Sea bottom trawlers under an abundance-based scheme and stay on schedule for final action this year. 

The motion, made by Deputy Commissioner Rachel Baker of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game, passed by a 10-1 vote last Thursday. There were two elements to the motion. First, incorporating changes to the analysis that were suggested by the Council’s Scientific ...

Restaurants See Some Relief in March as Sales Increase 36% From Last Year

It’s been a year since COVID-19 struck, and things finally appear to be turning around. The U.S. Census Bureau released the advance monthly sales for retail and food services for March 2021, and according to the report, U.S. retail and food services sales reached $619.1 billion—an increase of 9.8% from the previous month and a 27.7% jump from March 2020.

Overall, total sales for January 2021 through March 2021 are up 14.3% from the same period a year ago...

Thai Union Highlights UN’s World Creativity and Innovation Day 

April 21 is designated as World Creativity and Innovation Day by the United Nations as a way to raise awareness to the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.

To recognize the role both creativity and innovation play in its business, Thai Union noted a few ways that innovation remains one of its key corporate values.

The company’s “Healthy Living, Healthy Oceans,” is one of the ways it looks to innovated. Back in 2015, it launched its Global Innovation Centre (GIC) in 2015 - a world-class R&D facility, and the first of its kind in Thailand...

Coast Guard Medevacs Injured Fisherman 132 Miles East of Cape Cod

The Coast Guard medevacked an injured fisherman 132 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts on April 20.

Coast Guard District One watchstanders received an alert from the crew onboard the commercial fishing vessel Mary Anne stating that a 56-year-old crewmember was suffering from severe abdominal pain at about 6:30 a.m.

Shortly after, a Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched, and safely hoisted the fisherman from the vessel, which is home-ported in New Bedford, at approximately 9:30 a.m...

Quiznos Brings Back LTO Lobster Subs to Canada Locations

Quiznos’ Canadian locations are delivering a seafood favorite. For a limited time the Lobster Classic sub and the Old Bay Lobster Club will be back on the menu.

“We are thrilled lobster is returning to the menu– this time kicked up a notch with the distinctive and tangy addition of Frank’s Hot Sauce,” said Chef Mike Gieseman, Director of Culinary and Innovation for REGO Restaurant Group, which owns Quiznos. “Our Lobster subs are eagerly anticipated by consumers year after year, and it’s no wonder why. They are...

BlueNalu Dishes Out Scholarships to Young Chefs in Eat Blue Essay Contest

Cell-cultured seafood producer BlueNalu announced the winners of its Eat Blue™ Essay Contest in collaboration with the Research Chefs Association (RCA).

The contest brought in essays from culinary students that focused on sustainable seafood and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. It was open to all 280 culinary student members of the RCA.

The questions posed to the students were: “What does it mean to you to Eat Blue™? How do you incorporate this into your daily life and find inspiration to Eat Blue™ in your personal and professional journey...

ANALYSIS: Blue Swimming Crab Meat Prices Soar; Up 34 Percent from Beginning of the Year 

The crab meat market has reached all-time highs, above levels seen in the late summer and early fall of 2017. Most market participants said it was just a matter of time—and it looks as though they were correct.  

The blue swimming crab meat market for colossal, jumbo lump, super lump, and lump have all achieved all-time highs this month. Meanwhile, the remainder of the grades, backfin, special, and claw continue to climb...

ANALYSIS: Strong Demand, Constrained Supply for Frozen Tuna

Frozen tuna imports have increased over the years due in large part to the consistent, strong demand from the foodservice sector. Imports peaked in 2019 registering a record 90 million pounds. Not only was the marketable to absorb this influx of supply, but pricing also remained firm, trending above its 5- year average for frozen steaks.

However, as the COVID-19 virus took hold in 2020, and restaurants across the country closed, importers modified their buying decisions. Frozen tuna imports for the year registered 73.3 million pounds...

WDFW Eases Dungeness Crab Rules as Domoic Acid Levels Drop in Washington

Dungeness crabbers and processors in Washington no longer have to eviscerate crab, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said earlier this month. Soon, crabbers will also have to get summer buoy tags to fish after May 1. Crabbers can also help with gear recovery after May 1.

"Due to low levels of domoic acid in recent crab samples taken from all coastal WA sample locations, WDFW is removing evisceration requirements for all areas," the agency said in a notice last week. "Hold inspection certificate numbers... 

Innovasea Breaks Down Latest Monitoring Software; Acting as Early Algal Bloom Warning System

Innovasea, a company that creates aquatic solutions for the aquaculture industry announced that its latest Plankton Monitoring software is now in the hands of two major salmon producers in Canada. The software aims to give companies the ability to detect early signs of harmful algae levels in the water.

The new software helps streamline and enhance monitoring efforts so fish farm operators can better predict when algal blooms may appear and take action earlier to help protect the fish.

“Our new Plankton Monitoring solution adds a new...

Norway-based Smart Salmon Takes Another Step Towards Construction of Smolt Production Facility

Land-based salmon farmer Smart Salmon has tabbed HS Bygg as the contractor for its smolt production facility with construction beginning as early as fall 2021.

“It is gratifying to get this contract in place with a solid, local contractor such as HS Bygg. We see an enormous potential in this project and are now working to complete the plans,” says Petter Bakke, CEO of Smart Salmon Group AS.

The site will produce up to 2,500 tonnes of big smolt the Smørhamn site in Bremanger municipality in Western Norway...

Spain’s CEPESCA Elects New President, VPs

Juan Manuel Liria was elected as president of the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA), Liria has held the position on a temporary basis since May 2020, following the death of Amador Suárez, president of the employer's association since its foundation, in 2007.

 Liria received was elected unanimously, per a release from CEPESCA and he will be joined by Julio Morón Ayala, as first vice president, representing deep-sea fishing, and José María Gallart García, as second vice president and representing the inshore.

CEPESCA provided some bios for the new leaders of CEPESCA. Liria has spent...

Aloha Poke Plots Big Growth in Texas

Fast-casual poke restaurant chain Aloha Poke is making a big push with plans to open 11 new locations in the Houston-metro areas by 2025. The news is not only major considering that it’s their first move into the Texas market, but because it nearly doubles their total franchise location holdings.

Aloha Poke Co. is excited and extremely proud to launch into Texas with these first stores already in development within the Houston market,” said Paul Tripodes, VP of Franchise Development at Aloha Poke. “Houston is one of the fastest growing and...

Alaska Seafood Hits the Big Time with Four Minutes on the Today Show

Launching their Down to Earth celebration for Earth Week yesterday, the Today Show visited Alaska with a live segment on Alaska seafood. Al Roker, Hoda Kotb, and Carson Daly peppered Hannah Heimbuch, a third-generation commercial fisherman who “specializes in sustainable fishing practices,” as the show’s preview says, with questions on how to find sustainable seafood, and how to prepare it. 

“Navigating the fish department can be a little tricky,” Roker said after he noted that national nutrition experts recommend two to three meals of seafood each ...