Red Lobster Promotes Horace Dawson to CEO Following Kelli Valade’s 2022 Departure

Red Lobster officially has a new CEO. The seafood chain announced this week that they have promoted Horace Dawson to Chief Executive Officer.

Dawson has been with Red Lobster since 2014, serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, where he was responsible for legal affairs, communications, risk management, and government relations. Prior to joining Red Lobster he worked for Darden Restaurants, first as Senior Associate General Counsel when he was hired in 2003, and later being promoted to VP, Division General Counsel. Over the years...

ANALYSIS: Wild Salmon Week in Review September 10-16

With the peak of coho season now behind us, Alaska coho landings for the year so far have reached 2.03 million fish as of week 38 (September 10-16, 2023). This figure represents a 31% increase compared to 1.55 million fish that were landed last year in the same timeframe. However, it falls approximately 24% below the five-year average of 2.69 million fish.

Notably, the Copper River district is experiencing much higher landings compared to the previous year in recent weeks...

Japan: 2022 Surimi Product Output Fell 3% to 470,000 Tons

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced the production volume of surimi products for 2022 on September 6, and the production volume of so-called kamaboko products, excluding fish sausage, was 412,855 tons, falling 2% compared to the previous year, to 9,627 tons.

According to Kamaboko News, demand for surimi products increased last year from 2020, which was the lowest in the past half-century, and some people believed that the demand for surimi products had hit the bottom. Some people have expressed concerns.

The reasons behind...

Everything You Need To Know About Alaska’s Red King Crab Fishery In 2024

There are a lot of questions surrounding Alaska’s lucrative red king crab fishery. And because there are four stocks, news of closures or openings can become confusing.

The fishery is managed by NOAA Fisheries, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Management is based on the size, sex, and the season, meaning that only male crabs of a certain size can be harvested, and that fishing can not take place during mating and...

ADF&G’s Three-River Index Lowest on Record, Pollock Fleet’s Chinook Allocation Unchanged
[Editors Note: Updated Sept 21, 9:16 PDT]

Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game released their Three-River Index last week, a dire report of Chinook salmon run size in the Unalakleet, Yukon, and Kuskokwim River that is used to inform the amount of Chinook salmon the pollock trawl fleet in the Bering Sea may take in 2024.

The pollock fleet, made up of a little over 100 participants, go to great lengths to avoid Chinook salmon, which occasionally travel with schools of pollock. Trawl vessels skippers ...

Seattle Sports Executives to Discuss Seafood’s Opportunity in Entertainment Venues at GAPP Meeting

Seattle sports will take center stage at the September 28th Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting during a panel focused on seafood’s opportunity in sports and entertainment venues nationwide, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today. Brian Carriveau of Climate Pledge Arena, Taylor Graham of the MLS Seattle Sounders Football Club, Chris Voigt of the MLB Seattle Mariners and Justin Moser of the DubSea Fish Sticks will join GAPP CEO Craig Morris on stage to talk about the missing ‘winning ingredient’: Wild Alaska Pollock in...

Norcod Granted New Production Site in Nordland County

Norcod has been granted permission to establish a new production location in Nesna municipality with a total maximum allowed biomass (MAB) of 3,599mt. Bjørnvika is the company's second location in Nesna and, together with Labukta, forms a production cluster with a total capacity of 7,200 mt MAB.

"Norcod has been very well received by Nesna municipality, which we highly appreciate, and we look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation. We will keep on working together successfully in the future. We consider this second site...

The Retail Rundown: Fall-ing into Seasonal Trends

It’s the end of an era…or at least, a season. Pumpkin everything has already been underway for a couple of weeks and the fall equinox officially arrives on Saturday, September 23^rd.

Grocers are increasingly highlighting autumn retail trends consistent with indoor oven cooking, resulting in shifting feature volume from grilling cuts to cooler-weather items like roasts.

Beef roasts have seen a notable uptick in feature volume since the beginning of the month, currently claiming 22% of total beef ads. Comparatively, the roast category accounted for 14% of beef ads...

AquaMaof Promotes Eli Amar to CEO

Eli Amar, AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies’ VP of Strategy and Finance for the last four years, has been promoted to CEO. The leader in Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology announced the appointment on Wednesday. In addition, the company also confirmed that former CEO David Hazut will become new Chairman of the Board.

“This is an exciting moment for AquaMaof, and I’m sure that under Eli’s leadership, the company will break through to new records and achievements,” said Hazut. “As one of the company’s founders and the new Chairman of the board, I have full confidence in Eli, and together with the great management and employees of AquaMaof, the company will reach remarkable achievements.”

Notice Issued on Outbreak of Suspected Botulism in Bordeaux, France Linked to Sardines

An investigation is underway of a suspected botulism outbreak linked to sardines in Bordeaux, France. 

The Canadian government issued a notice on September 14 that public health authorities in France are investigating 10 suspected cases of botulism. Three of those 10 cases are Canadian residents. 

Botulism is a serious disease that can be spread by eating food or driving beverages contaminated with a toxin produced by a specific type of bacteria. Symptoms of foodborne botulism can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, blurred or double vision and....

6th Bristol Bay Wild Salmon Celebration Makes a Big Splash in Washington D.C. 

If there is a handbook on how to protect a community through collaboration and creative thinking, it would be written by Bristol Bay residents. Their incentive is the salmon run that has sustained Alaskans and members of First Nations long before Alaska was a state. 

The most recent example of this rare collaborative effort is the sixth annual Bristol Bay Wild Salmon Celebration held in the nation’s capital last week. It hit D.C. during Bristol Bay Salmon Week, when a diverse group of Washington, D.C.-area restaurants ...

VIDEO: High Liner's Interim CEO; NARW Funding; Pringles & Caviar

Join SeafoodNews Managing Editor Amanda Buckle as she highlights the top three stories of the week, including the appointment of High Liner Foods' interim CEO and new funding for North Atlantic right whales. Plus, learn more about the Pringles and caviar trend that has produced a unique collaboration.

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry’s GLOBAL PROTEIN SUMMIT, the premier conference for education in the poultry, red meat, and seafood sectors. Gain insight into protein market demand, global issues affecting the market...

NFI, Seafood Producers Draft Sign On Letter Highlighting Priorities For 2023 Farm Bill

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the Seafood Harvesters of America (SHA), Pacific Seafoods, Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA), the At-Sea Processors Association (APA) and Trident Seafoods have drafted a national sign-on letter that highlight three priorities for U.S. seafood producers to be included in the 2023 Farm Bill. 

According to the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Congress passes legislation that “sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy” every five years. This is commonly referred to as the Farm Bill...

CDC Issues Health Advisory on Vibrio Infections Moving North in Warming Waters

On September 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory to public health departments and others about an increase of Vibrio vulnificus infections, including wound and foodborne infections, particularly in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico or East Coast. The cause: warmer coastal sea surface temperatures. 

Reports from Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina have increased this summer and include five fatalities. The other notable difference is  — with five fatalities just this summer — they weren’t from eating exposed shellfish, but from ...

WPRFMC, American Samoa Leaders Frustrated by Fishery Management Through Sanctuaries and Monuments

“You must be mindful of the decisions you make…so that the interests of small fishing communities are not disregarded” was the main message heard in the remarks of the Honorable Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who opened the 195th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

“The ocean and its marine resources have sustained our Fa‘asamoa for thousands of years. These abundant natural resources have provided food on our table and supported our people, especially during calamities,” noted the Governor...

Arctic Fish Gives Update On August 2023 Salmon Escapement

An August 2023 escapement at Arctic Fish’s berths in Kvígindisdal in Patreksfjörður is now under investigation by Iceland’s food and veterinary authority, MAST. 

Arctic Fish released a statement on August 21 confirming that they found two holes in their pen, which were subsequently reported to the Norwegian Fisheries Agency and Norwegian Food Agency.  The cage had approximately 70,000 salmon. After harvest there was a deviation of 3,500 fish. The company activated its response plan and worked closely with the above mentioned agencies. 

"We regret that farmed salmon...

The Caviar Co. Teams Up With Pringles After Unique Pairing Goes Viral on TikTok

“Once you pop the fun don’t stop.” Add caviar into the mix? Well, it’s a combo that you likely didn’t know you needed to try.

Caviar has been going viral on TikTok due to an unlikely pairing with everyone’s favorite stackable potato-based chip. The trend was sparked by "Real Housewives of New York City" star Erin Lichy, who only recently joined the reality series in season 14. Lichy served a caviar and Pringles pairing at her Hamptons home...