Russia May Consider Change in This Year's Crab Quota Auctions to 20% Instead of 50%

Smaller Winter Crab Fisheries Give Economic Boost to Coastal Communities

When most people think of Alaska crab, they envision huge boats pulling up “7 bys” for millions of pounds of bounty in the Bering Sea. (7 bys refers to the 7’x7’x3’ size of the crab pots.) But it is the smaller, local crab fisheries that each winter give a big economic boost to dozens of coastal communities across the Gulf of Alaska. They occur at a time when many fishing towns are feeling a lull while awaiting the March start of halibut and herring openers...

Roughly One-Third of Russia’s Fish Harvest Continues to be Lost or Destroyed

Up to 30% of Russian-caught fish and seafood is destroyed, despite the recent efforts of the state to reduce these figures over several years, according to recent statements of some leading Russian fishermen and experts of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

According to latest assessments of scientists of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, one of Russia’s leading research institutions in the field of fishing, of the 5 million tonnes of fish annually produced in Russia, about 1.7 million tonnes are not used.

In general, most of the ...

Russian King Crab Endure Convoluted Shipping Methods to China

In late December of 2018, 53 tons of live king crab were shipped from Russia to Shanghai. Thanks to new technologies, most king crabs are still alive after the 6-day travel period. Russian seafood used to be flown to Shanghai or arrive there after a transfer in Dalian or Qingdao. But things have started to change since June 2017 when king crab were delivered to Shanghai by sea for the first time.

This new mode of transportation not only brings fresher seafood but also lower costs and greater competitiveness...

Russia Initiates Plans for Pollock, Crab Harvests in Arctic Seas This Year

Russia plans to start more active production of pollock and crab in its Arctic seas during the next several years, according to recent statements of some leading Russian fish producers and officials from Rosrybolovstvo, the Russian fisheries agency.

Plans include increasing production of pollock and crab the Chukchi Sea - a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, bounded on the west by Long Strait, off Wrangel Island, and on the east by Point Barrow, Alaska. Implementation of these plans is already scheduled for the current...

Dungeness Crab Fishery Opens in Southern Washington, Northern Oregon

Some ports and processors in Washington and Oregon were busy over the weekend, loading Dungeness crab pots on vessels in anticipation of the crab fishery to finally get under way this week.

Southern Washington and northern Oregon will open the Dungeness crab fishery, since meat recovery tests showed Long Beach, Wash., crab well above the 23 percent target.

Pre-season test results for the stations off Long Beach were completed over the weekend and showed that meat recovery was 27.9 percent -- an improvement from the 22.8 percent...

Fees for Halibut, Sablefish, Crab Program Costs Increase for 2018

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch. Alaska fishermen who hold catch shares of halibut, sablefish and Bering Sea crab and whitefish pay an annual fee to the federal government to cover management and enforcement costs for those fisheries.  

The fee, which is capped at 3 percent, is based on dock prices through September and averaged across the state. 

This month bills went out to 1,834 holders of halibut and sablefish quota shares, down 60 from last year.

The fee is up slightly for this year...

Russia Tightens its Trade Relationship with Hunchun as Chief Chinese Port of Entry for Live Crab

There has been dramatic increase in Russia’s export to Hunchun city of China’s Jilin province during the first three quarters of this year. Live crabs are one of the winners with the export growing by 277 percent to reach 683 million yuan (~$99 million USD) compared with the same period last year.

In total, 32 companies in Hunchun specialized in seafood trading with Russia. Their total import value has skyrocketed by 1.5 times to reach 1.254 billion yuan...

California Dungeness Crab Season Opener Good for Holiday Sales

The California Dungeness crab season opening was a mixed bag of good sales and high ex-vessel prices.

Fishermen reported an opening price of $3.50 a pound -- one of the highest opening prices on record -- but that price may have been a little bit lower at the very beginning but quickly rose. Preliminary data from the Pacific Fish Information Network (PacFIN) shows the average ex-vessel price for Dungeness crab in California in November was $3.38 per pound. In November 2017, the average price was $3.03 per pound.

Landings are down from last year, however. Crabbers in November delivered 3.14 million ...

Bay Area Consumers Have Dungeness for Thanksgiving; Rest of West Coast Seasons Likely Delayed

The celebrated San Francisco Dungeness crab season starts tomorrow, but delays due to domoic acid or meat quality in other areas are likely, according to officials from Oregon and California.

“California’s Dungeness crab fishery is one of the most progressively designed and collaboratively managed fisheries on the West Coast,” Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations Executive Director Noah Oppenheim said in a press release. “Our crab populations are stable and doing well. Yet climate change continues to threaten crab fisheries in complex and unpredictable ways ...

Russia Expects No Significant Increase in Crab Harvests; More Live Exports to In Future

Russia does not expect a significant crab harvest increase during the next several decades, expecting that its stock will remain at the same level as at present, according to latest predictions of some leading Russian crab producers and experts of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

According to recent statements, Alexander Dyplyakov, head of the Sakhalin Association of Crab Producers, the Sea of Okhotsk will remain a center of crab catch in Russia for the next several years ...

As Crab Supplies Dwindle, Retail Promotions of Other Shellfish Come to the Fore

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] (Analysis) by John Sackton - October 30, 2018

Snow crab supplies are likely down again significantly in Newfoundland next year, but do the markets care?

For many years snow crab has been a staple of the retail seafood counter.  In fact, excluding shrimp, all varieties of crab are the next largest shellfish category sold at retail.  According to Nielsen data, crab accounts for about 46% of the value, and 44% of unit sales of shellfish excluding shrimp.

But with the prospect of another significant reduction in crab catches from Newfoundland, likely not really offset...

Thai Union Group, COSFF, Monterey Bay Launch $73 Million Sustainability Push, Initially on Blue Crab

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - October 30, 2018

BALI, INDONESIA — Thai Union Group PCL, Chicken of the Sea® brand and Monterey Bay Aquarium announced the launch of SeaChange® IGNITE, a collaboration to advance new sustainability initiatives and improvements throughout the supply chain and further contribute to Thai Union’s SeaChange sustainability strategy, according to a press release. The combined commitment for the initiative is USD $73 million through 2025, with a focus on improvements in Southeast Asia and other key seafood producing regions.

SeaChange IGNITE will also ...

With Sufficient Supply, King Crab Becomes More Common and Popular in China

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [FishFIrst/Dzwww] translated by Amy Zhong - October 16, 2018

The price of live king crab more than 3.5 kg each has dropped to 90 yuan/jin (1 jin=0.5 kg; $13.02/jin USD) in Beijing on Oct. 5, while that of the smaller ones has declined to about 100 yuan ($14.47 USD) to 105 yuan ($15.19). Though prices are slightly higher in Guangzhou and Shanghai, they still set a new low record, around 100 yuan ...

Russian  Does Not Foresee Crisis Looming in Crab Industry as New Auction Plan Moves Forward

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Eugene Gerden - October 12, 2018

The Russian government expects the beginning of a new program providing half the domestic crab quotas to new entrants to further develop the industry will actually make the Russian crab industry more efficient -- according to senior officials of the country’s Ministry of Agriculture.

According to recent statements of Rosrybolovstvo, recent announcements of some Russian crab producers to terminate their existing contracts for the building of new crab-producing ships at domestic shipyards ...

Chinese Importers Bank on Upcoming Festivals to Boost Lobster Prices

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [FishFirst] translated by Amy Zhong - September 17, 2018

Recently the Boston lobster market in China has been damaged with excessive supply when the demand fails to catch up, said one Boston lobster importer in Shanghai. Boston lobster prices are in decline, especially the small ones. Though the demand is greater for the large ones, it is difficult to source any, importers say. The price contraction of live seafood such as Boston lobsters and box crab has begun after the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day) on August 17 ...

California, Oregon Choose Different Dates to Open Remaining Coastline to Crabbing

It seems the process to open as much of the coastline as possible to crabbing at the same time went out the window when domoic acid and meat recovery rates became monkeywrenches in the system.

This year's West Coast Dungeness crab season required a lot of industry and fishery managers' time and patience as only some areas showed crab were fully and clear of toxins in December and early January. The new year proved no different as the California/Oregon border area crab had issues stretching past ...

Coast Guard Formalizes Investigation into F/V Mary B II Capsizing

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday a formal marine casualty investigation has been convened into the sinking of the F/V Mary B II that capsized on the Yaquina Bay bar on Jan. 8.

The marine casualty resulted in the loss of three fishermen's lives and the loss of the vessel, a 42-foot wooden boat the captain purachsed earlier this year.

Rear Adm. David Throop, Coast Guard 13th District Commander, authorized the investigation pursuant to the authority contained in ...

California Delays Part of Northern Dungeness Opening; Oregon Crabbers Deliver Product

The West Coast Dungeness crab openings look like a patchwork quilt of open and closed areas between San Francisco and the Canadian border.

On Monday, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham delayed the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery from Patrick’s Point, Humboldt County, north to the California/Oregon state line due to elevated levels of domoic acid. It was originally scheduled to open at the same time as the rest of the northern area, from the California/Oregon border south to the...

Coast Guard Readies West Coast Commercial Fishermen for Safe Crab Season

WARRENTON, Ore. — Coast Guard personnel have worked with many members of the Pacific Northwest fishing fleet during the last four months preparing them to be safe and knowledgeable during the commercial Dungeness crab season beginning soon.

Coast Guard personnel have conducted more than 90 fishing vessel exams and trained more than 75 fishermen during drill conductor courses held at various ports including Coos Bay, Newport, Garibaldi and Astoria, Ore., since September, according to a USCG press release.

The fishing vessel exams ensure the vessels are...

Crab Season Delayed Again in California; Oregon/Washington Seasons in Flux

The West Coast Dungeness crab season openings remain in flux following winter storms the week before Christmas and limited testing in southern Oregon.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday that the Northern California crab season would remain closed until Jan. 15 due to poor meat quality.

A third round of testing showed southern Oregon still has issues with meat recovery and domoic acid, so Curry County and part of Coos County will remain closed for the time being.

A Washington vessel that agreed to ...

NMFS Releases Latest Fisheries of US Report; Alaska On Top for Volume, Value

Alaska topped the U.S. in commercial fisheries landings and value in 2017, according to the latest Fisheries of the United States 2017 report released this week by NOAA.

While Alaska's 6 billion pounds of landings generating $1.8 billion led the nation, fishing and seafood consumption increased across the board last year. Landings and value of U.S. fisheries continued a strong, positive trend, according to NOAA. Fishermen landed 9.9 billion pounds of fish and shellfish in 2017, while the U.S. imported 5.9 billion pounds of seafood, up 1.6 percent.

Given the increases in ...

Commercial Dungeness Crab Season to Open in Sonoma County; Northern Area Remains Delayed

At last -- the northern part of the Central California season will open to commercial crabbing, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday.

Levels of domoic acid dropped to acceptable levels, allowing the area north of San Francisco to open from Bodega Head to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line. Public health agencies have determined that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health in the area, the agency said.

CDFW Director Charlton Bonham declared the fishery to open at ...

OSU Researchers Contribute to National Climate Report; Warn of More Disastrous Years Ahead

New federal report: Northwest climate could see more years like 2015

By most accounts, 2015 was a very bad climatic year in the Pacific Northwest, with early flooding followed by severe and prolonged summer and fall drought. The results included fish die-offs, irrigation shortages and crop losses, large wildfires, record cases of infectious diseases and reduced recreation, according to a new report from Oregon State University.

A new federal report on the impacts of climate change released on Friday – that includes a chapter focusing on ...

San Francisco Crab Season Opens Nov. 15; Areas North to Mendocino Delayed Due to Domoic Acid

Other changes coming to California Dungeness fishery this season, too

Several Changes are coming to the California Dungeness crab fishery this year, the worst being a season delay for part of the coastline.

The Central Coast/Southern season, frequently referred to as the San Francisco opener, is scheduled to open Nov. 15, but California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham on Friday delayed the season opening from Bodega Head, Sonoma County, north to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line due to ...

Japan Eyes Increasing Seafood Imports from Russia’s Sakhalin and Kurile Islands

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Eugene Gerden - November 7, 2018

Japan plans to significantly increase the volume of fish and seafood imports from Sakhalin and Kurile Islands during the next several years, according to recent statements by some Japanese business officials and senior officials of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

According to Tatsuki Kato, general director of HOKO, a leading food and fish producer in Japan, the company is particularly interested in the increase of supplies of pink salmon and crab from both Sakhalin and Kurile Islands, with the ...

Oregon Crabbers Fund Whale Study in Hopes of Avoiding Entanglements

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Susan Chambers - October 30, 2018

Recognizing that whale entanglements could seriously affect the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery, the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission took proactive action earlier this week to fund a new study looking at whale distributions along the coast.

Oregon State University Marine Mammal Ecologist Dr. Leigh Torres is leading a project partnering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Coast Guard and Oregon Sea Grant designed to better understand where whale distribution patterns overlap with fishing effort ...

Sea Grant Announces 2018 Aquaculture Research Awards

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - October 18, 2018

NOAA Sea Grant has announced the award of $11 million in grants for 22 projects to further advance the development of a sustainable marine and coastal aquaculture industry in the U.S.

The research projects are designed to address specific priorities of the 2018 Sea Grant National Aquaculture Initiative including: supporting the development of emerging systems or technologies that will advance aquaculture in the U.S.; developing and implementing actionable methods of communicating accurate, science based information about the benefits and risks of U.S. marine aquaculture to the public; and ...

Russia to Start Export Fish Sales Through Auctions in Coming Months

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Eugene Gerden - October 16, 2018

The Russian Federal Agency for Fishery, Rosrybolovstvo, plans to establish special trading areas in the Primorye region for the export sales of domestic fish and seafood, according to recent statements by Ilya Shestakov.

The introduction of auction platforms, according to Shestakov, will make the existing sales mechanism more transparent and will allow the sales of Russian fish at fair market prices.

All the trading platforms will be equipped with modern refrigeration facilities and have special inspection compartments ...

LISTEN: Tilapia Industry Split After First Week of Tariffs; Meal Kits Losing Steam and More News

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - October 1, 2018

This week on the SeafoodNews podcast hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione talk about how the tilapia industry is split after the first week of tariffs; NOAA's memorandum on whales; Casey's Seafood owner pleading guilty to falsely labeling crab meat; meal kits losing steam; and why some vegans are eating oysters. Plus, we welcome Scott Zimmerman, the CEO of Safe Quality Seafood Associates and speaker at Urner Barry's upcoming Seafood Import Workshop ...