VIDEO: Cheddar Bay Biscuits; DFO Closes Fishing Areas; Consumers Sue Canned Tuna Companies

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they discuss the latest on the temporary closing of fishing areas in the Gulf and Quebec regions due to the presence of North Atlantic Right Whales, as well as the suspension of air service to and from Venezuela. Plus, learn more about Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits Sweepstakes in honor of National Biscuit Day! Enter for a chance to win an insulated fanny pack by tweeting @RedLobster what you love most about their Cheddar Bay Biscuits using #CBBSweepstakes...

Alaska Fishing gearing up as Copper River Opens Next Week

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch…May means even more Alaska fishery openers.

Alaska’s 2019 salmon season will officially open on Thursday, May 16 with a 12 hour opener for sockeyes and king salmon at Copper River. The 500 plus drift fleet is hoping to catch just under 800-thousand reds and 31-thousand king salmon this summer.

Salmon openers in other Alaska fishing regions will quickly follow.

Trollers in Southeast began targeting spring king salmon in various regions starting May 1...

The Winding Glass: If Your Only Tool is Anti-Trust, Everything Looks Like Price Fixing

This week Euclid fish launched a US class action price-fixing suit against the major salmon companies.

Over the past several years, we have seen several major price fixing or anti-trust cases.  The one that has legs is the tuna price-fixing case, in which a conspiracy to control competition and limit discounts was discovered by the Dept. of Justice, and the three companies involved all pled guilty.

Several tuna executives have pled guilty as well, and currently, Chris Lischewski, former CEO of Bumble Bee...

California Considers Sport Crab Fishery for Action Relating to Whale Entanglement

The California Fish and Game Commission is proactively working to avoid further whale entanglements -- and further lawsuits.

On Wednesday the Commission approved the Marine Resources Committee to take up the issue of recreational crab fishing, and possibly other fixed gear fisheries, and its potential to entangle whales. The commercial fleet early on questioned why other fisheries, particularly sport fisheries, were not subject to the same scrutiny as the commercial sector.

The commercial season closed earlier this week, on April 15, as part of a settlement agreement...

The Winding Glass: Markets Don’t Care

This column from SeafoodNews Founder and Publisher John Sackton is a new trial feature that may continue as John retires from active management of SeafoodNews.  

The spring is a time when many seasonal price negotiations get underway in fisheries where harvesters negotiate a fixed price.  This certainly happens in Snow Crab, Cold water Shrimp, and Canadian Cod; and to a lesser extent lobster.

Other seafood producers, such as those farming salmon, shrimp, or landing scallops or groundfish see prices vary from week to week depending on the commodity market demand...

Russia Plans to Force More Domestic Processing of Pollock, Crab by Fiat

The Russian government plans to seriously tighten control for the sales of fish and seafood both in the domestic market and abroad with the aim to ensure additional supplies of domestic catch to local customers, according to recent statements of Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) representatives.

According to Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo, the government is continuing its work on the design of a new federal law that will set new standards for fish trade in Russia and the...

Federally Managed Fisheries in Hawai'i, U.S. Pacific Islands Face a Mixed Future

The future is both bright and bleak for Hawaiian and U.S. Pacific Islands fisheries -- depending on the fishery.

Federal fishery managers concluded the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting in Honolulu last week after dealing with a mixed bag of good and bad news fisheries in the region.

On the good side, a 2018 stock assessment estimates the Hawai'i Kona crab maximum sustainable yield at 73,069 pounds. While fishermen routinely landed 70,000 pounds in the 1970s, the fishery has reported catch below...

Restaurant Report: Lent Makes Waves in Seafood Offerings

Lent begins March 6th, and with it comes the advent of the seafood promotional season at many QSR and fast casual concepts. In anticipation of the season, many restaurants have either launched new LTOs, revived previous offerings, or rolled out tests for new menu items.

White Castle Brings Back Seafood Crab Cake Slider and Shrimp Nibblers for Lent

White Castle’s Shrimp Nibblers and Seafood Crab Cake Sliders are back for a limited time – and just in time for the kickoff of Lent on March 6.

While Fish Sliders and Fish Nibblers, both made with Wild Alaskan pollock, are a staple menu item for White Castle, the chain only brings back their Shrimp Nibblers and Seafood Crab Cake Sliders once a year. And this year, the Seafood Crab Cake Slider is an option for White Castle’s new 3 for $3 value deal...

Maine Lobster, Tuna and More Seafood Star on Wolfgang Puck's 2019 Oscars Menu

The 91st Academy Awards are this Sunday and you know what that means – the stars will feast! While all eyes are generally on the Best Picture nominees, foodies focus on what celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck will be serving at the post-Oscars Governors Ball. And just like last year, seafood has a strong presence on the menu.

Wolfgang Puck has been catering the Governors Ball for 25 years and is responsible for the over 30 dish menu...

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...

Oregon Dungeness Crab Tests All Clear of Biotoxins

Capping off a tumultuous Dungeness crab season of spotty open and closed areas from Washington to California, the entire Oregon coast is now open for crab business -- and all without any restrictions. The industry has had to adjust its business plans on the fly since meat recovery rates and high domoic acid levels created open areas a few miles at a time.

Some hiccups still remain regarding northern California crab, as they relate to processing in Oregon and Washington.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the...

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

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...

California Crab Industry May Finally See Disaster Checks from 2015, Mostly at $21,000 or More

California Dungeness and rock crab fishermen and processors will likely see disaster aid checks in June, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced late last week.

After a lengthy review process with industry, the $25 million in federal disaster aid to cover the 2015-2016 seasons was approved and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission could start sending checks as soon as June.. Some of those funds will go to mitigation against future domoic acid/harmful algal bloom events, PSMFC overhead and the commercial ...

USCG to Hold Public Hearing for Mary B II Crab Vessel Capsizing Investigation

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to conduct a formal public hearing beginning May 13 to consider evidence related to the Mary B II marine casualty investigation.

The hearing will focus on the capsizing of the commercial fishing vessel Mary B II, which led to the deaths of three fishermen at the entrance of Yaquina Bay in Newport January 8, 2019. The fishermen included James Lacey, 48, from South Toms River, NJ; Joshua Porter, 50, from Toledo, Ore.; and the boat's skipper, Stephen Biernacki...

Many California Crabbers Switching to Chinook Trolling as Salmon Seasons Are Set

From San Francisco to Crescent City, Calif., crab pots were being loaded onto trailers and stacked in port lots for storage as Dungeness crabbers were forced to stop fishing Monday.

But there may be a little light at the end of the tunnel: Many crabbers also fish for salmon, and California salmon trollers will have more than 25 percent additional opportunity this year. 

The Pacific Fishery Management Council announced the final West Coast salmon seasons Monday at its meeting in Rohnert Part, California...

China's Seafood Trade Continues Growth Trend

China's seafood industry set new records last year for trade. Trading volume increase 3.33% to reach 9.544 million tons, while the value increased 14.44% to $37.188 billion USD. To be specific, its export volume contracted by 0.4% to only 4.322 million tons, but the value rose 5.56% to $22.326 billion USD. And the import volume rose by 6.64% to 5.222 million tons, while the value jumped by 30.99% to $14.861 billion USD.

With regard to exports, tilapia is still popular among foreign buyers and they have enjoyed increased...

CDFW, Center for Biological Diversity, PCFFA Agree to Whale Entanglement Settlement

In less than a month, California crabbers will have to pack in their crab pots and end their season, thanks to a settlement agreement filed in federal court Tuesday.

The legal settlement protects whales and sea turtles from entanglement in commercial Dungeness crab gear. The Center for Biological Diversity sued the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in October 2017 after a drastic increase in the number of whale entanglements off the West Coast.

In a joint statement between the Center, CDFW and the...

Russian Seafood Industry Could Bear Huge Losses if Kurils Transferred to Japan

The transfer of the Kuril Islands to Japan, currently discussed by the governments of both Russia and Japan, may cost the Russian seafood industry up to $5 billion USD losses a year and a shortage of salmon in the domestic market, according to recent statements of some independent analysts in the field of fish business and experts of Rosrybolovstvo.

According to analysts, the Kurils could be considered as gates through which all fish, and especially salmon, go to the Russian coast of Kamchatka and Sakhalin.

If they are ...

Russian Crab Auction Winners Could Get Tax Breaks; Historical Quota Owners Would Not

The Russian government plans to provide additional tax incentives to companies that participate in the forthcoming crab quota auctions, according to recent statements of some senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

In accordance to the recent proposal of the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service, the government will suspend a further increase of the existing tax, "for the use of aquatic biological resources," for companies that will receive quotas on the crab catch as a result of the auctions...

Coast Guard Seeks Additional Information in F/V Mary B II Capsizing

The U.S. Coast Guard continues its marine casualty investigation of the fishing vessel Mary B II, which capsized off Newport, Oregon, on Jan. 9, 2019, and resulted in the loss of the three crew members and the vessel.

A public hearing will be held in Newport around mid-spring, the Coast Guard said in a press release Friday.

The Coast Guard also encourages anyone with information pertaining to the loss of the Mary B II provide it to the investigation team by email to...

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...

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...

Court Denies California's Attempt to Delay Whale Entanglement Case

A federal court has rejected the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s bid to delay a lawsuit alleging it’s not doing enough to prevent its commercial Dungeness crab fishery from entangling whales and sea turtles in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity sued the department in October 2017 after whale entanglement numbers broke records for three straight years.

“This is an important win in our fight to protect whales and sea turtles from suffering and dying in crabbing gear...

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...