Russian Fisherman May Suspend Catch in Northern Basin  

Russian fishermen operating in the Northern basin have warned the national government about the existing risks of the suspension of the further catch in the Barents Sea. 

According to fishermen, due to quarantine measures implemented at foreign ports, the losses of the local fishermen operating in the Barents Sea may reach RUB 70 billion (US$900 million) by May. 

German Zverev, President of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE), in an interview to some Russian media, confirmed such risks...

NFI’s Red Crab Council to Continue to Fund Fisheries Improvement Project in China

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) announced that its Red Crab Council will remain committed to improve the red crab fishery in China. The NFI will keep funding and supporting its Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) in the region.

The FIP is focused on increasing crab production in the Fujian Province, the top harvesting region in the country for red crab.

“For so many reasons the operating climate around red crab, from a trade perspective, is challenging these days,” said Newport International President Anjan Tharakan, the NFI Red Crab...

Alaska Fishing Updates for March 2020

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

March marks the start of halibut and herring fisheries but there’s not a lot of good news this go around.

The eight month long Pacific halibut fishery is set to open on March 14 amidst a grim market outlook due in part to the coronavirus. Most of Alaska’s 17 million pound halibut catch goes to markets in the U.S. but transportation by flight is getting more sketchy and many stores and restaurants are devoid of customers. 

In Southeast Alaska, no ferries means no halibut shipments...

Russian Crab Group Signs Contract For 10 Vessels to be Built By 2024

The Russian Crab Group of companies is expanding their fleet of vessels. Russian Crab announced this week that they have signed a contract with Onega Shipyard and the Okskaya Shipyard for the construction of 10 crab catching vessels.

According to Russian Crab, the 10 vessels will be built by 2024. The project is in accordance with the terms of the auctions on securing and providing a share of quotas. Seven of those vessels will be used for catching and transporting live crab...

NFI’s Crab Council Announces Latest Member

North Carolina-based seafood processor 3 Fish became the newest member of the National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council.

3 Fish boasts a product list of value-added, fresh seafood and ready-made offerings. The company sources its blue swimming crabmeat exclusively from members of the council. NFI noted that purchasing decision highlights 3 Fish’s commitment to sustainability. The company also contributes to the crab resource management in Southeast Asia.

“Crafting products with responsibly harvested material elevates our value-added brand,” said 3 Fish’s VP of Internal Services Eric Kyryliuk. “By joining the Crab Council...

These are the Top 10 Seafood Items Consumed in the U.S. for 2018

On Friday the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released their Annual Fisheries of the U.S. Report for 2018, and the report detailed how U.S. seafood per capita consumption has hit 16.1 lbs.  Now, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is doing a deeper dive into exactly what seafood items Americans are consuming.

The top consumed seafood item – once again – is shrimp, with 4.6 lbs. eaten per capita. This is a record-high. Second on the list is...

Oregon, Washington Making Crab Fishery Changes to Minimize Entanglements

Potential whale entanglements are changing the way Dungeness crab fishermen can fish. California already is subject to court-ordered season changes. Washington and Oregon are proposing or implementing new requirements for this season and into the future.

Industry notices to Washington crabbers this month detailed reduced pot limits that will take effect in May and annually after that. Between May 1 and Sept. 15, Washington crab licenses with a permanent pot limit of 500 will be reduced to 330 pots; licenses with permanent pot limits of 300 will be reduced to 200 pots. Additionally, crabbers fishing after May 1 must have summer buoy tags attached to their gear. Each tag costs $1.25.

"The intent of these changes is to reduce the risk of whales becoming entangled in commercial crab gear by reducing the number of lines in the water during the peak time when...

Russian Crab Producers on Verge of Record Losses Due to Coronavirus

The ever spreading coronavirus may result in serious losses of Russian crab producers supplying their products to China – the main sales market for them, according to recent statements from producers and industry analysts.

As German Zverev, president of the All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (WARPE), said in an interview to the Russian RBC business paper, the losses of Russian crab exporters in Q1 of the current year may reach $80 million USD in revenue due to lower demand for...

Capt. Neill’s Seafood, Owner Sentenced for Selling Falsely Labeled Crab Meat 

North Carolina-based Capt. Neill’s Seafood Inc. and its owner, Phillip R. Carawan were sentenced for falsely labeling foreign crabmeat as domestic.

Capt. Neill’s was sentenced to a period of five years’ probation and will be forced to pay a $500,000 fine. Carawan will head to prison for 12 months and one day, followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay a $250,000 fine for his actions in falsely labeling millions of dollars’ worth of crab meat...

Whale Entanglement Risk Low in Central California; Dungeness Season to Open Dec. 15

At least some Dungeness crab will be available for the Christmas and New Year's holidays in California this year. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday the Central California season will proceed as planned in mid-December.

CDFW Director Charlton Bonham on Nov. 22 announced a delay to Dec. 15 for the area south of the Mendocino/Sonoma county line, including San Francisco, citing an independent aerial survey showing humpback whales in the area. The decision was made despite a California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear...

Imported Seafood Flooding China's Expanding Market Ahead of Chinese New Year

With Chinese New Year around the corner, local distributors are occupied with buying large quantities of seafood to satisfy enthusiastic consumers, who prefer these healthy options in holiday feasts. According to Shun, one buyer attending a Qingdao fisheries expo, seafood has become an everyday dish for many Chinese households.

Statistics show that Chinese aquatic output has skyrocketed by 144 times to 64.58 million tons in 2018 compared with that of 1949. But the country is still increasing imports to meet domestic demand, which not only impresses...

Food Export Northeast Trade Mission: Spreads US Lobster in Dubai, Introduces Jonah Crab in Spain

As the Northeast fishing industry deals with effects of tariffs imposed on China and climate change that may shift species as they look for colder waters, Food Export USA-Northeast led a trade mission to Dubai and Spain.

In Dubai, Food Export aimed to open the door for American lobster in what is a lucrative export market. Meanwhile, Jonah crab was introduced to a new market in Spain. The mission's aim was to help combat pressures and help the industry diversify through new export...

More Chinese Turning to Online Platforms for Seafood Purchases

E-commerce platforms are playing an increasingly important role in China’s seafood sales. As available statistics show, the country’s online seafood sales reached 27.126 billion yuan ($3.8 billion USD) in 2018, which accounts for 1/3 of its total sales of fresh food. And during the first half of 2019, sales has jumped by 22.9% compared with the same period last year, to 17 billion yuan ($2.4 billion USD).

Shrimps, crabs and fish are the top three seafood items regarding sales value last year, while shellfish has outrun others ...

Ugly Crab Campaign Aims to Expand Markets, Reduce Waste

People shop with their eyes and when it comes to crab, shells that are discolored or scarred or covered with barnacles can be a turn off. 

In the Bering Sea fisheries, ugly shells can comprise up to 30 percent of a catch at certain times of year and crab molting cycles.  While the crabs are every bit as tasty as prettier product, they fetch lower prices for fishermen.

“The industry has traditionally called them Number 2 crab or dirty crab, a lot of times these are older crab or might have..."

VIDEO: Ocean Can Provide More Food; NOAA Pick Withdraws; Dungeness Season Delayed; Crab Analysis

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video hosts Lorin Castiglione and Ryan Doyle as they discuss how the ocean can provide up to six times more food than it does currently; Trump's pick to lead NOAA withdrawal from consideration; Central California Dungeness crab season delay until mid-December and a snow crab market analysis. 

This episode was brought to you by COMTELL, which will be receiving a complete redesign in 2020. Subscribers who utilize COMTELL to track market quotations, analyze trends and stay on top of key industry...

LISTEN: US Attempts Lobster Mini-Deal With EU; Salmon Price-Fixing and Seafood at the Dinner Table

Join SeafoodNews Podcast hosts Lorin Castiglione and Ryan Doyle as they discuss USTR Robert Lighthizer's attempt to get a mini-deal done with the European Union that would have lifted tariffs on US lobster for exports to the EU; the DOJ's investigation of Atlantic salmon price-fixing as major producers received subpoenas; the Dungeness crab season delay and tips to get seafood on the dinner table every week.

This episode is brought to you by COMTELL, which will be receiving a complete redesign...

Russian Crab Producers Continue to Bear Huge Losses Due to Spread of Chinese Coronavirus  

The demand for crab in the Asian-Pacific region and other global markets has significantly declined since the beginning of the current year due to the ongoing spread of the Chinese coronavirus. According to recent statements, made by representatives of some leading crab-producing enterprises in Russia and industry analysts, this has resulted in serious losses of producers, particularly those from Russia.

According to producers, in recent months export prices for their crab have declined to only US$7, compared...

NOAA Research Shows Central California Dungeness Crab Population Stable or Increasing

The West Coast Dungeness crab fishery doesn’t just support the most valuable annual harvest of seafood on the West Coast. It’s a fishery that just keeps on giving, according to recent NOAA research.

Fishermen from California to Washington caught almost all the available legal-size male Dungeness crab each year in the last few decades. However, the crab population has either remained stable or continued to increase, according to the first thorough population estimate of the West Coast Dungeness stocks.

“The catches and abundance in Central California...

Financial Troubles Dogging Jessie's Ilwaco Fish

A long-standing processor in Washington, Jessie's Ilwaco Fish, has filed for receivership, according to a recent story in the Chinook Observer.

Pacific County Superior Court Judge Donald Richter appointed Christopher Wain as receiver earlier this week. California company Alber Seafoods, owned by Don Alber, bought Jessie's Ilwaco Fish in 2013.

At the time, fishermen were concerned about not getting paid in a timely manner. In 2016, several fishermen were reported to have left Ilwaco Fish after not getting paid or getting paid only a fraction of the total amount owed...

Here’s the List of U.S. Seafood Items China Will Exempt From Retaliatory Tariffs

Last week, China said it would begin accepting applications for tariff exemptions for 696 U.S. products, including over 40 seafood products imported from the United States.

Chinese companies looking for an exemption on the additional tariffs that were implemented during the China-U.S. trade war can submit their applications from March 2, according to the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.

The exemptions of the 42 seafood-related items will allow Chinese companies to import goods, avoiding retaliatory tariffs that were implemented...

ANALYSIS: Tariff on Red Swimming Crab Meat Persists; Imports Down, Pricing Continues to Drop

Lower imports on red swimming crab meat has seen all of 2019 hovering below the 3-year average. Imports are at the lowest volumes seen in over 10 years and the situation is almost completely reactionary due to the continued 25% tariff that remains in place on red swimming crab meat from China.

With China’s season beginning in August, imports typically begin to rise in September through the end of the year. Taking a quick glance at the cyclical look above, imports have drastically trailed off...

Late Starts, Fewer Crabs Mean Early Ending for Many Dungeness Crabbers This Season

A number of Dungeness crabbers from Washington to California are calling this year's crab season a day. Lower landings than expected forced many to pull in their gear and move on.

The bulk of the Dungeness crab are harvested within the first six weeks of the season. Central California fishermen were delayed until mid-December; northern California, Oregon and Washington primary seasons opened over the New Year.

So far, very preliminary statistics from state agencies reveal a season slightly different ...

Russian Crab Market Facing Change in Wake of Absentee Arrest of Oleg Kahn

The Russian crab market is on the verge of a new repartition after an absentee arrest of Oleg Kahn, a well-known Russian crab tycoon, announced by official representatives of the Russian Investigative Committee, the country’s major investigative body.

The arrest was the result of criminal investigations initiated against Kahn by Russian law enforcement agencies, which forced the businessman to leave Russia last year.

The absentee arrest of Kahn, according to some Russian producers and analysts in the field of fish business...

Forbes' Second Ranking Lists Russian Seafood Companies According to Revenue

Russian Forbes recently compiled a new ranking of Russia’s top 10 largest fish producers and processors in a move to estimate the current level of investment attractiveness of the Russian seafood sector.

This is the second ranking prepared by Forbes in the last two years. However, unlike the first one, which was primarily based on the amount of quotas provided to the companies by the state, the current ranking used company-generated revenue as a main factor of the company’s presence in the top 10 list...

Alaska's Halibut, Sablefish, Crab Values for Cost Recovery

Fewer Alaska fishermen are going after halibut and sablefish, based on the declining number of bills being sent out to those holding quota shares of the catch.

Eighteen hundred invoices went out to fishermen this month, down 30 from last year, and down from nearly 2,000 in 2015. 

The bills, paid since the year 2000, are a fee for fisheries monitoring and enforcement based on dock prices and averaged across the state. This year the fee was 3% and yielded $4.5 million in recovery costs...

Deep Water Crab Market Steady as Snow Crab Demand Grows

With the rising demand for many of the frozen crab items including both king crab and snow crab, the deep water crab market sits steady to full steady with minimal fishing taking place at this time.

Seafood consultant Les Hodges, who releases a report on Russian crab fishing monthly, said there are currently 3 vessels fishing for Angulatus and 5 on Japonicus deep water crab.

Hodges said that the effort on Angulatus typically begins in the East Sakhalin in the spring, about the time producers are wrapping up their Japonicus quota...

West Coast Dungeness Crab Meat Quality Improving, Still Low in Som

Washington, Oregon and California released the second round of Dungeness meat quality testing results this week and the results are mixed.

In Washington, one of the two areas sampled was above the 23 precent threshold. The Westport area came in at 23.8 percent, but the Long Beach Area was only 21.8 percent, up from 20.4 percent in early November.

Oregon's test results showed improvement from early November, when all eight areas were below the thresholds. Still, only half of the areas -- Garibaldi, Newport North, Coos Bay North and ...

Red King Crab Wraps, Outlook Grim for Future Fisheries

It’s a wrap for the red king crab fishery at Bristol Bay with a fleet of 54 boats taking the 3.8 million pound catch quota in little over one month.

That’s the lowest catch since 2005 and it could be the last one for the foreseeable future.

Fishing was scratchy with an average catch of 15.6 crabs per pot, down five from the past two years and the lowest catch rate in 14 years. 

The red king crab were hefty, averaging 7.14 pounds, the biggest weight in the history of the...

LISTEN: Bumble Bee Bankruptcy; Trump’s NOAA Pick Withdraws; Snow Crab Analysis and More 

Join SeafoodNews Podcast hosts Lorin Castiglione and Ryan Doyle as they discuss Bumble Bee Foods filing for bankruptcy and selling its assets to Taiwan-based FCF Fishery Company; Trump’s NOAA pick withdrawing from consideration; Bernadette Jordan new head of DFO; Central California Dungeness crab season delay; snow crab analysis and more! 

This episode is brought to you by COMTELL, which will be receiving a complete redesign in 2020. Subscribers who utilize COMTELL to track market quotations, analyze trends and stay on top of key industry news...

Central California Season Delayed Again; Whales Spotted in Sanctuary

The bad news: The San Francisco and Bodega Bay Thanksgiving crab feast won't happen this year. Crabbers and processors will have to wait until Dec. 15, at least, before bringing crab to the market. The good news: it appears domoic acid won't create another delay.

Based on updated information and in response to concerns from the commercial Dungeness crab fleet, including written requests from Port Associations to further delay the Central California or "San Francisco" season, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham said Wednesday...