California Changing Domoic Acid Protocols for Upcoming Crab Season 

A special hearing held this week in California brought together the state's fishery managers to discuss how they should change domoic acid protocols for the upcoming 2016-17 Dungeness crab season. The hearing was hosted by Representative Mike McGuire who is the Chairman of the state's Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture and included members from California's Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Dungeness Crab Task Force. Several options discussed improvements the state's handling of domoic acid testing and possible fishery closures. Options included allowing areas to open with evisceration orders in place, instead of keeping an area closed completely. Streamlining tests and starting testing earlier in October were also discussed. A more unified public outreach campaign about educating the consumers about the closures was also proposed. Meanwhile, the panel heard from Dr. Raphael Kudela, Lynn Professor of Ocean Health at the University of California Santa Cruz, who said the chance of a domoic acid outbreak similar to last year is lower because of changes to water temperatures.

Deadlines have passed for proposals to the 2017 Upper Cook Inlet finfish meeting of the Alaska Board of Fisheries. More than a dozen proposals look to modify or entirely repeal the Kenai River Late Run King Salmon Management Plan and the Kenai River Late-Run Sockeye Salmon Management Plan. Commercial fishermen largely resent the August sockeye rules and have been restricted by them to some degree in each of the last three years since they were adopted in 2014.

In India, a $1 million investment will be made to set a shrimp storage and broodstock producing facility in the major shrimp producing state of Andhra Pradesh. The center will be located in the Viskhapatnam district and is expected to be completed in about a year. MPEDA and its research unit, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture will provide necessary technical support for the facility.

Meanwhile, salmon fishing restrictions in BC's Prince Rupert are creating a lot of tension between the region's commercial fishermen and enforcement officials with the DFO. Fishermen are frustrated with what they say are constantly changing regulations over restrictive fishing methods and species of fish, particularly sockeye salmon and other salmon species, as well as allowing different user groups to have a chance at the fish down the coast. Specifically, members of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union took exception when DFO officials seizing non-retention sockeye and chum and charging fishermen for possessing some of the fish, some of which had been used as food fish for First Nations communities when fishermen discovered that the salmon had been dead in their bycatch.

Finally, Mississippi is considering multiple sites for off-bottom oyster cultivation as part of a goal of to produce one million sacks a year by 2025. The boom in oyster harvests and value has been driven by high value oysters produced from farms and leased bottom, most of which is off-bottom culture. A recent analysis showed that for the Gulf, High value off bottom culture was estimated at 3 percent, while in the Mid-Atlantic it is 18 percent, and in New England, it is 61 percent of the total harvest.

California Changing Domoic Acid Protocols for Upcoming Crab Season

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS by Susan Chambers - August 11, 2016 

Anticipating potential harmful algal blooms that could produce domoic acid in Dungeness and rock crab fisheries, state leaders and lawmakers are changing management and outreach efforts to avoid a repeat of the disastrous 2015-16 season. Commercial and recreational seasons were delayed or closed last year due to high levels of the toxin.

Industry and state officials identified problems with last year's season and potential solutions before the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture in Sacramento on Wednesday...

CEO Ian Smith Can Take a Bow as Clearwater is Riding Success on its 40th Anniversary

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton  August 10, 2016

Clearwater Seafoods is celebrating its 40th anniversary today.  It is one of Canada's largest publicly traded seafood companies, and one of the few vertically integrated global seafood companies.  

John Risley and Colin MacDonald, two Nova Scotia Entrepreneurs, founded the company with just a pickup truck 40 years ago.  The company expanded, focusing on high-value shellfish, harvested with its own fleet of scallopers, offshore lobster vessels and clam vessels.

NFI's Crab Council Hosts Collaborative Workshop with Southeast Asian Project Managers

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - August 8, 2016

The National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council and the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch hosted a two-day Fishery Improvement Projects Managers Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The agenda, moderated by Corey Peet of Postelsia, featured review of fishery management strategies, updates of on-going sustainability activities and sessions on tools for data collection and monitoring.

FIP leaders from China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam came together for the blue swimming crab sustainability symposium...

California's Dungeness Crab Landings and Sales Down Sharply After Lengthy Delay 

California's commercial Dungeness crab landings and sales are down sharply because of the extended delay to this past fishing season for high levels of domoic acid. Gross sales for the season for the crab fleet topped $33 million, about 45 percent of the 5-year average, according to state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture. Bodega Bay, of the nine key commercial ports for Dungeness landings, reported a 37 percent drop in the haul to 1.8 million pounds, according to early calculations. “Something is better than nothing, but we are not out of the woods,” said McGuire, who will convene a special hearing Wednesday in Sacramento to review the season, the push for federal relief and the outlook for next season. California's Dungeness fishery was supposed to open last November but was ultimately delayed until February because of high levels of domoic acid in the crabs.

A federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld a previous ruling that supported the 2011 implementation of the federal catch share management scheme for Pacific Whiting. “We cannot substitute our judgment for the agency’s,” said Judge Sandra Ikuta said in the 3-0 ruling. A Washington state vessel owner and processors challenged the catch share implementation in court, arguing that the selection of past years was arbitrary and violated a law requiring federal officials to take into account “present participation in the fishery” and “dependence on the fishery” when setting limits.

In other news, Norway’s seafood export values were up 15 percent in July and are up 24 percent for the year compared to 2015 figures. Higher salmon prices have helped boost Norwegian returns. Norway’s earnings are up 25 percent from its salmon sales, with per kilogram prices up 50 percent this year. ”July proved to be a good summer month for Norwegian seafood exports. Exports of salmon and trout totalled NOK 5.1 billion ($600 million), an increase of 28 percent from July last year. The higher salmon prices were the result of strong demand coupled with lower volumes," said the Norwegian Seafood Council’s Jan Ståle Lauritzen

Meanwhile, Canada's Transportation Safety Board said a fatal fishing accident that left three people dead off Newfoundland says the crew was using a boat that was not intended for crab fishing. The vessel was reported overdue from a fishing trip in Placentia Bay on June 16, 2015, and the bodies of the three crew members were found the next day. A report concluded that modifications to the vessels combined with the weight of the crew members, bait, ice, and the catch onboard would have significantly reduced the distance between the water and the deck, making it more susceptible to taking on water.

Finally, domestic shrimp processor Paul Piazza & Son hired industry veteran John W. Appelbaum to the company’s sourcing and sales team. Prior to joining Paul Piazza, Appelbaum previously worked for Illinois-based Worldwide Shrimp Company. “John is a tremendous addition and we are pleased to have him as part of our team. His expertise further strengthens our position as an industry leader in the sourcing and processing of Wild Caught Domestic Shrimp for Foodservice and Retail customers across the United States,” said Kristen Baumer, President of Paul Piazza & Son.

NFI's Crab Council Hires Dr. Abdul Ghofar as its Sustainability Envoy in Southeast Asia

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] August 2, 2016

The National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council has hired Abdul Ghofar, Ph.D. as its Crab Sustainability Envoy. 

The NFI Crab Council’s Crab Sustainability Envoy, formerly known as the Asia Liaison, is a position based in Southeast Asia. The role requires the individual to track and enact fishery improvement plan (FIP) benchmarks for fisheries in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam that are sponsored by the Crab Council. 

Dr. Ghofar has over 30 years of experience working in the Indonesian fishing industry and has a distinct set of communication skills that translate across the many stakeholder groups of the blue swimming crab region...

Lobster Trap Says Chick Lobsters Mistakenly Sent to Price Chopper Didn't Meet NY's Unique Length Req 

Lobster Trap, the Massachusetts-based lobster supplier to Price Chopper, said that it mistakenly shipped a batch of lobsters to the retailer that did not meet New York state's unique minimum size requirements. New York requires a minimum lobster length of 3 3/8 inch, which is a 1/8 inch more than what is required in all other markets for chick-sized lobsters. Lobster Trap said the short lobsters confiscated by New York authorities last week were accidently packed in Price Chopper's shipment. “We’re shipping tens of thousands of lobsters daily. It’s important for people to understand that Price Chopper didn’t knowingly accept short length lobsters from us. We delivered them in error. We find it truly unfortunate that our unintentional lack of oversight has put into question their fine reputation as a retailer with whom we have done business for nearly 30 years," said Lobster Trap's owners Logan Clarke and Dave Madden in a statement. The supplier said it will no longer house lobsters shorter than 3 3/8 inches at its Cape Cod facility.

Newfoundland's snow crab landings this season are the lowest since 1996. The DFO reports that 37,958 tons have been landed, or 89% of quota. However, nearly 3000 tons of quota is in areas such as 3PS where the fishery has already closed, so total landings will be below 40,000 tons. Snow crab prices are now up 30 percent over last year given the declines in Newfoundland and Alaskan catches. Snow crab shipments to Japan are at their lowest level in 14 years given more limited inventories, higher prices and more competition from US buyers.

In other news, the search for the F/V Juris has been called off. It is presumed to have sunk in 5,400 feet of water not far from where it was last seen. “We have searched and have not been able to locate the fishing vessel Alaska Juris," said Lt. Todd Bagetis, federal on-scene coordinator. The unified command of the Coast Guard, Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Fishing Company of Alaska, formed to respond to the sinking of the Juris, is no longer active, although the USCG investigation of the sinking, and perhaps other jurisdiction’s investigation of the incident, are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Alaskan salmon fishermen in Cook Inlet are getting higher prices for their fish by selling directly to buyers. About 31 fishermen currently hold direct marketing licenses in Cook Inlet through the ADF&G's direct marketing permitting program. Fishermen say they are able to earn up to twice as much for their sockeye and three times as much for silver salmon compared to fishermen who sell to processors.

Finally, fishery regulators may increase the minimum size requirements for lobster landed south of Cape Cod. The Atlantic States fishery commission is meeting this week and could take action on Thursday to raise the harvesting size for lobsters caught in waters off southern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Russia Considering Commercial Crab Fishing Within its Coastal EEZ to Supply Domestic Market

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden - July 29, 2016

The Russian government is considering allowing small vessels to conduct crab fishing in the coastal zone of Russia, with the aim to increase the volume of crab supplies to the domestic market, according to an official spokesman of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

The proposal has already been supported by Oleg Kozhemyako, the Governor of Sakhalin region. He said the new measure will significantly increase the volume of crab production, both in Sakhalin and Kamchatka, key centers for Russian crab production...

Russia and China Sign Agreement on Controlling IUU Crab Sales to Chinese Market

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by Eugene Gerden   July 28, 2016

Russia and China have signed an agreement on the supplies of Russian crab to the Chinese market, according to recent statements of Alexander Dyaplyakov, President of the Association of Crab Producers of the Far East.

According to Dyaplyakov, this is a historical agreement, signed between the two countries in the field of crab business, as, to date, exports of Russian crab to China have taken place mostly illegally.

So far, the Russian Rosrybolovstvo has started talks with the Chinese government and has completed a list of companies, that will be able to export crabs to China.

It is planned that signing of an agreement will help to solve a problem of crab poaching

Aleutian Golden King Crab Fishery Opens August 1

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] By Peggy Parker - July 22, 2016

Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game announced August 1 as the opening date for the golden king crab season in the Aleutian Islands.  Catch limit for the 2016-17 season is a combined total of 5.545 million pounds.

Aleutian Islands golden king crab are managed east and west of 174° W longitude with a separate total allowable catch (TAC) for each area. East of 174° W the TAC for individual quota (IFQ) holders is 2.979 million pounds and 331,000 for community development quota (CDQ). West of the line the TAC is 2,011,500 pounds for IFQ and 223,500 for the Adak Community Allocation (ACA).

The season opens at noon on August 1 and will close on April 30, 2017.

Catcher-only vessels are required to carry an observer for 50% (by weight) of their harvested golden king crab during each of three trimesters (August 1 to October 31, November 1 to January 31, and February 1 to April 30). Catcher-processor vessels are required to carry an observer for 100% of all fishing activity...

Seacon America Launches THE CRAB Brand of Pastuerized Mexican Blue Crab Meat

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - July 20, 2016

Maruha North America Group's subsidiary Seacon America added a line of pasteurized, all-natural blue crab meat from Mexico. 

Seacon will sell the product sourced from the Sea of Cortez under THE CRAB brand. The crab is a Callinectes species, which is usually sourced from the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. 

The company is selling the crab packed in 6-pound cans. It is available for wholesale purchase in all the major crab meat grades including Jumbo, lump, special and claw meat...

Pacific Seafood Hopes to Ship More Live Crab to China Using Cathay Pacific's Direct Flight from PDX

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS By Susan Chambers - July 20, 2016 

Cathay Pacific Airways and the Port of Portland are expanding their freight services to Hong Kong in November - and that could open new markets for West Coast seafood. Two flights per week from Portland, OR are currently scheduled pending government approval.

The new Portland service would operate as part of a Hong Kong - Anchorage - Los Angeles - Portland - Anchorage - Hong Kong route every Thursday and Saturday...

Quinlan Brothers Bay de Verde Plant to be Rebuilt and Ready to Go Next Year 

Quinlan Bros says it expects to have its new seafood processing facility ready for production in 2017 after a fire razed its Bay de Verde snow crab processing plant in April. Quinlan said remediation at the site has been completed, along with geotechnical surveys and infrastructure assessments, and foundations and site work could begin in the next 10 days. The company said it has worked with snow crab producers since the fire to ensure that fish harvesters have been serviced as normal. The company also found jobs for most of its 700 workers that were employed at the plant.

Indian shrimp exporters expect to increase their shipments 15 percent this year based on better production forecasts. Producers are expected to increase output since prices in global markets are better right now compared this time last year.

In other news, J. J McDonnell plans to open a new 60,000-square-foot facility in its hometown of Elkridge, Maryland this September. "We want to grow," said J.J's owner George McManus. "I'm really excited about this new facility because it will bring an injection of energy and excitement into the company. It shows we are investing in the future of the seafood industry, and that we expect it to be a great one."

Meanwhile, pacific squid prices in Japan were up as much 18 percent in June with this year's catch trending under the historical average. "Compared with ordinary years, catch volume stayed at about half. We can manage to continue our business thanks to relatively high unit prices," said Toyojiro Sato, head of the Hakodate Fisheries Cooperative Association.

Finally, Ray Hilborn supports effective fishery management policies over Marine Protected Areas as the best way to protect the world's ocean environment and fish stocks. Hilborn refers to the fishery management schemes in the US, EU, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, Norway and Canada for their effectiveness in maintaining stable fish stocks while protecting marine environments. Hilborn does support more collaboration among MPA advocates and fishery management supporters in order to maximize ocean protection policies.

Red Lobster to Feature Alaskan Bairdi Crab During Crabfest Promotion

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] July 12, 2016

Red Lobster has brought back its Crabfest promotion for a limited time, which will feature four types of wild-caught crab including Alaskan Bairdi crab. 

The Crabfest promotion will feature several crab-centric menu options during the summer season. Options include able an Alaskan Bairdi Crab Legs Dinner; the Crab Lover's Dream option that features multiple crab prepared in a variety of ways. 

Red Lobster will also sell Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes as part of the promotion. 

The North American and Alaskan king crab meals can also will be paired with Alaskan salmon...

St. Paul Island Raises Taxes for First Time in 45 Years, Announces New Community Development Tax Inc 

Alaska's Saint Paul island passed its first sales tax increase in 45 years. The sales tax was increased by half a percentage point to 3.5% and will go into effect on July 17, 2016. Additionally, the Council opted a Community Development Tax Incentive to increase deliveries of bairdi crab by dropping the sales tax for certain shares of crab quota from 3 to 2 percent. The plan targets B, C, CP, and CDQ shares of crab which are not regionalized under the Crab Rationalization Program, particularly the newly reopened bairdi/tanner crab fishery. “The City of St. Paul values their partnership with the seafood industry and is demonstrating that there are alternatives to simple tax increases and service cuts. I hope that the seafood industry takes advantage of this program," said Steve Minor, managing partner of AbundantOceans Partnership, who worked with the city to create the incentive program.

Fresh and frozen Mahi prices are tracking at above average levels this summer as inventories in the US market are limited with overall imports below the five-year-average through May. Imports are down because of lower catches from major Central and South American suppliers this past fishing season. The El Nino weather pattern was blamed for increasing the natural bait fish stock, which reduced landings. Average mahi prices in July are already trending higher from June levels. However, the last time the mahi market climbed into $6 and $7 per pound territory in late 2011 and early 2012 was when the item priced itself off restaurant US menus for months.

In other news, Charlie Melancon, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries told the Commission this week that the state cannot afford to take over management of the red snapper fishery. "If I've got to go find money, who do I take it from? The shrimpers? The crabbers? How about the duck people and the deer people?" Melancon said. "I'm going to have to rob a pot somewhere." He added that the current federal management regime under the Gulf Council is already effectively managing the commercial and recreational red snapper fishery.

Meanwhile, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, deal between Canada and the EU will be delayed because of the UK's decision to pull out of the Union. The European Commission proposed that its agreement with Canada face ratification by national parliaments in the 28-member bloc. This marks a retreat from an initial goal to require backing only by governments and the European Parliament. CETA between Canada and the EU was on track for approval by 2017, which now seems unlikely.

Finally, reaction to Canada's decision to abolish the Last In, First Out (LIFO) Northern Shrimp Management policy ranges from supportive to outrage. The Barry Group's Bill Barry supported Federal Fishery Minister Dominic LeBlanc's decision as a positive move for Newfoundland's inshore shrimp fleet. However, Conservative Critic Mark Strahl blasted the decision as "a betrayal of the offshore fishermen who built the northern shrimp fishery." At the same time, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union is  uncertain that a proportional sharing strategy will actually help the inshore sector.

Have a great weekend.

St. Paul Island Raises Sales Tax For First Time in 45 Years, Reduced Taxes on Some Crab Landings

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] By Peggy Parker - July 7, 2016

While Alaska’s governor is cancelling state sanctioned picnics and lawmakers have been at a standstill to reduce the state’s $4 billion deficit, the tiny island of Saint Paul has passed their first sales tax increase in 45 years.

The citizenry of the 44-square mile Pribilof island, 450 miles west of the Alaska mainland, increased their sales tax by half a percentage point last week bringing the total to 3.5%.  The vote ....

Fisherman's Choice Becomes NFI Crab Council's First European Member

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - August 10, 2016

The National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council has added Fisherman’s Choice as its latest member and first European company. The Netherlands-based seafood importer and distributor provides a suite of crab products to customers in Europe, Canada, the Middle East and Africa.

Fisherman’s Choice has been in business for over 25 years and supplies retailers and food service companies.  Fisherman's Choice sells under the Asian Choice and Super Choice brands...

Prince William Sound's Pink Run is Odd in an Even Year 

The pink salmon run in Alaska's Prince William Sound is running counter to the fishery's typical run timing compared to nearly 30 years worth of data. The harvest through last week was 8.8 million fish, well below the ten-year average. However, the current timing of the female run shows percentages normally associated with peak harvest volumes. Instead, volumes are closer to the first third of the run. “We’ve never seen this high of female percentage and this lack of volume in the history of PWSAC,” said David Reggiani, general manager of the Prince Wiliam Sound Aquaculture Corporation. “The female percentages could give us a false reading on the timing, but typically you can take those percentages to the bank, so this anomaly has really got everybody concerned."

In related Alaskan salmon news, pinks that are getting landed are much larger than normal. Fishermen are reporting fish as large as 14 pounds with many clocking in at around 10 pounds. Meanwhile, the state's sockeye landings are higher than expected at 50 million fish so far. Elsewhere, the Yukon River chum salmon run is coming back larger than anticipated. A revision to the preseason projection has increased the run by roughly 29 percent. The chum return is an especially positive development for the commercial fishery in District 1.

Nissui and Maruha reported sharply diverging 1st quarter profit trends this week. Nissui says its profit fell, dragged down by weakness in the North American retail frozen food segment where prices have fallen. Maruha, on the other hand, is riding strong North American performance to increased profitability, largely based on a better mix of higher value products including salmon, crab and toothfish. Both companies were also impacted by the stronger yen- meaning lower profits from sales abroad.

Today marks the start to the fall lobster season in PEI's key fishing area 25, which will run until October 10. The region's lobstermen are unhappy that they will be operating under an increased minimum size requirement this fall, which they say could cut the catch as much as 10 percent. Meanwhile, lobster prices from Nova Scotia's the spring fishery trended higher with some fishermen saying it was a banner season for the industry.

Finally, the MSC denied it has ever campaigned against FDA Free tuna in a response to our July 29 column about the MSC and other NGO's approach to achieving sustainability across the global tuna industry. "Never has the MSC campaigned for FAD (Fish Aggregating Devices) free tuna, nor has the MSC ever promoted one fishing method above others. The MSC Fisheries Standard does not prohibit the use of FADs. The MSC’s requirements focus on the impacts of whichever fishing technique is used within the particular marine environment where the fishery operates," said Jon Corsiglia, the US Media Manager for the MSC.

California Officials, Experts to Discuss Domoic Acid Contingency Plan for 2016-17 Dungeness Season

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] August 8, 2016

California Senator Mike McGuire, chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, will convene a special hearing on August 10 at the State Capitol to receive a progress report on the 2015-16 crab season, the federal disaster declaration, ocean conditions and Domoic acid levels along with new potential rules and guidelines which are responding to this year’s disastrous season.

The hearing – Progress Reports on 2015-16 Crab Season and Domoic Acid – will feature testimony from fisheries experts, marine scientists, along with state agency representatives and fishermen...

Blue Harvest Completes Scallop Deal for Hygrade Ocean Products, Brings Scallop Fleet to 15 Vessels 

Blue Harvest Fisheries announced the acquisition of Hygrade Ocean Products, a New Bedford-based processor and distributor of scallops, cod, and other fish products. Hygrade operates a 33,000 square foot state of the art plant and dock and has about 100 employees. Blue Harvest says that with this purchase, they will begin marketing and distributing company landed scallops, bluefin tuna, and swordfish directly to customers. With operations in Newport News, Virginia, and Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Blue Harvest owns a fleet of 15 scallop vessels and is an active participant in the bluefin tuna and swordfish fisheries. “By vertically integrating, Blue Harvest can now provide its customers with greater product traceability, quality assurance, and variety,” said Jeff Davis, CEO of Blue Harvest.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reduced the total allowable catch for golden king crabs in the Western Aleutians by a quarter to 2.2 million pounds. "There's a 25 percent reduction in the TAC for the western stock this year based on declines in several stock abundance indicators," said the ADF&G's Ethan Nichols. "We're not exactly sure what's going on, but for the last two seasons, the TAC has not been achieved." This is the first time in years that ADF&G has made a reduction in the Golden King Crab Quota.

In other news, Stavis Seafoods announced a select partnership with G&C Food Distributors that will start with the warehousing and delivery of more than 80 of Stavis Seafoods’ products. Stavis will supply G&C with several of its name brand lines including its pasteurized Foods From the Sea Pasteurized Crabmeat, Prince Edward Hard Clams, BOS’N Shrimp & Calamari, Canadian & South African Lobster Tails and Ocean Delight Ahi Tuna Grillers & Sliders. "G&C’s re-distribution capabilities are an exceptionally efficient system for servicing customers, providing more ways for them to get the products they need,” said Richard Stavis, CEO of Stavis Seafoods.

Meanwhile, salmon prices in West Coast markets trended higher this spring with demand strong for more limited inventories but have since leveled out reports Susan Chambers. In Oregon, the ocean salmon fisheries started with high prices in the spring, at around $11 a pound, Oregon Salmon Commission Administrator Nancy Fitzpatrick said. However, prices are have since dipped below $10 as salmon from other sources, including more Chinook from West Coast rivers has reached the market. 

Finally, Atlantic States Fisheries Commissioners are scheduled to issue a final decision on the 2017 Atlantic menhaden quota on Wednesday. Mid-Atlantic fishermen want fishery officials to raise the quota by the maximum 80,000 metric tons. We include an opinion from one of the region's fishermen who says there is plenty of scientific evidence available to the Commission that shows menhaden stocks are in good shape and capable of supporting a higher quota.

Stavis Signs Seafood Distribution Deal With G&C Food Distributors

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] August 2, 2016

Stavis Seafoods has entered into a select partnership with G&C Food Distributors that will start with the warehousing and delivery of more than 80 of Stavis Seafoods’ products. 

G&C Foods currently re-distributes more than 4,000 products to over 1,000 foodservice and retail customers in 28 states. 

This agreement will not only enhance Stavis’ supply chain options it will also significantly increase G&C’s seafood product line the company said... 

NL Snow Crab Landings Fall to 1996 Levels; Japan Cuts Purchases and Prices Spike 30%

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton   August 1, 2016

AquaBounty Testing Market Potential of its GM Salmon in Brazil and Argentina 

AquaBounty Technologies has initiated field trials of its AquaAdvantage genetically modified salmon in Brazil and Argentina. The company announced the trials at the same time that it reported its net losses in the first half of this year widened compared to the same period last year. Despite the losses, AquaBounty says the market opportunity for its fish is strong especially given the current state of farmed Atlantic salmon prodiction around the world. "We are making the necessary preparations for the commercial launch of our product and we look forward to bringing our more sustainably produced salmon to consumers, with the assurance that it is nutritious, safe and healthy,” said chief executive Ron Stotish.

This year, for the third time since 2010, fresh salmon fillet prices have soared by more than 60% last November until July. This exceptional volatility is the result of a severe shock to supplies out of Chile in the early half of 2016. Compared to the shrimp price shock triggered by EMS in 2013, the salmon market volatility has been far worse because farmed salmon is overwhelmingly sold as a fresh product with large scale continuous harvesting and delivery. When something disrupts this flow, the market reacts quickly. Shrimp, by contrast, is a frozen item. Buyers come into the market when they need product, and when they think they can pay a reasonable price.

In other news, Russia and China have signed an agreement to control the sale of IUU crab into the Chinese market. Russian fishery officials have already started talks with the Chinese government and have completed a list of companies that will be able to export crabs to China. Russia also has plans to continue talks with other Asian Pacific states to establish a Coordination Center to tackle IUU fishing across the region, wich could be signed as early as 2017.

Meanwhile, NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council are expanding the scope of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a new bycatch management program for Gulf of Alaska trawl groundfish fisheries. The program would provide participants with incentives to effectively manage and reduce Chinook salmon and Pacific halibut bycatch, and promote increased use of groundfish harvested in the Gulf of Alaska. NOAA has reopened a public comment period until September for stakeholders to weigh in on the proposal.

Finally, the Chesapeake Bay blue crab season is off to a good start according to the region's fishermen. The reports confirm survey estimates from this past winter that said there were 553 million blue crabs in the Bay, a 35 percent increase from last year’s tally and the highest population in four years. Robert T. Brown, president of the Maryland Watermen’s Association, says he’s been getting good reports on crabbing size and harvest all over the Chesapeake.

Newfoundland's Dorset Fisheries Plant in Trinity Bay Burns to the Ground 

A massive fire has destroyed the Dorset Fisheries processing plant located in the Newfoundland town of Trinity Bay. caught fire, which spread throughout the facility within minutes according to the town's fire chief. Plant manager Terry Reid said 70 to 80 people had been working at the fish plant, processing capelin. Nobody was injured in the blaze. At peak production, the plant employs about 240 people. This is the second fish plant in Newfoundland to catch fire this year since the Quinlan Brothers snow crab processing plant was destroyed in April.

Shrimp landings out of the Gulf of Mexico through June are up sharply compared to last year’s figures but buyers and processors indicate that the catch is lacking in several key market sizes and shrimp types. Landings have so far consisted of a lot of larger sized white shrimp while Louisiana's brown shrimp season was mostly a bust. Additionally, the catch has mostly consisted of larger sized shrimp and white shrimp, this has put upwards pricing pressure on many smaller count varieties and for brown PUDS.

In other news, Bristol Bay's total sockeye run has reached the ADF&G's forecasted 46.55 million run projection. Cumulative catches of all five river systems in the Bay last Wednesday were 34,744,736 salmon, far above the forecasted 29.52 million catch prediction. Escapement totals as of Wednesday, however, were below the 15.31 million salmon predicted, at 11,219,721 salmon.

Meanwhile, Sweden will have a tough time proving to a WTO Panel that imported North American live lobsters pose an environmental threat and should be banned from their market. We run a legal analysis of the case that shows precedents exist where the WTO requires reasonable scientific evidence to support such bans.

Finally, Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game announced August 1 as the opening date for the golden king crab season in the Aleutian Islands. The catch limit for the 2016-17 season is a combined total of 5.545 million pounds. Aleutian Islands golden king crab are managed east and west of 174° W longitude with a separate TAC for each area. East of 174° W the TAC for IFQ holders is 2.979 million pounds and 331,000 for CDQ holders. West of the line the TAC is 2,011,500 pounds for IFQ and 223,500 for the Adak Community Allocation (ACA).

Have a great weekend.

Pacific Seafood Hopes to Ship More Live Crab to China Using Cathay Pacific's Direct Flight from PDX 

Pacific Seafoods hopes it can take advantage of new direct flights from Portland to China. Starting this November Cathay Pacific Airways will add two flights per week from Portland to China. The new Portland service would operate as part of a Hong Kong - Anchorage - Los Angeles - Portland - Anchorage - Hong Kong route every Thursday and Saturday. Cathay Pacific's newest and biggest freighter, a Boeing 747-8F, will make the route. Pacific, which already ships live Dungeness crab to Chinese markets via SeaTac, said the direct route from Portland should help the company expand its market share in China. "We realize that the service is currently slated for Hong Kong. We also have sales there," Pacific Seafood Group International Section Manager Larz Malony said in a letter to the Port of Portland Monday. "We hope that we will be able to take advantage of this new service and its success will also allow expansion into some Chinese airports."

North Carolina's commercial blue catfish producers say the USDA's Catfish Inspection program is running up production costs and threatening the viability of the fishery. The state's top producer, Murray L. Nixon Fishery said the USDA's new processing requirements essentially require the operator to build a new plant to meet compliance. The company said added costs to the industry could cripple local market interest in blue catfish, which could see commercial interest in the fish cease altogether.

In other news, Canada's sockeye catch estimates from the Skeena River predict a total return of 1.4 million fish for 2016. The figure is down from a projection of almost 3 million fish on June 30. So far, fishery scientists have not come up with an explanation for the lower-than-expected run.

Meanwhile, Maruha North America Group's subsidiary Seacon America added a line of pasteurized, all-natural blue crab meat from Mexico. Seacon will sell the Callinectes product sourced from the Sea of Cortez under THE CRAB brand. "Seacon’s THE CRAB is the same high-quality crab chefs from the Mid-Atlantic, the Carolinas, Texas, New Orleans and other Gulf States have always sought for their dishes," said Sherri Chambers, Foodservice Division Manager for Seacon.

Finally, Ireland's Ocean Harvest Technology wants to break into the US pig market by selling antibiotic-free feed produced from seaweed. The company, which has already successfully trialed the seaweed feed on Canadian pigs, wants to capitalize on the US swine industry's move away from antibiotics in its production process.

Long John's Brings Back $1.99 Meal Deal Featuring Alaskan Whitefish

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] July 20, 2016

Long John Silver’s will bring back its $1.99 Fish and Fries Meal Deal for a limited time from July 25 through September 25 at participating locations. 

The meal includes a piece of wild-caught Alaskan whitefish hand-dipped in signature batter and lightly fried to golden perfection with a side of natural-cut fries.

Japan's Live Russian Crab Imports Down Sharply Since Anti-IUU Fishing Pact

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Japan Reports] - July 19, 2016

Wakkanai’s live crab imports from Russia remained stagnant in May

Wakkanai Customs Office said on June 29 that live crab imports from Russia at Wakkanai Port in May plummeted 85% from the same month a year earlier to 15 tons, although crab shipments took place for the second month in row.

The office explained that the impact of the Japan-Russia agreement on the prevention of crab poaching/smuggling that went into effect in December 2014 is still weighing heavy on crab trade at the northernmost Hokkaido port...

NOAA Fisheries Updates U.S. Congress on Deep Sea Coral Research

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Peggy Parker - July 13, 2016

A report to Congress submitted last month describes the 2014 and 2015 research activities on the nation’s deep-sea coral areas. The report also briefly describes progress during this period in MSA-related management actions that contribute to protecting deep-sea coral areas.

Feldwork in two regions was done during 2014-15. A survey of 31 submarine canyons between Maine and Virginia and the discovery of coral gardens just 25 miles off the coast of Maine was done by the Northeast Fieldwork Initiative.

In Alaska, images of the seafloor at more than 200 stations throughout the 1,200-mile Aleutian Islands chain were taken, confirming widespread corals and commercially important fish using the coral areas.

These initiatives tell researchers about many deep-sea coral communities that no humans had seen before. The involved scientists shared their findings and enabled the respective  management councils to act on the newest data.

NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research Program is a central partner for new research in the Pacific Islands region...

A 40-Year Perspective on Kodiak's Trawl Industry From Al Burch (Opinion)

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [OPINION]  By Al Burch - July 11, 2016

A pioneer in Alaska’s fishing industry, Al Burch helped develop the groundfish industry in the Gulf of Alaska. Al also helped found the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, which set up the infrastructure for pollock and other groundfish processing in the state. He has served on numerous national and international fishing boards, including a 30-year career on the Advisory Panel of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and was the executive director of the current Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association for nearly 40 years.  In 2009, Al was inducted into the United Fishermen of Alaska’s Seafood Hall of Fame.


Something remarkable happened in my home town of Kodiak recently. 

Roughly 1,000 people turned out to celebrate our groundfish trawl fishery. It was a family affair, with processing workers and their kids, fishing families, support businesses, and local officials all participating in the parade and the barbeque picnic that followed.  Over 2,000 meals were served, and $17,000 was raised for the local Brother Francis Shelter.

For me this was very special. My brother and I were some of the pioneers of the trawl fishery here in Kodiak. We started from scratch when...

Louisiana Will Limit Crab Harvesting Starting in 2017 to Preserve Stocks

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - July 8, 2016

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will take up measures that will restrict the state’s commercial blue crab harvest starting in 2017 in order to reduce fishing pressure on the stock. 

The Commission took up  a Notice of Intent (NOI) at their monthly meeting yesterday restricts the commercial harvest of immature blue female crabs except those being held for processing of softshell crabs. It also establishes a 30-day closure of the blue commercial harvest and the use of crab traps beginning the third Monday of February. Both management actions would go into effect in 2017 and last through 2019...