ASC Revises Salmon and Freshwater Trout Standard

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) announced last week that they have revised their Salmon and Freshwater Trout Standard following a "rigorous multi-stakeholder, science-based review process." According to the organization, the update is part of their ongoing commitment to "continuously improve standards and adapt to changes in the industry."

The update to the Salmon and Freshwater Trout Standard will resolve any inconsistencies between the two standards. Moving forward, all freshwater salmonid farming, including salmon smolt production, will now be audited against the...

Bristol Bay Run Could Reach 50M Sockeye, if Port Moller Results are in Line with Previous Years

The most recent report from the Port Moller Test Fishery came last Saturday and announced that test fishing will start Sunday at Station 12 and fish shoreward through today. 

“Our fishing strategy for the July 16-17 will depend on catch results over the next two days,” said PMTF lead scientist Scot Rayborn.

“Missed inner and outer stations over the last several days notwithstanding, what was sampled indicates there is still some strength left to the run,” Rayborn wrote in an email...

Alaskans Own Delivers For a Decade

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

Sitka-based Alaskans Own seafood delivery service is celebrating 10 years of providing locally caught fish not to Outsiders, but to Alaskans, the majority of whom can’t get their hands on the best fish out there.  

“It’s a crazy statistic that one percent of the seafood that is caught in Alaska stays in Alaska, so 99 percent is exported.”

Natalie Armstrong is outreach assistant for Alaskans Own, a Community Supported Fishery project of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association...

Fish Catches, Prices, Sales by AK Region

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

One click takes you to a site that can tell you all everything about fish prices and landings for every Alaska species by region, how much was processed into what products, and what processors bought and sold it for.

It’s called the Commercial Fisheries Statistics and Data page on the Department of Fish and Game website and it extends back to 1984.

For salmon, charts and graphs show historical harvest rankings by the numbers of fish, the poundages and average prices for...

Alaska Fishing Updates for July 2019

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Salmon and so much more fishing is going on across Alaska.

There’s lots of salmon fishing left to go but right now, except for strong showings of pink salmon at the Alaska Peninsula and sockeyes at Bristol Bay, on and off catches range from lackluster to well below average in most other regions.

The fleet is slamming the reds at Bristol Bay where five million sockeyes were taken over the weekend bringing the Bay total by Monday to over 22 million...

Alaska Salmon Update: Pinks and Reds Rule the Week

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

Alaska’s salmon catch has topped 28 million fish so far with sockeyes and pinks contributing most to the total.  This year’s harvest is 67 percent above last summer at this point in the season and 30 percent stronger than in 2017.

Pink salmon were projected to push Alaska’s catch higher and they are not disappointing in some places. Of the nearly 10 million taken so far, 8.5 million come from the Alaska Peninsula. Pink returns to Kodiak this week were called...

Raw Fish Tax Reprieve, Pink Salmon Funds, More Gov Gag Orders

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch … A raw fish tax reprieve, pink salmon funds and more gag orders.

One thing that Governor Mike Dunleavy did not try to grab back in his budget was fish taxes from coastal communities. 

Instead of splitting fish landing and business taxes 50/50, as has been done for decades, Dunleavy proposed taking all of the tax dollars for state coffers. That would remove $28 million from the bottom lines of Alaska coastal communities for...

Bristol Bay's Salmon Flood is Rising — the Greatest Migration on Earth? 

As sockeye salmon surge past the Port Moller Test Fishery nets and catch tallies in the Bay rise as escapment numbers in the river systems accelerate even faster (after all, that is what the biologists manage for), the vast size of Bristol Bay’s salmon run is hard to grasp.

The six-week fishery, which reaches a fever pitch for about ten days, is arguably the greatest migration on earth. Because it is invisible until the last few days, it is rarely recognized. Great migrations might bring to mind vast...

Heat Wave Hits Europe; European Salmon Market Update

Temperatures are rising in Europe and breaking a number of records – and according to reports, the extreme heat isn't going anywhere.

French weather news site, Meteo France, is reporting that on Wednesday the average temperature in France reached 34.9 Celsius, or 93.8 degrees. That number broke the previous record of 34.3 Celsius, which was set on June 30, 1952. Elsewhere in Europe, temperatures reached up to 38.6 Celsius, or 101.5 degrees in Berlin, and 38.2 Celsius, or 100.8 degrees in Radzyń, Poland...

Salmon Markets to Watch: Kings, Pinks

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Bristol Bay is wide open and some markets to watch.

All of Bristol Bay opened up to salmon fishing yesterday/June 24 as sockeyes swarmed into the region’s five fishing districts.  A sockeye harvest of nearly 27 million is expected at the Bay this summer, down 8 percent from the 10 year average. 

As always Alaska salmon competes with fish from around the world and this year California kings will be in play.

Reports are hailing the best king catches...

China's E-commerce Giants Continue to Achieve Success in Online Seafood Markets

Buying seafood online is becoming increasingly popular among Chinese consumers nowadays. This sales channel has won over foodies with convenient purchases, various choices, fast delivery and seafood freshness. One Beijing consumer, He, was reported saying he received live seafood within one hour after placing orders online during the recent Dragon Boat Festival.

As statistics show, China has become the largest seafood consumption in the global market. Its seafood consumption is reported to be as high as 2.40 trillion yuan (~$350 billion USD) in ...

UrnerBarry's Summer 2019 Reporter Issue Released; Read It Online For Free Now

A brand-new issue of UrnerBarry's Reporter is out now! The Summer 2019 issue is the annual market analysis edition, and just like previous years, the magazine is jam-packed with need-to-know information.

On the seafood side of things check out analysis pieces on the….

Shrimp Market: U.S. imports record volume of shrimp in 2018, prices feel pressure

Lobster Market: Life after the 25% Chinese tariff

King and Snow Crab Markets: King crab down 17% at retail; Unprecedented spread between...

Salmon Suppliers Work Hard to Expand in Lucrative Chinese Market

Salmon has been widely received among Chinese consumers, and the past few years have seen a great increase in the country’s salmon imports. These imports are expected to continue to grow within the coming years, according to recent media reports. This is good news for overseas suppliers, and some have taken action to better promote their products and grab more of the market share in China.

Consider the examples of Chilean salmon suppliers whose salmon exports to China have skyrocketed by 32 times in the past 16 years thanks...

WDFW, Partners Apply to Lethally Remove Sea Lions from Columbia River, Tributaries

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with a consortium of state and tribal partners, submitted an expanded application to lethally remove California and Steller sea lions preying on threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia River and its tributaries.

California sea lions -- and increasingly, Steller sea lions -- have been observed in growing numbers in the Columbia River basin, especially in the last decade. These sea lions prey heavily on salmon and steelhead runs listed under the Endangered Species Act, including...

Aquabanq to Build Land-Based Salmon Plant in Northern Maine

Aquaculture company Aquabanq is ready to break ground on a land-based aquaculture plant in Millinocket, Maine.

After two years of development and planning, the plant will soon be ready to produce 8 million pounds of farm-raised Atlantic salmon every year by 2022.

Aquabanq’s salmon will get to consumers plates in major cities like Boston, Montreal, Philadelphia and New York.

Aquabanq wants to bring more U.S. raised salmon to consumers. Americans eat nearly 1 billion pounds of salmon every year and they want more of it to come from...

Unusual Die-Offs of Pink Salmon, Marine Mammals, Seabirds, and Krill in Alaska’s Northwest Frontier

North of Bristol Bay, where sockeye salmon are plugging nets and processing plants, residents in Alaska’s northwest frontier are witnessing unusual die-offs of pink salmon, whales, seals, walruses, sea birds, and even krill this summer.

The area is vast even by Alaska standards, stretching north and west of Bristol Bay. Mariners traveling north from the Bay will first cross Kuskokwim Bay into which flows the Kuskokwim River, then the frayed channels of the Yukon River, before entering Norton Sound...

VIDEO: Maine's Lobster Bait Crisis; Sea Shepherd Petition; Prime Day; Protecting Right Whales

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about Maine's lobster bait crisis; Sea Shepherd's petition against imported New Zealand seafood; Amazon Prime Day deals involving seafood; annd what's being done to protect the North Atlantic Right Whales.

This episode was brought to you by Maine Lobster. Summer means that it's officially lobster season in Maine. Between June and July lobsters in the cold waters of the Gulf of Maine shed their shells and the result is Maine New Shell Lobster....

Bristol Bay Harvest Exceeds 26.1M Forecast; Naknek-Kvichak Catch Now at 6 Million Sockeye

The pre-season forecast for a 26.11 million sockeye catch was blown past earlier this week with a mid-day July 10 harvest total of 26.5 million sockeye. In addition to the sockeye, there has been 668,000 chum salmon caught and 26,5000 chinook, both mostly from the Nushagak District, for a total landing of 27.2 million salmon to date.

The Nushagak District now shows a cumulative harvest of 12.4 million salmon, of which 11.8 million is sockeye, more than 50% above the size of ADF&G’s ...

Whole Foods Offering Discount on Wild-Caught Sockeye Salmon Fillets as Part of Prime Day

Prime Day is coming, and Amazon Prime members will once again be able to enjoy exclusive offers in Whole Foods stores.

For those unfamiliar with the shopping event, Prime Day started in 2015 as a way for Amazon to celebrate its 20th anniversary by offering discounts to devoted shoppers. Prime Day has since become an annual shopping holiday, with Prime subscribers able to score "epic deals" over a span of 36 hours.

While Prime Day initially started out exclusively online...

Despite Higher Tariffs, the U.S. May Still Turn to China for Processed Seafood

According to American media, the country’s plan to raise tariffs on Chinese commodities has taken a toll on bilateral trading and also its seafood industry. Some industry participants in the U.S. are worried and have called on the government to stop the action that is expected to increase the costs of local processed seafood.

Within the past two decades, China has been playing a leading role in processing seafood. Large quantities of seafood like fish have been sent from the U.S. to China for processing...

Chinese Show More Willingness to Buy Seafood Online

Imported fresh food has become increasingly popular on China’s e-commerce platforms within recent years. As statistics from JD show, during the recent online shopping festival on June 18, the platform sold out as much as 6,700 tons of imported fresh food. Among them, imported seafood has enjoyed an obvious increase in sales, especially during such promotion festivals.

JD is said to have sold nearly 4 million giant tiger prawns during the festival, while 860,000 crayfish were sold out within the first three minutes of the festival...

Both Domestic Chinese Seafood Companies, Foreign Suppliers Expand in Asian Market

With China’s rising seafood demand, more and more foreign seafood products have been flooding into this oriental market. Competition is fierce and some overseas suppliers have chosen to cooperate with local giants. Meanwhile, Chinese buyers are also updating themselves and cutting out the middlemen for higher profits. Some have opted to buy directly from foreign suppliers, while some have set up their own plants abroad.

When overseas seafood suppliers are looking for partners in China, e-commerce giants seem to be an attractive...

VIDEO: Pinks Set Record in Alaska; North Atlantic Right Whale Deaths; Grubhub Food Trends and More

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they discuss the record-breaking pink salmon catch in Alaska; North Atlantic right whale deaths in Canada; Grubhub's mid-year food trend report; and the release of the Summer 2019 issue of UrnerBarry's Reporter.

This week's episode was brought to you by Foreign Trade Data. Reduce uncertainty, minimize risk and uncover opportunities with the only website designed exclusively for the seafood import/ export community...

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like 'Fishmas': Long John Silver's Launches New Campaign

Some people celebrate Christmas in July – or if you're Long John Silver's you celebrate "Fishmas in July." The fast food chain is getting their customers in the seafood spirit this summer with a new campaign designed to spread some fishy cheer.

"Summer 'tis the season for seafood," the Long John Silver's Facebook page boasts. "So that's why it's Fishmas at Long John Silver's. Decorate the Fishmas tree, hang up your Fishmas stockings and come unwrap all of the gifts from our new grilled seafood menu...

BBRSDA Partners with Five Retailers for Fresh Sockeye Promotions in July

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association has announced its retail partners for the 2019 season. Nearly 1.6 million sockeye salmon have already been landed in the Bay, just the beginning of a predicted 26 million sockeye harvest. 

While the fishing season gets underway in the Bay, the fleet's retail partners are gearing up for their fresh salmon seasons too. The BBRSDA will be partnering with 5 retailers for fresh Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon promotions this July. 

New Seasons Markets in Puget Sound, Washington...

RAS Salmon Looms Large for Alaska

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch. Indoor fish farms loom large for Alaska.

Since the early 1990s Alaska’s salmon industry has faced tough competition from farmed fish. Now salmon growers are coming ashore in the U.S. in a big way. The latest trend is raising Atlantic salmon in massive tanks, called recirculating aquaculture systems, or RAS.

“It really could be considered salmon aquaculture 2.0.”

Garrett Evridge is an economist with the McDowell Group.

“The current model is the near shore farms and land based technology has really improved upon that...

Seafood Companies Find Profits in the Chinese Market but Face Uncertainty

China has become an increasingly important market for seafood companies worldwide thanks to its great demand and potential to be exploited. Many have taken action to develop this oriental market or grab more market shares. This market seems lucrative, but it is not that easy to prosper in the long term there, media reports show.

The country has become the largest importer of New Zealand lobsters. It has become a primary buyer of New Zealand’s largest rock lobster exporter, Fiordland Lobster, whose annual...

The Winding Glass: We Need a New Magnuson Act to Deal with Climate Change Impacts on Fisheries

[The Winding Glass is an opinion and commentary column from SeafoodNews Founder and Publisher John Sackton.]

50 years ago fisheries were in crisis.  The prevailing international law allowed no national control of ocean activities beyond 12 miles.  

Similar fishing situations were occurring around other coastal nations. 

The key features of the Magnuson-Stevens Act passed in 1976 were regional councils,  the best available science, and to involve all stakeholders in the council and decision-making process.

Today we are facing a new crisis...

Salmon Harvests in PWS and Copper River Strong, Pre-Season Showing in Chignik Worrisome

Harvest and escapement statistics from the Copper River and Prince William Sound are above preseason forecasts, but Chignik’s early showing of salmon past the weir are significantly below forecasts. Meanwhile, the Port Moller Test Fishery, the best indication of what’s ahead for Bristol Bay, is just starting to gather numbers.

Cumulative harvest for sockeye in Area E, Prince William Sound and the Copper River, was 694,000 reds as of June 6. Harvest from the 48-hour Copper River District period that began on June 6 is...