Ecuador White Shrimp Widely Received in China and Expecting An Even Better Tomorrow 

These past few months have been rewarding for Ecuador shrimp. They have gained great popularity in the Chinese market during Q1, and such an upward trend is expected to continue in Q2. Moreover, this April they have regained access to the Thailand market, of which they were previously banned entry for one year.

In this Q1, Ecuador’s white shrimp export to China ballooned by 133%. The total has only increased by 44% to 0.238 million tons, according to statistics from FCCfood...

These Are The Top 10 Seafood Items Consumed In The U.S. For 2020

Seafood consumption figures are in for 2020, revealing how the pandemic helped - and hurt - the industry.

When the coronavirus began spreading in the U.S. in early 2020, the government took extreme lockdown measures, shutting down all non-essential businesses. While restaurants were allowed to remain open, their dining rooms were closed. This was a major blow to the seafood industry, where fish and shellfish thrived at dine-in. However, retail seafood purchases did increase with many people using the lockdown to learn how to...

AK 2022 Salmon Season Is Just Days Away; Lots Of Fishing Action Across The State

Alaska’s 2022 salmon fishery officially begins in just a few days and lots of other fishing action continues or gears up from Southeast to the Bering Sea.

The first 12-hour opener on Monday, May 16, at the Copper River near Cordova kicks off Alaska’s salmon season. The total harvest forecast for the famous fishery calls for 716,000 reds and 7,000 kings.

The total statewide, all-species salmon harvest for 2022 is projected at 160.6 million fish, down 32% from the 2021...

China’s Customs Agency Suspensions Update: Shrimp Imports from Ecuador and More

China’s General Administration of Customs started off the week with a staggering 24 import suspensions.

As SeafoodNews has been reporting, China’s customs agency has been suspending imports from certain seafood companies and vessels if the packaging of their products tests positive for coronavirus. From May 8 through May 10, the government agency announced that they have taken emergency preventative measures against 12 Russian fishing vessels, 11 seafood companies, and one cold storage company. A run through of all the latest suspensions...

Taco John’s Offering New Mango Shrimp Street Tacos For A Limited Time

Get in the car! Taco John’s has added a mouthwatering new item to their menu … but it’s only available for a limited time.

The fast food restaurant, which has more than 380 restaurants in 22 states, is introducing a bold new taco: the Mango Shrimp Street Taco. The taco features crispy golden shrimp with mango pico de gallo, chimichurri sour cream and lettuce, all wrapped in a soft corn-flour blend tortilla. 

“At Taco John’s, we’re dedicated to offering our guests the fresh ingredients and...

Russia Considering Taking Measures for Prevention of Fish and Seafood Shortage in Domestic Market

Russia is considering taking measures for the prevention of fish and seafood shortages in the domestic market, which could be the result of unprecedented sanctions, imposed on the country.

According to recent statements of Alexey Buglak, head of the Russian Pollock Association, which were made in an interview with the local RBC business paper, the deliveries of certain fish and seafood species to the domestic market, such as shrimp, Atlantic herring and mackerel can be partially replaced by domestic products, as Russian fishermen produce them...

Ecuador Announces New Processes to Regulate Shrimp Farms

To improve how shrimp farms are regulated in Ecuador, President Guillermo Lasso, signed an Executive Decree on April 25, that will allow small and medium-sized shrimp farmers to carry out their activity legally and regularize 18,900 hectares of land.

Ecuador’s Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries described the move, which took place at the Divacci shrimp farm, located in Pedernales, Manabi province, as a “key and firm step” for the company that will lead to “greater social and economic contribution in this important industry on a national scale.”

Quotas Cut For Gulf of St. Lawrence Shrimp Fishery; FFAW Responds

Last week Fisheries and Oceans Canada amended the Conservation Harvesting Plan for Northern Shrimp Areas 8, 9, 10 and 12 for the 2022 season. The amendment cut the quotas for the shrimp fishery, with Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 8 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence hit with a 19% reduction. SFA 9 received an 18% reduction and SFA 12 received a 13% reduction. SFA 10 received a slight increase in quota.

Newfoundland harvesters only have access to SFA 8. FFAW-Unifor issued a response following the news...

China's Customs Agency Announces Additional Suspensions on 15 Companies From Ecuador, 12 Vietnam

The suspensions just keep coming. China’s General Administration of Customs announced that they’d be taking additional emergency precautionary measures after packaging of seafood products from Ecuador and Vietnam tested positive for COVID-19.

A total of 15 Ecuadorian companies have been targeted in the latest round of import suspensions, which were posted by China’s customs agency on Wednesday. The agency took 29 outer packaging samples and nine inner packaging samples from 22 batches of frozen vannamei shrimp that were imported from 14 aquatic product manufacturers in Ecuador...

Shrimp Run Into Trouble Since Their Larva Stage in Chinese Market

China’s seafood industry has been faced with great challenges due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. The shrimp sector, for example, has encountered trouble from seed cultivation to market sales. And industry participants have complained about ballooning costs but weakening demand of consumers. Meanwhile, some have also been anxious about problems in delivery, which leads to high mortality rates or even no arrival.

With the epidemic, costs of materials like feed have been rising to great extents, and most are said to have skyrocketed by...

What Seafood Items Are Part of the EU’s Fifth Round of Sanctions Against Russia?

Last week SeafoodNews reported that the European Commission proposed additional sanctions against Russia. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said that they would be increasing pressure on Russia in an attempt to “cut even deeper into the Russian economy.”

The fifth package, which was officially adopted at the end of last week, includes a ban on certain seafood imports from Russia. Now, we know exactly what seafood items are part of that ban.

The Official Journal of the European Union...

Canadian Shrimp Coalition Calls for Fisheries Minister to Set 2022 Gulf Shrimp Quotas

A group that represents Indigenous shrimp harvesters and harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and New Brunswick are urging Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Joyce Murray to set a total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2022 gulf shrimp fishery.

The coalition calling for the TAC represents approximately 100 shrimp enterprises employing over 500 harvesters and thousands of plant workers in Atlantic Canada. The group wants a stop to interim quotas and a delayed decision on the quota, describing it as a “financial threat...

White Shrimp Face a Market Downturn in China

Prices of China’s white shrimp have been on a rollercoaster ride in late March, mainly due to the resurgene of COVID-19. In the Pearl River Delta region, for example, prices ballooned at the beginning with better epidemic control. However, just a few days later, contraction began. Around March 27, those weighing 30 shrimps/jin (1 jin=0.5 kilo) have seen their prices dropp by about 2 to 3 yuan/jin to around 26 to 28 yuan/jin compared with the week before, according to Fishfirst.cn...

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Introduces Brunch With Seafood Offerings

Brunch has arrived at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. And seafood lovers will be happy to see a couple of options on the new menu.

“Brunch time sparks a special kind of energy that draws family and friends to the table to celebrate the weekend and savor meals that transcend traditional breakfast and lunch offerings,” said Steve Sturm, Senior Vice President and Executive Chef at Firebirds. “We’ve captured that energy in our scratch-prepared brunch entrees and our craveable $6 Mimosas and Bloody Marys.”

China Customs Agency Suspends More Shrimp Imports From Ecuador 

China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) is continuing to suspend seafood imports that test positive for the new coronavirus nucleic acid.

China’s been battling a spike in COVID-19 cases for the past few weeks. With a “zero COVID” policy, the country has taken strict measures, including reinstating restrictions and lockdowns. As of this writing, China’s financial capital and largest city, Shanghai, has been put under a city-wide lockdown order. This means that residents have to stay home and rely on contactless deliveries. All non-essential offices and businesses are...

Watch Us Eat Chicken of The Sea's Award Winning Crispy Stuffed Shrimp

"Watch Us Eat" stars Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione are chowing down on some award winning shrimp in their latest video. Chicken of the Sea was recently named BrandSpark’s Best New Product Winner in the “Frozen Shrimp” category for their Creamy Garlic and Spinach Crispy Stuffed Shrimp.

More than 11,000 Americans participated in the national survey to find the winners of the 2022 Best New Products Awards. Those surveyed answered questions on appeal, repurchase intent and product superiority. Ultimately the survey results found...

Shrimping in Federal Waters off Texas to Close on May 15

NOAA Fisheries announced that shrimping in federal waters from 9 to 200 nautical miles off Texas will close 30 minutes after sunset, local time, on May 15, 2022, corresponding to the time Texas closes its state waters to shrimp trawling.

NOAA explained that the shrimp fishery closes annually to allow brown shrimp to reach a larger and more valuable size before harvest and to prevent waste of the species that might be discarded due to the smaller size.

The closure ranges from 45 to 60 days...

Ecuadorian Shrimp to Re-Enter Thailand Market Following Safety Protocol Implementation

The Ecuadorian government shared that those in the shrimp sector will again have access to the Thai market after the country formalized safety and biosafety protocols that are followed during the export process.

The Department of Fisheries for Thailand has allowed the entry of shrimp from 36 farms in Ecuador and Thailand will look to authorize more processing plants for export in the future.

Back in March 2021, Thailand temporarily suspended the imports of shrimp from Ecuador. Shortly after, the Undersecretary of Quality and Safety, of the Ministry...

ANALYSIS: March Shrimp Imports Continue Record Surge

Shrimp imports were released yesterday, and to no one's surprise the record setting surge continued. March shrimp imports registered at 168.474 million pounds, or 22 percent above last year. In a recurring theme, this was the largest March total in history. March 2021 saw 138.105 million pounds sent to the United States.

The top five trade partners once again sent significantly more shrimp to the U.S. than last year, but many other countries followed suit as well. With other markets challenged by a variety of factors...

China Importing More White Shrimp to Meet Demand, But Also Turning Down Large Amounts Due to Quality

China’s white shrimp import volume in March increased by 15.48% from that of February and 37.74% compared with last March, according to Foodspath.com. And the import value has gone up by 17.79% from February and 71.22% compared with last March. This shows the oriental market’s increasing demand for such shrimp.

Despite Chinese increased appetite, not all foreign suppliers are able to reap more profits. Some have found their white shrimp denied entry into this Asian country...

Aquaculture Stewardship Council Says Shrimp Standard, RAS Revisions Will Expand Footprint of Program

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) published revisions to its ASC Shrimp Standard and new requirements for Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) farms which will expand the program's reach.

The revision to the Shrimp Standard will lead to freshwater crayfish and freshwater shrimp farmers having the chance to achieve ASC’s stringent requirements for responsible farming, with the addition of new species. Other updates have been made to the Standard to ensure best practices too.

New requirements for RAS operations will ensure the ASC certification takes into...

Del Pacifico Seafoods Named Nordstrom Restaurant Group Supplier of the Month; Launch Shrimp Specials

Nordstrom Restaurant Group cannot get enough seafood! Currently the restaurant group, which has over 200 locations, including specialty coffee bars, quick service and full service restaurants, is offering two limited time Wild Alaska Pollock dishes. But come May Nordstrom Restaurant Group will be serving up specials featuring their supplier of the month: Del Pacifico Seafoods.

Nordstrom’s current menu already includes Del Pacifico Shrimp in a Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad, Chilled Shrimp & Crab Lois, Spicy Wild Shrimp Pomodoro, and the Nordstrom Bloody Mary...

California OKs New Coldwater Pink Shrimp Management Plan

Next year will bring changes to California's pink shrimp fishery that will make the fishery's rules better align with both Oregon and Washington and improve its management.

California's Marine Life Management Act requires fishery management plans be developed for the state's fisheries. Those FMPs must provide the basis for managing the fisheries. Since 2018, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been reviewing the pink shrimp fishery's management needs and developing a proposed management plan. The draft plan was presented to the California ...

Russia to Face Shortage of Salmon and Other Premium Fish in Domestic Market This Year  

Russia may face a significant reduction of fish and seafood range in the domestic market this year as unprecedented sanctions imposed on the country lead to a significant decline of fish imports.

According to a recent study conducted by the Russian Pollock Association, only in the case of red fish, this year its imports to Russia will be reduced by 30%.

In addition to Atlantic salmon and trout, there is a possibility of a significant decline of foreign supplies of mackerel...

Ecuador Runs into Trouble Exporting White Shrimp to China

China has been one main importer of white shrimp from Ecuador where over one-half of shrimp companies have buyers in China. Among them, some are said to export about 90% products to China. The bilateral trade went on well until this March, and after that, things seem to have gone downhill. And the near-future prospect looks far less promising.

Last year Ecuador’s exported white shrimp to this oriental market made up 46% of its exports. And from January to February, China’s import from Ecuador have increased by...

C.P. Foods Products Lands Sustainability Award from Walmart for its Seafood Production

C.P. Foods Products, Inc. (CPFP) received a Merchandising Impact Award of Sustainability from the Walmart Annual Supplier Growth Forum 2022 for the efforts it has made to ensure a sustainable and traceable seafood production process.

The ceremony saw Wennie Chen, President at CPFP, receive the award from Walmart US Chief Merchandising Officer, Charles Redfield.

The key effort behind the award was the company’s move to noticeably reduce its plastic use in 2021. CPFP said all of its shrimp ring trays were replaced with recyclable packaging materials...

ANALYSIS: February Shrimp Imports Continue to Surge

Shrimp imports were released today, and it really comes as no surprise anymore that the data shows large increases from the prior year. February 2022 imports surged 25.3 percent above last year to 145.705 million pounds. This was a February record and was even 8.7 percent above the next highest February on record in 2004.

The top five trade partners all paced the gains with double digit growth, with some outsized advances seen. India (+14.7%), Ecuador (+44.3%), Indonesia (+45.4%), Vietnam...

Hendrix Genetics Expands in India With Formation of New Company 

Hendrix Genetics announced late last month that they are taking the next step in their global shrimp breeding networking with expansion to India. 

According to a press release released by Hendrix Genetics, “with the formation of a new company, Kona Bay India PVT Ltd, Hendrix Genetics and Sapthagiri Hatcheries will jointly establish a broodstock multiplication centre for the benefit of the Indian shrimp fishery.”

Indian shrimp hatcheries will be able to source specific pathogen free (SPF) broodstock that are locally reared beginning in early 2023...

California Seeks to Modify Coldwater Pink Shrimp Management

Rules that Oregon and Washington pink shrimp trawlers are already accustomed to may be implemented in California soon.

The California Fish and Game Commission will consider changes to its pink shrimp fishery management plan when it meets in June.

"The effort to develop and implement this FMP began in 2017, and the adoption of the FMP by the Commission is expected in April 2022," the Notice of Proposed Regulations reads, although the Commission calendar now has the action scheduled in June. "The purpose of the FMP and its implementing regulation ...

ANALYSIS: Is Ecuador Returning to China as Shrimp Prices Stagnant to Start 2022 in U.S.?

Ecuador shrimp exports to the United States in 2021 smashed the short lived record from the year prior. The 405.3 million pounds was 46.1 percent higher than 277.4 million pounds in 2020, which was significantly higher than the last high in 2014 of 203.5 million pounds. This represented nearly 22 percent of all shrimp exports from Ecuador.

China remained the number one trade partner with Ecuador, but the share moved lower to just over 46 percent last year. Market factors such as COVID-19 shutdowns...