Taiwan's Unique Sapphire Tiger Prawns Cultivated in Innovative Recirculating Aquaculture System

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the quantity of captive-bred shrimp has officially surpassed wild-caught shrimp since 2007, fostering a colossal industry with an annual production value exceeding US$10 million. While the global demand for shrimp products is substantial, the aquaculture sector grapples with environmental challenges, including diseases and elevated mortality rates resulted from erratic climate patterns.

Situated within the subtropical region, there is huge climatic variations in Taiwan throughout its four seasons. Furthermore, the impact of extreme weather...

Slapfish Introduces New Limited Time Coconut Shrimp Options

Slapfish has a new limited time offering that will have shrimp lovers flocking to their nearest location. The “modern seafood shack” now has coconut shrimp on their menu.

“At Slapfish, we are always exploring innovative ways to delight our guests with extraordinary flavors,” said Dan Anfinson, President of The Slapfish Company and COO of MH Restaurant Group, the parent company of Slapfish. “Our Coconut Shrimp Basket and Coconut Shrimp Bowl capture the essence of a tropical getaway in every bite. It’s a limited time opportunity for our patrons to experience a culinary vacation right at our tables...

ANALYSIS: Assessing Some Shifts in EU Shrimp Demand

There is a slight degree of positivity in the warm-water shrimp market, illustrated last week by the small uptick in the U.S. import figures published last week by the US Census office. After a 12-month decline, U.S. trade in improved by 2.7% since last year for the month of July, at 76,450 metric tons against 74,471 MT last year.

The EU trade figures for July are not available yet, but the CNA statistical office registered a 19.7% increase from Ecuadorian exports to Europe. In H1 2023, Spain...

ASC Secures Thai Union As Partner For Shrimp Aquaculture Improvement Project 

The Global Shrimp Forum took place in Utrecht this week, gathering hundreds of people in the warm water shrimp industry, from farmers and feed companies to wholesalers and retailers. While at the event the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) announced that seafood leader Thai Union has become one of their first partners to implement their Aquaculture Improvements Projects (AIPs) for a total of 15,700 metric tonnes of shrimp by 2026. Thai Union’s involvement is part of their responsible aquaculture commitment within the company’s SeaChange 2030 strategy...

ANALYSIS: U.S. Shrimp Imports Show First Gain in a Year

In data released Wednesday, and for the first time in over a year, U.S. shrimp imports were marginally higher compared to year-earlier levels. While there has been talk that imports might reverse soon, it may come as a bit of a surprise that they did prior to the fall months as many thought. The 152.902 million pounds edged 2.7 percent above last July’s 148.941 million pounds.

It was really a mixed bag when it comes to gainers and losers from the top trade partners. India (+12.8%)...

Long John Silver's Introduces Wild Alaska Pollock and Shrimp Promotions For Fall

Fall promotions are here! While pumpkin spice seems to be the go-to for many QSRs, Long John Silver’s is celebrating the changing of the seasons with their $6 Fish Basket and $10 Shrimp Sea-Shares promotions.

“At Long John Silver’s, we’re on a mission to deliver big flavor without breaking the treasure chest, ensuring great seafood is accessible to all,” said Christopher Caudill, Long John Silver’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Innovation. “Our fall promotions achieve just that – offering high-quality, fish...

FDA Signs Partnership With Ecuador To Strengthen Food Safety In Shrimp Imports

Late last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they signed a Regulatory Partnership Arrangement (RPA) with Ecuador’s seafood regulatory authority. The RPA, the “first of its kind,” is intended to strengthen food safety in shrimp that’s intended for the U.S. market. 

Ecuador is the second largest exporter of shrimp into the U.S., with India taking the top spot. In 2022 the U.S. imported a total of 440,508,584 lbs. of shrimp from Ecuador. Year-to-date Ecuador has shipped 225,943,750 lbs. of shrimp into...

Prime Shrimp Adds New Orleans Style BBQ To Line of Frozen Shrimp Products

Prime Shrimp, the makers of restaurant-quality value-added shrimp products for home consumption, is expanding their line. The company announced this week that they’ve now added a New Orleans Style BBQ flavor to their offerings. 

Prime Shrimp’s products are ready to cook from frozen with no need to thaw or plan ahead. In addition to the New Orleans Style BBQ flavor, the company also has flavors like Garlic Herb Butter, Signature Cajun Seasoned, French Quarter Alfredo, Lemon and Cracked Pepper, and Louisiana Boil Cajun. The company also offers an “Unseasoned Simply Shrimp” for those who prefer to prepare shrimp with their own seasonings.

Japan: June Shrimp Imports Down 14.5%, H1 Imports from India Up 44%

According to the Suisan Keizai Shimbun, Japan's Ministry of Finance announced that shrimp imports in June amounted to 15,033 tons, down 14.5% from the same month of the previous year. The value was 21,782 million yen ($150.49 million), down 14.4%. Shrimps And Prawns, Frozen, Other Than Cold-water Shrimp (HTS Code: 0306.17-000), which includes farmed shrimp such as Vannamei, decreased 20.8% to 8,693 tons, and the value decreased 24.9% to 11,754 million yen ($81.18 million).

H1 imports from India showed a 44% increase...

ANALYSIS: U.S. Shrimp Imports in June Mark 12-Month Decline

U.S. shrimp imports fell steeper than expected in data released Tuesday. This is the twelfth straight month of declines, helping trim positions after record years. June 2023 imports were 136.278 million pounds, or nearly 20 percent below last year’s 169.422 million pounds. The year-to-date figure is now down almost 18 percent at 794.601 million pounds.

The big five continued to slump year-over-year. India (-26.2%), Ecuador (-13.1%), Indonesia (-3.7%), Vietnam (-22.9%), and Thailand (-31.0) were all lower...

Appellate Court Sides with North Carolina Shrimpers in Clean Water Act Lawsuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a decision from a District Court that said North Carolina shrimp trawlers were not in violation of the Clean Water Act.

The Fisheries Reform Group could not prove that shrimp trawlers operating in North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound have violated the Clean Water Act but tossing bycatch overboard and disturbing sediment with their nets, Appellate Judge Julius Richardson found.

“Returning bycatch to the ocean is not discharging a pollutant, so throwing it overboard without a permit...

Shrimp Prices Contract in China 

China’s shrimp prices have recently declined to noticeable extents. In Leizhou city of Guangdong province, for example, farm-gate prices of live ones weighing about 30 shrimps/jin (1 jin=0.5 kilo) have dropped by around 5 to 8 yuan/jin to 20.5 yuan/jin now compared with the same period last year, according to a news report from China Central Television.  

One main reason for the lower prices is greater harvest, which nearly doubles to over 2,000 jin/Mu in some regions like Leizhou. With cost contraction...

Coast Guard, Good Samaritans Assist Crewmembers Aboard Shrimp Vessel Taking on Water Off Georgia

The U.S. Coast Guard and Good Samaritans assisted four people after a shrimping vessel began taking on water near St. Simons Island, Georgia, on July 25.

The Coast Guard said its Sector Charleston watchstanders received a notification at 10:33 p.m. from the Joann B, a 75-foot shrimping vessel, stating their vessel was taking on water roughly 4 miles east of St. Simons Island.

Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast notifying all mariners in the area of the distress...

Texas Rep Introduces Bill Pushing for Increased FDA Testing of Imported Shrimp

U.S. Representative Randy Weber (TX-14) co-sponsored the Laws Ensuring Safe Shrimp (LESS) Act, which would boost the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s ability to test imported shrimp as it enters the country.

The bill would help ensure the FDA can test that imported shrimp is “free of antibiotic residues, up to our health standards, and is not the product of illegal, unregulated, or unreported fishing by the People's Republic of China.”

The bill also provides the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with resources...

USDA Announces Purchase Awards for $118 Million Worth of Pacific Seafood

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has purchased groundfish, pacific seafood and salmon products under Section 32 that will be distributed to child nutrition and other related domestic food assistance programs for Fiscal Year 2023.

The USDA bought $118,778,972.96 worth of seafood products, which came to 4,742,500 cases of various items.

First on the list were 10,800 cases of frozen Atlantic pollock fillets and 900 cases of frozen haddock fillets. 

The USDA purchased plenty of salmon this go around. Roughly 3.67 million pounds...

ANALYSIS: 11 Straight Months of U.S. Shrimp Import Declines in May Data

In data released Thursday, May U.S. shrimp imports followed the last 10 months to double-digit losses, with year-to-year declines of 16.9 percent to 137.264 million pounds. This compared to 165.154 million pounds for May 2022.

There seemed to be very few trade partners immune to the broad losses, with most of the top 10, and all the top five, generally reporting large declines. The only country in the former category to show a gain was Mexico (+10.7%); year-to-date imports are still...

Trade Joe's Introduces New Seafood Offerings For Fall

Trader Joe’s is always releasing new products. This time around there are a few seafood items that should make everyone’s shopping list.

With fall quickly approaching there are plenty of seasonal goodies hitting the shelves, like Apple Cinnamon Buns, Butternut Squash Italian Lasagna, Gluten Free Pumpkin Ravioli and Mini Maple Flavored Marshmallows. The latest seafood items are perfect for the cooling weather, like Trader Joe’s Lobster Bisque with butter, sherry wine and fresh thyme. This premade bisque is “cooked low and slow” to allow all the flavors to come together...

3 Things To Know About The Global Shrimp Council

Last week the Global Shrimp Forum was held in Utrecht, Netherlands. The event, which was established by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Shrimp Insights (Willem van der Pijl) and Contango (Jørgen J. Lund), brought together members from across the industry for a three-day program packed with informative sessions.

Attendees got to hear from executives from Cargill, Devi Fisheries and Omarsa, among others, as well as sit in on sessions that explored everything from feed and feed ingredients to finance and investment. But the big headline from the Global Shrimp Forum...

Panda Express Introduces LTO Chili Crisp Shrimp Entree

‘Tis the season for limited time offerings. And Panda Express has one that shrimp lovers won’t want to miss: Chili Crisp Shrimp.

The new dish features lightly breaded succulent shrimp that’s mixed with aromatic peppers and onions and then wok-tossed in a savory chili garlic sauce. The result is the perfect combo of spicy and crunchy.

“After in-depth testing and listening to our guests’ feedback, we knew we wanted to offer a bold new menu item with shrimp that marries the traditional flavors of Sichuan cuisine with the fresh...

ANALYSIS: EU Shrimp Imports from Argentina Down 21% YOY in July

Export numbers of frozen shrimp from Argentina into the EU are now available in Global Trade Tracker for July 2023.

Around 184,700 metric tons of warm water shrimps were imported by the EU in the first half of 2023, and Argentina is the third supplying country, with 8.3% share.

In July alone, 7,646 metric tons of muelleri shrimp were imported into the EU, a 21 percent drop since July 2022 and 30 percent compared to July 2021. However, when looking...

Graves and Castor Introduce Bipartisan LESS Act to Support US Shrimp Industry, Protect Consumers

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced the Legislation to Ensure the Availability of Healthy and Safe American Shrimp (LESS Act) last month to stop unsafe, illegally-produced shrimp from reaching consumers. 

The bill provides funding to the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that shrimp in the United States are free of illegal chemicals, safe for human consumption, and not supplied using illegal fishing practices.

The bipartisan bill, which was referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock... 

CNA Celebrates Relaunch of Ecuador Shrimp in China At World Seafood Shanghai Fair

Ecuador’s national aquaculture chamber, Camara Nacional De Aquacultura (CNA), is celebrating the relaunch of Ecuador shrimp in its main export destination of China. The organization held an event at the 17th World Seafood Shanghai International Fair on Wednesday that attracted more than 100 guests to learn about Ecuadorian products and “consolidate trade ties between both nations.”

China is the largest importer of shrimp globally. And Ecuador’s trade relationship with the country has been strained over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic...

The trū® Shrimp Companies Appoints Hawkins As Exclusive U.S. Distributor For trū Chitosan

The trū^® Shrimp Companies, Inc. ("trū Shrimp") announced today that trū Shrimp has appointed Hawkins, Inc. ("Hawkins") as the exclusive distributor of its trū^® Chitosan products into the United States' pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

trū Chitosan is derived from the exoskeletons of trū Shrimp's production of consumer shrimp. Chitosan is a molecule refined from the shell of shrimp and is used for numerous pharmaceutical and medical applications. trū Shrimp is the only United States producer of chitosan that meets the...

Louisiana Receives $58 Million In Federal Disaster Assistance For 2019 Flood

Louisiana’s fishing industry is finally receiving federal disaster assistance funding from the historic Mississippi and Atchafalaya flood in 2019. The state’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced this week that NOAA approved their application for approximately $58 million.

An analysis in 2019 determined that the Louisiana fishing industry suffered $258 million in losses as a result of the historic flooding, with the private oyster industry’s losses totalling $121 million alone. 

Flooding of the Mississippi River resulted in the Bonnet Carre Spillway being opened twice...

Japan’s Mitsui Investing In Ecuador’s Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila

Japan’s Mitsui & Co. Ltd. announced this week that they have decided to invest in Ecuador’s Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila (IPSP) through a holding company owned by IPSP’s founders. Mitsui confirmed the acquisition price for the shares is USD 360 million, or approximately JPY 50 billion. 

IPSP became involved in the aquaculture industry in Ecuador in 1976 with a focus on tilapia and shrimp. Looking specifically at their shrimp, Santa Priscila focuses on growing them in a healthy and monitored environment. The fish are also fed a...

Scott & Jon's Introduces New Grain-Free Shrimp Product

Frozen shrimp brand Scott & Jon’s launched its first grain-free meal with the new Shrimp & Vegetable Stir Fry.

The company said the new option combines its shrimp in a grain-free approach for consumers with dietary preferences or restrictions, gluten sensitivity, digestive health issues, or blood sugar management concerns.

Co-Founder, Scott Demers, expressed his enthusiasm about the new offering: "The Shrimp & Vegetable Stir Fry is our latest entrée that provides a new option for clean eating that's still bursting with flavor. We carefully sourced and selected simple, wholesome ingredients to...

NaturalShrimp Ends Merger Agreement, Announces Re-IPO Opportunity for Uplist

Dallas-headquartered shrimp farmer NaturalShrimp announced that it terminated a previously announced merger agreement with Yotta Acquisition Corporation (“Yotta”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Yotta Merger Sub, Inc.

The company said the move was halted due to “Yotta’s inability to comply with the provision of its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that prohibits Yotta from consummating an initial business combination unless it has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon consummation of such initial business combination, in connection with the transactions contemplated with the Merger...

Shokuryu Partner Srimic Is Sri Lanka’s First Black Tiger BAP-Certified Processing Plant

With the assistance of partner company Shokuyu Co. Ltd., Srimic Exports Pvt. Ltd.’s shrimp processing plant in Sri Lanka has attained Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, exemplifying Srimic’s commitment to food safety, environmental responsibility, social responsibility, animal health and welfare, and traceability. It is the second processing plant in Sri Lanka to earn the distinction.

Shokuryu has been doing business with Srimic as a partner processing plant for more than 25 years. The processing plant produces approximately 250 tons of now one-star BAP-certified...

Barry Group Buys Ocean Choice’s Port au Choix Shrimp Processing Facility

Ocean Choice announced this week that they are selling their Port au Choix shrimp processing facility to the Barry Group. The sale will allow Barry Group to immediately begin operations this month. They also plan to continue operations at the plant for the rest of the season.

Ocean Choice began operating out of the facility in 2007. The Port au Choix processing facility processes cooked and peeled shrimp. However, since that start, there has been over a 150 million pound decline in quota available for processing...

ANALYSIS: Shrimp Less Volatile Than Other Proteins

Volatility provides a measure of price uncertainty in commodity markets and measures the degree of variation of price levels. Since price reflects supply and demand, high levels of volatility usually mean different supply and/or demand factors are influencing movements. These sharp fluctuations can create challenges to run any business.

While traders may welcome this, typical retail and foodservice buyers usually like a more stable pricing environment — mainly because of mitigating swings in consumer inflation and less costs for risk management...