10% Tariffs on $200 Billion Chinese Exports Take Effect; Some Pollock and Cod Products May be Exempt

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by John Sackton - September 18, 2018

The Trump administration, over tremendous industry opposition, went ahead with a new round of punitive tariffs on Chinese products sent to America.

The new tariffs were set at 10% initially, and will rise to 25% on Jan 1, 2019.

Despite over 6000 comments opposing the tariffs, few changes were made in the list to accommodate individual companies or industries.  The exception was Apple, which secured exemptions for its watch, airpods, and ...

Vietnam Shrimp Review Released in Federal Register

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 17, 2018

Last week local Vietnam news outlets reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce lowered antidumping tax on Vietnamese frozen shrimp to 4.78% from the previous 25.39% announced in March. The full notice from the Department of Commerce has now been posted by the International Trade Administration (ITA) in the Federal Register.

According to the notice, the Department of Commerce has determined that Fimex VN sold certain frozen warmwater shrimp from Vietnam at less than normal value during the ...

Peru Starts White Shrimp Exports to China

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [FishFirst] translated by Amy Zhong - September 13, 2018

Recently Tianjin of China has welcomed a batch of frozen white shrimp from Peru. This is the first time that China has imported white shrimp from Peru after both parties signed an agreement regarding white shrimp inspection and quarantine. Local customs finished the relevant inspection and quarantine procedures on August 29.

These shrimp weighed 17,962 kg in total. Customs examined them in accordance with their standards and sampled them based on the bilateral agreement ...

Bangladesh Takes First Steps to Cultivate Vannamei along with Black Tiger Shrimp

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  [The Financial Express (Bangladesh)] by Arafat Ara - September 12, 2018

The government is considering giving permission to produce vannamei variety shrimp to help increase the export earnings from frozen fish sector, sources said.

To this effect, a technical committee headed by Goljar Hossain, director general of Department of Fisheries (DoF) held its first meeting on Monday.

It suggested for a feasibility study in giving permission to a certain number of producers who are complying with bio-security and other issues, said an official ...

Ecuador Shrimp Sector Concerned of Impact of Diesel Price

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 7, 2018

According to Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture, the increasing price of diesel is set to impact the shrimp sector.

José Antonio Camposano, Executive President of the National Chamber of Aquaculture, said in a press release that if the price of industrial diesel reaches the international price of USD $2.20, a 10 cents per pound increase would be added to shrimp. The increased price of shrimp would make the product less competitive in the international market ...

Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp Promotion returns With 2 New Flavors

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - August 30, 2018

Red Lobster has a deal that will rid you of your end of summer blues. The seafood chain’s Endless Shrimp promotion is returning to locations on Monday, September 3 with two new flavors.

Red Lobster customers who want to take advantage of the promotion can order two items from the Endless Shrimp lineup. The meal comes with a salad, side dish and Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Diners can then order additional items from the lineup one at a time ...

Thailand Regaining Shrimp Production Momentum with Larger Shrimp Says CPF

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by John Sackton - August 27, 2018

Thailand will regain its spot as one of the global premier producers of shrimp by focusing on technology and breeding larger animals, says CPF.

At a recent analyst meeting, Dr. Sujint Thammasart, DVM, Chief Operating Officer - Aquaculture Business of Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) said that the company has successfully introduced a new farming technique called the  “3 Cleaning Approach."

Five years ago, the wide spreading of EMS has prompted CPF to develop a farming system to curb the disease..

China Replaces the U.S. as Second-Largest Importer of Ecuador Shrimp

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Shuichan] translated by Amy Zhong - August 23, 2018

According to Ecuador’s media, the country’s export value of large shrimp has reached $1.59 billion USD during the first half of 2018, while its export volume has been 539 million pounds.China has purchased 95.07 million pounds of large shrimp worth $277 million USD. Its export to China has risen by 14 percent compared with the same period last year and it has constituted 18 percent of the country’s total export. Now China has outrun America and become the second largest importer of Ecuador’s ...

Louisiana 2018 Fall Inshore Shrimp Season Opening Dates Announced

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - August 3, 2018

On Friday the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LDWF) confirmed the opening dates for the fall inshore shrimp season. The dates are based on information provided by biologists, who have been monitoring hydrological conditions, as well as conducting trawl samples throughout the states waters. The dates are subject to change.

Find the season opening information from the LDWF below:

- The portion of state inside waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line westward to the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at ...

Slade Gorton Expands Seafood Made Simple Brand of Meal Kits

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [NFI Salmon Council] - August 2, 2018

With the popularity of food subscription services and pre-measured meal kits red-hot and on-the-rise, Boston-based seafood manufacturer and distributor Slade Gorton has expanded its line of meal kits under its Seafood Made Simple brand. At the center of many of these new kits is salmon, America’s favorite fish.

Thanks to its naturally rich flavor, buttery texture, and incredible versatility, salmon remains the fish Americans love to eat most ...

NOAA Finds Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone Smaller Than Anticipated 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - August 1, 2018

The results of a survey conducted by NOAA supported scientists has found that the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is smaller than originally predicted. The dead zone, an area of low oxygen that can make it inhabitable for marine life, was forecast to reach approximately 5,780 square miles this summer, about the size of the state of Connecticut. However, NOAA scientists determined that this summer’s dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico reached only ...

Ecuadorian Shrimp Sustainability Initiative Receives Support from European Union

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] July 24, 2018

To boost the competitiveness of Ecuadorian shrimp, and increase exports to European countries, the investment fund of the European Union (EU) will allocate resources to the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP), through "EXPORT-DES", a program of the Corporation for Exports and Investments Promotion (CORPEI).

According to a press release, the EU is supporting SSP with the aim of increasing the number of actors, especially small and middle size producers, to participate in the initiative. As members of SSP, companies are committed to achieving, and...

Vietnam Shrimp Farmers to Benefit From Cargill Innovation Center

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - July 16, 2018

A new shrimp farming hub in Vietnam will be able to aid aquaculture farmers in accessing the latest innovations.

The farming hub, a Technology Application Center (TAC) in Bac Lieu province, was opened by Cargill last week. The facility was not only created to help aquaculture farmers access the latest innovations, but also “apply the best possible solutions to grow healthy seafood and increase their profits.”

“Our Technology Application Center will apply shrimp farming knowledge and technology from ...

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery Re-opens Off of Texas Sunday

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - July 11, 2018

The National Marine Fisheries Service recently announced the opening of federal waters to shrimp trawling on July announces federal waters from 9 to 200 nautical miles off Texas will open on Sunday, July 15.

The opening, beginning 30 minutes after official sunset on July 15, corresponds to the time Texas opens its state waters to shrimp trawling, according to NMFS.

The waters off Texas are closed to shrimp fishing annually to allow brown shrimp to reach a larger and more valuable size ...

Data Shows Increase in Vietnam Border Trade and Likely Uptick in Smuggling

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Chinaeel] translated by Amy Zhong - July 6, 2018

Statistics from Vietnam show the country has imported seafood worth more than $163 million USD in May, which is an increase of 29 percent from that of April and an increase of 60 percent compared with the same period last year. This means the import value is close to $698 million USD within the first five months this year, which is an increase of 33 percent compared with the same period last year ...

NFI Reopens 3-Day Shrimp School Education Program This Fall

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - July 3, 2018

The National Fisheries Institute’s Shrimp School is back after a couple of year hiatus. NFI announced this week that their 2018 education program, in cooperation with Dr. Steve Otwell of the University of Florida and FDA sensory experts, will be held from October 23-25th on the campus of the University of North Caroline’s Coastal Studies Institute in the Outer Banks.

The Shrimp School event will be conducted as a lecture series, as well as a hands-on sensory course ...

Alaska Fall Fisheries Gearing Up as Salmon Season Draws to a Close

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Fish Radio with Laine Welch] - September 13, 2018

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch  - Fall means even more fishing across Alaska.

As Alaska’s salmon season draws to a close, lots of fall fisheries are gearing up. The total Alaska salmon tally mid-week was 112 million fish in a season that was a bust in most regions. Exceptions were Bristol Bay, Norton Sound and Kotzebue. The values of the 2018 salmon fishery will be out next month ...

Georgia Shrimper Gets Six Years in Prison For Fraudulent Claims of Import Injury

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by John Sackton – September 12, 2018

One of the worst aspects of the shrimp duties imposed in 2004 was that Congress allowed a mechanism for domestic shrimp processors and operators get direct payments from the government.

Although the duties were sold to the domestic industry as a means to gain higher income and market share, in fact the vast majority of the multi-million dollar payouts made under the Byrd program went to a small group of shrimp processors ...

India’s Boosters Say they will Overtake China in Shrimp Production This Year; Others Skeptical

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] Sept. 11, 2018

Ravi Kumar Yellanki, president, Indian Society of Aquaculture Professionals says India will surpass China in shrimp production this year.  His views were published in the Hindu.

“We have already overtaken China in shrimp exports last year but are on par with regard to farmed shrimp production. Next year, we will overtake China [on this count] too,” he said.

While the shrimp production target for the current year stands at 700,000 tons, India might end up producing 650,000 tons, on par with China. Last year, India produced 600,000 tons, he said. 

Shrimp production in China declined after the outbreak ...

Lobster Import Volume Higher While Shrimp Imports Lower in July

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] Analysis by Jim Kenny - September 5, 2018

July import numbers were released on Wednesday, and according to the data, the month saw the volume of lobster products imported into the U.S. increase 3.5 percent compared to July 2017. However, the same can’t be said for shrimp.  

Imports of all lobster products in July totaled 10.38 million pounds, a 3.6 percent increase year-to-date. Market Reporter Jim Kenny reports that imports of lobster products from Canada increased 4.5 percent in July; and that imports of cold-water lobster tails are ...

Biotechnology Company Develops Feed Ingredient to Increase Post Larval Shrimp Survival 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - August 28, 2018

Biotechnology company White Dog Labs has developed a feed ingredient that can reportedly increase post larval shrimp survival and weight gain.

The New Castle, Delaware, based company announced on Tuesday that they had their Pro Tyton feed ingredient independently tested by the Center for Aquaculture Technologies in Canada (CATC). Initial studies conducted by CATC found that Pro Tyton doubled post larval survival rate, as well as increased weight gain by 50%.

“We initially tested Pro Tyton incorporation in salmon feed and ...

Higher Indian Raw Material Shrimp Prices Easing Shortages; But Overall Production Down for Year

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton – August 27, 2018

Concerns about short term Indian shrimp production problems seems to have eased this week.

Farmers had held back harvesting ponds due to dissatisfaction with prices being offered by the plants, and their successful push has led to higher raw material prices.

This is despite the fact that US buyers of Indian shrimp are not yet committing at the new prices.

In Andhra Pradesh, supplies are low as farmers complete their harvest and prepare for the winter crop.  But plants are bringing in shrimp from other regions, notably West Bengal, Orissa, and Gujarat, all ...

Argentina Shrimp Catches Up As Season Returns to Normal

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Undercurrent News] by Matilde Mereghetti - August 13, 2018

Despite the emergence of a major trade union conflict and climatic circumstances that have limited the Argentine fleet's operations, July marked a volume peak for the country's shrimp season.
 
In July, a total of 34,099 metric tons were caught in Argentine waters, up 56% from June and 10% year-on-year, according to preliminary data from the country's fishing ministry. 

Meanwhile, freezer vessel operations are on track to return to normal...

June 2018 Shrimp Imports Lower; First Time India Has Shipped Less Shrimp YOY Since June 2016 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Jim Kenny - August 3, 2018

June 2018 imports were released on Friday and the data shows that this is the first time since June 2016 that India has shipped less shrimp year-over-year.

This past June the U.S. imported 39.038 million lbs. from India. That’s a 1.7 percent drop from June 2017, which saw the U.S. import 39.715 million lbs. of shrimp. Ecuador (-16.3%), Thailand (-43.5%), Vietnam (-13.8%) and China (-21.3%) also declined in June. Meanwhile, shipments from ...

Photo Credit: Clay Irving/ Flickr

Iceland Seafood International Acquires Solo Seafood Ehf  

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - August 1, 2018

Iceland Seafood International (ISI) has finalized the terms and has formally purchased Solo Seafood ehf, the sole owner of Icelandic Iberica and Ecomsa in Spain and Achernar in Argentina. The merging of the businesses has been finalized but is subject to certain conditions including the required approval by ISI shareholders. ISI made the decision to buy Solo Seafood after seeing positive 2017 performances and the profit Solo Seafood made in 2018.

Solo Seafood is owned by Sjávarsýn, FISK ...

Sustainable Shrimp Partnership Holds First Feed Working Group Meeting

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - July 31, 2018

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) has created a Feed Working Group to drive innovation and highlight the technological and sustainable advancements being made in the shrimp industry.

The group held their first meeting in Machala, Ecuador, earlier this month. As a first order of business, the Feed Working Group will be reviewing and commenting on the draft of the Feed Standard of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Members must have ASC certification, a requirement that promotes SSP’s quality standards ...

Giant Tiger Prawns from Malaysia a Big Hit on Alibaba's T-mall Platform

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Shuichan] translated by Amy Zhong - July 18, 2018

The sales of Malaysia’s giant tiger prawns on the T-mall ecommerce platform has skyrocketed by 10 times last year compared with last year. These prawns are renowned in the shrimp family for their large sizes and tasty meat. T-mall chose prawns which that have undergone various selection procedures in aquaculture and processing to ensure high qualities.

On Nov. 11 last year, 350,000 such prawns were sold, which shows its high status. On June 18, another ...

Louisiana Shrimpers Applaud Tariffs on Chinese Shrimp; Want Them Applied Across the Board

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by John Sackton – July 12, 2018

One part of the US seafood industry is applauding the prospect of more tariffs on Chinese Seafood.  That would be the Louisiana shrimp producers.

The Louisiana shrimp task force was meeting in Houma when the list of potential new tariffs were announced.   Acy Cooper, a task force member and president of the Lousiana shrimp association, and a long time advocate of tariffs on shrimp imports, said  “We had a record number of shrimp ...

Total FDA Refusals Increase Nearly 64% in June 2018

Total refusals of shipments increased 63.9% from June 2017 to June 2018. Year-to-date there are 118 line item refusals ...

Fourth of July Food By The Numbers: A Look at Retail and Restaurants

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Amanda Buckle - July 5, 2018

Barbecue, fireworks and sunburn – all signs of a good Fourth of July.  But what about for retailers and restaurants?

Prior to the holiday, the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicted that Americans would spend $6.9 billion on food for Fourth of July cookouts. That number is down from last year’s record of $7.1 billion, and the drop in spending is being attributed to the fact that the Fourth of July fell on a Wednesday this year ...