Canada’s XpertSea Announces First Marketplace That Connects Shrimp Buyers and Growers Directly

Canadian technology company XpertSea is changing the way shrimp trading is done. On Tuesday the company announced that they have launched the first marketplace that connects shrimp buyers and growers directly.

The marketplace uses XpertSea’s AI-powered smartphone app, which allows producers capture accurate shrimp health and quality data by taking a photo. The app also accurately predicts commercial size and pond value.

“Working with farmers and helping them grow better shrimp, we learned first-hand of their struggle to access cash flow and...

Shrimp Run into Trouble Again in Chinese Market

China’s domestic and live shrimp prices have been on a roller coaster ride this November, mainly due to enthusiastic farmers and reluctant buyers. Despite an early revival, some imported shrimp have also suffered from obvious sales contraction, and their prospect seems far from promising.

After a slight increase, prices of the country’s live shrimp declined in mid-November in such regions as Shandong and the Pearl River Delta region. Meanwhile prices took the opposite route in others like Guangxi and the western Guangdong. Despite this difference, depression has been common in...

ANALYSIS: Availability of Wild-Caught U.S. Shrimp Critically Low

Shrimp landings in the Gulf of Mexico have fallen to the lowest recorded level; at the current pace, the expectation is for only 69 million pounds landed. That is a 14 percent decline year-over-year and 33 percent fewer than the prior 10-year average. In addition, in September, the USDA initiated a purchase of frozen wild shrimp products for the Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Program totaling 4.3 million pounds. So, in essence, only 65 million pounds will likely...

UB Consulting: Cooked Shrimp to Play a Big Role at Retail

Six months since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many of the initial assumptions of what would happen in the upcoming months made by Urner Barry, as well as many in the industry, have materialized to a certain degree. First, with foodservice virtually shut down for several weeks and then reopened at a limited capacity, it was only natural to assume that much of the demand would shift to retail. As such, cooked shrimp was expected to play a big role. Therefore, in this report we focused on retail feature ad activity for cooked shrimp since this category is largely sold at grocery stores, in addition to being one of the categories experiencing large increases in imports relative to the last few years.

Click HERE for the latest report from Urner Barry Consulting...

China Detects Coronavirus On Packaging of Shrimp from Saudi Arabia 

Shrimp from Saudi Arabia is the latest victim of China’s testing of coronavirus on frozen goods.

The Chinese city of Lanzhou reported over the weekend that they had detected the coronavirus on packaging from a batch of shrimp imported from Saudi Arabia. Reuters reports that the cold storage plant where the case was discovered temporarily closed down to test employees and determine the whereabouts of all the food sold. According to the Lanzhou Municipal Health Commission, the frozen shrimp in question was purchased by Zhanjiang Guolian Aquatic Products Co.

LISTEN: September Shrimp and Lobster Imports; Snow Crab Update and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about September shrimp and lobster imports. Plus, the latest news on the tilapia and snow crab markets.

This week's episode is brought to you by Urner Barry's COMTELL. Urner Barry continues to build upon the value COMTELL offers customers with new features and improvements consistently being added to the platform. We are excited to announce three new widgets for the COMTELL dashboard, designed to increase efficiency and expand on the amount of information available...

ANALYSIS: September Shrimp Imports Second Highest on Record

September shrimp imports were released today, and following a record monthly figure in August, came in just short of that. At 165.189 million pounds, it is the second-highest monthly figure on record. This represented a 17.5 percent increase from the 140.572 million pounds last year.

Urner Barry Consulting Economist Angel Rubio expected the large gain, forecasting a total of 160.777 million pounds...

West Coast Pink Shrimp Season a Win for Landings; Not so Much for Markets, Price

Call the 2020 shrimp season a muddled mess. The season opened in April, just as shutdowns due to the coronavirus were happening and the future in the face of the pandemic was unfolding.

But while the season may have opened on time, shrimpers on much of the coast held out for 45 days -- both in hopes of a better price and to let the small shrimp, prevalent at the beginning of the season, grow larger.

"But they were borderline to bring in, even after 45...

Another Month, Another Historic Low in Shrimp Landings in the Gulf of Mexico

Recent figures of shrimp landings for the Gulf of Mexico show more dismal news for shrimpers. Landings are down and ex-vessel prices for many sizes are down as well.

September data from the National Marine Fisheries Service reveal 6.1 million pounds of shrimp were landed in the Gulf, the lowest total reported for any September since 2002 in the historical database maintained by the Southern Shrimp Alliance. Prior to this year, the smallest amount of shrimp harvested in the Gulf was...

LISTEN: Qingdao Coronavirus Update; CBP's Determination on Minh Phu; Seafood Analysis and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about the CBP's determination that Minh Phu evaded antidumping duty orders on frozen shrimp from India; the recent success of Boston lobsters in China; a new study revealing that shoppers are buying seafood to stay healthy; and the latest detection of coronavirus on packaging of frozen seafood. Plus, listen for a pangasius and king crab analysis from UB market reporters.

This week's episode is brought to you by Urner Barry's COMTELL...

CBP Determines Minh Phu Evaded Antidumping Duty Order on Frozen Shrimp From India

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has determined that there was substantial evidence that Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, through their related U.S. importer MSeafood Corporation, entered merchandise covered by an antidumping order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India into the U.S. through evasion. According to documents, there is substantial evidence that demonstrates MSeafood imported Indian-origin frozen shrimp that were transshipped and the country of origin claimed as Vietnam.

This story goes back to May 2019, when Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood's office sent a letter to...

Argentina’s Offshore Shrimp Season Dwindles to a Lackluster Close

Following weeks of speculation, Argentina’s national water shrimp season is set to close this Friday, October 16.

In a bid to protect the most profitable fishery in the Argentine Sea, several adjustments to harvest schedules have been taken in recent years, albeit to varying degrees of success.  

While the season was extended beyond the usual October 1 closure date, a delayed start and reduced processing capacity amid lockdown measures has seen landings reduced by around 8% in comparison to the first nine months of 2019...

Seafood Sales Stay Strong During Pandemic

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

One unexpected constant amid the Covid uncertainties is that people continue to buy and cook more seafood.

Since March, when the pandemic led to lockdowns in the U.S. and elsewhere, consumer buying habits have busted several long held beliefs, including that Americans are reluctant to cook seafood at home.

A poll of major retailers by the Global Aquaculture Alliance is consistent with other surveys - evidence of the seafood-at-home craze is overwhelming. One U.S. supermarket chain reported a 40 percent increase in salmon and shrimp..

Thai Union to Expand Use of AlgaPrime DHA Feed Ingredient in Shrimp Farming Production

Thai Union announced that it will expand the use of Corbion's AlgaPrime DHA omega-3 rich algae feed ingredient. Following a large scale trial in 2019, Thai Union said this expansion, “marks a pivotal moment for both shrimp farmers and other seafood producers as it validates another success of using alternative, sustainable feed ingredients at scale.”

Thai Union noted that with farmed shrimp accounting for 55% of global shrimp production, there is a great opportunity for sustainable growth of the industry...

Wild American Shrimp Searching for 2020 Chef of the Year

Do you have what it takes to be named Chef of the Year? Well then Wild American Shrimp, the American Shrimp Processors Association's marketing program for wild-caught Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp, is looking for you.

The nomination form for the 2020 Chef of the Year award is now available on AmericanShrimp.com. In order to be nominated, chefs must have promoted Wild American Shrimp through their personal social media channels, TV appearances, and other media opportunities. Chefs must also be involved in...

Menon’s MrFeed Shows Promise in Recent Shrimp Feed Trials

Menon Renewable Products shared the results of a research conducted on the company’s MrFeed ingredient product as part of the F3 (Future of Fish Feed) Feed Innovation Network (F3 FIN) research. The results were promising for the company that aims to create disruptive animal feed technology.

Findings showed that shrimp feed using MrFeed at an 18% inclusion level, fully replacing fishmeal, had notably higher survival rates when exposed to Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), when compared to the survivability of shrimp fed traditional diets containing fish meal and fish oil...

LISTEN: Indoor Dining Updates; Salmon at Retail; Coronavirus on Shrimp Packaging and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about indoor dining restrictions; salmon at retail; the latest on tilapia and coronavirus found on shrimp packaging in China.

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry's Reporter. The Winter Issue will be getting sent out this December, but there is still time to advertise! Call 732-240-5330 or email advertise@urnerbarry.com to learn more.

VIDEO: Coronavirus on Saudi Shrimp; Opilio Snow Crab Auction; Bristol Bay Sockeye Forecast; and More

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about Chinese authoriteis finding coronavirus on packaging of Saudi shrimp; Japan's first opilio snow crab auction;  ADF&G's Bristol Bay Sockeye forecast; and Clearwater Seafoods' Q3 results. 

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry's Reporter. The Winter Issue will be getting sent out this December, but there is still time to advertise! Call 732-240-5330 or email advertise@urnerbarry.com to learn more. 

Saudi Aquaculture Society Says Industry Has Been Following Strict Measures to Limit Spread of COVID

The Saudi Aquaculture Society is speaking out following reports from China that the coronavirus was found on packaging of shrimp from Saudi Arabia.

“Since the early days of the COVID-19 padndemic, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, along with all relevant national authorities and in collaboration with the private sector, have taken all precautionary measures, based on international guidelines, to ensure the health of all the workers in all food-producing facilities and to ensure the safety of the products... 

Ecuadorian Shrimp Sector Concerned After Europe Expands Import Quota With Zero Tariff For Shrimp

Cámara Nacional De Acuacultura, Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture, expressed concerns on behalf of Ecuador's shrimp sector about the European Commission announced that they would be increasing the annual import quota in 2021 from 40,000 to 48,000 metric tons of shrimp for processing, under the policy of autonomous tariff quotas with zero tariff. According to Cámara Nacional De Acuacultura, the decision benefits countries that do not have a Trade Agreement with the European Union, and "puts them to compete on equal terms...

Brutal Season for China’s Shrimp Market Coming to a Close, Better Days On the Horizon

With China recovering from the coronavirus, the country’s shrimp market has also become more bustling than before. This October has seen an increase in prices of its domestic live shrimp, especially large ones, while there has also been a greater demand for some imported shrimp of late. And their prospect also seems rosy.

According to some insiders, live shrimp prices have raised in most places in South China, and there is even a shortage in Zhanjiang, a city in Guangdong and Hainan...

Blue Circle Foods Releases Sustainable Pacific White Shrimp Product

Blue Circle Foods launched its Blue Circle Shrimp product which was farmed in partnership with Lanec Corporation. The Pacific White Shrimp, farmed in Ecuador and will offer shoppers a sustainable shrimp option through its online store at a $19.99 price tag.

Lanec is a family-owned farm located on a remote coast of Ecuador which specializes in Pacific White Shrimp farming in its ocean-water ponds with minimal environmental impact and without harm to mangroves.

“We are thrilled to be working with a family farm with such an excellent reputation...

Minh Phu Responds To CBP Determination That MSeafood Evaded Antidumping Duty Order on Frozen Shrimp

Minh Phu CEO Le Van Quang is speaking out following U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) determination that the company, through their U.S. importer MSeafood Corporation, entered merchandise covered by an antidumping order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India into the U.S. through evasion.

“Although we actively cooperated and invited investigators from the CBP to visit us in Vietnam, they did not conduct field verification,” Quang told Viet Nam News. “This has led to the CBP’s inaccurate assessment of Minh Phu’s imported shrimp and...

Whole Foods Releases Their Predictions for Top 10 Food Trends For 2021

What will be the hottest food trends in 2021? Whole Foods is predicting "epic breakfasts," the rise of the chickpea, and much more.

For the past six years the retailer has been turning to their global buyers and experts to predict food trends for the new year. In 2018 Whole Foods Market predicted that 2019 would be the year of seaweed snacks. The following year they highlighted sophisticated kid's menus, consisting of things like salmon fish sticks from Happy Fish Salmon and Serenity Kids' 100%...

Chinese Shrimp Market Looks More Promising During the October’s Festivals

After depression earlier this year, the Chinese shrimp market has finally started hustling again in the recent National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival. Large domestic shrimp are seemingly the biggest winner, though the situation is also bettering for small, mid-sized as well as imported ones during the holiday shopping.

According to one Guangxi farmer, prices of some large shrimp have even set a new record compared with previous festival data. Those at the size of 27 shrimp/jin (1 jin=0.5 kilo) were sold at 36 yuan/jin...

OPINION: Visa Restrictions Are Threatening the Survival of the U.S. Shrimp Industry

It’s our busy season right now in the Texas shrimping industry. Seventy percent of our income is made between July and October, and during this time we need workers. Lots of them. Of course, we’d like to hire from our state’s growing pool of unemployed workers, but that’s not possible. Shrimpers need years of experience to safely operate a boat. That’s why we look abroad—we need seasoned fishermen. They travel from Central and South America to work on our boats for three months...

Louisiana Shrimpers to Receive Funding to Help Pay For Turtle Excluder Devices

On Tuesday Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced  that the state will be launching a new program to help Louisiana shrimpers pay for skimmer Turtle Excluder Devices, new mandated equipment designed to protect sea turtles and other animals from getting trapped in nets.

Turtle Excluder Devices, also called TEDs, are metal grids that are installed inside of a shrimp net. While shrimp are captured, the TEDs prevent sea turtles from getting stuck and drowning. The device costs between $150 to $350, but...

China’s Domestic Seafood Sales Rebound, Though the Country Still Faces Challenges in Seafood Trade

With the ending of fishing off-season, foodies in China seem more eager to buy seafood. And this eagerness will help revive the country’s domestic seafood market, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Though China’s seafood trade is facing a much slower recovery, many domestic ones have seen an increase either in prices or sales due to greater demand.

According to Wang, a fisherman from China’s southern Fujian province, his recent sales of domestic seafood is close to that of last year, however...

Louisiana Fishermen Brace for Yet Another Hurricane

Shrimpers in Louisiana are preparing for yet another major storm – Hurricane Delta.

Hurricane Delta hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early Wednesday morning, leaving many along the coast without power before moving over the southern Gulf of Mexico. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, Delta had weakened to a Category 1 storm, but gained some strength over the water Wednesday night. Forecasts predict that Hurricane Delta could make landfall in Louisiana on Friday as a Category 3 or Category 4 storm. This is devastating for the state, which recently had to...

ANALYSIS: August Shrimp Imports Set All-Time Record

August shrimp imports were released today to a record monthly figure of 181.289 million pounds, 17.2 percent higher than last year’s 154.698 million pounds, and 10.1 percent above the previous high seen in October 2018.

Urner Barry Consulting Economist Angel Rubio predicted the August total to come in at 186 million pounds.

All the top five trade partners contributed to the gains. Positive year-over-year imports were seen from India (+6.6%), Ecuador (+106.5%), Indonesia (+17.2%), Vietnam (+7.2%), and...