Bumble Bee Foods and SAP Create Blockchain to Track Fresh Fish from Ocean to Table

SAP SE and Bumble Bee Foods recently announced that Bumble Bee Foods is using the SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain service to trace the journey of yellowfin tuna from the Indonesian ocean to the dinner table. Together, SAP and Bumble Bee continue to innovate and improve upon seafood traceability as more and more consumers demand to know their food is safe and sustainably sourced, the companies said in a press release.

With SAP’s blockchain technology, consumers and customers will be able to easily access...

Western Pacific Managers, Fishermen Grapple with Closures, Slow Federal Pace of Reports

At 9:40 a.m. Wednesday, minutes after Kitty M. Simonds completed the executive director's report to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, the Hawai'i-based fishery was closed due to the fishery's interaction with a 17th loggerhead turtle this year.

The Hawai'i-based shallow-set longline fishery for swordfish has a federal observer on every vessel for every trip. The North Pacific loggerhead population is growing annually at 2.4 percent, but a court settlement in May 2018 reduced the fishery's ...

Change Is in the Air: Western Pacific SSC Suggests New Approaches for Suite of Issues

The Scientific and Statistical Committee of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council concluded a three-day meeting last week in Honolulu with a suite of recommendations to more effectively address issues facing fisheries in the U.S. Pacific Islands. The Council will consider those recommendations this week.

Regarding false killer whales, the SSC recommended inclusion of a population variability analysis to supplement the use of and reduce the variability of potential biological removal estimates.

The Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ), a 132,000 square mile...

Illinois Soybean Association Takes Step Towards Sustainable Tuna Production 

The global popularity of tuna consumption has resulted in overfishing of wild tuna species, like Pacific bluefin tuna, which is now at three percent of its original population. To address this issue, a collaborative effort is creating sustainable solutions to increase the tuna supply. A new grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) adds ongoing support from the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff program and will allow Ichthus Unlimited, LLC, to establish a hatchery in the San Diego Bay area. This will be the first ...

Anova Food Entering into MSC Full Assessment for their Fair Trade Fishery in North Buru Island

Anova Food, the leading sushi-quality tuna company in North America, announced on Tuesday that they will be entering into a Marine Stewardship (MSC) full assessment for their premier Fair Trade fishery in North Buru Island. They will be the first handline tuna fishery in Indonesia to enter into full MSC assessment.

“Years of data collection and sustainable fishery practices by Fair Trade fishermen have set the stage for fulfilling the rigorous demands of MSC certification for this handline fishery and we...

Bumble Bee Foods Settles Price-Fixing Lawsuit with Sysco

Bumble Bee Foods has settled the tuna price-fixing lawsuit that was brought to them by U.S. food distributor Sysco.

News that Sysco was suing Bumble Bee, as well as Chicken of the Sea and StarKist, broke in January 2018. Sysco filed the suit in Houston, and alleged that the three big tuna companies had secretly agreed to reduce the size of their tuna cans and raise prices as a way to increase profits. In addition, the lawsuit charged that the tuna companies had promised not to offer...

CBP Issues Detention Order for Tuna Harvested by Vanuata Tunago Fishery Co Vessel

Any tuna entering U.S. ports that have been manufactured wholly, or in part by the Tunago No. 61, will be detained, according to a news release from U.S Customs and Border Protection.

The CBP issued a withhold release order against tuna and tuna products from the Tunago No. 61 on February 4. The order came after CBP obtained information indicating that tuna harvested from the Tunago No. 61 was harvested with the use of forced labor.

“Under 19 U.S.C. § 1307 it is illegal to...

LemonShark Poké Introducing Ocean Hugger’s Vegan Tuna in California Locations

Fast-casual chain LemonShark Poké announced this week that they will be introducing vegan poké at three of their California locations. The restaurant, which is the third-largest poké franchise in the nation, will begin carrying Ocean Hugger Foods’ Ahimi, a vegan tuna option made from tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, water and sesame oil.

“LemonShark Poké’s mission is to serve delicious food made with only the finest ingredients at a great value, and nourish the body,” President and Co-Founder Tobi Miller said...

Bumble Bee Foods, FCF Fishery Co. and Ocean Outcomes Launch FIPs in Key Albacore Fisheries

On Tuesday Bumble Bee Foods, FCF Fishery Company and Ocean Outcomes announced their joint effort to improve longline tuna fisheries. The initiative is designed to improve fishing practices of the albacore longline tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean, as well as Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which is where Bumble Bee sources their tuna from.

“As we procure a significant amount of albacore tuna annually to meet demand for our products, we are in a unique position to help ensure the long term sustainability of...

Total FDA Refusals Decrease Over 25% in December 2018

Total refusals of shipments decreased 25.7% from December 2017 to December 2018. Year-to-date there are 78 line item refusals compared to 105 at this time last year.

Tuna had the biggest YTD increase in December, with 243 line item refusals compared to 156 at this time last year; a 55.8% increase. Mahi Mahi refusals also increased, with 172 YTD compared to 137 last year YTD. Snapper stayed the same, with 59 line item refusals last year and YTD this year...

PT CRAC First Fishery in Indonesia To Achieve MSC Certification

PT. Citraraja Ampat Canning, Sorong Pole and Line Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna (PT CRAC) has become the first fishery in Indonesia to receive Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

“PT. Citraraja Ampat Canning and the Sorong Pole and Line fishery have always had sustainable fishing as our core value and we are very grateful to be the first Indonesian MSC certified fishery,” CEO Mr. Pak Ali Wibisono said in a press release. “This certification runs parallel with the push by Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for the implementation of...

Swiss Company Gustav Gerig Launches Blockchain for Pacifical MSC Tuna Products

Global marketing company Pacifical is involved in a new partnership with Swiss company Gustav Gerig. Gustav Gerig owns the Raimond Freres brand tuna line and will be working with Pacifical to make their MSC certified canned and pouched Rosé tuna range traceable through the Ethereum blockchain.

The Raimond Freres brand Rosé tuna range will now feature the Pacifical logo on the lid of the cans. Consumers will be able to scan the QR code on the label, enter the tracking code, and then access all traceability information available ...

October 2018 Tuna, Mahi Refusals Up YTD; Shrimp Refusals Drop Slightly

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - November 9, 2018

Total refusals of shipments increased 52.4% from October 2017 to October 2018. Year-to-date there are 96 line item refusals compared to 63 at the same time last year.  

Tuna had the biggest YTD increase in October, with 197 line item refusals compared to 125 in October 2017. That’s a 57.6% increase. Mahi Mahi refusals also increased, with 160 line item refusals in October 2018 compared to 121 a year ago.

Unclassified fish, tilapia, lobster, snapper and shrimp are all down YTD ...

Traffic Chaos Marks a Difficult Start for Tokyo’s New Fish Market

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [The Asahi Shimbun] by Noriyasu Nukui and Yuka Ariyoshi - October 12, 2018

Roads leading to Tokyo's new fish market in the capital’s Koto Ward were gridlocked from dawn as cries of the tuna auction rang out when bidding for fish and seafood kicked off.

Trucks and cars were caught up in a massive traffic jam on a slope approaching a parking lot at one wing of the market. Some vehicles could not even reach the lot even after crawling along at a snail’s pace for about ...

Prosecutors Delay Tuna Price Fixing Case to Pursue Criminal Charge Against Chris Lischewski

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 12, 2018

At the monthly status conference on the consolidated price fixing case against Bumble Bee Tuna by a number of major retailers and foodservice distributors, federal prosecutors asked the judge to delay discovery in the case until criminal procedings against Chris Lischewski, former CEO of Bumble Bee, is wrapped up.

Prosecutors said some depositions could interfere with the criminal case. 

Lischewski was indicted on a single count of Price Fixing and Conspiracy.  The original indictment in May, 2018 claimed that ...

Two New Trustees Named Int’l Pole and Line Foundation

LONDON -- The International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), the charity that is committed to developing and supporting responsible one-by-one tuna fisheries and supply chains, named Jurgita Rhodes and Rahim Hoosen to its Board of Trustees.

Rhodes is Senior Partner at Marquis Media Partners and Hoosen is the Trading Head of Groceries, Household, Pet, Personal Care, Print Media at Woolworths South Africa. their appointments are effective immediately.

Rhodes has extensive experience across fintech, media and disruptive technologies, and has led pioneering commercial transformation programmes at the forefront of ...

Stavis Seafoods Launches SeaTru Lifestyle Seafood Brand Ahead of Boston Seafood Expo

Stavis Seafoods announced on Wednesday the launch of their new lifestyle seafood brand: SeaTru.

According to the company, SeaTru products meet in-depth brand standards and are “completely traceable, socially responsible and sustainably sourced.” So far the initial products featured in the line include retail-ready pasteurized crabmeat, fresh Norwegian salmon, as well as the Prime Cuts Portion Program, which includes high quality salmon, halibut, swordfish and tuna portions. Each produced is sourced from a sustainable certified, ranked or domestic fishery, or from a fishery involved in...

MSC Opens Consultations to Ban Certification of ‘Compartmentalized’ Fisheries, Such as Free School Tuna

The Marine Stewardship Council is taking steps to ban the practice of certified fisheries also participating in non-certified fisheries on the same trip.  This was the issue that came up nearly ten years ago when the first Pacifical tuna fisheries were certified, with the requirement that vessels segregate catches from free school tuna (which had a certificate) and catches from FAD tuna, which did not.

Skipjack tuna caught with FADS is not eligible for MSC certification due to the high bycatch of...

Maine Lobster, Tuna and More Seafood Star on Wolfgang Puck's 2019 Oscars Menu

The 91st Academy Awards are this Sunday and you know what that means – the stars will feast! While all eyes are generally on the Best Picture nominees, foodies focus on what celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck will be serving at the post-Oscars Governors Ball. And just like last year, seafood has a strong presence on the menu.

Wolfgang Puck has been catering the Governors Ball for 25 years and is responsible for the over 30 dish menu...

Good Catch Debuts Plant-Based Tuna at Whole Foods, Thrive Market

Good Catch, a company that produces animal-free alternatives to seafood, has just taken its fish-free tuna to market. Starting February 20, Whole Foods Market and Thrive Market will be the first to carry the award-winning plant-based product.

Good Catch was co-founded by Wicked Healthy authors and chefs Chad and Derek Sarno. The plant-based tuna is "the culmination of [the Sarnos'] experience as plant-based chefs, combined with [their] passion for healthy eating as well as animal and environmental welfare...

StarKist Adds Asian Inspired Flavors to Tuna Creations Pouch Line

StarKist is going BOLD. The company announced this week that they have introduced additional flavors to their line of Tuna Creations single serve pouches. And these new flavors will definitely leave your mouth watering.

New to the Tuna Creations pouch line is BOLD Spicy Korean Style with Gochujang; BOLD Red Curry with Coconut; and Ginger Sesame. The new flavors allow tuna lovers to be adventurous while enjoying a reliable favorite.

"StarKist is constantly driving innovation when it comes to new flavor...

Total FDA Refusals Increase Over 48% in January 2019

Total refusals of shipments increased 48.3% from January 2018 to January 2019. Year-to-date there are 175 line item refusals compared to 118 at this time last year.

Snapper had the biggest YTD increase in January, with 71 line item refusals compared to 3 at this time last year; a 2266.7% increase. Tilapia refusals also increased, with 16 line item refusals YTD compared to 4 last year YTD. That’s a 300% increase. Shrimp increased 52.4%, with 32 line item refusals YTD compared to...

ISSF says Nearly 80% of Tuna Stocks Fail First Principle Required for MSC Certification

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, which is a supporter of the Marine Stewardship Council, released a report today saying that only 5 out of 19 global tuna stocks could achieve a passing score on the most basic MSC principle: avoiding overfishing.

A report by independent scientists looked at how global tuna stocks fared compared to the MSC’s first principle, which requires that a fishery be managed in such a way as to sustain the stock.

Normally this involves data, harvest control rules and a fishery management system that is empowered to respond to changes in the size of the stock and can determine when that stock is in danger...

Film Chronicles Changes in Indonesia’s Fish Management, Highlights ‘One-by-one’ Tuna Fishery

London -- A new film ‘An Indonesian tuna tale: Championing sustainability’ illustrates the crucial social and economic role played by Indonesia’s one-by-one tuna fisheries and their efforts to market their catch to global buyers. 

Only a few years ago intense catching by local and foreign fishing fleets, together with illegal fishing had threatened Indonesia’s fisheries resources. But thanks to the Indonesian government’s tough stance against IUU vessels and protective policies towards marine habitats, fish stocks are rebuilding and communities have embraced management ...

Tuna Conservation Group Forms Alliance With Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

On Thursday the Tuna Conservation Group (TUNACONS) announced that they had made a “strategic alliance” with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTTC) by signing two Memorandum of Understanding.

According to TUNACONS, the MOUs were signed with the following purposes:

-Strengthening the evaluation system for tropical tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO)

 -Evaluation of impacts of sets on FADs on juvenile yellowfin and bigeye tuna, as well as on by-catch

 -Technical review of the good use of the sorting grid...

Total FDA Refusals Decrease Slightly in November 2018

Total refusals of shipments decreased 1.6% from November 2017 to November 2018. Year-to-date there are 61 line item refusals compared to 62 at this time last year.

Tuna had the biggest YTD increase in November, with 203 line item refusals compared to 135 at this time last year; a 50.4% increase. Mahi Mahi refusals also increased, with 168 YTD compared to 126 last year YTD.

Unclassified fish, tilapia, lobster, snapper and shrimp are all down YTD. Unclassified fish had a 64.4% drop...

NOAA’s Henderschedt Says ICCAT’s Lack of Progress on Conservation Measures ‘Disappointing’

John Henderschedt, Director of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, is speaking out after the conclusion of the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT).

The meeting took place in Croatia last week, and reported on the progress being made to combat IUU fishing. And while that’s something worth commending, Hendershedt says that the Commission’s “lack of progress on key conservation measures is disappointing.”

“Earlier this year, a stock assessment confirmed that Atlantic bigeye tuna is overfish and ...

All About Healthy Foods Launches Plant-Based Seafood Alternative

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - October 19, 2018

All About Healthy Foods Holdings, LLC announced earlier this week that they have entered into an agreement with Worldwide Food Associates (WFA) of Liverpool to introduce, market and distribute their Loma Linda brand of products.

Loma Linda develops plant-based protein products, including their latest product TUNO, a plant-based seafood alternative.

"As we continue our journey in food development, we are pleased with the enthusiastic consumer reception of our ready-to-eat meals, and we're exceptionally bullish on our newest creation ...

Full MSC Certification Will Give Papua New Guinea a Better Deal on Tuna

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - October 8, 2018

Papua New Guinea has received the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for its tuna fishery, according to Fishing Industry Association (FIA) PNG Inc.

The association said this gave PNG opportunity to apply for full assessment of MSC certification for tuna caught in PNG waters and processed in PNG tuna canneries.

President Sylvester Pokajam said the association had underpinned the growth of PNA’s Pacifical MSC label but had not benefitted greatly in a way that would justify the investments made.

“FIA members believe ...