Maine DMR Commissioner Addresses Lobster Industry as Coronavirus Jolts Market

In a March 17 statement, Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher addressed the state’s lobster industry, as the impact of the coronavirus is beginning to be felt.

Keliher opened by shutting down rumors about a potential closure of the lobster fishery.

“Despite rumors to the contrary, I do not have any immediate plans to close any commercial fishery in response to the Coronavirus,” Keliher wrote. “In particular, it is important to understand that under the existing circumstances, I DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CLOSE THE LOBSTER FISHERY...”

A Look at How China's Seafood Market Grew in 2019

China is an important aquaculture country with its annual aquatic output reaching about 64.5 million tons in 2019. Although its individual consumption is still comparatively low, the country’s seafood market is expanding, and it is of increasing significance in global trade.

As available statistics show, though its seafood consumption was only 14.3kg per person back in 2018, its trade value doubled compared with that of 2009 to reach 373.802 billion yuan. And new retailers like Hema are taking measures to cut middlemen and promote seafood directly to end consumers...

LISTEN: Boston Seafood Show Postponed; Lent QSR Roundup; Maine Lobster Landings and More

Join SeafoodNews managing editor Amanda Buckle and SeafoodNews staff writer Ryan Doyle as they break down some of the biggest stories of the week, including the postponement of the Boston Seafood Show; Maine's lobster landings; Clearwater Seafoods' potential sale; January shrimp imports and more. Plus, find out what QSR and fast casual restaurants are offering for Lent.

The SeafoodNews Podcast is brought to you by Urner Barry's Reporter magazine, the quarterly newsmagazine for the food industry professional...

OCEANAIR Reports Over 90 Blank Sailings From Asia to the U.S. Between February and March

According to logistics company OCEANAIR, carriers executed over 90 blank sailings from Asia to the U.S. between February and March.

A "blank sailing," also known as a void sailing, is a sailing that has been cancelled by the carrier. These cancellations are generally due to a lack of demand.

Based on OCECANAIR's data, they had zero transpacific capacity voided during the weeks of January 1 through January 16. However, things started to change around January 23 when the coronavirus outbreak began to spread...

How the Coronavirus is Impacting the Lobster Industry Around the World

As SeafoodNews founder John Sackton wrote in his "Winding Glass" column earlier this month, the coronavirus has had a major impact on shipping, tourism and travel —all of which are vital to the North American seafood industry.

"The question is whether this is a short-term event like a hurricane or political strike that impacts one area of our supply chain, or if this is a year-long global pandemic, leading to big changes in behavior in our markets," wrote Sackton. "Clearly we don’t know yet, despite people like...

Here’s the List of U.S. Seafood Items China Will Exempt From Retaliatory Tariffs

Last week, China said it would begin accepting applications for tariff exemptions for 696 U.S. products, including over 40 seafood products imported from the United States.

Chinese companies looking for an exemption on the additional tariffs that were implemented during the China-U.S. trade war can submit their applications from March 2, according to the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.

The exemptions of the 42 seafood-related items will allow Chinese companies to import goods, avoiding retaliatory tariffs that were implemented...

Queensland Seafood Industry Receives Assistance from Government Due to Impact of Coronavirus

The Queensland Government will be providing financial assistance to members of the seafood industry who have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). A $660,000 relief package was confirmed in a news release announcing a $3.67 million fee relief package for operators at the Cairns Marina, a "vital hub for inbound tourism operators in Far North Queensland."

"The impact of COVID-19 was felt particularly strongly around Chinese New Year, which is normally a huge export opportunity for Queensland seafood," said Deputy Premier and Treasurer...

The Winding Glass: How the Coronavirus Shockwave May Impact the U.S. and Canadian Seafood Industry

A lot of people in the seafood industry are thinking about the coronavirus. The major impact has been on shipping, tourism, and travel, all of which are vital to the North American seafood industry.

The question is whether this is a short-term event like a hurricane or political strike that impacts one area of our supply chain, or if this is a year-long global pandemic, leading to big changes in behavior in our markets.

Clearly we don’t know yet, despite people like...

Quiznos Lobster & Seafood Subs Make Their Return, with a Twist

For the 10^th straight year, Quiznos’ Lobster & Seafood sub sandwich returned to menus on February 11. Not only does the classic menu item return to the menu, but a new option will also be available in 2020. The Cajun Lobster sub will provide a new twist on Quiznos’ popular limited-time offering.

As always, the Lobster Classic is loaded with lobster and seafood salad, topped with shredded lettuce and served on warm butter-toasted bread.

The new Cajun Lobster sandwich is perfect for lobster lovers who enjoy a...

Coronavirus Impacting Lobstermen Across the Country 

Lobstermen across the country are hurting as the coronavirus in China impacts their sales.

Normally during this time of year prices spike for Chinese New Year. However, with numerous celebrations being cancelled because of fears of the outbreak, and China banning imports of wild animals into the country, lobstermen are saying that their prices have dropped.

"Our prices went from the highest it's been all year to the lowest," James Voss, a California lobsterman told KCRW. Voss reports that prices went from $15 per pound to about...

Coronavirus Outbreak Brings Many Challenges to the Seafood Industry, But There are Some Survivors

With the catastrophic coronavirus outbreak, China’s previously hustling seafood market has been trapped in depression during this Chinese New Year. This disaster not only influences the country’s imported seafood, but also domestic ones. Industry participants who used to sell out of fresh seafood at high prices in a blink of an eye are faced with large quantities left in stock. The country’s overall seafood sales is estimated to drop by about 2/3 compared with the previous festival...

Red Lobster Has the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift: A Heart-Shaped Box Filled With Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Forget about the chocolates and don't bother with a bouquet of flowers – Red Lobster has your Valentine's Day covered with their limited edition, heart-shaped box filled with Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

Starting February 10, Red Lobster will be offering their custom, heart-shaped boxes as an add-on to any Cheddar Bay Biscuit To Go order. Red Lobster customers must order a half-dozen Cheddar Bay Biscuits To Go from Red Lobster.com, which can be picked up in restaurant or delivered to you...

Snag Some Leap Year Lobster with Legal Sea Foods Deal

To celebrate leap year, Legal Sea Foods is running its quadrennial promotion, “An Extra Day, An Extra Lobster” on February 29.

The one-day entrée special will offer two one-pound steamed lobsters and two sides for $29. Legal Sea Foods noted that on all other 365 days, lobster will be served individually, with the current market price sitting at $27.95.

The twin-lobster 2 for $29 promotion on 2/29 will be available all day at all Legal Sea Foods restaurants (excluding airport locations)...

Bill Introduced to Exempt Live Maine Lobster Truck Drivers From Hours of Service Restrictions

A recently introduced bill, titled "Resolve, To Exempt Truck Drivers Transporting Live Lobsters from Certain Hours-of-service Restrictions," aims to make certain that live Maine lobsters arrive alive to their destinations.

According to the legislation, "this resolve directs the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police to adopt major substantive rules amending its rules governing motor carrier safety to exempt intrastate motor carriers, vehicles and drivers delivering live lobsters from hours-of service restrictions requiring a 30-minute rest break after...

Red Lobster Launches New Menu Items For Lobsterfest, Including Lobster and Chips Dish

I'll have the lobster with a side of more lobster. Red Lobster's ultimate lobster feast, known as Lobsterfest, is back. And lobster lovers won't want to miss the new menu items that the popular seafood chain is offering.

This year's Lobsterfest lineup features new entrees like:

The Ultimate Lobsterfest Surf and Turf: A skewer of Maine lobster and filet medallions, wood-grilled and paired with a smashed potato topped with melted cheese, Maine lobster meat and a rich lobster cream sauce. Served with choice of side...

Maine Representatives Urge USTR to Hold China Accountable on U.S. Lobster Commitment

A delegation of Maine representatives sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer asking for specific information regarding China’s commitment to purchase lobster in a recently announced U.S.-China trade deal.

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) pushed the USTR to release China’s financial commitment to American lobster.

The representatives cited China’s history of not fulfilling trade agreements. The delegation wants transparency to ensure that China will purchase American lobster...

Right Whales Rules a Hot Topic at Maine Fishermen's Forum

The Maine Fishermen's Forum took place in Rockport, Maine, last week. The hot topic of the event? The National Marine Fisheries Service's pending North Atlantic right whale policy.

State and federal regulators are calling for the Maine lobster industry to change up their gear in order to protect the endangered right whale. These measures include reducing the number of vertical ropes in offshore waters and using weak or breakaway ropes. But lobstermen disagree with the actions, arguing that Canadian fishermen and ships are the ones...

Maine Lobster Harvesters Landed Over 100 Million Pounds in 2019

The Maine Department of Marine Resources released their 2019 commercial landings on Friday, and according to the agency 2019 landings were the "second most valuable of all time."

Last year Maine's commercial fishery brought in a value of $673,910,558 —an increase of more than $26 million from 2018. Looking specifically at lobster, harvesters in Maine landed 100,725,013 pounds for a value of $485 million. The Maine DMR reports that this is the ninth year in a row —and only the ninth ever —that landings topped 100 million pounds...

MLMC Shifts Strategic Focus to Promotion, Protection and Partnership

With the new decade underway, the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) announced its new strategic plan for 2020.

As the collaborative looks to promote a staple for the state of Maine, the group will focus on three areas of Maine lobster: promotion, protection and partnership.

“This year we’ve made a strategic shift to focus on our key product differentiators which include the sweet flavor as well as the sustainability practices of the fishery,” said Marianne LaCroix, executive director of the MLMC.

The MLMC will launch an Advisory Council, filled with...

Right Whales Returning to Gulf of Maine, But Lobstermen and NOAA Can't Agree on Protection Efforts

Thanks to underwater drones, scientists know that North Atlantic right whales are returning to the Gulf of Maine. And with approximately 400 of these endangered whales left in the world, there have been numerous efforts to protect them from death and serious injury.

As NOAA reported in a recent news update, vessel strikes are the "most prominent sources of death and serious injury for right whales." Because of this, NOAA created Seasonal Management Areas back in 2008. These Seasonal Management Areas restrict...

The Winding Glass: Industry Must Prepare as Coronavirus Rapidly Changing Supply Chain Behavior

With the spread of the coronavirus to new countries, I now believe the seafood industry is going to face its worst crisis since the economic collapse of 2008.

That was difficult and frightening. From October to December of 2008, fresh whole salmon prices dropped 20%. From August 2008 to January 2009, shrimp prices in the Urner Barry farmed shrimp index fell 16%. Cod loins, which were at record prices in November of 2008, fell 34% over the next 11 months, in a continuous price decline...

Nova Scotia Officially Declares February 28 as "Lobster Day"

The Canadian Province of Nova Scotia is honoring its heritage by celebrating one of the things the province is best known for, lobster.

Stephen McNeil, the Premier of Nova Scotia officially proclaimed that February 28 will be known as “Nova Scotia Lobster Day.”

“The South Shore of Nova Scotia is home to some of the richest lobster fishing grounds in the world and the Municipality of Barrington, which stakes its claim as The Lobster Capital of Canada,” the proclamation read.

The new day will coincide with the Nova Scotia Lobster...

Seafood Favorites for Valentine's Day

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch….It’s Valentine’s Day and Seafood helps share the love!

Lovers choose lobster as the top Valentine’s Day dish to share with that special someone.

Crab legs and shrimp also get the nod as ‘romantic meals’ on one of the busiest dining out days for U.S. restaurants. 

In a national survey by Harris Interactive, chefs called lobster an ‘exotic delicacy’  that results in an intimate moment because it is hand-held and shareable.’

They called all shellfish ‘a catalyst for connection like no other food...

NMFS Rejects Maine’s Right Whale Protection Plan, Additional Measures to be Taken

The State of Maine’s proposed North Atlantic right whale protection plan doesn’t adequately address the reduction of entanglements, the National Marine Fisheries Service said in a letter to Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Commissioner Patrick Keliher in January.

The NMFS said that Maine’s plan only reduces the risk of entanglement by 52%, rather than the 60% reduction goal stated in the Take Reduction Team (TRT) agreement.

"Because your proposal does not meet the 60 percent risk reduction target, we will be obligated to consider additional measures...

December Import Numbers, Coronavirus Update, Valentine's Day by the Numbers and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they break down some December import numbers for pangasius, lobster and shrimp. Plus, find out what the Boston Seafood Show organizers said about the coronavirus; learn about some mergers and acquisitions within the seafood industry; and check out some Valentine's Day "by the numbers" stats.

This episode is brought to you by COMTELL, which will be receiving a complete redesign this year. Subscribers who utilize COMTELL to track market quotations, analyze trends and...

ANALYSIS: Lobster Imports Higher in December; More In-Shell and Meat from Canada

Imports of lobster products into the U.S. increased for the second-straight month. December imports totaled 13.8 million pounds compared to 13.3 in December 2018. Still, the 2019 annual total is 4.4 percent behind last year; reflective of a 5.6 million-pound shortfall.

Product from Canada accounts for roughly 87 percent of lobster entering the country, so it’s not a surprise that Imports from Canada also increased for the second-straight month. In December, 7.6 percent more product entered the U.S. from...

Watch Us Eat! We Try Red Lobster's New Lobster and Chips Dish

SeafoodNews Weekly Video co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione are back with a new installment of "Watch Us Eat!" This week we're eating Red Lobster's Lobster and Chips, a new addition to the seafood chain's Lobsterfest menu.

"We're always exploring new and exciting options to offer our guests," said Chef Dustin Hilinski, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary at Red Lobster. "This year, we're adding a twist on the classic fish and chips dish, taking it up a notch by swapping for lobster in our...

Coronavirus Fears Result in Canceled Flights to China as CDC Raises Travel Advisory to Level 3 

On Thursday the World Health Organization convened to discuss the coronavirus outbreak in China and declared a "public health emergency of international concern." More flights to China (or out of China) are getting canceled as fears over the coronavirus rise.

China's National Health Commission confirmed on Friday that, as of midnight of January 30, the total number of confirmed infections of the virus has climbed to 9,692. This number includes 213 deaths. The number of infected climbs to...

Coronavirus Update: Reports of Drop in Lobster Exports, Reduced Buying of Dungeness Crab

Earlier this week SeafoodNews reported that there was anxiety in the live lobster market for both Canada and the U.S. due to the novel coronavirus in China. More details are emerging as the confirmed cases of the virus in China continue to grow.

"We've seen them diminish dramatically to the point that as of yesterday and today they're almost non-existent," Stewart Larmont of Tangier Lobster told CBC News of a "sharp drop" in lobster exports. "There's a recognition that the coronavirus is a significant health issue...

Anxiety in Live Lobster Market as Novel Coronavirus Halts Chinese New Year Sales

Urner Barry contacts in the live lobster market – for both Canada and the U.S. – are beginning to report some anxiety as the novel coronavirus halts Chinese New Year sales.

As SeafoodNews has been reporting, China's been struggling with a novel coronavirus outbreak since December 2019. The virus, which has claimed 81 lives so far, has resulted in the country issuing quarantine measures in Wuhan, where the outbreak is believed to have started at South China Seafood City, also known as the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market...