Clearwater Seafoods Fleet Achieves FISH Standard for Crew Certification

FISH Standard for Crew Inc. is pleased to announce seven vessels of the Clearwater Seafoods fleet have been awarded FISH certification. The fleet comprises Canadian flagged clam, lobster, and scallop harvesting vessels operating in Canadian waters in the northwest Atlantic. Certification body MRAG Americas awarded the certification after extensive policy and procedure review, on-site vessel inspections, and face-to-face interviews of crew members.

“We are very proud to be the first Canadian company to attain FISH certification, a recognition that is consistent with Clearwater’s commitment to our people...

Southwest Nova Scotia Preseason Sampling Data For Lobster Quality in LFA 33 and 34 Released

The Coldwater Lobster Association and the Université Sainte-Anne Lobster Quality Centre recently released their Lobster Quality Preseason Sampling Program report for Southwest Nova Scotia LFA 33 and LFA 34. The report looks at samples from 8 locations within LFA 33 and LFA 34 through the preseason period of September 4 through November 14, 2023. Sampling is conducted by the Coldwater Lobster Association, which goes to designated ‘Inside’ and ‘Outside’ areas of Lobster Bay, St. Mary’s Bay, Yarmouth in...

Multiple Violations Net SoCal Lobster Fishermen Termination of Their Licenses

The California Fish and Game Commission said enough was enough when it took away the licenses from two commercial fishermen in October.

At its October meeting, the Commission approved California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommendations to revoke the commercial fishing licenses of lobster fishermen Michael Volaski and Arthur Esparza.

CDFW recommended a five-year suspension of Volaski’s lobster operator permit and commercial fishing license for Volaski, a commercial lobster fisherman from Oxnard. The revocation stems from a three-day hearing in front ...

Hong Kong Customs Agents Seize Smuggled Live Lobsters, Hairy Crabs

Hong Kong’s Customs officers have been busy this month. 

On October 21 agents detected and seized approximately 194 kilograms of unmanifested live lobster at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. An investigation was launched when an outbound seven-seater private car claimed to have nothing to declare. However, upon further inspection, customs officials discovered 10 boxes of unmanifested live lobsters in the mid row passenger seats, as well as the boot of the car. The suspected smuggled live lobsters have an estimated market value of $240,000...

ANALYSIS: The Live Lobster Market Following Historical Behaviors: A Maine Update

As we move from fall to winter, the well-known patterns of the lobster industry reemerge. With the shift in seasons, the supply of hard-shell lobsters starts to diminish, leading to a tightening. This change in supply dynamics is typically accompanied by a surge in demand, especially for the highly desired large-size selects, in preparation for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. While demand escalates in China, domestic buyers often remain relatively reserved until the holiday season approaches...

Celebrate National Lobster Day with Maine's Iconic Fishery

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) is proud to celebrate the 8^th annual National Lobster Day on Sept. 25 and commemorate the legacy of the hardworking men and women behind one of Maine's oldest and most important industries.

For more than 150 years, the lobster fishery has been a vital part of Maine's cultural heritage, symbolizing the state's coastal identity and providing a way of life for generations of families who sustain their coastal communities and protect the resource.

"We're delighted to commemorate National Lobster Day by honoring the people and communities...

China’s Inland City Buys Fresher Lobsters From America at Lower Costs

13-tons of Boston lobsters have been flown directly from New York to Jinan, one of China’s inland cities on August 10, according to a report from ThePaper.cn. Now with direct cargo flights between the two cities, lobsters can be delivered in as short as 48 hours to foodies in the inland city. These fresh lobsters are popular among local sellers, some of whom see great increase in their lobster sales and are planning to buy more.

One of them is Zhang who said his store plans to buy...

Maine DMR Confirms Body of Missing Lobstermen Recovered Near Addison

The Maine Department of Marine Resources confirmed on Friday that the body recovered near Addison earlier this week was Tylar Michaud, the 18-year-old lobsterman that went missing last month.

Michaud went missing in late July. He was last seen heading out to haul and set traps near Petit Manan Point. When he failed to return home a missing persons report was filed. His empty boat was found the next day. Fellow lobstermen expressed fears that Michaud may have went overboard with his gear...

Cousins Maine Lobster Launches New Franchise Market in Maryland

Cousins Maine Lobster is continuing their year of growth, announcing the launch of their newest franchise market in Maryland. The operation, which will be led by CML franchisee veterans, brothers Yunus and Thameem Shahul, marls the 54th unit for the Cousins Maine Lobster franchise system.

“Our growth has been measured and strategic,” commented Jim Tselikis, co-founder of Cousins Maine Lobster. “Not only have the Shahul brothers grown with Cousins Maine Lobster, but Cousins Maine Lobster has grown with them. We truly believe that our strength is in our franchisees and we are thrilled to grow in the DMV with Yunus and Thameem at the helm.”

Florida Days Away from Start of Spiny Lobster Season

Florida’s 2023 spiny lobster season will open later this week for a two-day recreational “mini-season” on July 26-27, with the regular commercial and recreational seasons to start shortly after on August 6.

“My family and I look forward to spiny lobster season every year along with thousands of other Floridians,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Rodney Barreto. “It’s a great time to get out on the water with loved ones. I hope everyone takes care to practice safe...

NFWF Grants Support Maine Lobster Industry’s Launch in Alternative Fishing Gear Testing

Some creative thinking has been rewarded with a $5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to test alternative fishing gear that could reduce deaths of the endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW).

Maine’s DMR received two grants totaling $5,050,658 from the federal agency to research support research into alternatives to traditional lobster trap and buoy fishing gear which may be required by future regulations to reduce the risk of serious injury and mortality to  ...

Premium Brands Takes Hit In Q3 Due To “Poor Maine Lobster Catch”

Premium Brands released their Q3 financial results this week, revealing not only a recent acquisition, but also results “tempered by unusually poor Maine lobster catch.”

The financial results look at Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. Specialty Foods covers the company’s specialty food manufacturing businesses, and Premium Food Distribution covers the company’s differentiated distribution and wholesale businesses, as well as certain seafood processing businesses. In this case, looking specifically at lobster’s impact on the company in Q3, we’ll be focusing on Premium Brands’ Premium Food Distribution...

Greenhead Lobster Products Recalls Frozen, Refrigerated Cooked Lobster Meat Products

Greenhead Lobster Products announced this week that they have issued a voluntary recall for all frozen and refrigerated cooked lobster meat products from May 9, 2023 through October 19, 2023. The company said that there is a potential for the product to be contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. 

According to Greenhead Lobster Products, none of the recalled products have tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. However, there was a presence of the organism in the processing environment, which sparked the decision to initiate the recall...

Responsible Seafood Summit: “Some Fails But Overall Success” With Ropeless Gear In Snow Crab Fishery

“Ropeless is hopeless.” It’s a phrase that many snow crab and lobster harvesters can likely relate to following the declaration of the unusual mortality event for North Atlantic right whales in 2017. 

Martin Noël, a snow crab fisherman and Captain of the FV Jean-Denis Martin in New Brunswick, has been fishing for 29 years. And on the “ Close To Home: Innovation and Adaptation Amongst Canadian Snow Crab and Lobster Fisheries” panel at the Global Seafood Alliance’s Responsible Seafood Summit...

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...

RCMP Responds To Report of Assault, Theft of First Nation Lobsterman 

On Wednesday the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued a news release about the investigation of assault and theft that occurred on a wharf in Weymouth North.

The incident happened on August 2. RCMP officers were informed that four people stole a lobster crate that had been filled with lobster on a boat at the Weymouth North wharf. The boat belonged to a lobsterman from the Sipekne’katik First Nation. According to the report, the lobsterman confronted the individuals, who then “dumped the lobster back in the water...

Premium Brands Hits Q2 Revenue Records Amid Lower Lobster Prices; Clearwater Sales Jump

Canadian food manufacturer and distributor Premium Brands Holdings hit a record second-quarter revenue mark of $1.63 billion ($1.21 billion), behind an impressive quarter from its Specialty Foods segment.

“We are pleased to report another quarter of record sales and adjusted EBITDA as we continue to execute our various growth strategies,” said Mr. George Paleologou, President and CEO. “The key driver of our performance was our Specialty Foods group of companies, which generated organic volume growth of...

Dollar General Expands Private Label Brand By Adding Frozen Seafood Items

Dollar General is continuing to evolve and expand. And the latest expansion includes new frozen seafood items through their private label brand, Clover Valley.

“When Dollar General pioneered the ‘dollar store’ format in 1955, few food products were offered,” explained Jackie Li, senior vice president of private brands and global sourcing. “With continual growth and changes to the Company’s business model, our product selection has evolved. Customers shared that they believe in the quality and equity of Clover Valley and were receptive to more innovative products...

VIDEO: NL Snow Crab Extension; MLMC's Maine Characters Campaign; Alaska Symphony of Seafood 2024

Join SeafoodNews Managing Editor Amanda Buckle as she highlights three of the most read stories of the week, including the extension of the snow crab season in Newfoundland and Labrador; the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative's Maine Characters campaign; and the call for products for the 2024 Alaska Symphony of Seafood. 

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry's Data on Demand! Transform your data challenges into valuable business opportunities with real-time commodity market information...