American Seafoods’ Tim Fitzgerald On The Importance Of Telling The Sustainability Story

What exactly is “sustainability”? Consumers know that they want to purchase sustainable products, but the definition of “sustainability” often varies. Ultimately, when it comes down to it, the only thing a company can do is share their story and hope that it reaches the appropriate audience.

Compiling the data to tell that sustainability story can be time consuming. But if a company has a good story to tell, it can be rewarding. 

Leading up to Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, American Seafoods published its annual sustainability report...

ANALYSIS: Blue and Red Swimming Crab Meat Hit 52-week Lows on Special Grade

As discussed last month, the crab meat market in the U.S. continues to be a tale of two different groupings of sizing grades: larger grades under upward pricing pressure and smaller grades seeing downward pricing pressure. Because the overall size of crabs has been smaller for the past several months out of the Asian producing countries, we have continued to see a smaller percentage of colossal, jumbo lump, and super lump available to the marketplace. When crabs run smaller...

2024 Snow Crab Landings Update For NL, Gulf and Maritimes Region As of April 29

Canadian snow crab harvesters are continuing to haul in their catch. According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO),  Area 12 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has already landed 65.68% of their total allowable catch for this year. As of April 29, harvesters have caught 14,289.416 t, with 7,466.658 t left in the water.

Landings in CFA 20-22 in the Maritimes Region are on par with Area 12. Harvesters there have landed 66.13% of their TAC. The total quota for CFA 20-22 is 937.635 metric tonnes, so harvesters have 317.566 metric tonnes left in the water. 

CFA 23-24E in the Maritimes Region is moving a bit slower...

Latitude 45 Salmon Candy Targets Growing Demand For Grab and Go Category

People want convenience…without sacrificing taste. And Multi X’s Latitude 45 brand hit the nail on the head with their newest product innovation, Smoked Salmon Candy Bites.

Latitude 45 has made a name for itself as one of the top selling smoked salmon brands in the U.S. But last week in Barcelona for Seafood Expo Global the company turned heads for its packaging. The new Latitude 45 Smoked Salmon Candy Bites won the Special Award for Best Retail Packaging category at the Seafood Excellence Global Awards...

Department of Commerce Publishes Amended CVD Determination on Shrimp From Ecuador 

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has officially published the amended preliminary affirmative countervailing duty (CVD) determination on shrimp from Ecuador. 

In late March the DOC announced its preliminary affirmative determinations in the CVD investigations of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, as well as India and Vietnam. (At the same time the DOC also confirmed a negative determination in the CVD investigation of shrimp from Indonesia.) Ecuador exporter/ producer Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila was slapped with a 13.41% preliminary subsidy rate...

What Caused Massive Alaska Snow Crab Die-Off? Author of Study Linking Ocean Heat Event Explains

The disappearance of 10 billion Bering Sea snow crab in two years, perhaps the largest loss ever reported of marine animals to ocean heatwaves, was a devastating blow to the fishery. NOAA scientists and researchers were puzzled. Industry experts and fishermen posed many theories. Did they migrate beyond the survey grid in the Bering Sea, perhaps to Russian waters? Were they killed by disease or a parasite, or a combination of factors? Did they starve to death?

Last October, a team of NOAA...

Russia Expects Fish Exports to Reach US$5.6 Billion This Year

Exports of fish products from Russia in 2024 are expected to reach US$5.6 billion, according to recent statements made by Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo.

Shestakov said that, despite the current pressure from West, Russia continues to expand the geography of supplies of its fish and seafood.

At present the Asian markets of China, Japan, South Korea remain the biggest sales markets for Russia. However, the volume of supplies to the Latin American and especially African market is steadily growing...

ANALYSIS: Countervailing Duties Reduction Would Have Significant Impact on Payments

As reported by SeafoodNews Managing Editor, Amanda Buckle, Jose Antonio Camposano, Executive President of Industry Association Camara Nacional de Acuacultura confirmed the yet unpublished report that Santa Priscila’s subsidy rate has been lowered.

To put this in perspective, here is a preliminary analysis of money that would be posted based upon data from 2023 imports. The red lines in the graph are estimated payments against last year’s total imports by company based upon the average price paid. The total paid would...

Lobster Fishing Along Canada's Eastern Shore Begins

Lobster fishing along Canada’s Eastern Shore began on April 19, with fishermen pulling up their first catches the following day.

While the price of lobster varies, high prices in Nova Scotia can be attributed to a low quantity being caught, compared to past years.

“Leading up to the Canadian spring season, the shore price soared to a record high of $20.00 CAD in March, driving market prices for all sizes to unprecedented levels, surpassing previous records set in 2022. However, with new fishing areas opening up and catch levels on...

Russian Fishmeal Exports in 2023 Increased by 10% to 143,000 Tons, and 80% Went to China

The Hokkaido Trawl Fisheries Cooperative Federation reports a notable surge in the export volume of fishmeal produced in Russia. In 2023, production escalated by a substantial 10% from the previous year, reaching an impressive 143,000 tons. It marks a staggering 2.6-fold increase in just five years since 2018. The Minato Shimbun further confirms this trend, noting a significant rise in the volume of major export destinations, South Korea and China.

Undoubtedly, China and South Korea remain major export destinations for Russian fishmeal...

Bering Sea Dungeness Crab Season Opens May 1

Fifteen vessels have registered for the Bering Sea Dungeness crab season in the North Peninsula district this year, just one down from 2022 and  above last year’s fleet size of 11 vessels.

Based on the number of vessels registered prior to the April 1, 2024 registration deadline, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is allowing 500 pots per vessel this year, indicating that the shellfish managers are expecting somewhat increased harvests over last year. 

KUCB Public Media interviewed Ethan Nichols last week for historical context of the fishery. Nichols is the ...

EDITORIAL: From Cartoons to Temporary Tattoos; Finding New Ways To Get Kids To Try More Seafood

Studies repeatedly show that children and adolescents are not consuming the recommended amount of seafood. 

The U.S. government is continuing to buy different species of fish for school lunch programs. And just a few weeks ago the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service finalized updates to the foods prescribed to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to expand seafood. These types of programs make seafood more accessible to children. But is it enough? And is there more that the industry can do to make seafood offerings more appealing to kids (and parents)?

2024 Snow Crab Landings Update For NL, Gulf and Maritimes Region As of April 26

Area 12 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence already has more than half of its quota caught. According to landings data from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 62.11% of the quota has been caught as of April 26. The initial quota for Area 12 — including traditional fleet (01), First Nations (02) and New Access (03) — was set at 22,236.416 t and revised to 21,756.074 t. The season opened April 1 and reporting as of April 26 shows that 13,513.539...

Wells Fargo: Peter Pan in “Imminent Danger of Insolvency,” Asks Court to Put in Receivership

Last Wednesday, Northwest lender Wells Fargo Bank asked the King County Superior Court to move Peter Pan Seafoods into receivership to protect creditors. The news comes as more lawsuits are being filed by fishermen who claim the company has not paid them for deliveries last year. 

Wells Fargo was the single biggest lender to the iconic but financially troubled seafood processor last year. Wednesday’s petition to the court names Peter Pan Seafood Company, Alaska Fish Holdings, and Raymond Machine Shop as owing more than...

LIVE! From Seafood Expo Global With InnaSea Media's Emily De Sousa and Bri Dwyer

The Seafoodnews Podcast is LIVE from Barcelona for Seafood Expo Global! In this latest episode, recorded right from Fira de Barcelona, Seafoodnews Senior Editor Amanda Buckle welcomes the founders of InnaSea Media — Emily De Sousa and Bri Dwyer. Listen in to learn more about how a fisheries scientist/ content creator and a visual storyteller with a background in Alaska's commercial fisheries have come together with the goal of transforming perceptions of seafood.

Department of Interior Announces 12 Offshore Wind Lease Sales Across the Nation Through 2028

The clock is ticking on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's timeline for its version of "clean" energy in the form of offshore wind.

On Wednesday, BOEM announced a planned future offshore wind leasing schedule through 2028. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland made the announcement at the International Partnering Forum conference in New Orleans, ahead of a potential change in political landscape.

The schedule includes up to 12 potential offshore wind energy lease sales in the next four years. BOEM anticipates...

Russian Pollock Roe Auction In Busan Softening Due To Weak Yen And Other Factors

The bidding on new Russian-produced pollock roe has been slow, with some unsuccessful bids. The auction, held from April 16 to 18 in Busan, South Korea, featured listings of over 7,000 tons, with prices ranging from around $5/kg for STD (high grade) to $4/kg and above to mid-$3/kg for off-grade. Minato Shimbun reported that Japanese buyers have been cautious due to the rapid depreciation of the yen against the dollar, a factor that significantly impacts their...