US Shrimp Imports Rebound in November due to Strong Demand, Lower Prices
Monthly US shrimp imports rebounded in November, coming in sharply higher compared to November 2014. Total imports for the year are now up 2.3 percent. The November increase was carried by bumps in shipments of all product types: HLSO including EZ peel; peeled; and cooked. India, Indonesia, Thailand and Mexico all contributed to the increase. It appears the strong US dollar, combined with improved retail and foodservice sales are likely behind this product movement, as both sectors appeared optimistic before the holidays.
Oregon and Washington Dungeness crab is finally hitting retail outlets on the West Coast after a month-long season delay. On Tuesday, one day after fishermen began pulling their pots, some crabbers reported as few as three crab per pot; others said they had 50 per pot. “It just depends on where you’re at,” Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission Executive Director Hugh Link said. “A lot of guys are moving their gear.” Meanwhile, California’s season remains on an indefinite delay. California crabbers are now hoping to get crabs to the market by the first week of February, in time for Super Bowl demand.
In other news John Sackton applauds the efforts by the Gulf recreational and commercial sectors for collectively supporting a bill that will provide $10 million in funding for cooperative red snapper research in the region.
Meanwhile, a recent sampling of juvenile lobster in southwest Nova Scotia found the decade-long trend of abundant populations in the region is holding steady. "It's closer to the long-term average. Not the extreme high or low. Somewhere along the middle of what we've seen," said Adam Cook, a federal research scientist.
Finally, Thailand’s seafood sector has lost about 5,000 jobs since measures were implemented to combat the use of illegal labor in the industry. The job losses are primarily from third-party shrimp peeling sheds since the Thai Frozen Foods Association banned its member companies from outsourcing pre-processing to the sheds.
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