Today's Main Story: Slow start to Cold Water Shrimp Fishing as Price Disputes Erupt in Oregon, and Quebec
The West Coast coldwater pink shrimp season that should have started April 1 has been held up by price negotiations between fishermen and processors. In Quebec, shrimp fishing also is being held up due to price issues between harvesters and processors. A concern about tightening global supply and Oregon production, in particular, has resulted in shrimpers and processors at odds over price. In Oregon, price negotiations between the two have been traditionally overseen by the state, much as the Dungeness crab price talks have been, but this year the industry opted out of the state process. Now it’s up to shrimp associations to negotiate directly with processors.
A report coauthored by a panel of ocean scientists from Washington, Oregon and California called for a reduction in pollutants from surrounding cities and farms that drain into water bodies. The recommendation was issued as one strategy to mitigate the environmental damage from ocean acidification. "Within Puget Sound, we have the opportunity to improve water quality, and that will help reduce some of the most negative impacts of ocean acidification," said. Terrie Klinger, an ecologist with the University of Washington and a coauthor of the report.
In other news, a bill supporting the creation of community permit banks sponsored by Alaskan Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins of Sitka is still alive in the state legislature. The purpose of the bill is to keep more fishing privileges in the hands of Alaskans.
Meanwhile, StarKist's Samoa cannery says it needs to secure more fish storage space or workers hours will be affected. StarKist President and CEO, Andrew Choe, said there is less certainty in boats calling into port to deliver fish, and even if access to nearby fishing grounds is secured, if storage is not increased, production will be affected and workers will face a reduction in hours.
Finally, Russian and Chinese fishery officials agreed to work on measures to fight IUU Russian crab of from entering the Chinese market. The agreement was reached during the recent session of the Joint Russian-Chinese Commission for Fisheries’ Co-operation. Russia is considering banning the catch of certain crab species, particular younger crabs. More details of the plan are expected later this year.
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