Today's Main Story: McDonald's Orders Audit of 
Hoki Supply Chain in Response to Misleading New Zealand Catch Report
McDonald's ordered an immediate audit of its New Zealand hoki supply chain after a report this week estimated New Zealand's fishery catch was nearly 3 times more than reported. In a statement, McDonald's said it sources fish only from MSC certified sustainable fisheries, including in New Zealand. Earlier this week John Sackton wrote that the New Zealand catch report was misleading since it covered the period prior to country's quota management system, and also a period when much of the region's fisheries were dominated by foreign fleets, who are notorious for misreporting.
Health Canada announced the approval of Aquabounty’s GMO salmon as the first genetically modified animal allowed for sale as a food product in Canada. Aquabounty’s CEO Ron Stotish said that it would take about a year to bring product to market. Health Canada said they would not require any labeling on GMO salmon. John Sackton writes of the fundamental argument over genetically modified salmon and how the market for salmon in Canada is about to get much more complicated.
Meanwhile, Alaska lawmakers will now have a special session for their second try at passing a budget and deficit-reduction legislation after the four-month regular session failed to reach an agreement. If a deal cannot be reached the government will be forced to shutdown in six weeks.
In other news, the last sliver of waters closed to Dungeness crabbing in California are finally open. Commercial fishermen will be able to set their gear on Monday, May 23, and start harvesting crab on May 26 in Northern waters that were still closed to fishing because of high levels of domoic acid. This opening means the entire state is now open for commercial crabbing.
Finally, Chilean salmon producers with operations on Chiloe island have regained access to their processing facilities now that a near two-week-long strike by the artisanal sector has ended. Some processing has already gotten underway. Optimistic reports say fish could be available as early as Monday, but given a national holiday on Saturday, it’s more likely that production will return to pre-strike levels by the end of next week.
Have a great weekend.
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