Global Whitefish Supply Predicted to Decline Slightly in 2017; Led by Atlantic Cod  The Groundfish Forum, currently being held in Hamburg, Germany, heard that groundfish supplies will largely continue to be stable, with the primary exception of Atlantic cod. Groundfish supplies will decline 1.59 percent in 2017, according to the projections. The decrease is mostly the result of a double-digit decline in the Barents Sea cod catch. Still, haddock and other groundfish supplies were stable.  This relative growth and stability of groundfish has shown that the issues that once occupied the venerable groundfish forum have completely changed writes John Sackton. Prince Edward Island's fall lobster season has ended on a high note. Preliminary reports are that catches are likely to equal or exceed last year, and this represents a marked turnaround from the spring season, where overall catches were down 13 percent. According to John Sackton this means PEI's total harvest for the year is likely to be lower, but not very significantly. At the same time, prices have continued to be very strong, with Canadian canner prices at $6.15 and markets at $6.50 according to the provincial price report. In other news, Alaska's Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) reports strong demand, both domestically and abroad, for Alaska-caught wild salmon this fall. Supplies are tighter this year because of this season's more limited catch, except in Bristol Bay. And unlike in past years, it does not look like Russian pink salmon will make up for the Alaskan shortfall in overseas markets. "The good news is there’s been a push for many years in Russia to keep Russian seafood in Russia. So there will be a large portion of that catch taken up in their domestic market. We will still see pink salmon going through China and into other markets that were competitive with Alaska fish and still would be. But the good news is it has potential to hold our space in the market and not get traded out for other species like farmed salmon," said Tyson Fick, Communications Director for ASMI. Meanwhile, the Chinese market seems very interested in all shrimp products from Argentina. The US is also ramping up purchases of Argentine shrimp, especially of peeled product. Higher US and now Chinese demand helps explain a rise in monthly prices in the US market this year. Since January, import prices for peeled product according to US Customs data are up by about a $1 per pound.   Finally, the first ever domoic acid outbreak to occur off Maine waters has spread south to Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The outbreak has now forced shellfish harvesting closures in Buzzards Bay and Mount Hope Bay. Earlier this month, Maine ceased shellfish harvesting in Jonesport and recalled products sourced from the area that were distributed to the market.