Massive Smear Article in Businessweek Aims to Push Shrimp Imports Under USDA Inspection  John Sackton comments on an exposè published by Bloomberg that smears the imported shrimp industry and pushes for the USDA to take over inspection duties for shrimp similiar to the catfish program. The authors of the article take a series of health problems and weaponize them against shrimp whether they are factual, true, or even about shrimp in the first place. The article also calls into question most of Asian aquaculture production, as the claims it makes apply not just to shrimp, but to any pond, cage raised or estuary cultivated seafood. "Articles like this imply aquaculture seafood is far more dangerous and tainted than any other part of our food supply. They have created a headwind for consumer acceptance of farmed seafood that turns safety on its head; worsens environmental pressures of food production, and fundamentally harms public health," writes Sackton. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has approved the implmentation of a recreational quota entity (RQE) plan to manage recreational and commercial halibut quotas in Alaska. The plan involves allowing guided recreational halibut fishermen to buy up commercial quota. This differs from an existing program that allows sport guides to lease, but not buy, commercial quota. Alaska's commercial fishermen think the RQE will usher in the absolute death of Southeast Alaska coastal village fleets in a matter of five years In other news, Nova Scotia's fishing industry hopes the federal government upholds a policy that enforces owner-operator and fleet separation policies that insulates Atlantic Canada’s inshore fishery from corporate interests. Meanwhile, as of the end of the year, the International Fishmeal and Fish oil Organization’s (IFFO) RS Standard will have certified 45 percent of the world’s total fishmeal and fish oil output. IFFO now has plans in 2017 to carry out a full review of the standard. "The purpose of this review is to agree a strategy for the Standard going forward to 2025," IFFO said in a press release. Finally, ASMI has released an updated edition of its Alaska Salmon Buyer's Guide. The 20 page, full-color publication is a resource is made up of contributtions from members of ASMI’s technical and salmon committees. It includes sections on harvest areas and times, species profiles, fishing techniques, and sustainability. Have a good weekend.