MSC Certifies WA's Pink Shrimp Fishery in Year Landings Break All Records
A record harvest of coldwater shrimp landed in Washington this year will now carry the MSC label, thanks to a joint effort by Pacific Seafoods Group and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The pink shrimp certification is the first fishery in Washington to get MSC approval and is retroactive back to April 1of this year. Pacific Seafoods opened the client group to any other shrimp processors willing to share in initial and maintenance costs of the certification. Ocean Gold Seafood in Greys Harbor and Jesse’s Ilwaco Fish Company are also listed on the certificate. So far, the fishery has yielded a 39.9 million pound catch and is expected to close October 31.
Clearwater Seafoods has struck a deal to purchase all assets of major UK shellfish operation Macduff Shellfish. The agreement valued at $145 million gives Clearwater access to Macduff’s vertically integrated operation, which boasts a supply chain in the UK, Italy, Spain and Portugal. “Our companies have been building a working relationship for more than three years and we are confident Macduff represents a highly attractive investment with a strong strategic fit for Clearwater,” said Clearwater CEO Ian Smith.
In other news, the West Coast Dungeness Crab Management Act--proposed by US Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and backed by state Senator Maria Cantwell--passed the US House this week and will now go up for Senate approval. If passed, the bill would extend a measure approved in 1996 that allowed the three states to work with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to manage the stocks and conduct fishery science.
Finally, Maine lobstermen are getting around $4 per pound for their catch at the dock this fall. Landings are coming in at a steady pace according to reports from around the region. Meanwhile, Canadian lobstermen in PEI have wrapped up their season with landings on par with last year. They are getting between $5 and $6 a pound for canners and from $5.25 up to $6.50 for market size lobster according to provinces fishing association.
Have a great weekend.
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