USCG Warns Fishermen, Particularly Crabbers, About the Perils of Turning Off AIS

Fishermen hoping to guard their favorite fishing holes by turning off their vessels' automated identifications system should think twice about that.

Or think about a maximum penalty of up to $35,486 per violation. For a Dungeness crabber, that could be roughly 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of crab, depending on the ex-vessel price.

The U.S. Coast Guard is issuing a warning to mariners and commercial fisherman about the dangers and legal consequences of disabling a vessel's AIS.

The Coast Guard has...

ANALYSIS: King Crab Market Firm as Demand Outweighs Supply

A lack of supply and available replacement product from Russia continues to be the overall theme in the king crab market. Through November 2020, king crab imports are down 6.8 percent from Russia, the top producing country in the world.

The past two months of imports have fallen well below the 3-year average of monthly imports. In taking a closer look at the cyclical behavior of imports, both October and November are noticeably lower; down 34 and 49 percent respectively in comparison to the 3-year average...

How the FDA is Supporting the Distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccination to Food and Ag Workers

Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and Frank Yiannas, M.P.H., Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response, are speaking out on the importance of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to food and agriculture workers. In an article posted to the FDA’s website, Hahn and Yiannas explain 21 FORWARD, the new data analysis tool that the agency created to help inform their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For those unfamiliar with 21 FORWARD, it was developed...

IPHC Publishes New Accreditation Process for Processor Advisory Board

The International Pacific Halibut Commission recently published an accreditation process for the Processor Advisory Board ahead of the 97th session of the IPHC Annual Meeting next week.

As with other meetings, the IPHC annual meeting will be held virtually. Participants must register in advance.

The Processor Advisory Board is a subsidiary body of the IPHC that represents the commercial Pacific halibut processing industry from Canada and the U.S., according to the IPHC. PAB members must be accredited; they are companies or associations, including sole-proprietorships, corporations, or partnerships whose direct business...

Thoma-Sea Marine Gets NOAA Contract for Two New Oceanographic Research Ships

Houma, LA-based Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors LLC was awarded a $178 million contract to design and build two new oceanographic ships for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

NOAA is acquiring the vessels through an agreement with the Naval Sea Systems Command, a leader in building, providing and procuring large research ships for the nation's research fleet.

The $178,082,877 contract, announced December 31, 2020, will add two new vessels to the agency’s aging fleet of research platforms.

“We can all be proud that these ...

Traci Chidester Promoted to Assistant General Manager of Pacific Seafood Clackamas

Pacific Seafood announced on Wednesday that they’ve promoted Traci Chidester to Assistant General Manager of Pacific Seafood Clackamas. 

Chidester has been with the company for over five years, most recently serving as their Retail Sales Manager. Prior to joining Pacific she served as the Northwest Regional Manager at JMFG-Smithfield Foods, and as a National Account Manager at US Foods. During her time at Pacific she garnered a reputation for successfully handling the company’s most complex accounts. In her new role Chidester will be partnering with...

Local Government Calls on Chilean Processing Plants to Close, Citing COVID-19 Outbreaks

With coronavirus cases spiking in Chile, politicians from Chiloé are asking salmon processing plants to shut down.

Gabriel Ascencio shared on Twitter that he had asked processing plants in Chiloé to close for 14 days, alongside other politicians. Ascencio shared an article from local newspaper La Estrella, linking the increase in cases from the municipality of Quellón, a salmon processing hotbed.

According to BioBio Chile, the municipal council of Quellón pushed for the shutdown, citing a rise in COVID-19 cases linked to the processing plants...

BlueNalu’s $60 Million in Financing Round Includes Well-known Seafood Companies

Cell-based seafood producer BlueNalu announced the closing of $60 million in debt financing from new and existing investors, including some well-known names in the seafood business

BlueNalu said it is the largest financing to date in the cell-based seafood sector, prior to the latest funding round, the company netted $20 million in early 2020 for its Series A round and $4.5 million in its Series Seed round in 2018.

Thai Union and parent company of SeaPak, Rich Products Corporation...

NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries COVID-19 Report Reveals Impact on Seafood Dealers and Processors

 The Southeast commercial fisheries were not immune to COVID-19. That’s according to a new report from NOAA that was released on Friday. 

NOAA’s report was created to show the impacts from COVID-19 on Southeast Fisheries. In order to show the impact of the pandemic on the Southeast commercial fisheries, NOAA’s analysts reviewed data from January through June 2020. The analysts found that landings revenue for selected federally-managed species (excluding shrimp and menhaden) was down 23% during the first six months of the year...

NOAA Expands Gulf of Mexico Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

NOAA announced the expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary from approximately 56 square miles to approximately 160 square miles to protect additional important Gulf of Mexico habitat.

The expansion means 14 additional reefs and banks which is the home of commercially important fish including red snapper, mackerel, grouper and wahoo, as well as threatened or endangered species of sea turtles, corals and giant manta rays.

“The expansion extends existing sanctuary protections to these new areas to limit the impact of activities such as fishing with bottom-tending gear, ship anchoring...

NOAA Report: A Look at COVID-19’s Impact on Northeast Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries recently released a report which displayed the impact COVID-19 had on fisheries throughout the United States. Overall, the seafood sector in America faced broad declines and that was no different in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region.

To kick off the year, NOAA analysis found that calendar year 2020 revenues exceeded baseline numbers in January and February. However, those numbers quickly declined when COVID entered the fold.

From March to June, those numbers plummeted for a cumulative difference of -$126 million...

FEMA Approves $1.8 Million for Puerto Rico Fishing Villages

Following the destruction of Hurricane Maria, FEMA approved a $1.8 million allocation to the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture providing a “boost for the island’s fishermen,” as it aims to improve the safety and environment of their places of work.

Four fishing villages, which are home to 96 fishermen will be repaired and rebuilt using the funds.

La Coal Fishing Village in Old San Juan, with an obligation of about $696,000; Maunabo Fishing Village, located near the historic Punta Tuna lighthouse, with about $347,000...

Mowi Praises Brazilian Soy Suppliers Deforestation Commitment

Brazilian soy producers, who supply the farmed salmon industry, CJ Selecta, Caramuru and Imcopa/Cervejaria Petrópolis announced they will implement a 100% deforestation and conversion free soybean value chain with 2020 as their cut-off date.

Any soy that is grown on land deforested after 2020 will not be traded. The move means that most of the farmed salmon industry and the entire European sector will source soy from suppliers with value chains completely deforestation and conversion free.

“This bold and historic move sets a new benchmark for global sustainable supply chains and is in stark contrast to larger Brazilian soy traders..."

ANALYSIS: As The World Turns for Farmed Salmon…  

Surpassing the $5.00 threshold in the Chilean fresh fillet market for 3-4 pound fillets and maintaining that price almost three weeks in a row was not something that many could have predicted heading into the 2020 holiday season. However, as we close out the second full week of January and are now into the middle of the month, the undertone in the fresh fillet market looks to be somewhat supportive of current pricing.

Presently fresh Chilean 3-4 pound fillets have...  

Crabbers Face Potential February Season Opening in Washington if Domoic Clears

Biotoxins just want to hang around Washington waters, it appears. Domoic acid is again delaying the Dungeness crab season north of Cape Falcon, Ore., the industry learned Friday.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sent out a notice advising the industry that recent tests from Jan. 9 showed continued levels of domoic acid that exceeded the action level of 30 ppm in the viscera.

Tri-State policy representatives from WDFW, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife agreed to...

Brian Perkins Joins GAA as New COO, Will Help Transition to Global Seafood Alliance

Seafood industry veteran Brian Perkins is the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s (GAA) new Chief Operating Officer. 

Perkins joins the team at GAA after acting as Regional Director Americas for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for the last six years. During his time at MSC, Perkins was responsible for building a team that “energized the program in the Americas region,” which included increasing consumer awareness, the number of MSC-labeled products, and the number of participants engaged in the MSC program...

Alaska Fish Radio: Kelp Growing Increases to More Alaska Regions

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch –

Alaskans have now applied for over 2,000 acres of new or expanding undersea farms, double the footprint from two years ago.  Nearly 60 percent plan to grow kelp with the remainder growing a mix of kelp and/or shellfish.

Currently in Alaska, 36 operators are producing primarily Pacific oysters in Southeast, Prince William Sound and Kachemak Bay.

It’s the faster growing seaweed, notably kelp, that has spawned wider interest, especially from regions that aren’t as hospitable to growing shellfish....

NOAA Report: Seafood Industry Experienced Broad Declines in 2020 Due to COVID-19

A new analysis released by NOAA Fisheries today reveals that the U.S. fishing and seafood sector experienced broad declines in 2020.

According to NOAA’s analysts, 2020 actually started out strong, with a 3% increase in commercial fish landings revenue in January and February. However, things began to turn in March when COVID-19 protective measures began getting put in place not only across the U.S., but the rest of the world. NOAA reports that revenues declined each month from a 19% decrease in March to a...

Regal New Zealand King Salmon Kicks Off New Year With 4 Awards

2021 is off to a great start for Regal New Zealand King Salmon. This week the company took home four 2021 Superior Taste Awards from the International Taste Institute in Brussels.

The Taste Awards are given after blind tasting evaluations by a professional jury of 200 food and beverage experts who represent some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants and chef and sommelier associations from more than 20 countries. Products are judged on how good its sensory qualities are for a consumer products in its category...

Japan November Fisheries Imports Dip 9%; Chilean Coho Salmon Sees Notable Jump as Shrimp, Squid Fall

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on December 25, the November imports of marine products (seafood and its preparations, fish meal, and seaweed) decreased by 9% from the same month of the previous year to 192,326 tons. The cumulative total from January to November was 1.94 million tons, down 8% from the same period of the last year. The annual import volume will likely fall below 2.47 million tons in the previous year, according to the Minato Shimbun...

Grieg Seafood Enters Joint Venture for Post-smolt and Land-based Salmon Farming

Salmon farmer Grieg Seafood announced it has signed on for a joint venture with Årdal Aqua.

Ardal Aqua will produce at least 3,000 tonnes of post-smolt each year and grow fish to harvest size in a new land-based facility in Rogaland in Southern Norway.

Grieg Seafood, which owns one-third of the company, said the move makes it the first global salmon producer to invest in a land-based farming method.

“We are working hard to improve biology and fish welfare, and to reduce our impact...

Long John Silver’s Announces New CEO as Company "Charts New Course"

On Tuesday, the Long John Silver's Board of Directors announced Blain Shortreed that will take the helm as Chief Executive Officer.

Shortreed will now lead the largest quick-service seafood chain after joining the company as COO in January 2019 with a promotion to president in June of that year.

"We're excited to have Blain on board to lead our fleet of restaurants into the future," said Rick Duffy, chairman, Board of Directors, Long John Silver's. "Since our launch in 1969, Long John Silver's mission has been to make the unique seafood experience from the coasts accessible to everyone...

On Eve of “A” Season, Dutch Harbor Fights COVID-19 Outbreak, Asks for State Help

The lucrative Bering Sea groundfish season starts tomorrow and two of Alaska’s largest processing plants are struggling to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus on Akutan and Unalaska Islands, 800 miles from Anchorage and on the the far side of Unimak Pass. 

A little less than half of the 1.4 million metric ton catch of pollock, plus cod and other groundfish catch will be processed through the two largest plants in the area: Trident Seafoods plant on Akutan Island and UniSea’s plant in Dutch Harbor...

Kvarøy Arctic Teams Up With Chef Andrew Zimmerman to Offer Homegating Kit on FultonFishMarket.com

It’s time to lock in your Super Bowl plans. Kvarøy Arctic announced on Tuesday that they’ve teamed up with four-time James Beard award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and teacher Andrew Zimmern to offer a Homegating Kit available through FultonFishMarket.com.

While you may not be planning your usual Super Bowl party, you still need good grub for the big game. And that’s where Kvarøy Arctic and Chef Zimmern come in. As part of their Super Bowl LV collaboration, Zimmern has created four original topping recipes...

Hatchery Called ‘Incompatible Use’ in Alaska State Parks

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch –

Hatcheries are an “incompatible use” in state parks claims the Department of Natural Resources and a push is on to close the Tutka Bay hatchery in Kachemak Bay near Homer.

It is one of three hatcheries operated by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, which since the late 1970s has produced mostly sockeye and pink salmon for commercial, sport, subsistence and personal use fisheries.  

DNR “intends to adopt” a new Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park Management Plan that would close Tutka Bay due to...

NOAA Fisheries COVID Impacts on Alaska Landings Improved by End of Year; Prices Not Updated 

NOAA Fisheries’ Update last week on the impacts of COVID-19 in Alaska covered landings and revenues through August of 2020, but differences in landings narrowed significantly by the end of the year. Prices were estimated to be between 15-50% down from 2019, depending on species, but have not been updated beyond estimates from August 2020.

NOAA’s Report shows landings down about 15% by August, but updated catch data shows most species’ limits were caught with less than 5-8% left in the water ...

Toyosu Market December 2020 Imported Fresh Tuna; Firm Demand for Take-Out Sushi

Tokyo Toyosu Market received 697 fresh imported tuna in December 2020, an increase of 14.6% from 608 the same month of the previous year, compiled by Jiji Press. Bigeye tuna has declined significantly, but wild bluefin tuna has increased from North America and the Mediterranean, as well as farmed bluefin from Mexico, reported Minato Shimbun.

The total number of bluefin tuna was 673, increasing about 38% from 488 a year ago. The number of farmed bluefins from Mexico also increased by about 38% to 355 from 258...

PODCAST: NOAA's COVID-19 Report; Maruha Nichiro's Latest Acquisition; And More Seafood News!

Join SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about NOAA’s latest COVID-19 report, which provides insights into the pandemic’s early economic impact. Plus we talk about Chicken of the Sea International reaching a settlement with the final group of plaintiffs involved in the canned tuna price-fixing scandal; Thai Union's new UniQ BONE bone powder product; pre-cooked seafood products becoming eligible to include in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program; and Maruha Nichiro's...

RCMP Finds Missing Scallop Dragger the Chief William Saulis; Five Fishermen Still Missing

On Saturday the search for missing scallop dragger the Chief William Saulis came to an end as the Nova Scotia and British Columbia RCMP Underwater Recovery Teams (URT), with the help of the Canadian Coast Guard and Transportation Safety Board, confirmed the discovery of the sunken vessel.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued an update on Sunday revealing that they had searched a targeted area using side scan sonar. It was during this search that they located an “anomaly.” The RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Teams used...

AKVA Group Expects to Incur 'Significant Costs' Linked to Cyber-Attack

Following AKVA Group’s January 10 announcement of a cyber-attack, the company said it is expecting to incur “significant non-recurring costs during Q1 2021 related to the breach and mitigating measures.

AKVA said its technical team, alongside external help, was able to detect the root cause of the system shutdown and will work to gradually restore its IT systems.

The company said that police are currently investigating the incident and further information about the cyber-attack and fixes deployed have not yet become public...