ANALYSIS: Seafood Items Swimming Upstream in October

October, as many say in the industry, is called National Seafood month for a reason, demand is quiet. School is in session and the U.S.’s appetite for seafood tends to wane during the Fall.

There are several seafood items, however, that are swimming upstream this fall. Each species has its own story to tell, but the theme circles around a lack of supply coupled with what appears to be an insatiable demand.

King and Snow Crab

Both king and snow crab demand has been active over the past several weeks...

LISTEN: NOAA's Report on Recovering Endangered Species; Seafood Makes You Smarter and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast hosts Lorin Castiglione and Ryan Doyle as they discuss NOAA Fisheries' report to Congress on recovering threatened and endangered species; the Climate-Ready Fisheries Act of 2019; Senator Maria Cantwell's call for better aquaculture management; California Representative Jared Huffman's Salmon FISH Act; and a group of studies that showed eating seafood makes you smarter.

This week's episode was brought to you by Foreign Trade Data. Reduce uncertainty, minimize risk and uncover opportunities with the only website designed for the seafood import and export community...

Large Players Purchase Majority of Quota During Russian Crab Auctions

More than RUB 142 billion (US$2.22 billion) were allocated to the Russian federal budget as a result of recently completed crab auctions in the country, according to recent statements of producers, which participated in the auctions, and some Russian media reports.

As a result of the auctions 35 out of 41 lots, (which were initially put up for sale), were distributed, while each lot provides quotas for crab catch for the 15-year period. The companies will start crab catch under new quotas from 2020...

Though Profits Look Grim on Paper, Guolian has Rosy Prospects

According to Guolian’s October report, its net profit during the first three quarters is estimated to have plummeted by around 91% to 94% compared with the same period last year to only about 12,763,500 yuan (~$1.8 million USD) to 20,763,500 yuan (~$2.9 million USD). But this dive is far from alarming. As the company explains, it is mainly a result from last year’s share sales and this year’s greater investment.

Last year Guolian sold out its 30% shares in an investment company, which created ...

Coast Guard Medevacs Man from Alaska Ocean Vessel 15 miles West of Coos Bay

A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew medically evacuated a 28-year-old man Friday morning off the catcher-processor Alaska Ocean which was operating 15 miles west of Coos Bay, Ore.

A Coast Guard Sector North Bend aircrew hoisted the man after he experienced chest pains and seasickness, according to a USCG press release

Watchstanders at the 13th Coast Guard District Command Center were notified at 3:15 a.m. by Glacier Fish Company, the ...

Maine Announces Opening of Scallop License Lottery

Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) announced the opening of two scallop licenses lotteries. One is for the scallop drag licenses and another for scallop dive licenses.

The DMR said that due to licenses that were retired in 2018, six scallop drag licenses, and 4 scallop dive licenses will be available for the 2019-2020 season.

Applicants can enter the lottery online at http://www.maine.gov/scalloplottery. There is an option to complete a paper application as well. Find that here.

The DMR said: "It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine their eligibility..."

NOAA Fisheries Releases Report to Congress on Recovering Threatened and Endangered Species 2017-2018

NOAA Fisheries announced yesterday the release of their report on efforts to recover all transnational and domestic species under their jurisdiction from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2018.

The report summarizes the status of each species that has or will have a recovery plan, the status of the recovery plan, and the completion date for the last 5-year review.

The report had not been posted on line at press time, but should be available here shortly.

The summary gives the status of each species ...

VIDEO: Seafood Makes You Smart; Climate-Ready Fisheries Act; Aquaculture Management; Anchovies

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video hosts Lorin Castiglione and Ryan Doyle as they discuss a new study that links seafood consumption to a higher IQ in children; a freshman politician's Climate-Ready Fisheries Act; Senator Maria Cantwell's warning regarding proper aquaculture management and an abundance of anchovies off California.

This week's episode was brought to you by Foreign Trade Data. Reduce uncertainty, minimize risk and uncover opportunities with the only website designed for the seafood import and export community...

Recaps of AK Salmon Fishery by Region

Prince William Sound’s salmon harvest this summer came in at about 58 million fish and nearly 50 million were pinks. The estimated fishery value was $114 million.

The fleet of 504 drift gillnetters averaged $81,600 per permit; Prince William Sound seiners averaged $218,000. 

At Copper River, a catch of nearly 1.3 million sockeye was 28% more than the previous 10-year average and the average sockeye weight of 5.5 pounds was the largest in the last five years.

Those are just a few of the details...

New Seasoned Shrimp Line Launched by Pacific Seafood

Portland, OR -- Getting dinner on the table in five minutes is a goal few of us can achieve, but Pacific Seafood’s new value-added line of frozen seasoned shrimp (BAP 2 Star certified) available in Scampi and Honey Jalapeño may be a game-changer.

While 86% of U.S. consumers report eating seafood, only 28 percent feel confident in cooking and preparing it. That triggered Pacific Seafood to offer an easy and versatile meal solution. It is as ideal for the freezer case as it is for many food service applications.

“Today’s consumers ...

Research off New England Finds Promising Habitat for Blue Mussel Farms

Several suitable locations for commercial blue mussel farms were identified in a report published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering today. Researchers at NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center found the most promising locations for mussel aquaculture off New York's Long Island, north of Cape Ann in Massachusetts, and off New Hampshire.

Research projects in the past few decades have looked at pilot mussel farms in Rhode Island Sound near Martha's Vineyard, off the Isle of Shoals in New Hampshire, and Cape Ann in Massachusetts. Results have ...

Gulf Menhaden Fishery Achieves MSC Certification

Gulf of Mexico Menhaden that is processed by Omega Protein and Daybrook Fisheries was granted certification today against the Marine Stewardship Council standard.

The certification came after the independent conformity assessment body SAI Global performed an extensive review alongside extensive input from various stakeholders.

“Certification of the menhaden fishery is significant because it indicates not only a sustainable fishery, but also sustainable fish meal and fish oil,” Brian Perkins, Americas Director for the Marine Stewardship Council said. “In addition to the environmental impacts, the certification supports the fishing communities who depend on menhaden...”

New Aqua Feed Ingredient Verified For Sale In Europe

Prairie AquaTech, an American manufacturer of animal feed ingredients, announces that its high performance protein ingredient for aqua feed—ME-PRO®—is ready to be sold as a feed ingredient in Europe.

This action follows an independent review confirmed by competent authorities in the EU that determined ME-PRO can be marketed as a feed material.

"ME-PRO is ready for Europe!" stated animal nutrition expert Angelo Lauwaerts of nutrition consulting firm, Salka Valka BV. "ME-PRO satisfies supporting documentation according to FSP (GMP+) and FEFANA..."

Seafood Does Make You Smart: New Study Links Consumption to Higher IQ in Children

A systematic review of 44 different scientifist studies since 2000, done by a group of 13 leading dietary fats scientists, found that children whose mothers ate seafood during pregnancy gained an average 7.7 IQ points compared to children of mothers who did not eat seafood.

The study “Relationships between seafood consumption during pregnancy and childhood and neurocognitive development: two systematic reviews” was released earlier this week in PLEFA, a journal on prosteglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids. 

“Abundant data are now available to evaluate relationships between ...

Genetic Evidence Points to Large-scale PCod Migration North in Bering Sea

As fishermen and scientists observe a northward shift in many species from the Eastern Bering Sea poleward, the genetics team at NOAA Fisheries has been analyzing samples from 2017 and learned that “non‐spawning cod collected in August 2017 in the Northern Bering Sea were similar to spawning stocks of cod in the EBS Eastern Bering Sea.”

“This result suggests escalating northward movement of the large EBS stock during summer months," the authors wrote.

"Whether the cod observed in the NBS migrate south during winter to spawn or..."

Fishermen Use Electronic Reporting in Real Time Data to Help Understand Ocean Ecosystem

It’s been almost 15 years since New England groundfish fishermen began monitoring data from their hauls, bottom temperatures from gauges connected to their gear, numbers and types of discards, and other fishing observations to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center biologists. 

The Study Fleet, a pilot project of the Cooperative Research Program at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), began by assembling commercial New England groundfish vessels willing to provide high resolution or haul-by-haul self-reported data on catch, effort and environmental conditions, while conducting normal ...

Science Means Lower Herring Harvests in the Gulf of Georgia

The Herring Conservation and Research Society issued this statement in response to new science from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) showing a decline of one-third in the Strait of Georgia herring biomass.

"HCRS accepts the new stock assessment and its implications for much lower herring harvests in 2020 but believes the stock assessment and its underlying model is very conservative and reflects a minimum estimate of biomass not its likely actual level. We believe therefore that the model and its reference points should be reviewed over the next year..."

AquaMaof Reveals Land-Based R&D Facility for Shrimp Production

Following years of research, AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies is ready to debut its land-based shrimp farm in 2020.

The new facility marks the successful adaptation of its successful RAS technology for the commercial production of shrimp. AquaMaof said in a press release that the new facility provides high rates of survival and disease-free results.

“We decided to adapt our proven integrated RAS technology for the indoor production of shrimp,” David Hazut, CEO of AquaMaof said. “Moving production indoors in a closed containment environment, has enabled..."

Canadian Seafood Company, Owner Pleads Guilty to Illegal Importing Fish into U.S.

Canadian-based seafood company Seven Seas Fish and its owner John Heras pleaded guilty to importation of previously refused food into the U.S.

The company and Heras admitted to illegally importing 9,000 pounds of potentially adulterated food into the country between October 2014 and August 2015.

Seven Sea bought 12,100 pounds of fish from a Mexican seafood company for just over $36,000 in 2014. The fish, frozen Corvina, a whitefish that has similarities to sea bass, was initially rejected entry into the U.S. because the FDA declared...

Rioting in Ecuador Hinders Shrimp Exports, Affecting Chinese Markets

Ecuador’s white shrimp industry has undergone a lot within the past few months. Earlier, shrimp from several main processing plants were temporarily banned from China, one of the largest importers, since it began strengthening its inspection procedures. Now, domestic riots in Ecuador hit the industry hard and have also taken a toll on its buyers, according to several media reports.

Although about 80% of the processing plants in Ecuador can continue operating as usual, most are filled with panic and they are challenged by problems with ...

CA Congressman Huffman Introduces The Salmon FISH Act

In early October, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) held a public meeting in Arcata to discuss updating the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). A roundtable of regional and local officials were candid about the problems, many pointing to essential fish habitats that needed protection.

Yesterday, Huffman, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife and Co-Chair of the Congressional Wild Salmon Caucus, introduced The Salmon FISH Act, intended to identify, restore, and protect the most important salmon rivers and watersheds in America. The bill will also...

Cod or Haddock? UMass Amherst Taste Test Looks at ‘Name Bias’ and Fisheries Sustainability

Could you taste the difference between cod and other whitefish, such as haddock or hake, if you didn’t know what you were eating? The answer may have implications for supporting local fisheries and food sustainability in New England, says UMass Amherst environmental conservation graduate student Amanda Davis.

A research fellow at the UMass Amherst-based Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, Davis is exploring the reactions of UMass Amherst students and staff born between 1980 and 2000, in a scientific sensory evaluation of five different whitefish species ...

Mical Seafood Expands Tuna Recall Due to Possible Scombroid Poisoning

Florida-based Mical Seafood has initiated an expanded recall of frozen, wild-caught yellowfin Tuna Loins, Tuna Poke, Tuna Steaks, Tuna Ground Meat, and Tuna Saku, because they may have elevated levels of histamine.

The recall expansion was announced on Oct. 15.

High histamine levels in fish products can lead to an allergic reaction of scombroid fish poisoning which can lead to many symptoms including facial swelling, rash, hives, itchy skin and vomiting.

The products that were recalled were wholesaled to customers that lived in the following states...

Thai Union Creates Venture Fund for Innovation in Food Technology

Thai Union Group PCL has announced the foundation of a venture fund as part of its continuous investment in innovation. It has initially committed USD $30 million for investments in innovative companies that are developing breakthrough technologies in food-tech.

The fund will focus on three strategic areas: alternative protein, functional nutrition and value chain technology. Thai Union, long a leader in the seafood industry, plans to invest in entrepreneurial companies that are active in these areas and will partner with these companies to support and accelerate ...

Melting Permafrost Shown to Release Mercury in Arctic Areas

DURHAM, NH — A team of researchers working north of the Arctic Circle in Abisko, Sweden, have learned that as global temperatures continue to rise, the thawing of permafrost in Arctic areas accelerates, releasing  mercury that has been trapped in the frozen ground for decades or centuries. The mercury may be 'methylated' when in contact with water, and be present in surrounding waterways, soil and air. 

“Our research suggests that Arctic wildlife, such as birds and fish, may be at increased risk of exposure to higher levels of methylmercury that could ultimately ...

Interactive Tool Looks at Environmental and Social Performance of Global Seafood Production

The Certification & Ratings Collaboration, a group of the top seafood certification and ratings programs, released the “Sustainable Seafood Data Tool”. The new online tool offers an interactive overview of the environmental and social performance of seafood production around the globe.

The group includes well-known certification bodies like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Marine Stewardship Council, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and Fair Trade USA.

“Improving fisheries and aquaculture starts with understanding how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go,” said Chris Ninnes, CEO of...

Sen. Cantwell Urges NOAA to Better Manage Fish Farming, Citing 2017 Salmon Spill in Puget Sound

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) urged a Congressional committee to prepare for the risks of offshore finfish farming at a hearing yesterday. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is considering legislation to encourage more aquaculture fish farming in U.S. waters.

Cantwell, the ranking member of the committee, highlighted the 2017 spill of nearly 263,000 non-native Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. Jeremiah Julius, the Chairman of the Lummi Nation, testified at the hearing at Cantwell’s invitation about the spill’s impact...

Scientists: Hawai'i Swordfish Fishery Has No Discernable Impact on Sea Turtle Populations

Sea turtle populations are safe from the Hawaii swordfish fishery, according to scientists.

Scientists from throughout the Pacific meeting this week in Honolulu found that mortality by the Hawai'i shallow-set longline fishery on loggerheads and leatherbacks are "trivial" and have no impact on their population levels.

The fishery, which produces 55 percent of the domestic US catch of swordfish, was shut down on March 19, 2019, after it reached the annual limit of 17 physical interactions with North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles. All 17 were ...

Cooke Aquaculture to Pay $156k to Fund Maine Salmon Restoration Project Following Violations

Cooke Aquaculture will pay over $150,000 to fund a salmon restoration project in a Maine River following violations of its salmon farm off the coast of Maine.

A consent agreement between Cooke and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection stated that the aquaculture company must fun the Marine Rearing Atlantic Salmon Machias River Project.

The project, according to the Bangor Daily News, is meant to breed and restore native salmon populations in the Machias River. The restocking will start in 2021, where Cooke...

Russian King Crab Seizes a Greater Market Share in China

King crabs have become a rock star in the Chinese seafood market, and recent years have shown a dramatic increase in the country’s import, according to media reports. Available data show that its imports have skyrocketed from 1,500 tons in 2015 to around 10,000 tons in 2018. And this year the number is expected to reach 13,000 tons.

Among all exporters, Russia, China's neighbor, has risen to prominence. For example, statistics show Shanghai’s import from Russia has ballooned by 950% this year compared with ...