Government Shutdown Costing Fishing Industry Millions; Some Damage is Irreversible

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is impacting all U.S. fishing ports on three levels: no federal workers to finalize certain documents needed to go fishing, no federal science teams to conclude stock assessments and no workers to begin survey work, and an extraordinary strain on enforcement and search and rescue duties of the U.S. Coast Guard, an agency now run by service members who are not being paid.

Tomorrow the shutdown will be five weeks old. The handicaps of the shutdown are resulting in millions...

Americans Will Pay More for Alaska Seafood, Say it Supports US Jobs

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Americans are willing to pay more for salmon from Alaska and other seafood across the board.

A nationwide online survey of 4,000 U.S. seafood consumers over the age of 18 revealed that nearly 40 percent are willing to shell out more for the Alaska brand.

The survey was done by market researcher Technomic for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

Further, 71 percent of customers said they would be willing to pay at least 10 percent more, and...

Austral Fisheries and BCG Digital Ventures Launch New Tracking Platform

In what is being described as a “world first”, Perth-based Austral Fisheries and BCG Digital Ventures launched a new digital platform that uses blockchain technology to track seafood and help buyers avoid illegal, environmentally-damaging or unethical products.

Austral Fisheries Glacier 51 Toothfish will be the centerpiece in displaying the platform’s ability.

Called OpenSC, the platform enables anyone to scan product QR codes with a smartphone camera, which will then provide information about where a specific product came from, when and how it was produced, and...

Safe Quality Seafood Associates Launches SIMP Training Course

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) was a hot topic at the National Fisheries Institute’s Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC) this past week, and now importers and processors with further questions can register for a new training course being offered by Safe Quality Seafood Associates (SQSA).

SQSA’s course is a monthly open course for SIMP training “based on the results of realistic examples drawn from recent second party mock SIMP audits.” The one-day, three-hour course covers an overview in regards to the regulation, catch certificates...

Angry Crab Shack Celebrates Fifth Anniversary, Plans Expansion

Arizona-based Angry Crab Shack is celebrating their fifth anniversary and plotting a major expansion. The company, which was founded in 2013 and currently has seven locations, is planning on opening 100 locations by 2023.

“We celebrated a lot of milestones in 2018, including our five year anniversary, and we hope to build on that momentum in the upcoming year with new franchise locations,” Angry Crab Shack president Andrew Diamond said in a press release. “We have built a brand that has a strong infrastructure that can grow through...

Delta Pride Catfish Appoints New Sales Department Product Integrity Manager

Delta Pride Catfish announced earlier this month that they have appointed Shannon Terry has their new Sales Department Product Integrity Manager.

Terry joins the Delta Pride Catfish after spending numerous years working in both retail and foodservice. His new role at Delta Pride Catfish will require him to be involved in writing specifications of new products, as well as production of new and specialty products. In addition, Terry will aid marketing and management in new product development and sourcing ingredients...

Kodiak Tanners Open After 24 Hour Weather Delay

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Kodiak’s Tanner crab fishery takes off after a weather delay. It will go fast.

High winds and overall snotty weather delayed Kodiak’s Tanner crab fishery by a day and boats dropped pots in two districts on Wednesday, January 16^th.

“We had to wait 24 hours. Most of them headed out Tuesday. We had one or two of them give us a call and say that they had made it around Chiniak and it wasn’t as bad as they were anticipating...

San Diego Hotel Launches Sea-to-Dining Experience Focusing on Local Seafood Trend

While members of the seafood industry meet at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego for the National Fisheries Institute’s Global Seafood Market Conference, a nearby hotel is celebrating their new sea-to-table offering.

The Hotel del Coronado announced on Wednesday that they will be opening a new restaurant concept called Serẽa, which will offer an “upscale, sustainable, sea-to-table experience.”

Serẽa is part of Clique Hospitality and will feature an environmentally friendly menu that includes raw and cooked options...

Online Grocery Company GrubMarket Acquires Chasin Foods as Part of West Coast Expansion

GrubMarket, an online grocery company, announced earlier this week that they have completed the acquisition of Chasin Foods, a wholesale distributor of seafood, meats, produce, dairy and provisions. The acquisition is part of GrubMarket’s West Coast expansion. Just last year GrubMarket acquired So Cal Farm Network.

Prior to acquisition, Chasin Foods was an independent and family owned distributor. The company’s clients in included markets, manufacturers, schools, chain restaurants, single unit restaurants, as well as large institutional organizations across Southern California...

$9 shore price in southwestern Nova Scotia creates lobster season ‘bottleneck’

SHELBURNE, NS – An unprecedented shore price of $9 in December for lobsters has created a bottleneck in the supply chain, says a Shelburne County buyer.

“We created a bottleneck,” said owner of Cotter’s Ocean Products in Lockeport, Mike Cotter. “The fishermen have a lot of inventory, the buyers have a lot of inventory, product didn’t move like it usually does in the month of December, so we put it away, tubed it, trayed it. There’s a lot of Chinese buyers in Nova Scotia.They’ve got inventory. They know we’ve got inventory. They are making us sweat and we are sweating believe me.”

So far this season the Chinese market, “hasn’t...

Fisheries Council of Canada Launches Future Leaders Program in Cooperation with NFI

The Fisheries Council of Canada is partnering with NFI to launch a Canadian Future Leaders Program, called Future Leaders Canada.

Paul Lansbergen, President of the FCC, said the program was open to all people employed in the Canadian Seafood Industry.

Those who are selected will participate in 3 sessions, each about 3 days.  The first session will be in Ottawa, and will address Canadian fisheries management, regulations and government relations.

The second session will be in Chicago, and will address seafood distribution in the US, from port of entry to cold storage to major broadliners, and retailers, and ultimately to chefs.

The third session ...

New York Files Suit over fluke allocations highlighting issue of fish moving due to cimate change

New York is filing suit against NOAA over 2019 fluke allocations, which it says is based on 40 year old fisheries data.

The lawsuit comes after other states on the Mid-Atlantic council have refused to revise their more favorable allocations, and at a time when the fluke population is moving north due to climate change and warming waters. 

New York has 7.6% of the fluke quota, while Rhode Island and New Jersey have 15.7% and 16.7% respectively, and Virginia and North Carolina have 21.3% and 24.7%.

The issue of reallocation of historical effort as fish move to new areas is affecting a number of fisheries beyond fluke.  For example...

Coast Guard Formalizes Investigation into F/V Mary B II Capsizing

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday a formal marine casualty investigation has been convened into the sinking of the F/V Mary B II that capsized on the Yaquina Bay bar on Jan. 8.

The marine casualty resulted in the loss of three fishermen's lives and the loss of the vessel, a 42-foot wooden boat the captain purachsed earlier this year.

Rear Adm. David Throop, Coast Guard 13th District Commander, authorized the investigation pursuant to the authority contained in ...

Bumble Bee Foods, FCF Fishery Co. and Ocean Outcomes Launch FIPs in Key Albacore Fisheries

On Tuesday Bumble Bee Foods, FCF Fishery Company and Ocean Outcomes announced their joint effort to improve longline tuna fisheries. The initiative is designed to improve fishing practices of the albacore longline tuna fisheries in the Indian Ocean, as well as Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which is where Bumble Bee sources their tuna from.

“As we procure a significant amount of albacore tuna annually to meet demand for our products, we are in a unique position to help ensure the long term sustainability of...

Hawaii Seafood Exporter Signs Agreement With TNC to Help Save Snapper, Grouper Fishery

Earlier this week Honolulu-based seafood company Norpac Fisheries Export (Norpac) announced that they have signed a commitment with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to not buy immature snapper and grouper from Indonesia, a move that they hope will help prevent a collapse of the deepwater fishery.

TNC has been working to improve the health of the Indonesian snapper and grouper fishery since 2014. It’s believed that the snapper and grouper fishery in Indonesia is being either fully exploited or over-exploited...

Washington Commission Supports WDFW's Attention to Orcas' Needs in Crafting Salmon Seasons

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission last week signaled its support for state fishery managers' plans to consider the dietary needs of endangered orcas when they set this year's salmon fishing seasons.

The commission directed the department to take that action in a policy adopted at a public meeting Jan. 11-12 in Olympia.

The policy also directs WDFW to take steps to protect southern resident killer whales from disruptions from fishing vessel traffic.

The declining availability of salmon – the killer whales' primary prey – and disruptions from ...

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Executive Director Applications Due This Friday

With the resignation of Alexa Tonkovich last month, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has been accepting applications for the job. That part of the executive search will end this Friday, when submissions will be closed at 3 p.m. Alaska time.

Tonkovich left after nearly a decade at the marketing group to pursue a post-graduate degree in London. Jeremy Woodrow, ASMI’s Communications Director, was appointed interim executive director until the board makes a permanent appointment.

ASMI's executive director oversees a budget of $15- $22 million ...

East Coast Closes Garbo Lobster Facility in Connecticut, Possible Consequence of China Tariffs

The East Coast Seafood Group announced on Friday that the Garbo Lobster facility in Groton, Connecticut will close on January 17th.

Garbo has been a presence in Connecticut for 36 years, and also has facilities in Maine and Canada.

"The company is working with the employees affected by the closure of the facility to ensure a smooth transition for all," East Coast Seafood Group, which is based in Topsfield, Mass., said in an emailed statement to The Day newspaper in New London.

 "To assist, the company will be absorbing benefit costs of covered employees for a period of time, offering severance to each employee affected, and providing recommendation letters and other support requested by employees during their transition to other...

East Coast Seafood Consolidation of Groton Facility Comes from Years of Planning, Company Says

East Coast Seafood Group said the move of its live lobster packing operations in Groton Connecticut to Prospect Harbor Maine has long been planned as part of the companies investment strategy.

The Groton plant will close this week.  The company is offering positions at other subsidiary locations where possible, absorbing benefit costs of covered employees for a period of time, offering severance to each employee affected, and providing recommendation letters and other support requested by employees during their transition...

Despite Predictions, Russian Fisherman Do Not Expect Pollock Decline Over Next 5 Years

Russian leading fishermen do not expect the decline of domestic pollock production during the next five years, despite recent predictions by some analysts. Some researchers have noted the potential exhaustion of pollock reserves, according to recent statements by the president of the Russian Pollock Association, Herman Zverev.

At the end of last year, Ilya Shestakov, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo), said a possible reduction in the stocks and catch volumes of pollock may be observed during the next 4 to 5 years...

Charoen Pokphand to Double Number of Fishmeal Plants Meeting IFFO Responsible Sourcing Standard

Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CP Foods) announced a plan to encourage its fishmeal suppliers to meet the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation Responsible Supply (IFFO RS) standard to ensure non-IUU fishing throughout its supply chain. 

The latest announcement by the European Commission to delist Thailand from the “Yellow Card” has increased the need for efforts on traceability, says CP.  

Dr. Sujint Thammasart, DVM, Chief Operating Officer - Aquaculture Business of CP Foods, said the company will...

Champion Petfoods, Featuring Wild-Caught, Sustainable Fish, Coming to Petco Stores

On Thursday Petco and Champion Petfoods announced a strategic partnership to bring Champion’s award-winning Acana and Orijen dog and cat foods to Petco stores and Petco.com beginning March 4. The partnership is part of Petco’s commitment to offer only “high-quality, nutritious foods that contribute to the health and well-being of pets.”

“Champion is an extremely mission-driven company that’s built a well-deserved reputation for serving up award-winning foods for dogs and cats, and their Acana and Orijen brands align perfectly with...

Data on Alaska Fish Catches, Prices, Processor Sales by AK Region

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

One click will take you to a site that can tell you all you need to know about prices and landings for nearly every Alaska fish species by region, how much was processed and into what products, and what processors sold it for.

It’s called the Commercial Fisheries Statistics and Data page on the Department of Fish and Game website and it extends back to the early 1980s.

For salmon, charts and graphs show...

Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, Monterey Bay Aquarium Announce Sri Lankan Blue Swimming Crab Rating

Sri Lankan Blue Swimming Crab is now a “Good Alternative” recommendation from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The latest Seafood Watch update is part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s SeaChange IGNITE collaboration with Chicken of the Sea, which was created to advance new sustainability initiatives and improvements throughout the supply chain. As part of the SeaChange IGNITE initiative, Chicken of the Sea and Monterey Bay Aquarium have a USD $73 million commitment through 2025 to focus on improvements in Southeast Asia and...

Film Chronicles Changes in Indonesia’s Fish Management, Highlights ‘One-by-one’ Tuna Fishery

London -- A new film ‘An Indonesian tuna tale: Championing sustainability’ illustrates the crucial social and economic role played by Indonesia’s one-by-one tuna fisheries and their efforts to market their catch to global buyers. 

Only a few years ago intense catching by local and foreign fishing fleets, together with illegal fishing had threatened Indonesia’s fisheries resources. But thanks to the Indonesian government’s tough stance against IUU vessels and protective policies towards marine habitats, fish stocks are rebuilding and communities have embraced management ...

Ocean Beauty’s Echo Falls Brand Launches 3 New Smoked Salmon Products

New Year, new flavor for Ocean Beauty Seafood’s Echo Falls brand.

On Tuesday Ocean Beauty Seafoods announced that their Echo Falls brand has launched three new smoked salmon products: Applewood Smoked Sockeye Salmon Candy, Beechwood Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon, and Whisky Cask Smoked Atlantic Salmon.

“We’re constantly on the lookout for new, innovative flavors and methods of preparation that give our customers unique, delicious flavors from top seafood regions,” Ron Christianson, Ocean Beauty’s VP of Domestic Sales & Marketing, said in a press release...

Canada Food Inspection Agency Launches New Food Safety Regulations

On Tuesday the Canada Food Inspection Agency "Safe Food for Canadians Regulations" (SFCR) went into effect. The new food safety law regulations require business and individuals importing food to have an SFC license. For those in the seafood industry who already have a fish import license or Quality Management Program for Importers (QMPI) fish license, those will continue to be accepted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency until they expire. However, upon the expiration of those licenses, seafood importers will be required to hold a SFC license...

Washington State Permit Holders and Crew Land Largest Share of AK Fisheries

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Who gets the most bang from Alaska’s seafood bucks? It’s not Alaska …

United Fishermen of Alaska is the nation’s largest commercial fishing trade organization with 35 member groups ranging from the smallest skiffs to the largest at-sea processors.

Each year UFA updates its Fishing Facts that cover data for coastal communities and municipalities in Alaska, plus the west coast. The latest numbers show that just under 9,000 permit holders fished in 2017, of which 70 percent were Alaska residents...

NFI Crab Council Releases Statement on Fishery Improvement Progress in Sri Lanka

Ed Rhodes, Excutive Director of NFI's Crab Council, released the following statement on Fisheries Impovement Progress in Sri Lanka:

The National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council congratulates the Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka (SEASL) on its latest Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) milestone; earning the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Good Alternative rating.

The NFI Crab Council has been proud to support SEASL’s Blue Swimming Crab sustainability work since 2013. The dedicated FIP managers on the ground in Sri Lanka and our committed companies have worked tirelessly to...

Captain D's Opens New Restaurant in Orlando

Fast casual seafood chain Captain D's announced this week that they have opened their newest frachise location in Orlando, Florida. The new restaurant is located at 5850 S. Orange Blossom Trai and marks the chain's 28th location in the state.

The Orlando restaurant is owned and operated by Amin Gulamali, a first-time Captain D's franchisee. Prior to opening the chain, Gulamali operated various Choice Hotels and convenience stores in the Orlando area. Gulamali plans on opening an additional two Captain D's locations in the Orlando metro area over the next few years...