Massachusetts Lobster Processing Bill Temporarily Killed Again by House of Representatives

Since 2016, when the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a bill that would allow for the processing of lobster in Massachusetts, and the sale of lobster parts, such as raw tails, the state has been unable to modernize the law due to opposition in the House of Representatives.

The latest set back came after Gloucester Rep. Bruce Tarr, also the Minority leader in the Senate tied the popular lobster bill to the 2018 supplemental budget.  During the House and Senate Conference, it was hoped the conferees would keep the bill...

Ecojustice sues Province of Newfoundland Over Mowi Stephenville Salmon Hatchery Expansion

Newfoundland is one of the places in the world seeing a major expansion of net pen salmon production and infrastructure.  Part of this is because the Provincial government is fully behind the development of an aquaculture industry, and both land and water sites are available. A recent McKenzie report on growth strategies suggested the Province could see 100,000 tons of salmon production annually by 2030 if potential was realized.

Part of their recommendations involved using and expanding existing sites.  This is what Marine Harvest (Mowi) is attempting to...

WDFW, Army Corps Collaborate on Restoration, Bridge Replacement to Benefit Salmon and Whales

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are moving forward with a 38-acre estuary restoration project on Hood Canal. Estuaries in Puget Sound and Hood Canal are critical habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed chum and Chinook salmon, a key prey of southern resident killer whales.

A design agreement signed by WDFW Director Kelly Susewind and Army Corps Colonel Geraldi allows the Corps to begin the design phase of a large restoration at the mouth of the Duckabush River...

Dunleavy Asks ADF&G to Look at Selling Hatcheries, Managers Not Interested in Buying

Newly-elected Governor Mike Dunleavy released his state budget two months ago reflecting exactly what he promised in his campaign -- every Alaskan will continue to get the full Permanent Dividend Fund amount of more than $4,000 this year (last year it was $1,600 per person), taxes would not be increased, and “the state’s out-of-control spending” would come to a halt. 

In order to make that work, Dunleavy has asked most departments to look at assets that could be sold ...

Iceland Expects 50% Expansion of Farmed Salmon This Year, Surge in the Future

Given the problems with sea lice in Norway, and the continued high demand for salmon, investment has flowed into new areas such as Newfoundland and Iceland where salmon farming has significant opportunities to expand.

The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority has said that it expects salmon production to reach 20,000 tons this year, up nearly 50% from the 13,448 tons produced in 2018.

Partly this is driven by new investments, and by more farms coming online.

Salmar has recently added to its stake in...

Gloucester Lobsterman Begins Jail Sentence for Illegal Landing of Undersized Lobsters

Gloucester lobsterman James A. Santapaola Jr. has started his 47-day jail sentence for illegally landing undersized lobsters.

As SeafoodNews.com previously reported in November 2018, Santapaola Jr. was arrested by Massachusetts Environmental Police following an investigation into illegal lobster fishing in state and federal waters. Officers discovered that Santapaolo Jr.'s 600-lb lobster catch included "dozens of undersized, oversized and illegally mutilated lobsters."

And that wasn't Santapaola Jr.'s first offense. He committed a similar offense in 2006, and a criminal complaint was...

Macaroni Grill Adds New Seafood items to Limited Time 'Tastes of Sorrento' Menu

Romano's Macaroni Grill has a new, limited time menu … just in time for summer.  

The national restaurant chain unveiled their "Tastes of Sorrento" menu earlier this week. The new menu, which features an array of seafood dishes, is inspired by the open-air markets of Sorrento, Italy.

"There's nothing better on a warm, summer day than enjoying a light, delicious meal while making memories with your loved ones at Macaroni Grill," said Holly Wagstaff-Bellamo, VP of Marketing at Macaroni Grill.  

New seafood dishes featured...

High Liner Gives Mascot Captain High Liner A Modern New Look

High Liner Foods is changing things up by giving their iconic mascot, Captain High Liner, a brand-new look. Gone is the captain's hat and turtleneck sweater donned by the gray-haired icon. Now the Captain has a bit of a younger face, an updated wardrobe, slicked back gray hair and trimmed facial hair.

"High Liner is one of our country's most beloved and trusted brands and the Captain plays a significant role in that," said Craig Murray, senior vice president of marketing and innovation at High Liner Foods...

Indonesian Seaweed Industry Seeking to Grow Market At 23rd International Seaweed Symposium

The Indonesian Association of Seaweed Processors (ASTRULI) is seeking to grow their market at the 23rd International Seaweed Symposium (ISS), taking place from April 28-May 3 in Jeju, South Korea.

ASTRULI, which is made up of 20 members in the Indonesian seaweed processing industry, announced that they will be using ISS to introduce the "Indonesia Seaweed" brand, which represents the best quality Indonesian seaweed products produced with sustainable processes.

“ASTRULI participation in ISS 2019 is to create awareness amongst Seaweed Industry stake holders that...

Salmon Permit Values Increase For All But A Few Alaska Regions

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

Nearly all Alaska salmon permits have gone up in value since last fall and broker action is brisk.

“We’re as busy as we’ve ever been in the last 20 years. Boat sales are doing well and between IFQs and permit sales, we’ve got a busy year going.”

Doug Bowen runs Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer.

The permit interest is fueled by a forecast this year of over 213 million salmon, an 85 percent increase over 2018...

Can Magnuson Protect Fishing Communities? Decision Denying Protection to Adak, Atka Causes Doubt

In 2016 the North Pacific Council, in a decision approved by NMFS, created a 5000 ton pacific cod set aside in the Aleutian Islands district for BSAI cod, that required that amount to be landed West of 170 degrees (in either Adak or Atka), if processing plants there gave notice that they would operate.

The provision also had a failsafe, which was that if plants had not processed 1000 tons of cod by February 28, the set aside would be terminated and added back to...

Cellular Aquaculture Company BlueNalu Moving to Larger Research Facility

BlueNalu, a cellular aquaculture facility based out of San Diego, announced this week that they have moved to a larger research facility.

Launched by founders Chris Somogyi, Chris Dammann and Lou Cooperhouse, BlueNalu was created with the mission to provide a "wide array of sustainable seafood products to consumers around the world via their cellular aquaculture process." While seafood is either farmed or wild-caught, BlueNalu uses fish cells to manufacture seafood products. The company said in a statement that they plan to develop products from finfish...

LISTEN: Red Lobster's New Partnership, Most Trusted Frozen Fish Brand, Live Lobster Market and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione for a brand new episode. This week on the podcast we talk about Red Lobster's new partnership with nonprofit group Ocean Conservancy; the most trusted frozen fish brand by consumers; the live lobster market; and more.

This week's episode is brought to you by Urner Barry's Executive Conference, taking place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas from April 28-30. The Executive Conference is a must-attend event for decision makers in the protein industry...

More Tariffs Likely With EU Due to Airplane Subsidy Disputes 

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

A dispute over airplanes could mean more tariff troubles for U.S. seafood, if the Trump Administration follows through with its threat on imports from the 27 countries that make up the European Union.

The problem stems from a nearly 15-year argument over subsidies paid by the U.S. to airplane maker Boeing and Europe to Airbus.

Undercurrent News reports that earlier this month the World Trade Organization concluded that U.S. subsidies to Boeing caused significant harm to Airbus, including lost sales...

Earth Day and Ocean Trash Counts

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Plastic bags are one of the biggest things trashing our oceans. An Earth Day list of other items after this –

Monday, April 22, is Earth Day and people around the world are cleaning up the planet. Of course, that includes our oceans.  

Plastic bags are one of the top items trashing our oceans and waterways, according to reports by the Ocean Conservancy.

For over 30 years the Conservancy has spearheaded the world’s largest International Coastal Cleanup where volunteers from...

California Considers Sport Crab Fishery for Action Relating to Whale Entanglement

The California Fish and Game Commission is proactively working to avoid further whale entanglements -- and further lawsuits.

On Wednesday the Commission approved the Marine Resources Committee to take up the issue of recreational crab fishing, and possibly other fixed gear fisheries, and its potential to entangle whales. The commercial fleet early on questioned why other fisheries, particularly sport fisheries, were not subject to the same scrutiny as the commercial sector.

The commercial season closed earlier this week, on April 15, as part of a settlement agreement...

Norwegian Food Safety Authority Suspects ISA Outbreak at MOWI Farm in Aukrasanden

Mowi may have an ISA outbreak at a salmon farming site in Aukrasanden, which is on the coast between Alesund and Trondheim.

If confirmed, as many as 1.3 million fish could be destroyed.  The company confirmed the fish are around 3.5 kg, which is close to a marketable size.  Norway’s Food Safety regulations allow for the slaughter of ISA infected salmon as one control mechanism for emptying the pens.  ISA infected salmon pose no danger to humans, and the presence of the virus does not affect...

SeafoodNews Closed on Friday, April 19

SeafoodNews will not be publishing on Friday, April 19, 2019, in observance of Good Friday. We will return to our normal publishing schedule on Monday, April 22.

In the meantime, catch up on our recent major news stories by checking our Featured Stories page.

You can also listen to episodes of the Seafood News Podcast here. Or you can watch Seafood News videos here. 

From all of us here, we wish you and yours a Happy Easter!

MSC Hires MEP Linnéa Engström As Program Director for the Scandinavia and Baltic Sea Region

Linnéa Engström, a Member of the European Parliament, will be leaving her position to join the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as their new Program Director for the Scandinavia and Baltic Sea Region. MSC confirmed the news on Wednesday, announcing that Engström will begin her new role at the MSC's Stockholm office on April 29.

"I am delighted to welcome Linnéa to the MSC team in Europe," Camiel Derichs, Regional Director in Europe at the MSC, said in a press release...

Iberostar Partners with California's FishWise to Launch Global Sustainable Seafood Training Program

FishWise, a non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy based in California, announced a new partnership with international tourism company Iberostar Group to bolster education and training across Iberostar's family of 32,000 employees on responsible seafood consumption.

Responsible seafood consumption is one of three priority action areas under the company's Wave of Change movement. By enabling employees to confidently message Wave of Change concepts to Iberostar's 8 million annual guests, both companies hope to inspire responsible seafood consumption amongst ...

Halibut Quota Slump in Alaska

A slight increase in this year’s halibut catch and respectable dock prices haven’t done much to boost the value of IFQs (Individual Fishing Quotas).

Halibut quota shares that topped $70 per pound in some regions took a 30 percent nose dive in 2018 and have remained there ever since. 

Now $63 per pound is the high for halibut IFQs in the Southeast fishing region, with most moving at the $52 to $58 range, said Olivia Olsen. In the Central Gulf of Alaska...

NOAA Lists Newly Discovered Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s Whales as Endangered

Add to the list of endangered whales the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s Whale, far less abundant than Atlantic or Pacific Right Whales and faring only slightly better than the Gulf of California’s beleaguered vaquita porpoise.

The most recent estimate is there are fewer than 100 individuals, with fewer than 50 being mature. Pronounced “Broo-dus,” Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales are the only known resident baleen whales in the Gulf of Mexico, and found only last month as a distinct subspecies of the Bryde’s whales found globally...

Red Lobster Kicking Off Summer with Cedar-Plank Seafood Event

Nothing says summer like seafood cooked on a cedar plank. And while the first day of summer technically isn't until June 21, Red Lobster is getting into the spirit of the season with the launch of their Cedar-Plank Seafood Event.

"We are excited to be featuring seafood cooked on a cedar plank because it adds a rich, smoky flavor while keeping the seafood tender and delicious," said Chef Dustin Hilinski, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary at Red Lobster. "The perfect addition to the upcoming summer season....

USCG to Hold Public Hearing for Mary B II Crab Vessel Capsizing Investigation

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to conduct a formal public hearing beginning May 13 to consider evidence related to the Mary B II marine casualty investigation.

The hearing will focus on the capsizing of the commercial fishing vessel Mary B II, which led to the deaths of three fishermen at the entrance of Yaquina Bay in Newport January 8, 2019. The fishermen included James Lacey, 48, from South Toms River, NJ; Joshua Porter, 50, from Toledo, Ore.; and the boat's skipper, Stephen Biernacki...

Togiak Herring Sac Roe: Earliest Opening Ever and Higher Quota by 28% 

The Togiak herring season opened April 16 in the fishey’s earliest by a few days start date, and with nearly 30 percent more herring to catch than last year. 

Almost half of the seine fishery allocation has been landed. As of April 20 at 9:30 a.m., a total of 9,340 tons out of 21,544 tons for the seine fleet had been caught. Average size of the fish were 388 grams with 11.7 % roe maturity. 

The purse seine fishery in Togiak opened at 5 p.m. local time on...

Russian Fish Producers Call for Suspension of Controversial Industry Reforms

Leading Russian fish producers have called on the national government to suspend the conduction of further controversial reforms in the national seafood industry in coming years. They're also asking the government to provide guarantees of immunity to their business, according to recent statements of industry representatives.

According to fishermen, the industry situation in recent years has significantly improved, which was reflected by the increase in its transparency and profitability. In addition, the overall debt burden of the industry has also declined, while the volume of tax payments, in contrast...

NaturalShrimp Expands Marketing Program With Addition of Corporate Chef

Texas-based aquaculture company NaturalShrimp is expanding their marketing program. The company announced late last week that they have hired Douwe Iedema of Livingston, Texas, as their new Corporate Chef.

"I am honored to be the Corporate Executive Chef for NaturalShrimp," Iedema said in a press release. "No shrimp can be compared with ours. The world natural says it all. Our shrimp are sweet, buttery and clean. This is the way shrimp should taste. All white Pacific shrimp have a sweetness to them – ours a little more...

Johnstone Out of Alaska Board of Fisheries After Last-Minute Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

Alaska Governor Dunleavy’s nomination of Board of Fisheries candidate and former member Karl Johnstone was rejected last night by a joint session of the state legislature. The other three nominations to the Board -- Israel Payton, Marit Carlson-Van Dort, and Gerad Godfrey -- were approved.

Johnstone’s reappointment to the board after resigning under the Walker administration was fraught with controversies over his conduct as chair of the Board, and his approach to the process itself. During a four-hour committee meeting interviewing...

ANALYSIS: Unsettled 2019 Scallop Season Start

The market for U.S. origin Atlantic sea scallops remains unsettled at the start of the 2019 fishing year which began on April 1, 2019. With consecutive days of landings over the 200,000 lb. mark, the industry is split. Some are taking a step back, allowing for the raw material market to stabilize before adjusting their prices, while others promote discounts with the abundant landings typical of the season opening.

Inventory holdings play a key role when determining price adjustments at the start of the...

Seafood Industry Australia Fighting Back Against the AMCS Good Fish Project

A project from the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS)meant to encourage chefs to serve only sustainable seafood is receiving some backlash from the seafood industry.

AMCS created The Good Fish Project to "build a community of chefs, restaurateurs, fishers and fishmongers who are championing sustainable seafood for us all." The Project builds upon AMCS' consumer app, Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide, to provide users with a list of over 40 restaurants who have pledged to serve only sustainably sourced seafood on their menus...