On Eve of Brussels Show, Russian Pollock Producers Promise Market War in Europe

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] By Eugene Gerden - April 23, 2018

The vice-president of the Russian Pollock Association (RPA), Alexei Buglak, says that Russian producers expect low prices to help them continue to rapidly expand their share of single frozen pollock markets in Europe.

He says that the US media and US pollock producers have continued their attacks on Russian pollock, especially since the fishery achieved MSC certification in 2013.

He said the pressure on Russian fisherman has significantly increased after granting ...

Supreme Crab & Seafood Executive Chef Mark Laubner Tells All About His "Beat Bobby Flay" Episode

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Amanda Buckle - April 23, 2018

“Beat Bobby Flay” is a Food Network competition series that pits chefs from around the country against celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Earlier this month, viewers watched as Supreme Crab & Seafood executive chef Mark Laubner competed against Flay to gain bragging rights. And although he couldn’t pull off the win, he did put up a good fight, and is now spilling secrets from the Food Network set.

“At first I thought it was spam,” Laubner told Seafood News ...

Northern Cod Fisheries Improvement Project to Aid in Understanding of Stock Components

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 23, 2018

A new Northern Cod Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) will help researchers understand Northern Cod stock components and their movement along the slope of the continental shelf, as well as their inshore offshore migration patterns.

The project is being led by the Groundfish Allocation Council (GEAC) and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) in an effort to “enable more effective stock assessment modeling and management measures to control fishing mortality.” Acoustic receivers will be dropped in waters off Eastern Canada and acoustic tags will be placed on ...

DFO announces Newfoundland Shrimp Quotas with further cut in Area 6

EAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton April 23, 2018

The Canadian DFO announced shrimp quotas for 2018.  As the industry expected, there was another significant cut in Area 6, the primary location of Newfoundland’s inshore shrimp harvests.

The area 6 quota will be 8730 metric tons, down 16% from 2017.  This is in line with industry expectations.

Further North, some quotas increased.  Area 5 will have a TAC of 25,630 tons, and area 4 will get 15,725 tons, along with a bycatch quota for montagui of 4,033 tons, which is unchanged.

For area 6, 6,076 tons will go to the inshore fleet; 2,017 tons to offshore, and SABRI, the Innu Nation, and Fogo Island will all get small specified quotas from the remainder.

Upper Cook Inlet’s Commercial Herring, Smelt Fisheries Pay Big Bucks to Fishermen

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Fish Radio with Laine Welch] - April 23, 2018

Two commercial fisheries open each spring at Upper Cook Inlet that attract little notice and few participants, but each pays big bucks to fishermen.

The first is a food and bait herring fishery that runs from April 20 through the end of May. The 150 ton catch quota is small compared to most of Alaska’s other herring fisheries, but the payout is far higher than all others.

“They get $1.00 to $1.50 a pound ...

Guangxi Designates Trains to Deliver Seafood from ASEAN Countries to Northern China

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Dayoo] translated by Amy Zhong - April 23, 2018

According to the Nanning office of China Railway on April 13, 1,209 containers of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) seafood weighing 31,000 tons were transferred to northern China from Fangchenggang by cold chain trains since their operation. These trains started in February 2016 and they delivered live foreign seafood to the Beijing train station. With increasing demand for such seafood in northern China, now Guangxi has cold chain delivery systems to connect ASEAN countries with ...

Another Study Shows How Eating Fish Supports Brain Health, Prevents Parkinson's

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 23, 2018

A new study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, shines more light on the link between consumption of fish and better long-term neurological health. 

Parvalbumin, a protein found in great quantities in several different fish species, has been shown to help prevent the formation of certain protein structures closely associated with Parkinson's disease.

Fish has long been considered a healthy food, linked to improved long-term cognitive health, but the reasons for this have been unclear ...

Hunchun City Develops Seafood Resources to Become Distribution Hub for NE Asia

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Shuichan] translated by Amy Zhong - April 23, 2018

With limited seafood resources, Hunchun city of Jilin province has developed the local aquatic industry with seafood resources from neighboring countries like Russia. It has attracted many seafood companies with its easy access to resources and markets at home and abroad. Now this city has become a seafood distribution region of great importance in Northeast Asia.

Wang, the general manager for Hehe seafood market, is among the first importers in Hunchun to buy seafood from Russia ...

Jack Ventola Attorneys Claim Jail Sentence Would Lead to Demise of National Fish

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton  April 20, 2018

Jack Ventola, founder and President of National Fish and Seafood, now a subsidiary of Pacific Andes, pled guilty to falsifying income tax returns between 2007 and 2013 in December, 2017.

The sentencing hearing will be held on April 27, 2018.  The memo suggests that guidelines would mean a prison sentence of 24 to 30 months, plus the $1 million in restitution prosecutors won as part of the plea deal.

The sentencing memorandum filed by Ventola’s attorneys argues that jail time should be waived in this case, and Ventola should be placed on probation only.

As part of his plea, Ventola agreed to pay more than $1 million to the government in fines and penalties, of which he has already placed $200,000 in an escrow account.

The memorandum from his attorneys first makes the case that Ventola is a self-made man who started unloading trucks with a 9th grade education, and eventually founded and became president of National Fish..

A Short History of National Fish and Seafood, as Described by Jack Ventola Attorneys

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafoodnews]  April 20, 2018

The sentencing memorandum for Jack Ventola also details the history of National Fish and Seafood.  It is a quintessential New England fish business story, and for that reason, we publish the entire description here.

In working his way up from a gofer waiting in gas lines  for Mass Coastal Seafoods to a salesman with a national client base in the course of just five years, Mr. Ventola developed wide-ranging knowledge, skills, and expertise in the seafood business. He understood sales, transportation, industry control, and retail and “breaded” product lines. So, when Mass Coastal closed, Mr. Ventola decided to go into business on his own. He started NFS in 1979 when he was 31 years-old, just shy of his 32nd birthday.

In the beginning, NFS had only one employee: Mr. Ventola. He rented a windowless office with no bathroom for $200/month. His office supplies were just pads, pencils and three phone lines. He did not even have a desk. He sat on the floor with his back against the wall,...

VIDEO: British Sustainable Seafood; Houston Restaurants Caught; Norovirus Outbreak; Scallop Plan 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 20, 2018

Check out the top stories of the week in the SeafoodNews.com Weekly Recap Video. This week hosts Amanda Buckle and Nicole Christie talk about sustainable seafood at British supermarkets; Houston restaurants in trouble for illegally purchasing game fish; the BC norovirus outbreak; and the approval of the 2018 scallop plan.

This video is sponsored by Urner Barry's new Comtell app. Download the Comtell app today on the Apple app store for iOS or Google Play for Andriod.

Florida Keys 'Who Caught It?' Campaign Aims to Stop Seafood Fraud

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 20, 2018

Florida Keys fishermen want you to ask one question when buying your seafood: “Who Caught It?”

The City of Key West has been working alongside Florida Keys commercial fishermen and the Three Hands Fish sustainable seafood program to prevent seafood fraud. Together they launched the “Who Caught It?” campaign, which encourages people to question their fresh and local seafood. The group explains that if a restaurant or market claims that their seafood is “fresh” and “local,” then they should be able to answer a simple question ...

Norwegian Seafood Council Launches "Seafood From Norway" Quality Logo

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [The Nation] - April 20, 2018

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), the representative of the world’s number one salmon exporter, in partnership with Thammachart Seafood Retail Co Ltd, has introduced the “Seafood from Norway” country-of-origin logo, as a trademark of quality.

The NSC works with the Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture industry to develop markets for Norwegian seafood. In Thailand, Thammachart is using the NSC’s Seafood from Norway brand, particularly for salmon. “Nobody knows salmon like the Norwegians”, said Jon Erik Steenslid, NSC’s regional director. “Norway is a country with a long, celebrated tradition of ...

South Australian Sardine Fishery Begins Assessment For MSC Certification

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 20, 2018

The South Australian Sardine Fishery is taking their first steps towards becoming Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified. The fishery is entering full assessment to the MSC Standard for Sustainable Fishing, which will subject them to third party independent assessment by MRAG Americas, an accredited certification body.

“Our fishery has been operating for 25 years and has always had a culture of sustainability,” Marcus Turner, Executive Officer of the South Australian Industry Association (SASIA) said in a statement. “MSC is a natural extension of this commitment and the values of our ...

NOAA Gives Final Approval to 2018 Scallop Plan Which Will Result in 60 Million Lb. Harvest

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 19, 2018

NOAA Fisheries and NMFS have approved measures included in Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management plan. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Thursday and sets an annual catch limit of 60 million pounds of scallops for FY 2018. In comparison, the 2017 fishing year was set at 51.7 million pounds.

Framework 29 sets management measures for the Atlantic Sea Scallop fishery for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year ...

NFI Red Crab Council Implementing First FIP in China Thanks to New MoU With CAPPMA, O2

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 19, 2018

The National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) Red Crab Council announced on Wednesday that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA) and Ocean Outcomes (O2) to launch and implement a Red Swimming Crab Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) in China.

The NFI Red Crab Council, which grew out of NFI’s Crab Council, began planning FIP efforts with CAPPMA and O2 in 2016. The FIP efforts stem from the results of ...

Herring and Smelt Fisheries at Cook Inlet Fetch Nice Prices

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Fish Radio with Laine Welch] - April 19, 2018

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch. Herring and smelt fisheries at Cook Inlet fetch nice prices.

A food and bait herring fishery opens on April 20 in Upper Cook Inlet, and while it’s small – just 150 tons – it will pay out far higher than any other.

“They get $1 to $1.50 a pound or $2-$3,000 for a short ton. Those herring products are going primarily into the halibut commercial bait fishery or ...

Hawaiian Businesses Could Lose Billfish Sales to Mainland Under Proposed Federal Bill

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Susan Chambers - April 19, 2018

A federal bill, if passed, would eliminate Hawaiian sales of all billfish except swordfish to the mainland U.S.

The Billfish Conservation Act of 2012 has not been implemented yet but that hasn't stopped recreational organizations from trying to close what they see as a loophole.

Under S. 396, which passed the Senate in October 2017 and was referred to the House, all landings of billfish such as blue marlin landed in Hawaii (and other Pacific Insular Areas) ...

Oregon Sens. Wyden, Merkley Call on Administration to Maintain Funding for Sea Grant Programs

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Susan Chambers - April 23, 2018

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, joined 24 of their colleagues in urging the administration to reconsider its plan to eliminate funding for the National Sea Grant program in the president’s fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget.

“As senators from some of the states with Sea Grant programs, we see firsthand how this federal investment is leveraged locally to bring immense returns to coastal communities, fishermen, universities, and students,” the senators wrote to members of the ...

CDFW Opens More Northern Areas to Rock Crab Fishing in California

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] By Susan Chambers - April 23, 2018

California rock crab fishermen will be able to fish in more areas thanks to dropping levels of domoic acid.

Following the recommendation of state health agencies, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday it will extend the area open to commercial rock crab fishing from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to near the Mendocino/Humboldt County line at 40° 00.00 ‘ N. Lat. This will open all commercial rock crab fishing from  ...

Coastal Villages Fund Sponsors New Report to Reopen Question of Fish Allocations Among CDQ Groups

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  [SeafoodNews]  April 20, 2018

Coastal Villages Region Fund has commissioned and released a report examining economic need among the areas served by each of the six Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups. Coastal Villages is sharing the report with attendees at the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Seattle on April 19-20 and will follow up with a series of community meetings across Western Alaska over the coming months.

The CDQ program was created in 1992 to alleviate poverty and to support economic development in Alaska Native communities along the coast of the Bering Sea. It allocates 10% of federal groundfish fisheries to 65 communities served by six designated CDQ groups that provide their residents a means to invest in the fisheries.

CVRF says that the way the program’s benefits are distributed does not reflect the communities’ relative populations or need, but rather the political influence they wielded in the 1990s.

“Coastal Villages has known for years that the program’s benefits flow disproportionately to the two CDQ groups serving the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands...

Research Models How Deadly Virus Moves Among Columbia River Salmon, Trout

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 23, 2018

For the first time, researchers studying a deadly virus modeled how it spreads to young salmon and trout in the Columbia River Basin, showing that migrating adult fish are the main source of exposure.

The ecological modeling of the infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus, or IHNV, shows how it moves across the landscape over time, providing a crucial understanding for managers of hatchery programs attempting to protect juvenile salmon and trout.

"Knowing the relative role of these transmission pathways and ...

China, Norway Work On Better Seafood Trade Relations, More Direct Flights

SEAFOODNEWS.COM[Guancha, Hainan] translated by Amy Zhong - April 20, 2018

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson was asked about the recent salmon smuggling case during the ministry’s regular news conference on April 12. According to the journalist, a Norwegian was seized for smuggling salmon from Vietnam into China on March 27. The odd part is that the suspect has passports of both China and Norway; so should she have been arrested as a Norwegian or a Chinese citizen? Is the smuggling her personal decision or her company’s? And is this case going to affect trade or even bilateral trade relations between the two countries? 

The spokesman said he didn’t know the details or answers to those questions yet. But one sure thing is the cooperation has been going well between China and Norway. 

Although the jury is still out on the smuggling case, China and Norway are on the way to further cooperation....

Earth Day: What's Trashing Our Oceans?

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Fish Radio with Laine Welch] - April 20, 2018

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Plastic bags are one of the biggest things trashing our oceans.

Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day and it’s also the day that a plastic bag ban begins in Kodiak.

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 more than ...

Portion of Louisiana Offshore Waters Opening April 24 For Shrimp Season

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 20, 2018

Louisiana shrimpers will want to mark their calendars for April 24. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife announced on Friday that shrimp season will reopen at 6 a.m. on April 24 in a “portion of state outside waters seaward of Vermillion Bay.”

According to the press release, the portion open for shrimp season “extends from the inside/outside shrimp line seaward to the 3-mile line, from the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island as delineated by the channel red buoy line westward to the western shore of ...

Norwegian Government Rejects Marine Harvest's Cargo Ship Fish Farm Concept

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - April 20, 2018

In June 2016 Atlantic salmon producer Marine Harvest sent an application to the Norwegian government seeking to turn an old cargo ship into a salmon farm. Now, almost two years later, the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate has rejected their application for licenses.

Sea lice has not only threatened farmed fish in open waters, but young wild salmon as well. In 2017 the country began to freeze certain productions that caused a severe threat to wild salmon. While Marine Harvest was using “cleaner fish” to feed on ...

Opinions Far Apart on Upcoming Newfoundland Northern Cod Quota; With Decision Up to Minister

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton  April 19, 2018

After recent industry /DFO meetings in St. John’s, positions on how the DFO should approach the Northern Cod quota this year are far apart.

Earlier this year the scientific information presented was gloomy, with an unexpected 30% estimated decline in the spawning biomass of the Northern Cod stock.

This halted the growth trajectory that the stock had been on for a number of years.

The Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council, representing major harvesting and processing companies like Icewater...

Ice Still Holding up Crab Fishery Around PEI and New Brunswick

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  [SeafoodNews] April 19, 2018

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  [SeafoodNews] April 19, 2018

Strong northeast winds have packed ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Northern New Brunswick and the Northumberland Strait. 

The Canadian Coast Guard anticipates 5 to 7 more days of ice operations around the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick, said Trevor Hodgson, acting superintendent of Ice Operations Atlantic.

As a result it looks like another week before the main crab ports of Shippigan and Caraquet can get operating.  Soon after that, on April 28th, a large area of fishing zones 12 and 19 will be closed to protect right whales.

This is making for a difficult year for New Brunswick crab fishermen after a banner year in 2017 that saw both record prices and record landings. 

 According to a report in the Journal Pioneer, Trevor Hodgson, acting superintendent of Ice Operations Atlantic...

Newfoundland Keeps its Lobster Price Formula for Another Year, in Victory for Harvesters

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton April 19, 2018

New ISSF Report Gives Tuna Purse Seine Fleet Recipe For Becoming MSC Certified

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Peggy Parker - April 19, 2018

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published a comprehensive report of recommendations, with an emphasis on floating devices called fish aggregating devices or FADs usage, for purse-seine fisheries seeking Marine Stewardship Council certification.

Approximately 65% of the world’s tuna is harvested by purse seines and about two-thirds of the catch is made on FADs. They have been the center of a recent controversy highlighted by On the Hook Coalition ...