IPHC Revises Area 2A Directed Fishery Vessel Quotas for 2020

The International Pacific Halibut Commission released revised vessel quotas for the 58-hour opener June 22-24 off the West Coast Monday afternoon.

On Friday, the IPHC released information that all vessel sizes for the 207 permit applications would receive the same quota, much to the surprise of fishermen and fishery managers. By mid-morning Monday, that press release was removed from the Commission's website.

The new information includes the eight vessel size classes, broken down by the number of permits for each class. Last year, 176 permits had been approved ...

Lineage Logistics Announces Acquisition of Henningsen Cold Storage, Assets from Maines Paper & Food 

Lineage Logistics is expanding their reach. Just last month the refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider announced the acquisition of Henningsen Cold Storage Co., as well as assets of Maines Paper & Food Service.

In February 2019 Lineage announced the acquisition of Preferred Freezer Services, making them not only the largest refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider in North America, but globally as well. The acquisition of Henningsen Cold Storage adds 14 facilities to Lineage’s expansive U.S. network, and bolsters its leading presence in the Pacific Northwest...

Cooke Seafood Brand Pivots to Bring Seafood to Directly to the Doorstep

As COVID-19 continues to impact seafood distributors, one member of the Cooke Seafood family of brands has pivoted to provide Canadian consumers with fresh seafood.

AC Covert, a company that typically caters to retailers, restaurants and the tourism and hospitality sector began offering seafood boxes for home delivery in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I.

AC Covert’s themed seafood boxes offer responsibly sourced seafood prepped by expert fishmongers and are shipped directly from the coast. Consumers can find them on AC Covert’s webpage...

Alaska Salmon Updates Each Week, By Region

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – More Alaska salmon fisheries are opening up around the state and weekly updates track catches and trends in every region.

“We email them out at the beginning of every week that cover the prior week’s salmon harvests statewide, broken out by region. And the goal here is to just provide context for what our state is harvesting relative to the prior year, relative to historical averages and kind of highlight interesting things that are happening in near real time throughout the salmon season...

Barton Seaver Partners with ASMI to Launch To-Go and Takeout Seafood Menu Tips

Just as Copper River and Bristol Bay sockeye salmon begin to hit summer markets, well-known chef Barton Seaver and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute have created a video series to inspire foodservice managers and chefs to create new take-out menus that champion sustainability -- both the economic and environmental kind. 

The video series showcases opportunities to feature seafood to-go, including specific strategies, such as menuing chilled seafood dishes and a technique called “green salting”; how to use every inch of a king salmon, in... 

Thai Union Releases 7th Annual Sustainability Report

Thai Union Group PCL released its seventh annual Sustainability Report last week, a score card of ongoing progress towards creating a more sustainable and ethical global seafood industry.

The report is also an annual Communication on Progress to stakeholders on the company’s efforts to implement the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact within Thai Union’s sphere of influence, as well as their support of  the environmental and social responsibilities of the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Thai Union’s performance in 2019 against key performance indicators and targets that are outlined in...

JAPAN: Marine Products Demand Down 70%, And Industry Organizations Demanded Support

At the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Fisheries Joint Board of Directors, fisheries groups such as JF-ZENGYOREN (National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations), and Japan Fisheries Association, strongly requested support for damages attributed to the new coronavirus pandemic, according to Suisan Keizai Shimbun.

Hiroshi Kishi, President of JF-ZENGYOREN, said, "The national demand for marine products has fallen by about 30% on average due to shipping restrictions and sluggish consumption in the consuming market. For instance, demands notably decreased are sea snails in Hokkaido by 70 percent...

UK Environment Agency Seizes Illegal 40-Meter Fishing Net

The United Kingdom’s Environment Agency announced it seized a 40-meter illegal fishing net in a cross-border enforcement operation on the northeast coast.

Agency fisheries officers from Yorkshire and the North East, alongside the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority to remove the fishing net at Skinningrove in Redcar and Cleveland.

“The prohibited fishing net had the potential to capture a large number of sea trout but luckily we found it in time before it had a chance to make a significant catch,” Paul Slater, Fisheries Team Leader for the Environment Agency, said...

ANALYSIS: Buying Opportunities Increase for Snow Crab at Retail

As the season out of both Newfoundland and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence continues to get underway in Canada, the U.S. market is starting to see snow crab flow back into a starved marketplace.  

The previous season out of Canada saw record high prices with the all-time high hitting $9.55 at the end of February on 5-8s out of the Gulf. Supplies out of Canada in 2019 also ended the year 14.7 percent higher than 2018; thus suggesting...

Area 2A Halibut Fishermen to Receive Much Lower Idividual Quota for June Directed Season

The directed commercial halibut fishery on the West Coast will be a first this year for at least one reason: the first opener will last 58 hours instead of 10. And in a press release that's since been removed from the International Pacific Halibut Commission website, all permitted vessels would have received the same quota.

The IPHC released the fishing period limit for all licensed vessels for the June 22-24 fishing period Friday that indicated the overall annual allocation for the 2020 fishery for ...

Fishery Management Council Representatives Consider COVID-19 Impacts on Fisheries, Federal Surveys

Leaders of the nation’s eight Regional Fishery Management Councils concluded a meeting last week after tackling COVID-19 impacts, a recent executive order, offshore wind energy and fisheries surveys. It was the first of their biannual meetings in 2020 and was held by videoconference.

The Council Coordination Committee meeting provides the Councils and heads of the National Marine Fisheries Service an opportunity to discuss issues relevant to all of the Councils. Nearly 200 people attended the two-day public meeting hosted by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery...

Worldwide Trader Sumitomo Invests in Cell-Based Seafood Company BlueNalu

BlueNalu managed to net another key investor in its Series A funding round. The cell-based seafood company will now be supported by a global leader in trading, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA).

The Series A funding will provide BlueNalu with the resources to build a good manufacturing practices (GMP) pilot plant production facility in San Diego, California, hire additional employees and implement strategic alliances for global operations and distribution as it prepares for market launch.

"In a time when consumers are increasingly more particular about sustainability and safety..."

Greater Atlantic Region Observer Coverage to Resume on July 1

Vessels with Greater Atlantic Region fishing permits will have to once again carry human observers or at-sea monitors beginning on July 1.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing requirements, NOAA first waived requirements for vessels to carry observers at the end of March. The decision came after fishermen expressed concerns about their health at the beginning of the pandemic. The waiver was extended multiple times, but according to the government agency, those waivers will expire on June 30.

"We intend to begin deploying observes and...

The Winding Glass: The Changing Face of Seafood Distribution

Like so many other businesses, the core business of major U.S. seafood distributors has been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We all know how restaurants, hotels and casinos, and amusement parks shut down. And foodservice seafood sales have fallen anywhere from 30% to 98%, depending on the type of venue and offering.

I have been wrestling with what this might mean for our industry. The only certainty I have is that we won’t go back to the way things were before.

The restaurant industry is taking too big a hit...

NOAA Taking Emergency Action to Reduce Economic Harm to Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery 

NOAA Fisheries announced on Friday a temporary rule that will extend portions of the fishing year 2019 carryover provisions in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan into the fishing year 2020. According to the government agency this is an emergency action that is necessary to provide the scallop fleet the opportunity to land allocations that may have gone unharvested. The hope is that this temporary rule will reduce economic harm to the scallop fishery caused by COVID-19...

Fishery Council Leaders Discuss COVID-19; NMFS Touts ‘New Normal’ for US Seafood at CCC Meeting

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council hosted leaders from the eight regional fishery management councils this week by video conference.

The first of the Council Coordination Committee's biannual meetings spanned time zones from New England to American Samoa as the members and NMFS representatives discussed issues relevant to all of the Councils.

On Wednesday, the Councils discussed COVID-19 impacts on U.S. fisheries and federal efforts to address them. Those measures included President Trump’s recent executive orders, Promoting American Seafood ...

Study: Lobstermen and Right Whales Could Benefit from Less Fishing

According to a new study from researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) New England’s lobstermen could turn more profit by using less gear and working with a shorter season.

Findings also support a path to transition from pot fishing, using vertical lines that have been linked to North Atlantic right whale entanglements. The study was published in the journal Marine Policy.

"The story the data tells is optimistic," said lead author Hannah Myers, a graduate student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a guest student at WHOI...

NFI’s Dish on Fish Blog a Finalist for PR Daily’s 2020 Digital PR & Social Media Awards

The National Fisheries Institute’s Dish on Fish blog is a finalist for PR Daily’s 2020 Digital PR & Social Media Awards.

PR Daily’s annual award looks to highlight those who are changing the digital landscape. The Dish on Fish Blog, a seafood education initiative that is promoted in partnership with Butin Integrated Communications, is one of two finalists in the blog category. 

Dish on Fish has received awards in the past, including the 2019 PRSA Bronze Anvil Award...

Russia May Consider Increase of Crab Catch in Domestic Northern Basin  

The Russian government, together with some of the leading domestic crab producers may consider the possibility for an increase of the production of Kamchatka (red king) crab in the Northern basin of the country, particulary the Barents sea within the next several years.  

According to experts of the Russian Invest-Foresight business paper, in recent years the population of the Kamchatka crab in the Russian Northern basin has significantly increased, despite the fact that the Barents Sea has never been an original habitat for such type of crab...

Blue Apron Pushes Shrimp and Salmon With Chef Tim Hollingsworth and HBO Max Partnership

Shrimp and salmon are getting highlighted in Blue Apron’s latest partnerships. The meal kit company announced this week that they have teamed up with award winning chef Tim Hollingsworth to bring new shrimp and salmon recipes to their customers. Plus, a partnership with HBO Max will provide “Big Bang Theory” fans with the perfect shrimp dish to pair with streaming.

Beginning June 29, Blue Apron customers will be able to channel their inner gourmet chef with new, elevated takes on family favorites curated by Chef Hollingsworth...

American Seafoods: After 15 Days at Sea, 86 Processing Crew Test Positive for COVID-19

American Seafoods, the nation’s largest at-sea processor of wild Alaska pollock, announced 86 positive COVID-19 cases on their vessel American Dynasty, including one man who remains hospitalized in Bellingham, WA. Nine tests are still being analyzed as of Monday morning. The vessel has returned to Seattle and is in quarantine.

The American Dynasty left Seattle May 13 for a 15-day fishing trip for Pacific whiting (hake), and docked in Bellingham, north of Seattle, on Tuesday, May 26. A member of the processing ...

Alaska COVID-19 Cases Spike by 27 in One Day, Exceeding Highest Daily Count So Far

Yesterday Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services confirmed 27 new cases of COVID-19 in the state as of Saturday, May 30, the highest daily increase since the pandemic began on March 3. Before yesterday, the highest daily count was 17 on March 23, 2020. 

While the 27 new cases from Saturday and three from Friday are still under investigation as to the source, the historical data on source of the virus since early March shows an upward trend of community spread as...

JAPAN: April Seafood Imports Decreased Further by 20%

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on April 28, the value of seafood imports in April was 135,118 million yen ($1.25 million), down 18% from the same month of the previous year. The decrease has widened from the 9% drop in March. All fish species except squid and Itoyori surimi decreased from the same month last year. According to Minato Shimbun analysis, the import volume decreased by 5% to 208,242 tons, and it seems that the unit price of imported marine products is declining due to...

Zhangzidao Tries to Explain its Scandals but May Have Failed to be Convincing

Zhangzidao, a controversial aquatic company in China, has hit the headlines several times with its scandals. Some of its common shareholders have even gone to court and sued the company for fraud. However, in a recent interview, Wu Hougang, its chairman, denied public accusations, and complained that it is unfair for Zhangzidao to get nothing but blame in the midst of catastrophes.

Regarding its repeated high mortality rates of scallops, Hougang explained that an investigation of the government’s expert team shows that they...

President Trump Highlights Administration’s Work on Marine Economy Ahead of National Ocean Month

In a May 29 Proclamation, President Trump officially declared June 2020 as National Ocean Month.

Trump began his declaration with a look at America’s ocean economy which 3 million people rely upon, generating $300 billion for the national economy each year.

“During National Ocean Month, we reaffirm our commitment to responsible stewardship of our ocean resources to strengthen and expand economic opportunities, while also ensuring that the natural beauty and wonder of the oceans are preserved and maintained for future generations,” the Proclamation read...

Georgia Shrimp Season Opening June 10

Commercial and recreational shrimp harvesters in Georgia will be able to get back in the water beginning Wednesday, June 10 at 8 a.m.

In 2019 the season began on May 29. This year the June 10 opening date was based on data collected by the Coastal Resources Division's Ecological Trawl Monitoring Survey, which showed that the shrimp numbers are "very close" to long term averages. According to the survey, there were many females at late stages of reproductive development still in the creeks and estuaries, which is why...

Ocean Beauty and Icicle Seafoods Announce Merger Today, New Company Called OBI Seafoods

This morning Ocean Beauty Seafoods and Icicle Seafoods announced the merger of their salmon and Gulf of Alaska groundfish operations to form a new company called OBI Seafoods. The announcement has been expected for months and changes the dynamic in Alaska significantly for salmon, as well as halibut, sablefish, and Western Gulf of Alaska groundfish. 

The merger puts ten processing plants throughout Alaska under OBI Seafoods’ ownership, just one less than Trident’s 11 locations and double that of Silver Bay Seafoods. Until today, Trident and Silver Bay...

Alaska’s COVID-19 Cases Jump by 13 in One Day on Eve of Bristol Bay, PWS Opener

A startling increase of 13 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Alaska residents by the state’s health department yesterday, in the largest daily jump since 15 were reported on April 12.

The spike came a week after Govenor Dunleavy, with advice from the medical team in his administration, rolled out Phase 3 and 4 of the state’s iterative strategy to open the economy. Given the low numbers and slow spread of the virus, Alaska began rolling out slow openings of certain activities...

North Carolina Fisheries Reform Group Set to Take Legal Action Against Commercial Fishing Leaders

The North Carolina Fisheries Reform Group (NCCFRG) filed a 60-day Notice of Claim under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) targeting the state of North Carolina and members of the commercial shrimp industry.

“We have tried every remedy possible to start reform talks with both the Executive and Legislative Branches of North Carolina, and we were outright dismissed or completely ignored. They had their chance to discuss the issues,” said Joe Albea, a spokesperson for the NCCFRG...

Canada’s Northern Shrimp Harvesters Participating in Pilot Project to Reduce ‘Ghost Fishing’

Northern shrimp harvesters are doing their part to reduce ghost gear. The Canadian Association of Prawn Producers announced this week that their members will be participating in a pilot project that will help clean up the ocean of lost or abandoned fishing gear.

“Canada has made international commitments to reduce ghost fishing gear and harvesters want to help meet those commitments. We commend DFO for recognizing the opportunity in our proposal and approving this pilot project,” stated Mark Quinlan, President of Newfound Resources...