Blue Harvest Fisheries Completes Acquisition of 12 Vessels, 27 Fishing Permits From Carlos Rafael 

Blue Harvest Fisheries confirmed on Thursday that they have completed the acquisition of 12 vessels and 27 fishing permits previously owned by Carlos Rafael.

"Blue Harvest is committed to carrying on the best aspects of New Bedford and New England’s storied fishing traditions, and we’re excited to expand our work on the waterfront,” said Keith Decker, CEO and President of Blue Harvest. “With our resources and seafood expertise, we are ideally positioned to be a productive member of the Northeast groundfish fishery for...

Whole Foods Honors Pacifico Aquaculture, Icicle Seafoods and Inverawe Smokehouse in Annual Awards

Whole Foods announced the winners of their eighth annual Supplier Awards, and the list features three seafood companies.

The grocery chain's Supplier Awards honors 32 of the company's suppliers for their "outstanding achievements in 2019 and ongoing commitments to quality, environmental stewardship, organic integrity, innovation, purpose and partnership." Last year Whole Foods honored Wild Planet Foods and Luke's Lobster. This year three seafood companies are being recognized: Pacifico Aquaculture, Icicle Seafoods, and Inverawe Smokehouse.

Pacifico Aquaculture is receiving "special recognition" under National Awards for...

Cape May Fishermen, Processor Sues NOAA’s At-Sea Monitoring Rule

Cause of Action Institute, on behalf of six trawlers and a processor based in Cape May, NJ, filed a lawsuit yesterday against Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and NOAA Fisheries to block a new rule forcing them to pay for third-party “at-sea monitors.”  

The plaintiffs claim that NOAA Fisheries and the Department of Commerce violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) when designing and implementing the final rule.

Designed by the New England Fishery Management Council and promulgated by NOAA...

Blue Apron Closing Arlington Facility, Laying Off 240 Employees

Blue Apron announced in an earnings call this week that they are closing their facility in Arlington, Texas. The news comes after the meal kit company downsized last year at their facilities in Linden, New Jersey and Richmond, California.

CEO Linda Findley Kozlowski said that their decision to close the Arlington facility is because the company is "building a foundation of operational optimization and fiscal discipline to support our strategy to return to growth."

"Given advancements in sourcing, production and logistics, we believe this consolidation of volume into Linden and Richmond...

Gulf of Maine Longline Survey in Rocky Habitats Now in Sixth Year 

For fisheries managers around the world, trawl gear is an efficient way to sample species inhabiting the sea floor or the benthic column above. Depending on the size of the net, grid surveys will capture enough of the animals in the area at the time to compile data used in abundance models that go into stock assessments.  Unless the fish swim out of the net before it is hauled. Or unless the sea bottom is rocky or pinnacled. 

In those areas, longline gear can help fill in the...

Young Fishermen’s Act Advances, Awaits House Vote

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch. The Young Fishermen’s Act advances in Congress.

For decades the federal government has funded programs to help train young farmers, ranchers, even aquaculturists.  It was $15 million for this fiscal year and is set at $25 million by 2023.

The nation’s farmers of the sea are hoping for a similar helping hand from Uncle Sam. It’s far smaller– $2 million over six years paid for by fishing fines.

A Young Fishermen’s Development Act introduced last year by Alaska’s congressional delegation is...

Queensland Aquaculture Report Shows Growth in Industry

According to the annual Aquaculture Production Summary, Queensland's aquaculture industry is seeing some impressive growth.

"The number of jobs in Queensland aquaculture grew by 18.7% last financial year from the equivalent of 525 full-time positions to 623," Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, said in a media statement. “The annual Aquaculture Production Summary confirms we are on track with our goal to grow Queensland’s aquaculture industry, which will create hundreds more jobs in the regions."

According to the report, prawn production increased by...

Faced With Slow Sales, Chinese Seafood Sellers Fighting for Survival

Chinese New Year is among the most important shopping carnivals in China, and both seafood prices and sales used to skyrocket during this period. But this year the coronavirus outbreak has turned everything upside down. The imported seafood market has crashed, and industry participants are teetering and working hard to find a way out.

King crabs, for example, are usually popular among Chinese foodies in such holidays, but this year the sales have plummeted. In Shanghai, one of the country’s largest markets, there are few...

PBS Segment Highlights Hurdles Facing Tuna Industry in American Samoa

In a recent PBS News Hour Weekend edition segment, reporter Mike Taibbi and producers Laura Fong and Mori Rothman explored the seafood industry in American Samoa.

American Samoa is home to a StarKist cannery which employs 2400 locals, about four percent of the entire population. Consider other industries directly related to the cannery, StarKist’s government relations manager Archie Soliai estimated it creates 4500 jobs.

The cannery has become a staple in the region for 56 years, as Taibbi described in the report. However, it faces a litany of issues...

Russia in Search of Alternative Markets for its Fish Due to Coronavirus Outbreak  

Russia is considering a significant reduction of fish exports to the Chinese market due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. According to recent statements made by the head of the Russian Federal Fisheries Agency (Rosrybolovstvo), Ilya Shestakov, the outbreak has already resutled in a significant drop in demand for Russian fish and seafood among Chinese consumers. 

So far, Rosrybolovstvo, together with some leading Russian fisherman, have started to search for alternative markets for domestic fish.

Part of these plans involve...

The BojAngler Fish Sandwich is Back at Bojangles Ahead of Lent

'Tis the season for the BojAngler. Popular southern fast food chain Bojangles has brought back their famous fish sandwich just in time for Lent.

"Southerners have high standards when it comes to seafood, so we at Bojangles' make sure the BojAngler is off the scales," said Chef Marshall Scarborough, Bojangles' VP of Menu and Culinary Innovation. "There are plenty of fish sandwiches in the sea, but this sandwich boasts what others cannot: that one-of-a-kind Bojangles' flavor that leaves you craving more...

The Winding Glass: How the Coronavirus Shockwave May Impact the U.S. and Canadian Seafood Industry

A lot of people in the seafood industry are thinking about the coronavirus. The major impact has been on shipping, tourism, and travel, all of which are vital to the North American seafood industry.

The question is whether this is a short-term event like a hurricane or political strike that impacts one area of our supply chain, or if this is a year-long global pandemic, leading to big changes in behavior in our markets.

Clearly we don’t know yet, despite people like...

Queensland Seafood Industry Receives Assistance from Government Due to Impact of Coronavirus

The Queensland Government will be providing financial assistance to members of the seafood industry who have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). A $660,000 relief package was confirmed in a news release announcing a $3.67 million fee relief package for operators at the Cairns Marina, a "vital hub for inbound tourism operators in Far North Queensland."

"The impact of COVID-19 was felt particularly strongly around Chinese New Year, which is normally a huge export opportunity for Queensland seafood," said Deputy Premier and Treasurer...

Alaska Lawmakers Reinstate Fishery Budget Cuts

Alaska lawmakers are pushing back against Governor Dunleavy’s proposed cuts to the commercial fisheries budget.

The current commfish budget is about $67 million of which $36 million comes from state general funds. That could be cut by over one million dollars and affect fishery programs across the state.

Representative Dan Ortiz of Ketchikan pointed out that the Fish and Game budget has been cut each year over the past five years. 

“I’m just not comfortable with any more reductions to the commercial side of the Fish and Game budget...” 

GSSI Recognizes ASC’s Global Shrimp Standard Five Years After Launch

It’s been five years since the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) launched its Shrimp Standard, improving operations of the world's shrimp farms, and yesterday the standard was recognised by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), a seafood certification industry benchmark. 

GSSI’s benchmark is based on United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) guidelines for the ecolabelling of seafood, and helps give clarity to seafood certification schemes. 

Meanwhile, ASC’s shrimp standard continues to improve and broaden its reach.

“As part of ASC’s mission to drive up standards across aquaculture, we are also...

Nova Scotia Officially Declares February 28 as "Lobster Day"

The Canadian Province of Nova Scotia is honoring its heritage by celebrating one of the things the province is best known for, lobster.

Stephen McNeil, the Premier of Nova Scotia officially proclaimed that February 28 will be known as “Nova Scotia Lobster Day.”

“The South Shore of Nova Scotia is home to some of the richest lobster fishing grounds in the world and the Municipality of Barrington, which stakes its claim as The Lobster Capital of Canada,” the proclamation read.

The new day will coincide with the Nova Scotia Lobster...

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance Announces New Members to Board of Directors

As it introduced its new members to its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) highlighted the diversity of aquaculture in Canada.

As the group strives to make Canada a global leader in aquaculture, the CAIA announced its new and returning members to its National Board of Directors.

“We’re very pleased to welcome these new and returning members to our national board of directors,” said Timothy Kennedy, President and CEO of CAIA. “Together, they represent finfish and shellfish producers, suppliers and regional associations...

SSPO Praise U.S.’ Decision to Pull Back Tariffs on Scottish Salmon

The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) was relieved to hear that the United States has decided to pull back tariffs on Scottish salmon as trade disputes between the E.U. and U.S. continue.

In December 2019, the USTR listed salmon fillets on its list of products that were targeted for increased tariffs. Now, salmon has been removed from the revised list.

“We are relieved that our farmers will be able to continue sending top quality Scottish salmon to the USA without any new barriers in their way,” Hamish Macdonell, Director...

Norwegian Seafood Restaurants Receive Michelin Stars

A number of Norwegian restaurants were awarded Michelin stars during a ceremony in Trondheim on Monday evening.

Michelin might be well known for its tires, but the company also puts out the Michelin Guide, a go-to for dining. The tire company was launched in France in 1889 by brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin. But, in an effort to boost car sales – and sales of their tires – the brothers also began to produce a guide for travelers. By 1926 the guide began to award stars to fine dining restaurants...

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance CEO Joins High Level Panel for a Sustainable Oceans Economy

Timothy Kennedy, the President and CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, announced earlier this week that he will work with expert partners around the world as an invited member of the Advisory Network to the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Oceans Economy (HLP).

HLP was created to develop, catalyze and support solutions for ocean health and wealth in policy, governance, technology and finance. It's the only ocean policy body made up of serving world leaders – including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau...

Sports, Personal Use Fared Better Than Commercial Fleet at Alaska Board of Fish Meeting

Members of the Alaska Board of Fish wrapped up another 11-day meeting in Anchorage earlier this week, after considering over 170 proposals and hearing nearly 350 individual testimonies, not to mention dozens of reports from biologists, managers, and enforcement officers. 

Their job is not enviable. But in the end, after long days and intense discussions, despite efforts to keep sustainability a high priority, their decisions gave more salmon to anglers, sport fishing guides, and personal users...

Bankrupt Health Food Store Earth Fare Owes Inland Seafood Over $6 Million 

Health and wellness supermarket Earth Fare announced earlier this month that they are going out of business. The grocery chain had approximately $138 million in debt – and a little over $6 million of that debt is to Inland Seafood.

Court documents show that Earth Fare had 11 unsecured creditors, the first being UNFI, a natural food distributor from Lincoln, Rhode Island. According to documents, Earth Fare owes UNFI just over $9.5 million. Inland Seafood is second with...

Alaska Hatchery Program Featured at Board of Fish, Public Can Comment

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

Salmon that get their start in Alaska hatcheries enhance the wild runs and the program will again be featured during the Board of Fisheries final meeting next month in Anchorage.

A hatchery committee was formed last year to better inform the Board on operations and production.

“It's to educate themselves about the hatchery program and if hard decisions have to be made about allocations or where fish can be released or harvested – it’s to their  benefit to understand the...

Trace Register Launches New Full-Chain Traceability Platform for Processors

Trace Register has launched TR5, a new full-chain traceability platform for processors.

According to the company, TR5 is an open platform that was built on GS1 and Global Dialogue for Seafood Traceability (GDST). The platform will enable subscribers to achieve full-chain traceability (FCT) by providing capabilities to "receive data from any GDST compliant traceability system and send fully linked FCT data to anyone."

"While the seafood industry faces many challenges, there is also a bold new world of emerging technologies," said Phil Werdal, CEO and...

Arby’s Fires First in Fish Sandwich War as Lent Season Looms 

Is another sandwich war on the way? After chicken sandwich wars took the U.S. by storm, Arby’s struck the first blow in what has already been dubbed, the “Fish Sandwich War.”

Arby’s took to Twitter to fire at McDonald’s staple fish sandwich, the Filet-O-Fish. A menu item since 1962, Arby’s sentiment was simple, its Fish N’ Cheddar Sandwich, is better than the Filet-O-Fish.

The company kept up the barrage with short YouTube ads and a pair of other 10-15 seconds ads poking fun at...

Grieg Seafood Launches New $40 Million Wellboat to Combat Sea Lice

Last week Grieg Seafood welcomed their new $40 million wellboat. The vessel, the Ronja Islander, was custom built in Norway to "address some of BC's salmon farming challenges, including sea lice and safe fish handling during live transfers to farms."

"We designed the Ronja Islander using input from our stakeholders and Indigenous partners," Dean Trethewey, Seawater Production Director at Grieg Seafood BC, said in a press release. "We heard some of their concerns around salmon farming in BC and turned those concerns into...

USTR Opens New Bilateral Evaluation and Dispute Resolution Office Per U.S.-China Phase One Agreement

As described in the trade agreement signed by the United States and China on January 15, a new Bilateral Evaluation and Dispute Resolution Office was formed last Friday by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

January's 96-page trade agreement put a pause on recent US/China trade battles, covering intellectual property, technology transfer, trade in food and agriculture products, and other tradeissues over the next two years. 

The mission of the new office, and its counterpart in China, is to...

Smashburger Introduces Pacific Cod Sandwich, First Ever Fish Entrée Ahead of Lent

Fast-casual chain Smashburger is getting into the fish sandwich game with the launch of their first-ever fish entrée: The Beer Battered Pacific Cod Sandwich.

The launch of the Beer Battered Pacific Cod Sandwich comes about a week before the start of the Lenten season. Smashburger's new sandwich features wild-caught Pacific cod, lightly dipped in a signature batter infused with Yuengling Lager, and topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and creamy tartar sauce.

"At Smashburger, we're on a mission to satisfy our guests with...

Mowi CEO: 'We Are More or Less Self-Sufficient for Feed in Europe'

Alaska Pollock to be “Wildly” Available During Lent Promotion

This year’s six-week Lenten season will start off in the Pacific Northwest with the first-ever Wild Alaska Pollock Week on February 28  through March 8, 2020.

Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has teamed with Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) and the Alaska seafood industry to present Wild Alaska Pollock at many of Seattle’s best restaurants. 

Over two dozen restaurants, many with several locations, will offer unique dishes featuring Alaska’s unsung, delicious, and sustainable pollock. The event organizers encourage consumers to participate by visiting one of the restaurants throughout the ...