Russian Defense Company Will Get 36,000 Tons Pollock Quota as Part of Bid to Build Shore Factory in Primorye

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Eugene Gerden August 30, 2017

Russian state and defense corporation Rostec may expand to the domestic fishery business through the acquisition of annual quotas on the production up to 36,000 tonnes of pollock and herring in Russia this year.

As part of these plans, the company may invest about U.S. $40 million to build a large-scale pollock processing plant in the Russian Primorye Territory. The provision for project funding may give ...

Studies Show How Acidic Oceans are Affecting Alaska Species

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Fish Radio with Laine Welch] August 25, 2017

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch. Latest lab results show impacts of acid oceans on key Alaska species.

The chemistry showing that our oceans are becoming more acidic can’t be denied. So how does all that absorption of increasing carbon dioxide affect some key Alaska fisheries?

"The direct effect of carbon dioxide increase may be the pH effect on the ability of a pollock or cod to grow or to have gas exchange across the ...

Russia May Cut Pollock Exports This Year

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] by Eugene Gerden - August 1, 2017

Russia may cut pollock exports this year amid the ever-growing domestic demand for it, according to recent statements of spokesman Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo.

Planned cuts are currently not disclosed. However, according to some sources close to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, they may reach 30% of the total exports of pollock out of Russia, which is estimated at about 800,000 tonnes per year.

According to Rosrybolovstvo data, in the first half of the current year the consumption of pollock in Russia grew by almost two times, ...

Young Pollock Survival Better than Expected During Most Recent Bering Sea Warm Phase 

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Peggy Parker - July 5, 2017

In 2015, scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center wanted to test a hypothesis about how warm sea temperatures affect young (from birth to a year old) pollock. At first glance, Bering Sea pollock seem to do best in warm conditions. During a single warm year, young pollock thrive. But if warm conditions persist for more than a year, the population declines. In the long run, pollock do better during a cold regime.

Scientists theorized that warm phases have an abundance of small, low-fat...

Russian Fishing Co (RFC) Enters Crab Business with $170 million Quota Purchase at Auction

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden  June 1, 2017

Russian Fishing Company (RFC), a former Russkoe More – Dobycha, one of Russia’s largest fish producers and processors,  became one of the largest holders of quotas on the catch of crab in Russia, as a result of the recent auction, conducted by the Russian Rosrybolovstvo.

In accordance with the results of an auction, which was conducted on May 18-19 six lots out of 24 for the catch of crab in the Russian Far East were granted to RFC’subsidiary OJSC "Tournif, a Russian fishing producer, which is based in Vladivostok.

The main beneficiaries of the RFC are Gleb Frank, the son-in-law of the billionaire Gennady Timchenko, and Maxim Vorobiev, the brother of the governor of the Moscow region.

It is one of the largest fishing companies in Russia

Facing Headwinds on European Standards, Russia's White Fish Producers Turn to Brazil

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden - May 18, 2017

Russia plans to significantly exports of white fish (cod and pollock) to far-abroad countries in the coming years, according to recent statements of Ilya Shestakov, head of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries.    

Shestakov said that currently the demand for white fish in the domestic market remains still relatively low, however it has significantly increased in such countries as Brazil, Argentina and other Latin America states, which may provide significant export opportunities to Russian producers.

Such a decision will be mainly due to the current inability of Russian fisherman to successfully export...

Newport’s Surimi Plant to Open this Season After Pacific and Oregon Dept of Justice Reach Agreement

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton  May 15, 2017

The former Trident Surimi plant on the Newport Waterfront will open at the end of this week or early next week, after Pacific Seafood and the Oregon dept. of Justice agreed on conditions for the acquisition.

It is highly unusual for the Oregon Dept. of Justice to give an opinion about a merger or acquisition, but because the Dept. had intervened with a friend of the court brief in a lawsuit claiming Pacific Seafood was too concentrated on the Oregon coast, the company was reluctant to operate another plant without a sign off from the DOJ...

Russian Pollock Fisheries Begin MSC Recertification Process, Join Industry Group Within MSC

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton  April 28, 2017

The Russian pollock Association signed a five-year review for recertification of the pollock fishery under the MSC at the recent Seafood Expo in Brussels. The signing was attended by the head of the Russian Fisheries Agency Ilya Shestakov and MSC head Rupert Howes. 

Shestakov said that in addition to the MSC certification, which he felt confirmed the soundness of Russian Fisheries management, he noted the importance of creating and implementing national environmental certification, which could guarantee the safety of products, maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, as well as provide an alternative tool independently, confirming the quality of products in domestic and foreign markets. 

Earlier, the Pollock association joined...

Surimi Producers Trying Hard to Change Consumer Ideas of Kamaboko Beyond Traditional Products

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Japan Reports]  April 5, 2017  

Japanese surimi product makers are trying hard to go beyond the conventional use of kamaboko and create new demand, especially in the months where consumption typically falls off.

In Japan, fish surimi products carry with them a strong image associated with seasonal demand, centering on kamaboko (white fish meat, classically pollock, made into a seasoned paste) and “date-roll” (a kind of fish omelets) – both representative food items for the New Year period as well as “oden” (typical wintertime pot dish consisting of chikuwa and other minced fish.

In face of the coming of relatively low-demand seasons of spring and summer..  

Russia Dangles More Pollock Allocations if Koreans Invest in Russian Processing

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden  March 28, 2017

The Russian government will consider increasing pollock quotas for South Korea and Japan for the fishing in the Russian territorial waters this year, according to recent statements of Ilya Shestakov, head of Rosrybolovstvo.

Implementation of these plans, however, will depend on certain conditions. 

According to Rosrybolovstvo, the quota of South Korea for catching fish in Russian waters has been reduced twice in recent years, however there is a possibility that it could be increased already this year..

Rosrybolovstvo Plans to Seize Fishing Quotas from Those Who Build Trawlers With Foreign Capital

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Eugene Gerden - March 15, 2017

Rosrybolovstvo, Russia's federal fisheries agency, plans to start more active seizures of fishing quotas from harvesters who rely on foreign capital to build vessels. The plan is to transfer the quota to fishermen who build their fishing trawlers at local shipyards, according to an official spokesman of Rosrybolovstvo. 

As part of the plan, Rosrybolovstvo will conduct a wide-reaching audit of the domestic fish producers, similar to one that occurred several years ago...

Russian Fishery Co. Buying Dalmore Pollock Business, Will Have Nearly 300,000 tons of Quota

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden - March 7, 2017

Russian Fishery Company (a former Russkoe More Dobycha), one of Russia’s largest fish producers, owned by Maxim Vorobyov and Gleb Frank, is considering acquiring the pollock business of Dalmoreproduct, a Russian pollock producer in the Far East.

Negotiations between the sides are currently underway.  The amount of the deal may reach US$150 million. It is planned that the deal will allow Russian Fishery Company to increase its pollock catch by more than 20%.

The deal has already been approved by the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) and is expected to be closed in the coming weeks.

Currently Dalmoreproduct operates quotas for pollock catch with an annual volume of 60,000 tons.

Russian Fishery Co. Plans Major Pollock Expansion with Chinese Backing

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden  February 14, 2017

The Russian Fishery Co. plans to significantly expand pollock production volumes, yet its plan, backed by China, may run into opposition from state agencies.

Pollock Surimi Prices Drop for First Time in 4 Years on Increased Quota, Slow Fillet Demand

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  [Japan Reports]  January 20, 2017

North American pollock surimi prices record their first drop in 3 years and 9 months in Japan thanks to robust landings in Alaska.

N. Pacific Council Threatens New England Style Fisheries Management Collapse in Gulf of Alaska

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  [News Analysis and Opinion] by John Sackton - December 27, 2016

Massive Chinese Fish Processing Center in Border Region Threatens Russian Domestic Fish Processing

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden - December 20, 2016

Exports of Russian fish and seafood to China are steadily growing, amid ever-risingsing demand of Chinese fish processors, according to experts of Russian Rosrybolovstvo.

According to sources in Rosrybolovstvo, a large fish processing cluster is currently established in the Chinese province of Jilin, which is located close to the Russian Primorye region..

Alaska Fishing Season Booming With Salmon, Pollock, Cod and More

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Fish Radio with Laine Welch] August 2, 2017

This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch –Lots of fishing going on besides salmon. August updates after this –

Salmon takes center stage all summer but lots of other fisheries are out on the water as well. For salmon, the catch is on its way to 111 million fish, with sockeyes totaling about 50 million and pinks nearing 43 million - over half of the humpies are from Prince William Sound.

The total Alaska salmon catch for this year is pegged at...

Russian Fish Co. to Expand Sales of Single Frozen Pollock to Domestic Market, Citing Weakness in EU

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden  July 24, 2017

Russian Fishery Company to become largest producer of pollock fillets in Russia

Russian Fishery Company - RFC (former Russkoe More), one of Russia’s leading fish producers is beginning massive production of fish products under the Nordeco brand.

According to the company’s plans, RFC should become one of the largest suppliers of fish products that will be mostly manufactured from pollock on the domestic...

Bidding Prices of Pollock Roe Stay High for Japanese Traders Despite Higher Supplies from US, Russia

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Japan Reports]  June 5, 2017

Last months pollock roe prices again remained high for the Japanese as supplies of lower priced roe remain tight.  The bidding prices of pollock roe--raw materials for "tarako" and mentai spiced roe products--have been pegged at a high level this year.

Supply of pollock roe to the market from main producing places in the U.S. and Russia has been increasing, but the prices have been kept high due to the impact of poor pollock catch last year and diminishing stockpiles in Japan.

In the auctions held in the U.S. this spring, pollock roe from factoryships maintained prices at around 1,100 yen per kilo, with that from Russia standing at 900 yen, a level more or less the same as last year....

DHL Now Shipping Live Crabs and Seafood from Northern Norway to South Korea and US Markets

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] May 25, 2017

DHL Global Forwarding will start shipping live crabs and seafood the Lakselv Airport Banak in North-Norway to markets in Asia and Northern America.  

The carrier will start dedicated weekly flights to ship fresh seafood to the DHL terminal in Oslo to South Korea and other destinations including Japan and the United States.

DHAL said all of the logistics are exactly timed, ensuring the shipments are delivered in perfect condition. Today’s first flight will be officially welcomed by the State Secretary Ronny Berg of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries...

SeaShare Partners with Native Association to Donate Pollock to Communities in Bristol Bay

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - May 17, 2017

Seattle, Wash. -- Seashare, a non-profit dedicated to bringing seafood to food banks, announced it has partnered with the Bristol Bay Native Association to deliver more than 7,000 pounds of pollock to Bristol Bay for hunger relief in Dillingham, Alaska, and surrounding communities.

The pollock will be stored in a freezer container that SeaShare installed in partnership with the Port of Dillingham in 2016. This is the third time the container has been filled, with more than 20,000 pounds of seafood donated by SeaShare in Bristol Bay over the past year.

“Seafood has dietary and ...

Russian A Season ends at 874,000 tons of pollock, up 6%; Industry wants TAC decrease in 2018

SEAFODNEWS.COM by John Sackton - May 1, 2017

The Russian A season ended earlier in April with a total catch of 874,000 tons or 82% of the total TAC. This catch level is up 6% from the prior year. However, the Russian industry is concerned about the pollock market and wants to see a decrease in the TAC in 2018.

Pollock stocks in the Far East are Healthy, and the Russian industry has asked not to be saddled with maximum TACs due to the current market oversupply of pollock, and the fact that companies pay taxes on quotas as well as actual landings.

The 2018 TAC recommendation is for a decrease of 5% to 1.786 million tons. Sources indicate that higher level TACS could be maintained biologically, but the industry preferred to scale back somewhat.

By area, TACs for the main

Russian Pollock Producers Plan to Grow Exports to EU Market 40% by 2019

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden - April 21, 2017

Russian pollock producers plans to significantly increase the volume of their supplies to the EU market during the next several years, according to an official spokesman of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

That will be achieved through the increase of the volume of domestic fish processing and the reduction of fish exports to abroad, more than 87% of which account for frozen, whole fish...

Pollock Roe Auctions Return High Prices, in Boost to Alaska Companies

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton March 28, 2017

The American pollock industry got a welcome whiff of stronger markets as the annual first A season pollock roe auction concluded in Seattle.

Trading and demand was strong, and prices were generally higher than last year. Also volumes improved to about 9000 tons. 7744 tons were bid at the auction, and 1254 tons were sold on private contracts.

Overall value rose to $42 million, vs $24 million last year. But this number is still below what was achieved in 2015...

Russian Fishing Industry Faces More Consolidation as Companies Prepare for 10 Year Quota Auctions

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugen Gerden  March 17, 2017

The Russian fishing industry is on the verge of further consolidation, due to the possible sale of the Russian Fishing Company (former Rysskoe More Dobycha), one of Russia’s largest fish producers, according to some sources close to Russian Rosrybolovstvo.

Among the potential bidders are some well-known Russian fishing producers and the major competitors of the Russian Fishing Company in the domestic market.  In recent years Russian Fishing Company has significantly strengthened...

Russia's Pollock Catch in Okhotsk Sea Loses Momentum in Early March

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews]  March 15, 2017

According to the Hokkaido Federation of Fishermen, the catch of pollock with roe for the Russian A season totaled 498,900 tons as of March 8, down about 7% from the prior year.

About 74% of the TAC has been taken.  The federation says that the pace of operation slowed from last year around late February, and showed no signs of recovery in the first week of March.

Therefore the shortfall from 2016 is likely to increase.  

Currently, a total of 137 fishing vessels are operating in the area...

Bojangles' Features Alaska Pollock Fish Sandwich for Lent

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Seafood News] - February 17, 2017

Charlotte, NC -- The BojAngler is back and ready to make a splash! Following a popular debut last year, Bojangles’ has brought back the delicious BojAngler fish sandwich, which is now available at participating restaurants for a limited time.

There’s nothing flaky about this fish sandwich. Unless, of course, you’re referring to the actual filet, a delightfully light, wild-caught Alaskan Pollock filet with a generous dash of Bojangles’ popular fry seasoning. The filet is paired with a slice of all-natural cheddar cheese and zesty tartar sauce, all between a golden-brown toasted, buttered bun. Perfect for lunch or dinner, the BojAngler proves that a brand famous for its flavorful chicken and made-from-scratch ...

German Zverev, Friendly to China, Will Head Russian Fish Industry Group to Push Gov't  on Exports

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden  February 7, 2017

The struggle between those in the Russian government who want to limit exports and sell more Russian fish domestically and those who want to keep their position on the world market selling to China for reprocessing is heating up.

NMFS Seeks Comments on Inseason Adjustments to BS/AI Pollock, Cod, Atka Mackerel

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Peggy Parker - January 11, 2017

The Adak cod processing plant and the Atka Pride plant in Atka notified National Marine Fisheries Service that they will not be processing Pacific cod this season, so the agency is making adjustments to the Pacific cod TAC in that area, and updating the pollock and Atka mackerel total allowable catch  limits (TACs) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands as a result of the final TAC setting in December.

BS/AI catch totals for 2017 pollock remain as we reported in December.

The new Table 9 TACs, found here, will be in effect for 2017, once the rule is made final.  Comments will be accepted up to 4:30 p.m. AST January 25, 2017.

In addition to the notification of the plants not operating...

Gidrostroy Could become Largest Russian Pollock Producer if PBTF Purchase Closes

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by Eugene Gerden  December 22, 2016