If Russia is to increase its shoreside pollock processing, someone will have to put up some money. The Primorye government announced funding for an $800 million processing complex that would anchor Russian fish processing in the far east. The complex will be built with both federal and private money - and will likely become a focus of the ‘Ask' from Russian officials for those companies investing in buying pollock.
The Copper river opening saw plenty of reds, but few kings which are harder to catch in moderately rough weather. Overall volumes were down. Openings will continue on Monday's, and some Thursdays, depending on the run. Fish prices were up over last year based on smaller total volumes. About 500,000 lbs. of sockeye was processed, estimate packers.
EMS is continuing to depress farmed shrimp volume in Vietnam, and is costing major processors like Minh Phu huge overhead, as they cannot use their capacity and have to seek product from elsewhere. This problem will continue into 2013 reports Tom Seaman from Undercurrent news.
Dick Powell finally sold the Patricia Lee and his golden king crab quotas to Norton Sound last November - and the collateral damage is that there is no king crab to be sold at the Kodiak crab festival this year. In the past, Powell had donated or arranged 5,000 lbs of king crab to be sold by a church group. This is likely the first time in 55 years the Kodiak crab festival has no crab. ‘Maybe we should call it the surimi festival' said one Chamber of Commerce member.