Russian Gov't Says IUU Crab Poaching Making Comeback in Sea of Okhotsk

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Eugene Gerden  Sept. 8, 2016

Icewater Seafoods Calls for Balance in Newfoundland Cod Allocations, Management

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton  Sept. 28, 2016

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  [SeafoodNews]  Sept. 28, 2016

Hawaii Longline Group Progressing with Universal Crew Contract; Plans Rapid Vetting of Conditions

 SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by John Sackton  Sept. 27, 2016

The Hawaii longline fleet says they are making rapid progress implementing reforms following an AP story that uncovered forced labor,  trafficking and poor working conditions on Hawaii longline vessels that use foreign crew.

NY's Mt. Kisco Smokehouse Voluntarily Recalls Smoked Salmon Products for Possible Listeria

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 27, 2016

New York-based smoked salmon producer Mt Kisco Smokehouse announced a voluntary recall for two types of its smoked salmon because of a chance the product is contaminated with listeria.

According to Mt. Kisco’s recall submitted to the FDA, the was distributed in New York and Connecticut through retail 
stores and restaurants between 9/6/2016 to 9/16/2016.

The whole product is packed in an unlabeled paper box and delivered to restaurants.  The sliced product is sold in a clear plastic package and labeled on the back with lot and use by date...

GAA’s GOAL Conference in Guangzhou was One of the Best in Years

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton - September 26, 2016

For anyone who is participating in the Chinese Seafood Market and depends on Asian aquaculture, the recently concluded GOAL conference in Guangzhou was one of the best in years.

Like other standards organizations including MSC and ASC, GAA is riding a gusher of money as companies pay logo licensing fees for third party certification, and it showed.  The quality of the panels and the experts speaking at the conference was excellent.

First, this conference was heavily integrated into the Chinese...

Icelandic Puts Cod Processor Ný-Fiskur Up for Sale as Part of Strategy to Shrink Operations

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 26, 2016

The Board of Icelandic Group announced its plan to sell its Icelandic subsidiary Ný-Fiskur as part of the company’s plan to streamline its operations.

Ný-Fiskur is one of Icelandic’s four subsidiaries. The operation, which is based in Sandgerði, specializes in the production and sale of fresh seafood products and processing about 6,000 metric tons of raw material annually. The company also owns a commercial fishing vessel, Von GK-113, and 800 metric tons of cod quotas.

Ný-Fiskur distributes a significant portion of its products, with air freight, to customers in Belgium and other European countries. The company is projected to post about EU23 million in revenues this year...

Target On Track to Achieve 100% Sustainability Certification for its Entire Seafood Supply Chain

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 23, 2016

Target says it has nearly met its goal to source all of its fresh and frozen seafood from fisheries that are either certified sustainable or on their way toward achieving sustainability certification.

The retailer set a goal in 2011 to source all of its seafood from fisheries that were sustainably managed or in the process of achieving certification. Target’s senior seafood buyer Nic Berkeland and its brand buyer Gry Engen teamed up to achieve the goal by partnering with Fish Wise.

FishWise helped Target develop a comprehensive sustainable seafood program with strict guidelines that every fresh or frozen seafood product dol met specific sustainability guidelines...

Xiamen Airlines Rolls Out New Service to the US: Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 26, 2016

XIAMEN, SHENZHEN, China and SEATTLE -- Xiamen Airlines launched its Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service today, creating an air bridge connecting two of China's major special economic zones and an economic heavyweight on the U.S. West Coast. This is not only the first long haul route originating in Xiamen with an end point in the United States, but also the first direct international service between Shenzhen and the U.S.

Xiamen Airlines chairman and general manager Che Shanglun said, "The launch of the Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service is an important reflection of the results of the meeting between Chinese and American leaders in 2015. On the heels of these events, a Fuzhou-New York and a Xiamen-LA service will also be initiated, making air travel, and, by consequence, exchanges between the two countries much easier."

The Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service is the sixth long haul...

Thai Union Notes Progress Made to Fight Seafood Labor Abuses in Response to AP Follow-Up

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 26, 2016

Thai Union Public Group highlighted the progress it and the entire Thai seafood industry has made in the last year since a report found the use of slavery and other labor abuses in the country’s seafood processing industry.

The company released a statement after the Associated Press published a story last week about the progress that’s been made to tackle labor abuse in Thailand’s seafood industry. The story followed-up the AP’s major news story in 2015 that first uncovered modern day slavery in shrimp peeling sheds used by Thai seafood companies that were supplying shrimp to the US market.

Last week’s AP story said Thailand has made notable progress in eliminating rampant labor abuse in the seafood industry. However, shrimp peeling sheds were still being used by some members of the Thai Frozen Food Association, the group that banned its members from using the peeling sheds...

Gulf Shrimp Landings Continued Well Below 5-Year-Avg in August; Wholesale Prices Keep Climbing

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - September 22, 2016

The latest round of monthly shrimp landings out of the Gulf of Mexico provided more confirmation that the spring seasons in Louisiana and Texas were a bust. Landings continue to trend well below the five-year-average for the fishery, which has kept inventories tight and wholesale prices high into September.

Monthly landings were reported at 14.2 million pounds for the month. The figure was down 28 percent from the same month last year, a difference of over 5 million pounds. The volume is down 22 percent from the five-year average and is the lowest August total since the BP stricken season in 2010...

Chefs & Media Attend ASMI Summer Culinary Retreat

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 23, 2016

For four days in mid-August ASMI hosted their fifth annual hands-on, Alaska Seafood Culinary Retreat for international chefs from Brazil, China, Germany and Spain, top-tier domestic media, and registered dietitians.

The tour started in Ketchikan with a sustainability presentation by fisheries biologists at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and a processing plant tour of E.C. Phillips, where the visitors got an overview of the Alaska seafood industry.

The group took a float plane to Steamboat Bay Lodge on Noyes Island and spent the next few days seeing first hand how commercial fishing is done, learning about and tasting different species of Alaska salmon, whitefish and crab.

To the delight of the entire group, the international chefs hosted cooking demonstrations...

Russia to Boost Pollock Exports to EU, Domestic Demand low due to Poor Quality in Soviet Times

SEAFOODNEWS.COM  by Eugene Gerden Sept. 21, 2016

Fresh Domestic Catfish Prices at Near-Record Highs With Supplies Tight From Poor Spring Production

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - September 21, 2016

The fresh domestic, farmed catfish market is trending at record or near-record highs because of tight supplies driven by an extended period of poor production in 2016.

Average wholesale prices for fresh 3-5 oz Domestic catfish fillets have climbed to $4.67 per pound in September, the highest price in this market since 2012 according to Urner Barry. The market for whole dressed H&G catfish and nuggets has also increased to annual or all-time record highs this month...

Most Tuna Catch Comes from Abundant Stocks, But Overfishing of Some Stocks Continues

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 22, 2016

Washington, DC – The global commercial catch of tuna reached 5 million tons in 2014, an increase from 4.6 million in 2013, according to the ISSF Tuna Stock Status Update – 2016 (Status of the World Fisheries for Tuna) report just published by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). Tuna accounts for about 6% of the world’s 81.5m ton marine catch.
 
The report, which is updated as recently as this month for species that have current landings or survey data available, lists the make up of the world’s tuna catch and measures each of the world's stocks against three management metrics: abundance, mortality, and bycatch.

Skipjack tuna species accounted for 57% of the tuna catch, followed by yellowfin...

Barents Sea Cod, Haddock and Saithe Fisheries Recertified by MSC

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 21, 2016

The Barents Sea fishery of cod, haddock and saithe has been recertified by the Marine Stewardship Council for environmentally sustainable fishing.

“The re-certification of our fishery to MSC standard for sustainable fisheries is a proof that our strategy aimed at development of sustainable fishery is effective. We’ve played a leading role in promoting sustainable fishery values among other actors in fishery sector in Russia and worldwide. In five years of MSC certification we have managed to implement actions to close all six conditions set under initial MSC certification” says Sergey Sennikov, Chief Sustainability Officer of Ocean Trawlers, the client company to MSC.

The MSC website notes that cod and haddock have completed the once-every-five year reassessment and that saithe is undergoing assessment.

The three fisheries are in the waters of Norway and Russia...

GAA's GOAL Conference in Guangzhou was One of the Best in Years 

For anyone who is participating in the Chinese Seafood Market and depends on Asian aquaculture, the recently concluded GOAL conference in Guangzhou was one of the best in years writes John Sackton. The conference was heavily integrated into the Chinese seafood industry. Altogether, there were 20 to 30 Chinese exporters at the conference Sackton reports. Additionally, what was improved over past years was the focus of many of the roundtable discussions, which were generally framed with a detailed presentation, and then reactions and observations. Another issue discussed very candidly at the conference was the conflicting certification schemes. Finally, there was also a good technical focus on disease, which continues year after year to be the most significant problem facing the aquaculture industry. "Overall, it was an amazingly substantive conference. Next year, GOAL 2017 will be held in Dublin the week of October 2nd," writes Sackton. "Put it on your calendar."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski and others have introduced legislation that they hope might stop future presidents from using the Antiquities Act to carve out lands and waters for new environmental protections. The proposed legislation is an attempt to curb executive authority over establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPA) that undermine existing fishery management and environmental protection protocols under Magnuson. The Obama Administration has already used the Antiquities Act to expand a Marine Monument in Hawaii and establish the very first MPA in Atlantic waters all without the use of a scientific process.

In other news, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and NOAA will develop an aquaculture management program for the Pacific Islands Region. The entities are preparing a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) analyzing the possible environmental impacts of the proposed management program and alternatives. “The purpose of it is to develop a management program to support sustainable, economically sound aquaculture in the Pacific Island Region,” said Joshua DeMello of the Western Pacific Council.

Meanwhile, key players charged with relocating Japan's Tsukiji market fish to a new site are blaming a communications breakdown over structural changes at the site to deal with toxic ground soil. The famed seafood market was slated to relocate to a new site in Toyosu this November. However, the site's soil was contaminated since the area was home to a Tokyo Gas Co. factory. An expert panel issued several requirements to elevate the site with replacement dirt before the seafood market could be relocated, steps that never were fulfilled by the contractors.

Finally, at least 24 percent of salmon processing workers in Chile were laid off by producers including AquaChile, Multiexport, Australis Seafoods and Camanchaca, according to public information submitted to Chile's Superintendency of Securities and Insurance (SVS). Since 2014, Chile’s salmon processing workforce has declined from 13,303 workers to 10,697 workers. The steep drop has been blamed on consolidation within the industry and because of the severe algae bloom at the beginning of 2016. One association representing Chile's salmon workforce said the job losses are even more severe when indirect jobs related to Chile's salmon industry are tallied.

We've also uploaded a new Weekly News Recap video after taking a week off. Our latest show highlights some of last week's original market news among other topics. We welcome comments about the video series. 

SFP Celebrates Ten Years in its First Annual Report

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 21, 2016

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership notes its ten-year anniversary in its first ever annual report.

“We decided to publish one to help us keep everyone – our donors, our partners, the general public, and other interested stakeholders – in the loop on what SFP has been doing over the past year,” writes CEO and founder Jim Cannon.

The annual report includes a short history of the NGO that works with buyers  and their supply chain -- retailers Walmart and McDonalds, most notably -- to develop seafood sustainability programs and support fishery improvement programs (FIP) where needed.

“Three of SFP’s core beliefs differentiate us from many NGOs,” writes Cannon. “They are: (1) industry needs to lead this improvement work, not SFP or other NGOs; (2) the models of change we promote should be realistic...

EU Commission Cuts 2017 Western and Eastern Baltic Cod Quotas 88% and 39% Respectively

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 27, 2016

The European Commission published sharp reductions in Baltic Sea cod quotas for the 2017 season.

The quota now proposed for Western cod amounts to 1588 tons, down 88% compared to 2016 levels. The quota proposed for Eastern cod amounts to 24927 tons, i.e. 39% less than in 2016. These figures are based on scientific advice and are in line with the newly-adopted Baltic management plan.

These quotas are based on scientific advice received earlier this year from the Council for the Exploration of the Seas, which recommended severe reductions in fishing to help these stocks recover from very low levels...

Garden State Seafood Assoc.'s Dir. Greg DiDomenico Part of Seafood Panel at NYTimes Food Conference

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 27, 2016

Garden State Seafood Association (GSSA) Executive Director Greg DiDomenico will discuss sustainable fishing issues at the New York Times’ “Food for Tomorrow” conference, which is going on this week at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York.

The conference seeks to “uncover and assess the most important issues and trends affecting the nourishment of our nation and the world.”

DiDomenico is panel member that will discuss marine issues and fisheries management. He will be joined by Sean T. Barrett, Co-Founder of Dock to Dish and Bren Smith, Owner of Thimble Island Ocean Farm and Executive Director of GreenWave...

New Zealand King Salmon Moves Forward with IPO; Market Capitalization Valued at $154 Million

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 23, 2016

New Zealand King Salmon officials submitted the paperwork needed for an initial public offering. The farmed king salmon producer is seeking a market capilitzation worth $154.5 million if fully subscribed.

The company will list its share price at $1.12 and is seeking $30.0 million in new capital to repay debt, to fund future investment and for working capital.

As part of the IPO, existing investor Direct Capital is selling up to $45.0 million of shares in the Offer...

Fresh Tilapia Farmer GeneSeas is Brazil's First Aquaculture Operator to Get BAP Certified

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 26, 2016

Tropical Aquaculture’s tilapia production farm and processing partner GeneSea has become Brazil’s first aquaculture company to earn certification against the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices program.

GeneSeas’ farm and production plant, located along the Paraná River, near the western edge of São Paulo, Brazil, received this certification on September 12th.

“We are honored to be the first company in Brazil to receive such an important certification that assures GeneSeas’ commitment with the best global practices in aquaculture and the development of the region where we are located, the most important tilapia producers in Brazil,” said CEO Breno Davis...

United Cook Inlet Drift Association Wins Lawsuit Against NMFS on Appeal

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] by Peggy Parker - September 22, 2016

“We won!” wrote Audrey Salmon, manager of the United Cook Inlet Drift Association (UCIDA) to her members when an Anchorage federal appeals court reversed a lower court decision against the fishermen.

The suit found fault with the North Pacific Council’s Amendment 12 to the Fisheries Management Plan for Salmon. The council adopted Amendment 12 in 2012, to make official something many people already assumed: that Cook Inlet, Prince William Sound, and the Alaska Peninsula were exempted from the federal fisheries management plan for salmon because the State of Alaska was managing those fisheries adequately.

But UCIDA and the Cook Inlet Fishermen’s Fund urged the Council to reject the amendment...

PODCAST: Urner Barry and Seafood News Launch Podcast Network; GOAL 2016 News Recap Featured

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - September 22, 2016

Urner Barry and Seafood News have launched a podcast network that will provide market and industry news in a convenient audio format that is accessible on mobile devices.

The Urner Barry Market Digest and the Seafood News podcast are available for download and to stream through your iPhone or Andriod devices using iTunes, Google Play or SoundCloud.  Search “Urner Barry” or “Seafood News” to find the podcast stations. Subscribe to each channel to receive notifications for when new content is available...

FDA Suspends New York's SM Fish Corp From Selling Seafood for Repeated Listeria Violations

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh - September 22, 2016

The FDA has temporarily suspended the sales and distribution of seafood  products from New York-based operator SM Fish Corp for repeated violations of food safety protocols.

A Suspension of Food Facility Registration Order was filed against SM Fish Corp since the company has not properly addressed listeria contamination issues at its facility.

SM Fish Corp was forced to recall its OSSIE’s Brand of ready-to-eat seafood dips last week over concerns the products were contaminated with bacteria that can cause listeria...

Jeff Sedacca and his Shrimp Team Moving from National Fish to Sunnyvale Sfd US Subsidiary of Guolian

Hawaii Longline Group Progressing with Universal Crew Contract; Plans Rapid Vetting of Conditions 

The Hawaii longline fleet says they are making rapid progress implementing reforms following an AP story that uncovered forced labor, trafficking and poor working conditions on Hawaii longline vessels that use foreign crew. A task force came up with a universal crew contract that was designed to reveal features of labor agreements that can lead to abuse and forced labor. The industry also identified access to the Honolulu Fish Auction as a choke point in the distribution process that would allow for enforcement against vessels that do not use either the standard contract, or permit full interviews and audits of their crew practices. Additionally, longliners say a rapid assessment of the working conditions and treatment of the crew in the fleet is being implemented.  "I am confident that with the added layer of oversight from the advisory group, the allegations of forced labor, labor abuse and poor working conditions will be quickly understood and resolved,” said John Kaneko, Task Force member and Program Director of the Hawaii Seafood Council.

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expects to issue national technical standards for glazing and moisture standards for pangasius by the end of the year. Vietnam has failed to meet several self-imposed deadlines to set standards for pangasius glazing and moisture content over the last few years.

In other news, some members of Newfoundland's commercial fishing industry want to ban the use of gillnets when the province is ready to revive commercial cod fishing. Opponents of gillnets support the hook and line method of fishing, which they say is a more effective way of maintaining quality. Harvesters and other industry participants say Newfoundland cod will have to be sold as a premium product in order to rebuild the market for the fish.

Meanwhile, New York-based smoked salmon producer Mt Kisco Smokehouse announced a voluntary recall for two types of its smoked salmon because of a chance the product is contaminated with listeria. According to Mt. Kisco the product was distributed in New York and Connecticut through retail stores and restaurants between 9/6/2016 to 9/16/2016. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the recall.

Finally, production estimates are low for Mississippi's upcoming oyster, scheduled to start this Monday on October 3. Most recently, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says a natural mortality event has killed many of the harvestable oysters. Oystermen believe bag limits should be lowered from 25 sacks per day for dredgers, down to 15 sacks or so. They say that would make the price better and would help the season last a bit longer.

Maine Lobster Industry to Celebrate Second Annual National Lobster Day on September 25

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 22, 2016

The Maine Lobster industry will celebrate its positive economic and cultural impact both in Maine and in the U.S. during National Lobster Day on September 25, 2016.

This is just the second National Lobster Day since the designation was made through a resolution by Senators Angus King and Susan Collins of Maine.

The day is meant to reinforce the hard work, sustainable practices and passion of Maine's 5,600 independent lobstermen and women the politicians said...

Gorton's Redesigns Retail Packaging to Market Three Distinct Product Lines

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] September 21, 2016

Gorton's Seafood announced a re-design to its packaging in order to distinguish its lineup of 20 retail products available to consumers.

The three packaging types will break up Gorton’s offerings into three categories: Delicious Classics, Smart Solutions and Everyday Gourmet.  . The new designs are starting to hit grocery shelves now and should completely replace current packaging by 2017.

The change in packaging coincides with a company-wide effort to simplify the ingredients across the entire line of Gorton's products, focusing on real ingredients...

NaturalShrimp Announces Agreement With A Fortune 500 Company And F&T Water Solutions

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] - September 21, 2016

LA COSTE, Texas -- NaturalShrimp, a global producer of shrimp grown in technologically unique indoor saltwater facilities, has signed a landmark agreement with a Fortune 500 company and Largo, FL-based F&T Water Solutions for advanced development of the Company's proprietary technology.

Under the agreement, signed September 4, 2016, the Fortune 500 Company will proceed immediately with a detailed engineering evaluation of the system located in La Coste, Texas.

That evalution will result in a replicable design that can be scaled to multiple locations, according to a roll-out plan that will be announced early next year.  A primary component in the system is being provided by F&T.  ...