Pacific Seafood Signs Agreement With Clatsop County Regarding COVID-19 Outbreak Response

The Daily Astorian is reporting that Pacific Seafood and Clatsop County have signed an agreement regarding a COVID-19 outbreak response at the seafood company’s Warrenton processing facility.

In early October Clatsop County was placed on Oregon’s coronavirus watch list following a surge in COVID-19 cases linked to Pacific’s Warrenton plant. The facility faced a “major outbreak” when 94 workers tested positive in September. Workers were placed in quarantine and Pacific temporarily suspended their operations in order to test their remaining staff...

Wild Alaskan Co. CEO Kallenberg Funds Research on Salmon Migration and Earth’s Magnetic Field 

Arron Kallenberg is a third-generation fisherman who believes in the importance of knowing where our food comes from, sustainability of wild ecosystems for seafood, and breaking common bounds of business models to discover new ways to look at the world we live in. 

The 35-year-old CEO of Wild Alaskan Company, an ecommerce company that sources seafood almost exclusively from Alaska, saw its customer base quadruple in the first three months of the pandemic. The business model for Alaskan Wild relies on algorithms developed by...

ANALYSIS: Pass the Salmon for Thanksgiving 2020

Sweet potatoes are not the only orange thing on the Thanksgiving table this year.

Retail features or buying opportunities for salmon look abnormal this year, up 75 percent from the previous week and up 61 percent from the same time last year. In total there are over 3,700 features across the U.S. this year.

The Chilean fillet market has been steadily firming over the past three weeks. Market participants report COVID-19 precautions in Chile, a focus on frozen production, and...

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SeafoodNews Closed For Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday

SeafoodNews is not publishing on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 in celebration of Thanksgiving. We will return to our normal publishing schedule on Monday, November 30.

In the meantime, catch up on our recent major news stories by checking our Featured Stories page.

You can also listen to episodes of the Seafood News Podcast here. Or you can watch Seafood News videos here. 

We wish all of our customers a safe and happy holiday.

Current Restaurant Restrictions and Capacity By State

Coronavirus cases in the United States are growing. On Friday the U.S. recorded over 99,000 new cases – the highest single day total recorded by any country. With concerns rising over the upward trend in cases, restaurants across the country are beginning to see a new wave of restrictions. We're breaking down the latest restaurant news by state...

Shrimp Run into Trouble Again in Chinese Market

China’s domestic and live shrimp prices have been on a roller coaster ride this November, mainly due to enthusiastic farmers and reluctant buyers. Despite an early revival, some imported shrimp have also suffered from obvious sales contraction, and their prospect seems far from promising.

After a slight increase, prices of the country’s live shrimp declined in mid-November in such regions as Shandong and the Pearl River Delta region. Meanwhile prices took the opposite route in others like Guangxi and the western Guangdong. Despite this difference, depression has been common in...

NOAA Renews Temporary Rule For Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan 

Earlier this week NOAA Fisheries announced the renewal of a temporary rule to extend portions of the fishing year 2019 carryover provisions in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan into fishing year 2020. 

NOAA initially published an emergency action on June 1, 2020 at the request of the New England Fishery Management Council. At the time the June action allowed limited access general category individual fishing quota vessels to carryover all fishing year 2019 unharvested quota into fishing year 2020. The June action...

NaturalShrimp Finalizes Joint Venture With Ecoponex Systems International

It’s official—on Tuesday NaturalShrimp announced that they have finalized a joint venture with Ecoponex Systems International. The joint venture, which was initially announced in mid-October, will allow NaturalShrimp to utilize and combine their growing technology with the Renewable Energy Efficient Farms (REEF) technology that is owned by Ecoponex.

“We have worked diligently towards the close of this groundbreaking relationship between NaturalShrimp and Ecoponex,” said NaturalShrimp CEO Gerald Easterling. “We believe our technology platform, coupled with Ecoponex’s revolutionary approach to sustainability, provides us a perfect platform for this partnership...

Canada’s XpertSea Announces First Marketplace That Connects Shrimp Buyers and Growers Directly

Canadian technology company XpertSea is changing the way shrimp trading is done. On Tuesday the company announced that they have launched the first marketplace that connects shrimp buyers and growers directly.

The marketplace uses XpertSea’s AI-powered smartphone app, which allows producers capture accurate shrimp health and quality data by taking a photo. The app also accurately predicts commercial size and pond value.

“Working with farmers and helping them grow better shrimp, we learned first-hand of their struggle to access cash flow and...

LISTEN: Indoor Dining Updates; Salmon at Retail; Coronavirus on Shrimp Packaging and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about indoor dining restrictions; salmon at retail; the latest on tilapia and coronavirus found on shrimp packaging in China.

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry's Reporter. The Winter Issue will be getting sent out this December, but there is still time to advertise! Call 732-240-5330 or email advertise@urnerbarry.com to learn more.

PFMC Adopts Salmon Measures to Help Southern Resident Killer Whales

The Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously adopted new ocean salmon fishing regulations last week to help save critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales from extinction. While the birth of two calves this year was welcome news, Southern Residents face an uncertain future with only 74 individuals left and a diet almost entirely comprised of declining salmon populations, especially Chinook salmon, Oceana said in a press release.

Pacific salmon, primarily Chinook salmon, are 99 percent of the diet of Southern Resident killer ...

USDA Eyeing Bids on Alaska Pollock, Salmon Products

The USDA is looking for offers to sell salmon and pollock products for use in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs.

The Department is looking for just shy of 2 million pounds of Alaska pollock fillets and fish sticks. Acceptances will be announced by midnight, December 11, 2020 and deliveries will be made between March 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

Find the Alaska pollock solicitation here.

The USDA is also eyeing bids for 208,240 cases of canned pink salmon...

JAPAN: September Frozen Scallop Exports to China, Taiwan and U.S. Decrease

According to Japan's Ministry of Finance's September trade statistics, seafood exports (seafood and its preparations and fishmeal) were down 2% year-on-year in volume and down 8% in value. Among the main items, frozen scallops were sluggish, while yellowtail fillets turned positive, reported Minato Shimbun.

Sales of frozen scallops to China, which is the mainstay, decreased by 31% to 3,918 tons. The amount decreased by 40% to 1,197 million yen ($11.46 million). For Taiwan, the quantity decreased by 37% to 180 tons, and the amount decreased by...

Aquaculture Pressure May Lead to Significant Decline of Fish Catch in Russia Next Year 

The volume of fish and seafood catch in Russia may significantly decline next year due to the ever expanding aquaculture sector of the country, as well as pressure from local regulators, according to recent statements made by representatives of some leading Russian fish producers and analysts in the field of fish business.  

According to experts of the Association of Fisheries Enterprises of Primorye (AFEP), one of Russia’s leading public associations in the field of fisheries, the active formation of fish breeding sites...

Red Lobster Ready for Holidays with Return of ‘Give a Gift, Get a Gift’ Promotion

Red Lobster announced its "Give a Gift, Get a Gift" gift card promotion will return. Starting on November 23 through the end of December, for every $50 spent on Red Lobster gift cards purchased in-restaurant or online, guests will receive two coupons for a future visit -- one for $10 off two adult dinner entrees and another for $10 off a To Do or Delivery order of $30 or more on RedLobster.com during January and February (expcept Valentine’s Day)...

Fishermen Concerned About Maine Governor’s Move to Expand Offshore Wind Research

Maine Governor Janet Mills introduced the state’s plan to create the first offshore wind farm focused on research in the U.S.

The farm will be located in the Gulf of Maine, with the research array located 20 to 40 miles offshore, containing a dozen or less wind turbines over 16 square miles of ocean, which the governor’s office described as far less than commercial wind lease areas along the east coast.

Still, fishing groups in Maine were not pleased with the news...

Coast Guard Searching for Four Missing Fishermen 20 Miles Off Provincetown 

The Coast Guard is searching for four fishermen about 20 miles off the Provincetown, Massachusetts coast.

The search began at 1 a.m. after the Coast Guard received a notification from the Portland-based fishing vessel Emmy Rose’s emergency position indicating radio beacon. The vessel owner confirmed four crewmembers were aboard the vessel and no answers were made from its satellite phone...

Fire Breaks Out at Huon Aquaculture Pen, Estimated 50,000 Fish Lost

Tasmanian salmon farmer Huon Aquaculture reported a fire on Monday that damaged one of its fish pens, leading to the loss of 50,000 – 52,000 4kg fish.

Peter Bender, Huon Aquaculture CEO, said the fire damaged about one third of a pen at its Zuidpool lease, burning through and melting pen infrastructure above and just below the waterline. With the fish escapement, the company announced that reporting requirements were met, as it notified MAST, EPA and DPIPWE Marine Farm Branch.

The total fish loss was calculated by a county of remaining fish used by one of Huon’s wellboats...

Top Meat, Poultry, Egg and Seafood Price Action Broken Down in the Latest Market Briefing 

Urner Barry is the leading provider of protein market news and information in the food industry. Through daily canvasses of the trade and an unrivaled historical database, our analysts are uniquely positioned to report on the underlying conditions and significant disruptors to the market. In this Market Briefing, Urner Barry reporters outline the latest action in the commodity protein markets, highlighting seasonal factors, disruptors, and current supply and demand fundamentals...

Demand for Salmon and Halibut Increases Amid Tight Supplies Heading into Holidays

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch…Demand for salmon and halibut amid tightening supplies. 

Market watchers say get your Pacific salmon and halibut now as supplies tighten heading into a big lineup of holidays.

Alaska salmon competes in a tough global market and supplies are down by all producers.

Even wild salmon supplies from Russia, Alaska’s biggest competitor, have come in well below forecast at 845 million pounds, the lowest poundage since 2009. By comparison, Alaska’s total salmon catch for 2020 totaled about 518 million pounds...

Trans-Ocean Products Receives 2020 US MSC Ocean Champion Award 

ANALYSIS: Availability of Wild-Caught U.S. Shrimp Critically Low

Shrimp landings in the Gulf of Mexico have fallen to the lowest recorded level; at the current pace, the expectation is for only 69 million pounds landed. That is a 14 percent decline year-over-year and 33 percent fewer than the prior 10-year average. In addition, in September, the USDA initiated a purchase of frozen wild shrimp products for the Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Program totaling 4.3 million pounds. So, in essence, only 65 million pounds will likely...

Japan’s September Surimi Imports Fall 50% From the U.S.

According to Japan's Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, the amount of surimi imported into Japan in September 2020 was 15,486 tons, decreasing 31.8% from the same month of the previous year and decreasing for nine consecutive months.

Imports from the United States did not improve, halving to 9,185 tons, down 43.9%. The production of surimi in the United States is expected to decrease by about 20% from the previous year. The volume of surimi delivered to Japan is likely to drop by the same amount...

Fortune International Expands Meat Program With USDA Through Acquisition of Neesvig’s

On Tuesday Fortune International announced the acquisition of Neesvig’s, a Windsor, Wisconsin-based seafood, meat processor and distributor. Neesvig’s also operates a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin-based retail store called Empire Fish, and state-of-the-art fulfillment operation located in DeForest, Wisconsin. 

Neesvig’s was founded in 1913, and has been owned by Jim and Margaret Meyer since 1988. Jim and Margaret Meyer later purchased Empire Fish in 1995. In 2017 Neesvig’s and Empire Fish combined their meat and seafood processing facilities into one location...

Halibut Outlook Has Some Hopeful Signs for 2021

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Some hopeful signs for Pacific halibut.

The Pacific halibut fishery ended on November 15 and it’s estimated that Alaska’s longline fleet took  just under 15 million pounds out of a 17 million pound catch limit, or 93%.

Homer held on as the top port for landings, followed by Kodiak and Juneau.

Results from the annual stock survey have raised cautious hopes for a possible uptick in some fishing regions next year. Despite a cut back in some survey areas due to...

Mowi Set to Join Norwegian Seafood Federation

Mowi announced it will join Sjømat Norge, the Norwegian Seafood Federation.

“I believe this will strengthen both Mowi and the industry as a whole. We have had good discussions with Sjømat Norge regarding the way forward for our industry, and I am confident that this is the right decision for Mowi,” says Mowi CEO, Ivan Vindheim.

The Federation also shared similar sentiments about Mowi joining the group.

Geir Ove Ystmark, CEO of Sjømat Norge, is pleased that Mowi is now a member of the association...

Study Finds Thanksgiving “More Important This Year”

The coronavirus pandemic has taken away a lot from us. But according to a study conducted by NCSolutions, it’s not taking away Thanksgiving. 

Despite some states back under a lockdown and other states restricting the amount of guests you can have in your home for Thanksgiving, NCSolutions found that most Americans view Thanksgiving as “equally or more important than last year.” Of those polled, 26% said that celebrating Thanksgiving in 2020 is “much more important than last year. 12% said that it is “somewhat more important than last year,” and...

Baader To Open New Joint Enterprise in Nantes, For French Seafood and Poultry Market

Signaling a more direct focus on the French protein market, food processing equipment manufacturer Baader announced the opening of Baader France in Nantes, France, that will combine sales forces and support services for the fish and poultry market in that country.

Baader France will be supported by a local sales branch in Boulogne sur Mer in Hauts-de-France. For over 50 years, Baader has worked closely with Mondial Navys as their exclusive distributor in France for fish processing equipment. 

For its poultry customers, Baader has ...

ANALYSIS: Blue Swimming Crab Meat Market Remains Firm

The crab meat market continues to see firming prices on all grades, especially the larger ones. Upward pricing pressure remains due to ever increasing replacement costs.  

In Indonesia, the top supplier of blue swimming crab meat, holding over a 54 percent market share, market participants continue to report that competition for product remains high. Cost for raw material in this top producing country is reported to be rising. Inventories are thin as many importers let their supplies in the U.S. dwindle given the lack of demand at foodservice throughout the country...

Canadian Fishing Group Pleased with Canada, UK Transitional Trade Deal

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) applauded both the Canadian and UK governments for reaching a transitional trade deal ahead of the Dec. 31, 2020 deadline. The deal will ensure that Canadian seafood will not be hit tariffs as it heads into Britain.

“The Canadian fishing industry values its trading relationship with the United Kingdom as our fifth largest importer,” said Paul Lansbergen, President, FCC. “A free and open trade agreement between our two countries plays a significant role in the economies of our nations..."