First Copper River salmon from Ocean Beauty, Trident and Copper River sfds in Seattle this morning
The first deliveries of Copper River king and sockeye salmon from seafood processors Ocean Beauty, Trident and Copper River Seafoods arrived in Seattle earlier this morning via a partnership with Alaska Airlines. In what has become tradition, the first salmon of the season is personally escorted off the plane by the pilot to awaiting chefs, cookoff judges and members of the US military for Alaska Air Cargo’s annual “Copper Chef Cook-off.” At least four more flights will transport the salmon today from Alaska for distribution to the rest of the country. “This partnership with Alaska Airlines has been great,” said Frank Ragusa, General Manager of Ocean Beauty’s Seattle Distribution facility, “because Alaska Airlines really gets it when it comes to getting fish out of Alaska."
LI Zhong the Chairman of China’s Guolian Aquactic Products will travel to the US to fight a countervailing duty investigation on shrimp exports to the US. Guolian represents a large share of China’s headless shrimp exports to the US and said a high duty rate would not bode well for the industry. “Our company has the experience to deal with international trade lawsuit, and at this time we still see opportunities,” said Kwok Man Leung, Guolian’s Secretary of the Board.
Meanwhile, NFMS is seeking public comment on a rule that would restrict the use of hired vessel masters to fish IFQ’s of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska halibut and sablefish. "This action is necessary to maintain a predominantly owner-operated fishery," NMFS said in their proposal posted on the Federal Register. The public comment period ends May 28, 2013.
In other news the GAA announced their BAP seafood certification standard now meets the Global Food Safety Initiative’s food safety requirements. “Being successfully re-benchmarked by GFSI is a testament that BAP-certified facilities meet the highest standards for food safety. BAP-certified facilities will be able to continue to meet the demands of seafood retailers and distributors requiring GFSI,” said GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens.
Finally, former General Mills CEO and the father of the fish stick E. Robert Kinney has passed away at the age of 96. Kinney first founded the fish stick in the 1950s when he was head of then called Gorton-Pew Fisheries. “It was an important part of Gorton's business [because] it enabled them to put cash back into the retail business,” said former chairman and CEO of General Mills Bruce Atwater.