Russian Salmon Catches Exceed 420,000 Tons 
This Year, 4th Largest Volume Since 2000
Russia's Pacific salmon catch has exceeded 420,000 tons this season an increase of 14 percent from last year according to the North Pacific Development Association. The total represents the 4th largest catch in the past 16 years for the Russian fishery. By species pink salmon accounted for 61 percent of the catch; chum was 25 percent of the haul followed by sockeye, coho, chinook and other salmon species.
In China, labor shortages, high densities and smaller sizes are hurting the scallop industry in the Shandong Province. Last year, scallop growth in the area was good, so farmers expanded. This has caused a high density problem, which has created a 'scallop desert' in the region according to farmers. Meanwhile, labor shortages is limiting shucked oyster production and tightening availability.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) said the EU will eventually give "green card" status to Thailand for its efforts to fight IUU problems in its seafood industry. “Thailand will succeed in getting a green card after being given yellow-card status almost two years ago. But I don’t know when, and the EU would like to see long-lasting measures for sustainable fishing,” said Steve Trent, executive director of the EJF.
Average tilapia prices in China for purchase by processors declined about 1% in the past two weeks. Prices are down because there is a lot of fish on the market right now since Chinese farmers are clearing ponds ahead of the winter season.
Finally, the Southeast Purse Seine Task Force is getting a first look at the federal preseason forecast for pink salmon harvest in Juneau, and it is slightly more than the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s preseason forecast released earlier this month. The NOAA Fisheries management and modeling team from Auke Bay predict a 46.2 M pink salmon harvest in SE Alaska in 2017. This is slightly higher from the ADF&G forecast writes Peggy Parker.
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