Fresh Atlantic halibut prices soar as Pacific season winds down
Fresh Atlantic halibut is gaining market share in New England and points south on the East Coast, despite the huge increases in price as the Pacific halibut season winds down reports Peggy Parker. In late August we reported that prices for fresh East and West coast halibut were closely tied, with Atlantics priced just a bit higher in early September. But since then, prices for East Coast product have increased sharply with ex-vessel prices reported as high as $10/lb. “East Coast buyers have really been supporting their local halibut,” said Shane Halverson, Fresh Sales Manager for North Pacific Seafoods in Seattle.
Vietnam's shrimp producers have increased their shrimp farming areas by 5 percent, which has increased production 50 percent through the first three quarters of the year according to the country’s seafood exporters. The sector is now on pace to earn $3.5 billion this year on their shrimp shipments.
AquaBounty has responded to critical reports about its genetically modified salmon operations after the company was fined by Panamanian officials for violating environmental regulations related to its water use and discharge practices. In its statement AquaBounty said reports of the violation were exaggerated and were not indicative of the regulatory standards the company operates under. "When AquaBounty was informed of issues at our Panama facility, we immediately contacted… the Panamanian agency,” said Aquabounty’s Dave Conley. "We initiated a program to remedy the deficiencies and the issues were formally resolved in August of 2014. AquaBounty paid a fine and the matter was closed."
Finally, an unusual decline in live lobster prices for Select-sized product has been attributed to an influx in larger lobsters being caught out of Canada's Bay of Fundy. This week’s 10 percent drop in price for Select-sized product follows up a decline in boat prices in Nova Scotia last week. Anecdotal reports say the Bay of Fundy catch, though a smaller fishery in comparison to Canada’s upcoming openings in November, produced a record amount of larger sized product that went straight to the live market.
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