News Summary January 26, 2015 

Today's Main Story: Greenpeace Targets Costco, Albertson's in Orwellian Campaign to 'Bring Balance to the Bering Sea'

Today’s top story focuses on how Greenpeace has begun a new phase of its campaign to persuade retailers that something is wrong in the Bering Sea. In his editor’s column, John Sackton says their campaign is Orwellian in its upending of the facts, and presents FAO data showing that the Bering Sea groundfish fisheries are the most sustainable and stable in the world. In this case it is clear the emperor has no clothes, and it is time for retailers and NGO’s committed to science and certifications to say so.

In a candid response to the head of NOAA Fisheries, International Pacific Halibut Commissioner Bob Alverson asked to see the scientific justification to support an increase in catch limits for the Bering Sea. On January 20, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries sent a letter to IPHC Executive Director suggesting perspectives for the six commissioners to consider when they decide on catch limits this week in Vancouver, B.C. The letter was sent to the entire Commission, including the three Canadian commissioners who have been critical of the high bycatch mortality in the Being Sea and Gulf of Alaska. In his response to the letter, Alverson described the grim situation in the Bering Sea which we post here.

In other news, at Cargill Inc.’s research station in Elk River, rows of fish tanks teem with live shrimp and tilapia, scientists closely monitoring what they eat. Shrimp and tilapia are at the core of the world’s booming aquaculture industry, which is the future of seafood. “The oceans are tapped out and seafood consumption is increasing rapidly, so production will have to come from farmed fish and shrimp,” said Dave Cook, research director for Cargill’s animal feed business. Of course, fish need to eat, and that’s an opportunity for Cargill — one of the world’s largest animal feed producers. The aquaculture business is still small compared with Cargill’s feed mainstay, the traditional livestock and poultry industries. But it’s growing about twice as fast. Animal feed is one of the lesser-known of Cargill’s many businesses, which run from cocoa processing to corn refining and grain trading. Despite its low profile, though, animal feed is one of Cargill’s most global businesses. And it’s poised for steady growth as world demand climbs for protein — via pork, beef, chicken or fish. 

The Japan Chain Store Association reported on January 21st that seafood sales rose on a year over year basis for the first time in ten years. Declining population and declining seafood consumption had led to a long term downward trend in seafood sales. The reversal is not all good news however. Volumes did not increase but instead prices rose, and also there were good sales of domestic fresh fish. There was some evidence of consumers switching from imported seafood to domestic fresh fish. Roe sales were weak, but sashimi sales were popular. All food sales by existing stores rose 1% in 2014, which was the first rise in 6 years. However, values fell. 6%, for the 18th year over year decline. Seafood fared