Bering Sea Snow, Tanner, and Bristol Bay Red King Crab TACs Announced, Season Opens Oct. 15

With increased total allowable catches (TAC) recommended by results of the 2024 trawl surveys on Bering Sea Tanner Crab and Bristol Bay Red King Crab, and no change for the Bering Sea Snow crab TAC from last year, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced last Friday the season for all three species will open Tuesday October 15.

TAC for Bering Sea Snow Crab was set at 4.72 million pounds, exactly the same as last year. That total is comprised of an ...

ANALYSIS: Seasonality Drives Salmon Market, Retail Promos Lag Behind

Potentially put salmon in the category of pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins because, to this point in the year, one of the major defining ways to describe the fresh Chilean fillet market is one word: seasonal.

The fresh Chilean salmon fillet market begins October with closely following seasonal patterns and trends. During the month of September, the market did see a slight uptick in the 3^rd week of the month that coincided with a longer Chilean holiday that does impact production. But outside of this, once again, seasonal blip, the market has...

Russian Government Plans to Keep Duties on Exports of Domestic Fish, Seafood

The Russian government plans to keep the existing duties on exports of domestic fish and seafood despite criticism from local fishermen.

According to recent calculations of the Russian Association of Fishing Fleet Owners (AFFO), from the beginning of October 2023 to the end of September 2024, the overall duties paid on the export of pollock, cod, haddock and crab products from Russia may amount to more than 19.2 billion rubles, which is a big figure for the industry...

NEFMC Makes Major Cut to Atlantic Herring Catch Limit, Lowest in Management Plan’s History

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) took final action on the specifications for the 2025-2027 Atlantic herring fishing seasons at a late September meeting in Massachusetts.

The council finalized an 89% reduction for the Atlantic herring fishery, with a revised annual catch limit (ACL) of 2,710 metric tons, down from the default ACL of 23,961 metric tons. The revised ACL, if approved by NOAA, which the council expects to happen, would mark the lowest catch limit in the history of the Atlantic Herring Fishery...

Washington Looks to Update Dungeness Crab Policy to Address Entanglements, Climate Change

As part of the three West Coast states’ efforts to further limit potential entanglements and more easily identify entangled whales, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is updating its policies related to crabbing.

The public is invited to review and submit comments on the draft Coastal Dungeness Crab policy through Oct. 15. 

Dungeness crabs support Washington’s most valuable commercial fishery, as well as popular recreational fisheries. The value of state landings for the 2023-24 coastal commercial Dungeness crab season was $66.8 million, according to ...

The Inner Circle Acknowledges Chris Bradford as an Inner Circle Lifetime

Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Chris Bradford is acknowledged as an Inner Circle Lifetime for her contributions to Leading Innovation in Seafood Traceability.

Chris Bradford, a dynamic leader in the software industry, continues to make waves with Trace Register, a global pioneer in seafood traceability solutions. With an impressive track record and a commitment to excellence, Chris is transforming how the seafood industry manages sales, marketing, and customer success through cutting-edge software...

May Wins Back Major Assets of Peter Pan Seafoods, Despite Industry Objections

At the end of yesterday’s court hearing on objections to the result of a September 19 auction, King Country Superior Court Commisson Pro Tem Steven Olsen upheld the auction which awarded Peter Pan Seafoods remaining assets to its former co-owner and current creditor Rodger May.

One of Olsen's options would have been to award the sale to Silver Bay Seafoods, who won the Back-Up
Bid on Septemer 19. Their bid was $37,067,320.00, $256,680.00 less than May's $37.324 million.

The price includes Peter Pan’s ...

StarKist Partners with Feed the Children to Donate $250K in Products for Hurricane Helene Relief

StarKist today announced plans to assist communities affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. In response to the growing needs in the impacted regions, StarKist is partnering with Feed the Children to coordinate a substantial product donation valued at $250,000, providing much-needed nourishment to those facing these challenging circumstances.

"StarKist is committed to supporting those affected by Hurricane Helene, " said Tom Aslin, Vice President of Marketing & Innovation at StarKist. "We are grateful to collaborate with the team at Feed the...

Gen Z Hungry for Transparency in Sustainability, Quality Amid Climate Concerns: Whole Foods Survey

Gen Z consumers are placing an overwhelming emphasis on both sustainability and quality in their grocery products, and many are willing to spend more to support brands that reflect these values, according to a recent YouGov survey.

These findings are part of a new survey released today that examines Gen Z food, health and grocery shopping preferences, which was conducted independently by YouGov on behalf of the retailer. The national online survey sampled 1,023 adults between the ages of 18 to 27 in the U.S...

Live Updates: Key Developments in the East and Gulf Coast Port Strike

October 3: The port strike has entered its third day and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) signaled that they are willing to resume negotiations with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), but without preconditions made by the union. 

In an update provided Wednesday, USMX stated: "Reaching an agreement will require negotiating – and our full focus is on how to return to the table to further discuss these vital components, many of which are intertwined. We cannot agree to preconditions...

FTC Warns Top U.S. Seafood Chains About Misleading "Locally Caught" Claims

An official with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned the top seafood restaurants in the U.S. about falsely advertising their menu items as locally caught.

Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya wrote in a letter to top ten highest grossing seafood chains including Red Lobster, Long John Silver’s and Legal Sea Foods, stating that customers deserve to know that they are being offered genuine wild-caught American seafood - and when they are being offered something else.

“To that end, I am writing to relay recent guidance from Federal... 

USCG Encounters Chinese Coast Guard, Russian Border Guard in Bering Sea Last Weekend

While patrolling the maritime boundary between the US and Russia on routine patrol in the Bering Sea, a HC-130J Super Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak observed two Russian Border Guard ships and two Chinese Coast Guard ships approximately 440 miles southwest of St. Lawrence Island.

This is the most recent evidence of military activity in waters close to the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Bering Sea this year and was separate from the war game exercises observed earlier this year ... 

The Retail Rundown:  Port Strike Sends Shockwaves Throughout Supply Chain 

The strike at East and Gulf Coast ports officially began once the calendar turned to October, following unsuccessful contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).

The strike's impact is being felt throughout the supply chain, causing significant disruptions in the flow of goods ahead of the rapidly approaching holiday season. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, USMX stated that its current offer includes a nearly 50% wage increase. In response, ILA said it has rejected USX's offer "because it fails to address...

MSC Urges Governments to Agree to Quota Sharing Deal for Atlanto-Scandian Herring, Mackerel

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has called on North Atlantic states and fishing nations to come to an agreement on a long-term quota-sharing deal for pelagic stocks of Atlanto-Scandian (AS) herring, blue whiting and mackerel.

MSC’s push follows newly released data from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) that indicated a downward trend of AS herring and mackerel stocks, a pair of critical species for Europe.

Stocks of AS herring have dropped from 6.9 million tonnes in 2008...

Chilean Salmon Gains Access to the Australian Market

Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) announced that the country’s salmon farmers now have access to Australia as an export market.

Sernapesca said the move followed a lengthy audit process carried out by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Chile is now approved to export salmonids, including Atlantic salmon and coho salmon, to Australia, with Sernapesca overseeing the exporters' certification process.

This implies the inclusion of Chile in the list of countries that comply with the biosecurity standards for the importation of salmonids to Australia (BICON), which authorizes...

NRF Calls on Administration to Use ‘Any and All Authority’ to End Port Strike

The National Retail Federation today released the following statement from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay after a labor strike was initiated at all U.S. East and Gulf Coast container ports. The strike went into effect after the six-year master contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) expired on Sept. 30.

“NRF urges President Biden to use any and all available authority and tools — including use of the Taft-Hartley Act — to immediately restore operations at all...

UK’s Young’s Seafood Debuts Jumbo Cod Product Amid Rising Fish and Chip Prices

Young’s Seafood, a staple seafood brand in the United Kingdom, debuted a Jumbo cod product in its Young’s Chip Shop retail line.

The new Young’s Chip Shop Jumbo Cod Special targets consumers looking for a genuine takeaway fish and chips experience without having to leave their kitchen.

The Jumbo Cod replicates the typical jumbo-sized portions at local fish and chip shops throughout the country. The Atlantic cod fillets hit the shelves amid rising takeaway food prices in the UK, with Young’s stating...

Maruha Nichiro, Nissui and Others Call on the Fisheries Agency of Japan to Eradicate IUU Fishing

On September 30, 14 companies and organizations, including Maruha Nichiro, Nissui, AEON, and IUU Forum Japan, which aim to eradicate IUU fishing, submitted a joint declaration to the Fisheries Agency of Japan calling for the prevention of IUU catches entering the domestic market. They called for a concrete roadmap to be put in place to expand import restrictions to more fish species to prevent the sale of seafood suspected of being IUU caught, for the development of a loophole-free system to make the...

ILA Dockworkers to Return to Work as Port Strike Ends Following Tentative Agreement

Dockworkers from the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) returned to work on Friday after reaching a tentative wage agreement with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) Thursday, bringing an end to the three-day strike that halted shipping operations along the East and Gulf Coasts.

"Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease, and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume,” according to a joint statement issued by both parties Thursday. The Master Contract will be extended until January 15, 2025, giving negotiators additional...

Boston Public School Renews Kelp Partnership with North Coast Seafoods Through 2026

North Coast Seafoods, a leading Boston-based supplier of premium quality, sustainable seafood across the U.S., has renewed their food supplier partnership with Boston Public Schools for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, focusing on their locally-sourced Maine Kelp (seaweed) products.

This partnership renewal of the Maine Kelp Program through 2026 emphasizes the success of the pilot program and deepens the school district’s commitment to providing thousands of Boston students, grades K-12, across over 100 schools with local, sustainable, and super-nutritious...

Bristol Seafood Adds Pair to Board of Directors

Certified B-Corp seafood company Bristol Seafood announced the addition of Michael Cote and Jennifer Bushman to its board of directors.

The Portland, Maine-based firm said the decision to add the pair to its board “underscores Bristol Seafood's unwavering commitment to responsibly producing quality seafood and providing unparalleled expertise and guidance to its customers.”

Cote has extensive experience building and scaling consumer brands at companies including Pepperidge Farm, Odwalla, and Bar Harbor Foods. Bristol said his expertise will help drive the company's mission to “design innovative products and advise retailers on...

Nissui Group: Cite Marine Expands Business Domains

Miti (Rezé , FRANCE), a subsidiary of Cité Marine (Kervignac, FRANCE), a France-based manufacturer and distributor of seafood including chilled coated and frozen products, and also a group company of Nissui Co., Ltd. (Representative Director, President & CEO: Shingo HAMADA, Minato-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN) acquired a factory in Saint-Hernin from Guyader Traiteur Frais (Landrévarzec, FRANCE) on June 28th and started operations as a new production division on July 1st. The objective of the acquisition is to expand the product range of Tapas products, which is our future growth category...

DFO Seizes $100K Worth of Lobsters in Nova Scotia

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced on October 2 that it seized over 13,000 pounds of lobster worth over CA$100,000 (US$74,000) and made an arrest for crimes under the Fisheries Act, including maintaining an illegal lobster pound.

According to a DFO Facebook post, fisheries officers executed a search warrant at a Shelburne County, Nova Scotia facility. The warrant resulted in the seizure of the lobster, documents and electronic records, along with the arrest.

The DFO said the matter is under investigation for potential charges under Canada’s...

Pacific Salmon Catch in Russia May Be the Lowest in Last 20 Years

The 2024 Pacific salmon catch in Russia may be the lowest in the last twenty years. According to earlier forecasts by Ilya Shestakov, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries, it will not exceed 250,000-260,000 metric tons. That will be two times less than last year when the catch exceeded 600,000 metric tons. The salmon fishing season in the Russian Far East will be completed in the coming days.

In the meantime, as German Zverev, head of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Producers (VARPE)...

Japan: Salmon Roe Prices Surge; Wholesale Price of Russian Pink Salmon Roe Rising by 40%

This year, the price of imported salmon and trout roe is expected to soar due to tight supplies. Trading companies have expressed concern about the future, saying, "We may not be able to secure enough new raw materials," reported Minato Shimbun.

According to the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fishery and Oceanography (VNIRO), as of September 17, the landings of pink salmon were 136,030 tons, down 5.5% from the same period last year, and chum salmon were 41,262 tons, down 30.6% from the same period...

NOAA Fisheries Unveils National Seafood Strategy Implementation Plan

NOAA Fisheries released its National Seafood Strategy, a document designed to outline the direction  to support a “thriving domestic U.S. seafood economy over the next five years

A little over a year later, NOAA has now released its National Seafood Strategy Implementation Plan, a 14-page document that will outline actions taken to support the national strategy.

“The Implementation Plan is where the rubber meets the road,” said NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit. “It outlines the specific actions to achieve the goals we laid out in the strategy...

Japan's August Imports: Frozen Chilean Coho Up 3x Over a Year Ago; Frozen Yellowfin up 40%

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on September 27, the import volume of fishery products in August (preliminary figures, fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal and seaweed) increased by 1% from last year to 155,690 tons. Fresh and chilled tuna, salmon, trout, shrimp, squid, octopus, etc., exceeded the same month last year. The total value also increased by 4% to 146,111 million yen ($1,018.39 million).

Minato Shimbun reported that fresh and frozen...

GAPP Awards Record-Number of 2025 Partnership Proposals with Funding at Annual Meeting Event

At its sixth Wild Alaska Pollock Annual Meeting, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced today to the nearly 300 attendees at the W Hotel Seattle, the names of the companies who have been awarded fiscal year 2025 GAPP Partnership Program Partnerships. 

“There’s a reason to be especially optimistic about the future of this industry as we look ahead. This year’s application process was the most competitive yet—with 34 unique applications and a total requested funding of nearly 4.4 million dollars,” said GAPP CEO...

U.S. House Reps Introduce Legislation to Support Working Waterfronts Impacted by Natural Disasters

U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would offer a disaster mitigation tax credit for working waterfronts.

The Work Waterfronts Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act would allow working waterfronts along coastal areas and navigable waterways to claim a 30% tax credit on mitigation costs, up to $1 million.

Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in August...

How a Port Strike Could Ripple Through the Ag Sector

The port strike has entered its third day and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has signaled that they are willing to resume negotiations with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), but without preconditions made by the union. 

In an update provided Wednesday, USMX stated: "Reaching an agreement will require negotiating – and our full focus is on how to return to the table to further discuss these vital components, many of which are intertwined. We cannot agree to preconditions to return to bargaining – but we remain committed to bargaining in good...