Lobster Fishery Delayed in Two New Brunswick Areas, Other Fisheries Waiting on Decisions

According to the CBC, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans accepted a request to delay the start of the lobster season in areas 36 and 37 of southern New Brunswick due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

The request was sent by the Fundy North Fishermen’s Association, the delay will push the start of the fishery from March 31 to April 30.

"In light of the current circumstances, and with input and support from groups involved, DFO has accepted this request and will be...

An Explanation of Canada’s Quarantine Exemptions for Temporary Foreign Workers and Truckers

New measures are being put in place everyday to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Just last week Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced travel restrictions, putting a stop to non-essential travel. Then, this week, the country invoked the Quarantine Act, which requires all international travelers crossing the border to self-isolate for 14 days. 

“Travelers returning to Canada, with the exception of essential workers, will be subject to a mandatory 14-day isolation under the Quarantine Act...

Fisheries Council of Canada Announces Future Leaders Canada Class of 2020

On Monday the Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) announced the 2020 class of its Future Leaders Canada Program. The program will bring 10 participants together for three sessions in Ottawa (May 10-13), Chicago (July 7-9) and Vancouver (August 10-13).

"FCC is excited to embark on this year's Future Leaders Canada program with such a strong group of emerging trail-blazers," Paul Lansbergen, President of the FCC, said in a press release. "We take price in providing these opportunities...

Cooke Aquaculture Named One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies 15 Years Running

It’s become a tradition for Cooke Aquaculture to be named one of the best-managed companies in Canada.

For the 15^th year in a row, family-owned Cooke was recognized as a 2020 winner of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation.

“Ensuring the best care for our oceans and surrounding communities continues to be in the forefront of our sustainable growth strategy,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke Aquaculture Inc. “Now more than ever, we believe that our relationship with the marine environment and...

DFO Announces Members of its Atlantic Seal Science Task Team, Work to Begin Soon

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced members of its Atlantic Seal Science Task Team, a group stabled to gather input on the DFO’s current activities relating to the impact of seals on commercial fishing stocks.

Minister Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan also said the group will soon begin work on assessing how seal predation has affected fish stocks in the country.

“Our Government strongly believes in evidence-based decision making and today's announcement reinforces that. The Atlantic Seal Science...

Oceana: Canada’s New Right Whale Protections Good Start but More Action Necessary 

Conservation Group Oceana Canada said it was encouraged by Canada’s new measures to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale species, but it said more steps need to be taken to ensure they survive.

The group noted that the new measures will limit the whales from human activity, which can reduce deaths in Canadian waters.

“It is good to see the government is continuing to implement measures to protect North Atlantic right whales from the threats of ship strikes and...

Ocean’s Tuna Steaks Named Best Frozen Fish Product by BrandSpark International

Canadian tuna provider Ocean’s took home the Best Frozen Fish Award in BrandSpark International’s Best New Product Awards (BNPA).

BrandSpark is a market research firm that interviewed over 16,000 Canadians to come up with winners in its 17^th annual awards showcase. Consumers voted on the latest beauty, health, personal care, food, beverage, household, pet, home goods and tech products in 70 different categories.

Ocean’s Yellowfin Tuna Steaks took home the seafood prize on the list. The company features three variations of the streaks on its website including Black Pepper...

How the Coronavirus is Impacting the Lobster Industry Around the World

As SeafoodNews founder John Sackton wrote in his "Winding Glass" column earlier this month, the coronavirus has had a major impact on shipping, tourism and travel —all of which are vital to the North American seafood industry.

"The question is whether this is a short-term event like a hurricane or political strike that impacts one area of our supply chain, or if this is a year-long global pandemic, leading to big changes in behavior in our markets," wrote Sackton. "Clearly we don’t know yet, despite people like...

The Winding Glass: Industry Must Prepare as Coronavirus Rapidly Changing Supply Chain Behavior

With the spread of the coronavirus to new countries, I now believe the seafood industry is going to face its worst crisis since the economic collapse of 2008.

That was difficult and frightening. From October to December of 2008, fresh whole salmon prices dropped 20%. From August 2008 to January 2009, shrimp prices in the Urner Barry farmed shrimp index fell 16%. Cod loins, which were at record prices in November of 2008, fell 34% over the next 11 months, in a continuous price decline...

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance Announces New Members to Board of Directors

As it introduced its new members to its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) highlighted the diversity of aquaculture in Canada.

As the group strives to make Canada a global leader in aquaculture, the CAIA announced its new and returning members to its National Board of Directors.

“We’re very pleased to welcome these new and returning members to our national board of directors,” said Timothy Kennedy, President and CEO of CAIA. “Together, they represent finfish and shellfish producers, suppliers and regional associations...

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Kicks-Off Gear Innovation Summit

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Gear Innovation Summit began on February 11. The two-day event in Halifax, Nova Scotia will explore whale-safe fishing gear and highlighting ways to retrieve and re-use ghost gear.

Over 250 harvesters, industry representatives, fishing gear manufacturers, marine mammal responders, ENGOs and Canadian officials from North America and Europe are at the summit.

The event features panel discussions and an exhibit space that features the latest innovations from gear manufacturers and innovating programming across Canada...

Coronavirus Outbreak Brings Many Challenges to the Seafood Industry, But There are Some Survivors

With the catastrophic coronavirus outbreak, China’s previously hustling seafood market has been trapped in depression during this Chinese New Year. This disaster not only influences the country’s imported seafood, but also domestic ones. Industry participants who used to sell out of fresh seafood at high prices in a blink of an eye are faced with large quantities left in stock. The country’s overall seafood sales is estimated to drop by about 2/3 compared with the previous festival...

Canada Releases State of Salmon Aquaculture Technologies Report After Lengthy Delay

Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) released its long-awaited “State of Salmon Aquaculture Technologies” report on February 4.

Four approaches of salmon farming were evaluated in the study including, land-based closed-containment, floating closed containment, offshore technologies and hybrid systems. Stakeholders have been awaiting the report since the Canadian Liberal Party announced in October its plans to transition all open net pen salmon farms in British Columbia by 2025.

The report “explored the financial, environmental and social elements of emerging aquaculture technologies..."

Ocean Choice Vessel Fire Being Investigated by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board 

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will investigate the January 29 fire onboard the Newfoundland Lynx.

The TSB will send a team of investigators to Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, according to a deployment notice. The investigators will now gather information and assess the occurrence of the blaze.

Ocean Choice International released a statement acknowledging the report of the fire aboard its Newfoundland Lynx vessel. The company said the fire was small and contained, according to CBC News...

FFAW Recommending that DFO Postpone Snow Crab Fishery

FFAW-Unifor announced this week that they are recommending that the DFO postpone the snow crab fishery due to the coronavirus. The current suggestion is that they push back the season until at least April 20. 

“The situation is unprecedented on many levels,” explained the organization. “Fish harvesters are committed to social distancing and doing their part to flatten the curve of COVID-19 here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ensuring all of our members and their families stay safe is the number one priority right now...

Quinlan Brothers Announces Sale to Royal Greenland; FFAW Questions Long-term Impact for Region

A staple in Newfoundland and Labrador, the owners of Quinlan Brothers Limited announced the proposed sale of the company to Royal Greenland A/S.

Quinlan Brothers said its intention, and that of Royal Greenland are to keep things status quo in the province. The company will continue with normal operations throughout the process and Robin Quinlan, president of the company, will remain at the helm.

The transition of ownership will ensure the Company’s management, employees, suppliers and customers are served as in the past, Quinlan Brothers...

ANALYSIS: Snow Crab Supplies in the U.S. Remain Short; Awaiting Alaska Snow Crab to the Spot Market

Market quotations for Canadian snow crab were removed last week. Canadian snow crab supplies are nil and snow crab supplies from other origins, i.e. Alaska and Russia are also very short. Market participants report that they are still fielding calls from buyers looking for or inquiring about product.

Russian snow crab imports ended 2019 up 4.4 percent compared to 2018. It’s an unsettled undertone for Russian snow crab currently with both higher and...

Clearwater Seafoods Mulling Sale, Multiple Parties Show Interest

Clearwater Seafoods has initiated a strategic review, which means that the company is moving towards a sale.

“Strategic options may include, but are not limited to, a sale of all or a material portion of Clearwater’s assets, either in one transaction or in a series of transactions, the outright sale of Clearwater, a merger or other transaction involving Clearwater and a third party, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, various financing alternatives or other significant transaction,” the company said in a press release.

The decision to enter the review process stems from the company...

Canadian Government Implements 2020 Right Whale Protection Rules

The Canadian Government unveiled its newest regulations to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales.  The new rules focus on both the shipping and fishing industries, with the government attempting to cut down ship strikes and whale entanglements in fishing gear.

On February 27, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Bernadette Jordan, along with the Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau announced enhanced measures for 2020, that will help reduce right whale interactions during the 2020 April to November season...

Opinion: Stand Up to the Political Fearmongering from Anti-Salmon Farming Activists

As seafood professionals gather this week in Halifax for the 22nd Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister’s Conference, the seemingly never-ending debate over salmon farming will resurface, complete with the usual dump of misinformation by several small but vocal anti-fish farming activist groups.

As this unfolds, here is my call to Nova Scotians and their elected officials: Stand up to these anti-salmon farming sentiments that are based on the politics of fear rather than the realities of science...

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Launches Project to Propel Ocean-Focused Start-Ups

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, with the support of the Canadian government and other partners, announced its first Innovation Ecosystem Project. The project represents will help make Atlantic Canada a more welcoming place for those looking to create start-up ocean companies.

The Ocean Startup Project aims to increase the amount of strong, ocean-focused start-ups in Canada. Companies will support transformative ocean activity that can be seen through the Supercluster team.

“This new project is a clear sign that the Ocean Supercluster is growing momentum, and establishing itself..."

Nova Scotia Officially Declares February 28 as "Lobster Day"

The Canadian Province of Nova Scotia is honoring its heritage by celebrating one of the things the province is best known for, lobster.

Stephen McNeil, the Premier of Nova Scotia officially proclaimed that February 28 will be known as “Nova Scotia Lobster Day.”

“The South Shore of Nova Scotia is home to some of the richest lobster fishing grounds in the world and the Municipality of Barrington, which stakes its claim as The Lobster Capital of Canada,” the proclamation read.

The new day will coincide with the Nova Scotia Lobster...

Grieg Seafood Launches New $40 Million Wellboat to Combat Sea Lice

Last week Grieg Seafood welcomed their new $40 million wellboat. The vessel, the Ronja Islander, was custom built in Norway to "address some of BC's salmon farming challenges, including sea lice and safe fish handling during live transfers to farms."

"We designed the Ronja Islander using input from our stakeholders and Indigenous partners," Dean Trethewey, Seawater Production Director at Grieg Seafood BC, said in a press release. "We heard some of their concerns around salmon farming in BC and turned those concerns into...

Grieg Seafood Moves Toward 2025 Harvest Goals with Grieg Newfoundland Acquisition

Grieg Seafood ASA signed share purchase agreements (SPA) for the acquisition of Grieg Newfoundland AS, the company announced on February 7.

The Newfoundland project features exclusivity for salmon farming in Placentia Bay, a location with a farmable area larger than the Faroe Islands.

Currently, the project is comprised of 11 sea sites. A trio of licenses has already been approved and three more are expected to be approved this year. The remaining licenses are at different stages of the applications. The project will also include a Recirculating Aquaculture...

ANALYSIS: Lobster Imports Higher in December; More In-Shell and Meat from Canada

Imports of lobster products into the U.S. increased for the second-straight month. December imports totaled 13.8 million pounds compared to 13.3 in December 2018. Still, the 2019 annual total is 4.4 percent behind last year; reflective of a 5.6 million-pound shortfall.

Product from Canada accounts for roughly 87 percent of lobster entering the country, so it’s not a surprise that Imports from Canada also increased for the second-straight month. In December, 7.6 percent more product entered the U.S. from...

Race is on to get East Coast Crab Boats on the Water Before Right Whales Return

The Canadian Coast Guard committed Tuesday to doing all it can to help East Coast crab fishermen get on the water before the right whales arrive in the area.

“What we’re trying to do now is assist the fishermen to get out as soon as they can by opening the harbours as soon as we can,” Bradley Durnford, the Coast Guard’s ice superintendent for the Atlantic region told media on a ice operations technical briefing Tuesday morning from St. John’s, N.L...