Japan: September Exports Surged 24% to 33,000 MT, Frozen Scallops 4.8 Times to 7,000 MT

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, September's fishery product exports (fish and shellfish and their products, and fishmeal) increased 24% year-on-year in quantity to 33,075 tons and 27% value to 26.25 billion yen. The volume and value of frozen scallops were significantly higher than the same month last year. Frozen yellowtail fillets exceeded last year's month. Minato Shimbun highlighted them below.

Frozen scallops (shucked and whole in shell) increased 4.8 times to 7,004 tons and increased 99%...

NBPA Urges BOEM to Reconsider Offshore Wind Plans to Protect Vital Scallop Fishing Areas

The New Bedford Port Authority (NBPA) has submitted a formal response to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regarding the recently proposed Central Atlantic 2 Call Area (Docket No. BOEM-2024-0040).

The NBPA raised its concerns about the project’s potential impact on the commercial fishing industry.

New Bedford boasts the most profitable fishing port in the nation, and it is also home to the first large-scale offshore wind marshaling port; it feels that it has strong ties to both vital fishing grounds...

Seafood on Full Display During Outback Steakhouse’s Great Barrier Eats Promo

Outback Steakhouse announced its entrance into the value-menu arena that is occurring throughout the restaurant industry with its Great Barrier Eats limited-time menu.

The seafood-centric menu was inspired by the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and an Australian landmark. It showcases the chain’s shrimp and scallops.

The new menu features:

- Twin Reefs Shrimp: Dive into deliciousness with crispy breaded shrimp paired with buttery garlic shrimp scampi and a side. Starts at just $14.99...

The Winding Glass: Why Fish Markets Are a Mainstay of American Seafood

Want to know the bright spot in retail seafood? It’s your local fish store. 

For months we have chronicled the decline in overall U.S. retail seafood sales. Again in June, Circana data from US supermarkets and warehouse stores showed continuing problems.

Retail seafood experienced continuing deflation, led by frozen fish that was down -4.5% from a year ago. On the fresh side, everything but tilapia was lower priced than a year ago. And despite price decreases, dollar sales, unit sales, and volume continued to...

ANALYSIS: YTD Scallop Imports Pacing Ahead of 2023

At the start of June, the third month of the 2024 Atlantic sea scallop season, supply constraints are already impacting larger sized scallops. Unlike in the 2023 season, size mix trended larger in comparison to previous years with Closed Area II producing the majority of U10 sized scallops. In 2023, the volume of U10s landed increased 105% from 2022 per the New Bedford auction. With Closed Area II remaining open for the 2024 season, industry players were not anticipating seeing an abundance of larger sizes again from...

ANALYSIS: U10 Scallops Rally Ahead of Mother's Day

The Atlantic sea scallop sector has reported conflicting pressures dependent upon scallop size, affecting the market as the season closes out the second month of the 2024-2025 fishing year. Framework Adjustment 38 to the Atlantic sea scallop Fishery Management Plan has resulted in an estimated harvest of 27.4 million pounds of Atlantic sea scallops for the new season that began April 1, 2024, a 2.4 million pound increase from the previous year, marking the first quota increase since 2019.

As seasonally expected, prices began to...

AQUA Cultured Foods’ New Partnership To Aid In Development, Advancement of Alternative Seafood 

Food technology company AQUA Cultured Foods has announced a new partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks. 

Chicago-based AQUA has developed the world’s first whole-cut seafood alternatives through microbial fermentation. This process produces sustainable, fish-free tuna, scallops and more using less resources than traditional aquaculture. And now, Boston-based cell program and biosecurity company Ginkgo will help AQUA optimize that technology in order to elevate the quality of its 100% fish-free seafood products. These products are made from microbes and fibers combined with...

Wanchese Fish Company Appoints Jack Crouch As National Sales Manager

Wanchese Fish Company has appointed Jack Crouch as National Sales Manager. Crouch joins the Virginia-based company with more than a decade of experience in seafood processing, distribution and supply chain management. 

“We’re excited to have Jack join our team and we’re confident that his experience will be instrumental in driving our national sales strategy, particularly in the Patagonian scallop, crab, and shrimp markets,” said Ross Butler, Wanchese Fish Company’s CEO.

Prior to joining Wanchese — which was purchased by Cooke Seafood USA in 2015 — Crouch worked with the...

NOAA Announces Proposed Rule For Framework Adjustment 38 For 2024 Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishing Year

On Monday NOAA Fisheries announced a proposed rule for Framework Adjustment 38 to set specifications and management measures for the Atlantic Sea Scallop fishery for the 2024 fishing year. According to the notice in the Federal Register, Framework 38 “would implement measures to protect small scallops to support rotational access area trips to the fleet in future years.” 

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) first signed off on Framework Adjustment 38 in mid-December. At the time NMFC said that Framework 38 contains...

NEFMC Advances Framework Adjustment 38 For Fishing Year 2024

With just a few weeks to go until the new year, the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) has officially signed off on Framework Adjustment 38 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan.

Framework 38 contains specifications and other measures for 2024, as well as default specifications for 2025. This Framework was guided by NEFMC’s Scientific and Statistical Committee’s scallop report.

Framework 38 will give full-time limited access scallop vessels three 12,000 pound access area trips, with two trips into Area II and one into the New York Bight...

NEFMC Prepares for 2025 Scallop Framework Amidst Declining Biomass

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) announced that it received updates on Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which will set the specs for the 2025 scallop fishing season.

At its September meeting in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the council received an overview of the 2024 Atlantic sea scallop survey in addition to the Framework 39 updates.

Results from the 2024 scallop survey indicated that the species' overall biomass remained low compared to its peak of 2016-2019. The population of harvestable scallops in 2025 is...

ANALYSIS: Scallop Market Rallies Ahead of Area II Closure

Framework Adjustment 38 to the Atlantic sea scallop Fishery Management Plan has resulted in an estimated harvest of 27.4 million pounds of Atlantic sea scallops for the new season that began April 1, 2024 — a 2.4 million pound increase from the previous year, marking the first quota increase since 2019.

Despite the anticipated increase in scallop supply, prices did soften soon after the season opened on April 1, 2024, with upwards pressure swiftly noted on U10s as landings dwindled on those larger sized scallops early in...

Japan's Marine Product Exports Fall 14% in May

According to trade statistics released by Japan’ Ministry of Finance, the volume of fishery product exports in May was 43,225 tons, down 14% from the same month last year, and the value was 22,415 million yen ($143.23 million), down 23%. The volume and value of frozen scallops were significantly lower than the same month last year. Minato Shimbun reported that the volume of yellowtail fillets was higher, but the value was slightly lower.

Frozen scallops (shucked and whole in shell) were 4,519 tons, down 64%, and the value was...

NOAA Fisheries Selects 14 Sea Scallop Applications Through 2024 RSA Program

NOAA Fisheries announced earlier this month that it has selected 14 sea scallop applications through the 2024 Research Set-Aside (RSA) programs.

Scallop RSA programs support research into industry-based surveys of access areas; sea scallop biology; loggerhead turtle population information and bycatch avoidance; and general research on sea scallop recruitment, bycatch and commercial dredge gear. These types of RSA programs are unique to federal fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region, and are not only in place for scallops, but also monkfish and Atlantic herring...

ANALYSIS: 2024 Scallop Season Expectations

The 2024/2025 Atlantic sea scallop fishery season began on April 1, 2024. This fishery extends from the Mid-Atlantic region to the U.S.-Canadian border. The New England Fishery Management Council approved Framework Adjustment 38 in December, forecasting a catch of 27.4 million pounds of Atlantic sea scallops for the season. On March 22, 2024, NOAA issued the final rule in the Federal Register, effective from the season's start. Per NOAA Fisheries, for the initial 60 days of the fishing year, vessels with limited access can utilize their remaining 2023 scallop allocation from the...

Hokkaido Scallop Landings Exceed Processing Capacity, Beach Price Well Below Last Year at JPY 100/kg

According to Suisan Keizai Shimbun, the scallop fishing season in Funka Bay, Hokkaido, is now in full swing, with 1,000 tons being landed daily in the Iburi and Toshima districts. With the market absence for frozen whole scallops and most of the shellfish being used for boiled adductors, a landing and processing flow has been put in place that prioritizes the processing of raw shellfish. The beach price is around 100 yen/kg ($0.66/kg), significantly lower than the previous year...

Ocean Choice Has Sold Its Offshore Nova Scotia Scallop Quota To These 3 Companies

Ocean Choice International announced on Thursday that the company has not only decided to sell off its offshore scallop quotas, but has already found buyers and completed the purchase and sale agreement with three Nova Scotia companies who have “a long history harvesting sea scallops off the coast.”

Ocean Choice held 16.77% of the offshore scallop quota in Nova Scotia. The quota is worth an estimated $200 million. And now these three Nova Scotia-based companies have acquired it: Mersey Seafoods Limited, LaHave Seafoods Limited, and Comeau’s Sea Foods Limited. 

FDA Issues Advisory About Scallops Harvested From Prohibited Area in Massachusetts

UPDATE: The Fisheries Survival Fund and the American Scallop Association issued a statement after the FDA advisory was released to clarify that shucked Atlantic sea scallop meats are safe to eat. 

“It is important to avoid confusion, and for the public to understand, that the scallops referenced in a recent advisory from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are not the type of scallops typically available in markets and restaurants across North America, and the adductor muscle of the Atlantic Scallop (placopecten magellanicus), commonly referred to as the...

Clearwater Seafoods Fleet Achieves FISH Standard for Crew Certification

FISH Standard for Crew Inc. is pleased to announce seven vessels of the Clearwater Seafoods fleet have been awarded FISH certification. The fleet comprises Canadian flagged clam, lobster, and scallop harvesting vessels operating in Canadian waters in the northwest Atlantic. Certification body MRAG Americas awarded the certification after extensive policy and procedure review, on-site vessel inspections, and face-to-face interviews of crew members.

“We are very proud to be the first Canadian company to attain FISH certification, a recognition that is consistent with Clearwater’s commitment to our people...