Les Hodges: Alaska New Crab Production Launches Oct 15

This year, National Seafood Month comes with good news for the crab industry. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has released the 2024 fall crab Total Allowable Catch (TAC), bringing positive developments for fishermen and processors. The red king crab quota has been increased 7.5% to 2.310mm pounds, while tanner snow crab, also known as bairdi, is more than 3 times larger than the 2023 level reaching 6.270 mm pounds. Additionally, there's a surprising opening on opilio snow crab, with a quota set 4.720mm pounds. St. Mathew blue king crab and...

ANALYSIS: August U.S. Shrimp Imports Fall Sharply for 3rd Straight Month

In data released today, U.S. shrimp imports fell nearly double digits in August extending losses to three straight months. Imports for the month fell 9.9 percent to 145.935 million pounds. Our top trade partners of India (-13.5%), Ecuador (-16.8%), and Indonesia (-6.7%) were negative, while Vietnam (+15.4%) and new number five Argentina (+39.6%) were positive. Thailand (-39.7%) which slipped to sixth and Mexico (+16.5%) were mixed.

The year-to-date figure of 1.052 billion pounds continued to widen against last year. Through August 2023, 1.109 billion...

Leading Liquor Manufacturer Acquires Toyosu Wholesaler to Strengthen Fresh Fish Exports to U.S.

On October 3, Takara Holdings based in Kyoto, a major alcoholic beverage manufacturer, announced that it had acquired three companies: Tsukiji Ota, a renowned fresh fish intermediary wholesaler at Toyosu Market in Tokyo; Ota Foods Market, Tsukiji Ota's export arm with a proven track record; and Agrica Ab Company, a well-established Finnish food wholesaler. In response to the expansion of the Japanese food market worldwide due to the recent increase in health consciousness, Takara Holdings aims to strengthen sales of fresh fish and other Japanese...

US Foods 2024 Diner Dispatch Survey Uncovers Surprising Shifts in Diner Preferences

US Foods Holding Corp– one of America’s leading foodservice distributors – today released the results of its 2024 Diner Dispatch survey, which showcases the state of America’s relationship with dining out. Year-over-year data highlights key takeaways that can help operators make informed business decisions to help meet or exceed diner expectations. These include dine-in vs. take-out preferences, spend thresholds, and other key experiential preferences such as favorite restaurant types, wait times and the use of QR code menus...

Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch Assigns Pacific Bluefin Tuna Yellow Rating for First Time

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program released new assessments for Pacific bluefin tuna fisheries in the Eastern Pacific region. The group assigned a yellow (good alternative) rating to the tuna caught by fisheries in California and Mexico which use FAD-free purse seines, and the U.S. pole-and-line fishery. 

Like all bluefin tuna, the aforementioned fisheries were previously rated red (avoid) due to overfishing. This marked the first time in the two-and-a-half-decade history of the...

Russia Steadily Increasing Shrimp Imports as Domestic Stocks Dip

Russia is steadily increasing imports of shrimp, mostly farm-raised product, as domestic stocks have substantially declined in recent years.

Currently, most wild shrimp in Russia are caught in the Far East. While aquaculture shrimp are much cheaper, they are not grown in the Russian Federation and are imported from abroad. In recent years, the market has faced a massive influx of such shrimp.

In general, prices for Russian shrimps (a significant part of which accounts for Far Eastern humpback shrimps) are 2.5 to 3 times higher than those of imported...

Aquatic Life Institute Releases 2024 Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark

“It’s not easy being green, but that’s what I want to be,” famously said Kermit the Frog. So too for aquaculture enterprises required to comply with animal welfare standards, an emerging movement for all types of farmed seafoods. The Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) may have made it a bit easier for certification schemes to meet those marks.

Today ALI launched its third edition of a welfare-based aquaculture certification benchmark tool that analyzes current welfare requirements within existing farming standards of 8 global seafood certification schemes and 1 international ratings agency ... 

Distribution of $2.5 Million Settlement to Canadian Commercial Purchasers of Farmed Atlantic Salmon

The Federal Court of Canada approved a Canada-wide settlement that resolves a proposed class action alleging price fixing and related conduct, on behalf of persons in Canada who purchased farmed Atlantic salmon and products containing Atlantic salmon. The settlement is a compromise of disputed claims and is not an admission of liability, wrongdoing or fault by any party.

The Defendants agreed to pay $5.25M for the benefit of the Settlement Class Members. The net settlement funds available to be distributed to qualifying Settlement Class...

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...

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...

FFAW Urging DFO to Adjust Gulf of St. Lawrence Redfish Management

The 4R inshore fleet has pushed Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to implement immediate change to the management of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Unit 1 Redfish fishery.

The call comes after dozens of harvesters rallied outside a Barry Group plant and pushed for a change to the “small, time-sensitive fishery.”

“DFO has not established harvest control rules that allow for a sustainable fishery for the 4R fleet, despite the critical importance of this resource to local communities,” explained Jason Spingle, FFAW-Unifor Secretary-Treasurer...

ANALYSIS: 2024 Coho Salmon Season Concludes with Diverging Regional Trends

As the 2024 coho salmon season draws to a close across Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48 states, two distinct supply trends have become evident. Alaska experienced a sluggish start, with landings consistently trailing 2023 levels. Only during weeks 35 and 36 did harvests align with last year’s pace. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the state harvested a total of 1.66 million coho salmon in 2024, representing a 35% decline from the 2.56 million fish landed in 2023 and a 38% drop compared to the five-...

Agri-Food Americas: Economist Larry McDonald on Global Stressors in Food and Ag

The 2024 Agri-Food Americas Conference by Expana (formerly Urner Barry's Global Protein Summit), has officially begun!

This two-day event is jam-packed with network opportunities and a robust agenda filled with in-depth analysis and expert insights, making it a can't-miss gathering for professionals across the agri-food supply chain.

Economist Larry McDonald opened the conference with a comprehensive analysis of the global stressors impacting food and agricultural markets. A former Lehman Brothers trader, McDonald shared valuable insights.

Norwegian Salmon Exports Strong in Q3 Despite Headwinds; Farmed Cod Outpaces Wild-Caught

The Norwegian Seafood Council said it just wrapped up the best third quarter ever for seafood exports.

“Thanks to a historically high export value in September, we have put behind us the best third quarter ever. This time there is virtually no currency effect from a weak Norwegian krone, since we are comparing with the same period last year. High volumes of salmon, trout, mackerel and prawns are driving up the export value," said Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council...

Scott & Jon’s Unveils New Additions to Seafood Bowl Lineup

Scott & Jon’s has expanded its seafood bowl lineup with a pair of new flavors: Lemon Butter Dill Salmon and Baja Fish Taco Bowl.

The new additions will hit shelves in early 2025.

- Lemon Butter Dill Salmon: This indulgent dish offers a twist on a classic meal, featuring tender salmon in a creamy lemon butter dill sauce. It's the first-ever pasta bowl with salmon from Scott & Jon's, catering to those who crave a comforting and flavorful seafood dish.

- Baja Fish Taco Bowl...

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.

Bering Sea Snow Crab 

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

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...