The Retail Rundown: Late-Season Push for Grilling Cuts

As October ends, beef and seafood promotions are neck and neck, each occupying about 25 percent of total advertising space. During the final week of "Pork-tober, pork features account for 20.8 percent of buying opportunities, closely followed by chicken at 20.6 percent.

Though the shift from grilling cuts to roasts has been in motion for a few weeks, a forecast of record warmth in parts of the central and eastern U.S. this week offers a last chance for backyard cooking before winter sets in.

This could spur late-season promotions...

Japan: September Imports Dropped by 5% to 164,000 MT, Value Down by 6% to JPY 146 Billion

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on October 30, the volume of fishery product imports in September (preliminary figures, fish and shellfish and their preparations, fishmeal and seaweed) was 163,968 tons, down 5% from the same month last year. Imports of major species such as fresh and frozen tuna, salmon and trout, and shrimp decreased. Imports of squid, crab, and octopus increased. The value was 146,478 million yen ($955.68 million), down 6%. Minato Shimbun described the details as...

A Tu Gusto, LLC Recalls Frozen Croquette Products Produced Without the Benefit of Inspection 

A Tu Gusto, LLC, a Lehigh Acres, Fla. firm, is recalling approximately 7,630 pounds of frozen meat and poultry croquette products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and may contain undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains soy, sesame seed and wheat, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.

The frozen meat and poultry items were produced between April and October of 2024... 

Cousins Maine Lobster Continues Expansion in Illinois

Cousins Maine Lobster announced that it will debut its fourth food truck in the Northern Illinois region this weekend.

The newest truck marks another partnership with franchisees Yunus and Thameem Shahul, who landed a multi-unit deal for the market back in November 2023.

Cousins Maine Lobster shared that the Shahul brothers joined CML as franchisees in 2018 and now have 18 units open and operating across multiple territories, with more to come. SeafoodNews covered the brand’s recent expansion in Florida, which was also led by the Shahul brothers...

Duty-Free Exports to China Spark Optimism for Bangladesh’s Shrimp Sector

According to a report from Seafood Network Bangladesh, the Bangladesh seafood industry, specifically its black tiger shrimp exporters, hopes to reap the benefits of the country’s upcoming zero tariff status with China.

Back in September, China decided to grant zero tariff treatment for all of Bangladesh’s exports to China, per an announcement from China’s Embassy in Bangladesh. The new tariff status will go into effect on December 1, 2024, and the Bangladesh shrimp industry is excited to have improved access to one of the world’s top markets for...

PWS Herring Stocks Still Low, But at Highest Levels in 25 Years, So Fall and Spring Fisheries To Open

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced last week that the Prince William Sound 2024 spawning biomass estimate is at 35,485 short tons, above a 22,000 short ton threshold needed to open any herring fishery in Prince William Sound. This level is enough to open commercial fisheries at a conservative 10% exploitation rate, creating a Guideline Harvest Limit of 3,549 tons.

That is to be allocated between five fisheries managed annually that now starts July 1 and ends ...

Long John Silver’s Rolls Out Limited-Time Norway Lobster Bites and New Meal Combos

Seafood chain Long John Silver’s announced the return of its fan-favorite Wild-Caught Norway Lobster Bites.

The menu item reached shores on October 28 and will be available for a limited time alongside a new dessert option from The Cheesecake Factory Bakery.

The lobster bites are made of tender pieces of wild-caught Norway lobster tails; each bite is coated in a breading. There will be several ways to grab the bits this holiday season:

"- Add Lobster Bites to any meal with the Lobster Bites...

NEFMC Vacancy Announcement: Council Seeks Candidates for Public Affairs Officer

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) seeks candidates for the position of Public Affairs Officer (PAO). This is a highly visible, dynamic position. The PAO is responsible for managing communications with the public and media. These responsibilities include developing working relationships with media representatives, coordinating communications with other fisheries management and government agencies, keeping the Council informed on pertinent issues, and leading the Council’s social media outlets...

West Coast Crabbers Getting Ready for Dungeness Season Despite CA Season Delay

Dungeness crab pots are being trailered in to ports from California Washington. Shiny new pots or pots that have been repaired and refreshed, ready for dumping the Pacific for one of the most valuable seafood species on the West Coast.

But before that happens, the industry must jump through the entanglement, biotoxin testing and meat quality hoops

Already, crabbers will miss the Nov. 15 traditional start date in Central California due to risks of whale entanglements. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham  announced ...

Trace Register Partners with Foa & Son to Offer Insurance Incentive for the Seafood Industry

Trace Register, a company in the seafood traceability sector, announced a partnership with Foa & Son International Insurance Brokers.

Trace Register said that the new team-up will see Foa & Son provide its customers with a unique incentive for Product Contamination & Recall Insurance.

Working with a preferred provider that typically offers a 10% premium credit for pre-crisis consultation services, this new offer will allocate 5% of the premium or half of that budget directly toward Trace Register seafood traceability subscription costs...

MSC Launches Improvement Program to Combat Overfishing with Incentives for Fisheries

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) debuted its MSC Improvement Program in hopes of addressing the recent rise in overfishing. The group said it would offer fisheries support and incentives, provided they make measurable improvements over a five-year period. The improvements will be guided by an action plant that is independently verified, according to the MSC.

The MSC has grown concerned about the increased overfishing marks, with nearly 38% of global fish stocks overfished, per UN data.

Amanda Lejbowicz, MSC’s Head of Fishery Standard Accessibility, said: “The MSC works...

Alaska Pollock Group At-Sea Processors Association Announces Leadership Transition

The At-sea Processors Association (APA), a trade group within the Alaska pollock industry, announced that its Executive Director, Stephanie Madsen, will retire at the end of the year.

Madsen has been at the helm of the APA since 2007 and has spent nearly 50 years working with the Alaska fishing industry. Madsen started her career working with fishing industry leaders in Unalaska over 40 years ago. She served a pair of terms on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, serving as the first woman Chair and also as...

Russia to Cut Fish Exports to EU Amid Sanctions and Market Shift

Russia will continue to reduce fish exports to the EU region this year and in 2025 due to the ever-growing pressure from sanctions and the ongoing reorientation to the East.

In 2023, Russia exported fish and fish products to EU countries — mostly fillets as well as minced pollock and cod – for a total sum of US$768 million. About 95% of such shipments accounted for white fish.

Fish products from Russia and China, made from Russian raw materials, account for more than 80% of all...

The United States Removes Health Certificate Requirement for Brazilian Fish Exports

The United States has officially lifted the requirement for International Health Certificates (IHCs) on fish imports from Brazil, reducing bureaucracy for Brazilian exporters and potentially increasing their market competitiveness in the U.S.

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) announced this regulatory change on 23 October. Carlos Fávaro, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, stated that this decision “will streamline the export process while maintaining oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

The timing of IHC issuance has been a key concern among industry stakeholders, impacting delivery schedules...

Hokkaido Fall Chum Landings 12 Million Fish, 25% Short of Last Year, Value Up 17.5%

According to the Hokkaido Fisheries and Forestry Department, the total number of fall chum caught along the Hokkaido coast as of October 20 (preliminary figures) was 12,484,284, down 25% from the same period last year, and the value was 38.43 billion yen ($251.15 million), up 17.5%.

Minato Shimbun described that the total landings in early September 1-10 were 432,218, down 58% from the same period last year; 1,438,165 on mid-September 11-20, down 24%...

ANALYSIS: Stone Crab Season Faces Soft Start Amid Hurricane Impact and Market Uncertainty

The stone crab fishing season commenced on October 15, but hurricane activity has once again disrupted its start. Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9, delayed early deliveries for the 2024-2025 season. Generally, storm conditions lead to full or packed traps and strong landings; however, initial reports describe this season’s catch as only average, even with favorable post-storm trapping conditions. This has prompted some market participants to express concern that this early result may signal lower landings for the season. Nevertheless, there...

Costco Recalls Private Label Smoked Salmon Products Produced by Acme Smoked Fish

Acme Smoked Fish has issued a voluntary recall on certain packages of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, according to a recall notice posted to Costco’s website.

The company sent alerts to customers who purchased "#1267000 Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon between October 9, 2024 to October 13, 2024.”

The affected packages of the smoked salmon product are limited to lot number 8512801270.

“We regret this unfortunate incident and have taken immediate corrective steps to ensure that this issue never happens again,” the...