Ocean Choice International Buys Out Minority 
Partner Landvis
Ocean Choice International (OCI) announced the successful buyout of its minority partner, Landvis Canada Inc. Martin Sullivan (CEO) and Blaine Sullivan (COO), are now the sole owners of the operation they helped co-found. “This transaction is another important positive milestone for the future of OCI as a leading global seafood supplier, and will give us much more flexibility to successfully carry out our growth strategy. This is a very exciting step forward for OCI, and illustrates our long-term commitment to the company, our customers, our employees and the communities in which we operate,” said Martin Sullivan. The Sullivans spent years trying to negotiate a refinancing deal, which eventually turned into a major dispute with Landvis for control of the company.
On April 27, Japan's bluefin tuna catch reached 4,008 tons, which topped the annual quota for the first time since a quota restriction was introduced. Observers are calling the violation of the catch limit a serious breach of conduct. It will likely result in growing calls from Europe, the United States and other countries for Japan to improve its resource management of Pacific bluefin tuna. “We take this matter seriously,” an official with Japan's Fishery Agency said during the Pacific Bluefin Tuna International Stakeholders Meeting in late April in Tokyo. “We’ll analyze the cause of the problem and take various preventive measures.”
In other news, the Togiak herring roe seine fleet has landed about 70 percent of its 16,060 mt quota in the first seven days of the season. The percentage of the quota caught by this time in the season is running slightly ahead of past years. Roe percentages this year have been reported at 11.1 percent overall, with average size of the fish at 417 grams.
The Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council signed an agreement with major Brazilian meat processing company JBS to sell MSC and ASC certified seafood products at the company’s Swift retail stores in the San Paulo region. This makes Swift the first retailer in Latin America to carry ASC and MSC-certified seafood products. “We are extremely proud to be the first retailer in Latin America to launch an ASC/MSC product line. Sustainability is a priority for JBS and we aim to engage with our customers with marketing materials to inform and promote this initiative,” said Paulo Christofani, the project Manager at JBS.
Finally, some restaurants in PEI are cutting back on featuring lobster on menus because of high prices. Lobster is selling at the wharf for a record $8/pound in Nova Scotia, and Island fishermen are anticipating a similar price on P.E.I. this season.
Have a great weekend.
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