Peeled Shrimp Margins Squeezed Since about the middle of 2015, despite a few peaks, margins on peeled shrimp have been on a steady decline according to an analysis from Urner Barry. Margins bottomed out in the 4th quarter of 2016 and have rebounded since that time. But they remain at the bottom of the range since 2008. After the high prices due to EMS in 2014, peeled shrimp have generally traded in a very narrow range over the last 3 years. Bocaccio and darkblotched rockfish, which are managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, have now been rebuilt before original target dates. The Scientific and Statistical Committee report at the June Council meeting said bocaccio's increase above the overfishing level is due in large part to strong recruitment events in 1999, 2010 and 2013. Its estimated lifespan is 50 years.“The rebuilding strategies used to achieve this conservation success, coupled with favorable environmental conditions for groundfish productivity, have paid huge dividends in rebuilding our overfished groundfish stocks and resurrecting West Coast groundfish fisheries,” Council Chairman Herb Pollard In other news, Thai producers plan to increase their shrimp output in the second half of this year, after output from farms dropped in the first two quarters of 2017 compared to last year. The expectation is for shrimp production to grow 5 percent overall this year. Thai shrimp prices, which are on the rise again, are expected to either remain stable or grow 5 percent in 2017 compared to last year said Preerasak Boonmechote, Thai Union Group’s shrimp unit managing director. Meanwhile, lobster industry representatives in Massachusetts are urging legislators to support a proposal to expand in-state processing of lobsters and lobster parts. The proposal, contained in an amendment in the state Senate’s recently passed budget, would allow licensed Bay State wholesalers to process unfrozen raw lobsters, as well as allowing the sale of previously frozen raw in-shell tails and the importation of unfrozen shell-on lobster parts and tails. "Right now, we depend on Canada for so much of our processing facilities,” said Beth Casoni, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, which supports the proposal. “This would allow us to do that processing here in Massachusetts, helping us to create jobs here and create markets for our lobster products.” With what looks like a "sustained push" of reds up the Nushagak and Wood Rivers, coupled with stronger winds in the forecast, the ADF&G is likely to make an announcement to ready the fleet for possible fishing time. "There was a big uptick in passage yesterday: 59,000 raw count and still pushing this morning," said west side area manager Tim Sands early Monday. Finally, today is my last day as production editor for Urner Barry and Seafoodnews.com. My career in the seafood industry will continue as I have taken a position in Boston. It’s been a privilege learning and writing about this industry and I’m extremely grateful to Urner Barry and Seafood News for the opportunity they have offered me over the last six years to serve you, our readers.