Import Ban on Russian Seafood Into U.S. Receives Extension To May

In the final days of 2023, President Joseph R. Biden signed an Executive Order on “taking additional steps with respect to the Russian Federation’s harmful actions.” The U.S. had already banned imports of Russian seafood, but the latest Executive Order closed a loophole that allowed Russian-caught seafood, processed in China, to enter the country. The government gave U.S. importers a deadline of February 21 to bring in any Russian-origin seafood that was already under contract or written agreement prior to December 22…

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The Retail Rundown: Finalizing February’s Features

Retailers are finalizing their February features while actively preparing for spring demand, which is bolstered by seasonal factors like warmer weather along with holidays including St. Patrick’s Day and Easter.

Retail features are shifting from red meat and poultry towards seafood as Lenten observers begin the 40 days of fasting and reduced meat consumption. 

The seafood complex continues to hold the top spot within total protein features, accounting for 37% this week. Beef follows with 21% of retail buying opportunities, while pork closes in at 19%. Chicken claims almost 16% of ad space, nearly…

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FFAW Responds To ASP’s Tie-Up Grievance

The (crab) claws are back out ahead of the 2024 snow crab season in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

All eyes are on the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) as the two groups reportedly work towards a pricing formula. But while many in the industry are looking towards the future and the start of the season, the two parties have been pulled back into the drama of last year.

On Tuesday ASP revealed that they are making some progress with the grievance they filed against…

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BBRSDA Promotes Lilani Dunn To Executive Director After Andy Wink’s Departure

The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA) confirmed on Wednesday that they have promoted Lilani Dunn to Executive Director. Dunn, who joined the BBRSDA in 2020 as their Head of Marketing, replaces Andy Wink, who departed in December 2023 after six years. 

Dunn is a seafood veteran who headed up marketing at Orca Bay Seafoods before joining BBRSDA in March 2020. 

“We, the board, are looking forward to having Lilani in this new role in leading our organization into the future,” said Fritz Johnson…

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Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Now Bans All Commercial Fishing

It’s been seven years since former President Barack Obama declared two areas of canyons and undersea mountains of such importance ecologically that they should be protected from all development with one 7-year exception: fishing for red crab and lobster could continue until September 2023.

Now, the transition period of seven years is over and in a final rule published last week, the full fishing ban within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is complete. The rule will take effect March 18, …

Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries

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NPFMC to Lean on Stakeholder-Led Approaches to Minimize Bycatch and Crab Mortality

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has decided to not go forward with analysis of proposed annual static groundfish fishery closures in areas of the Eastern Bering Sea where Bering Sea Red King Crab feed and mate. The closures were proposed as a way to help stocks recover by minimizing observed and unobserved crab mortality. Two reasons were given for not going forward: uncertainty about whether the closures would benefit the king crab and fears that fishing effort would be pushed into areas where…

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BM Supermercados of Spain Endorses Best Aquaculture Practices Program

Spanish retailer BM Supermercados is endorsing the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification program, the latest step in its commitment to sourcing responsible seafood for its stores.

BM Supermercados belongs to Grupo Uvesco, which has 300 stores, an online store, four logistics platforms, and a team of more than 6,000 professionals. Since its formation in 1993, it has expanded across Spain in Madrid, Ávila, Cantabria, the Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja, solidifying its place as a leader in quality food, value creation and employment…

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Vietnamese ‘Shrimp King’ Minh Phu Reports First Loss After 7 Years

Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, Vietnam’s leading shrimp exporter, reported a net loss of VND195 billion ($7.54 million) in 2023, the first loss after seven fiscal years.

The company, registered on the unlisted public company market UPCoM as MPC, recorded net revenues of nearly VND10.7 trillion ($436.2 million), down 35% year-on-year, according to its newly released financial statement.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, its net revenue reached VND3.22 trillion ($131.27 million), a year-on-year increase of 26.2%. However, rising cost prices…

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NaturalShrimp Develops and Patents First Shrimp-Focused Commercially Operational RAS

Biotechnology aquaculture company NaturalShrimp has developed and patented the first shrimp-focused commercially operational RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System). The goal of this system is to use electrocoagulation (EC) technology —  commonly known as the passing of electric currents through water —  to minimize labor costs, enhance efficiency, and reduce negative impacts on the environment — all while promoting responsible aquaculture practices. 

While EC technology has been around for many years, NaturalShrimp has used it to develop a custom design specifically tailored to the aquaculture industry…

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Oman’s SIMAK Set to Boast GCC’s Largest Seafood Processing Capacity

The International Seafood Company (SIMAK), a subsidiary of Fisheries Development Oman (FDO), is developing a large canning plant for Tuna, Sardine, and Mackerel in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD). This plant will boast the largest seafood processing capacity in the GCC region, according to an Oman News Agency report.

SIMAK, the sultanate’s flagship seafood cannery nestled within the Fisheries Zone of SEZAD, is poised to redefine the landscape of seafood processing and distribution in the Middle East region.

With an impressive processing inflow of 30,000 tonnes per…

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Vietnamese Expert: Conversing With the World’s Foremost Sea Cucumber Expert

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Quang Duy is widely recognized by the global scientific community as the foremost expert on sea cucumbers. He is credited with pioneering sea cucumber farming in Vietnam.

Towards the end of 2023, an event captured the attention of Vietnam’s seafood industry: Viet Long Capital announced a $5 million investment in the Vietnam Sea Cucumber Company to advance the cultivation, processing, and exportation of the prized sandfish. As aspirations for a multi-million-dollar industry burgeon and the vision of establishing Vietnamese sea cucumbers as a…

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Vietnamese National Program on Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources Approved

Vietnam will investigate and evaluate biodiversity, aquatic resources, and the habitat of aquatic species in Vietnam’s waters, including deep sea areas, shallow waters, and underground water areas, under the national program on protecting and developing aquatic resources until 2030 approved recently by the Prime Minister.

The program requires that 100% of natural lakes, large reservoirs, and main river systems are investigated and assessed for resources and habitat of aquatic species.

Aquatic resource reserves are expected to increase by over 5% compared to the…

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ASP Gives Update On Tie-Up Grievance As They Work Towards ‘Timely’ Start to 2024 NL Snow Crab Season

It has been a little over two weeks since the last update on the 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab negotiations. And while the industry patiently waits for an agreement to be made between the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW), ASP revealed that they are making some progress with the grievance they filed against FFAW in July 2023. 

To briefly recap, in 2023 the snow crab fishery in NL was delayed by…

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NTSB: 2022 Sinking of $1.2 Million Seiner Due to Flooding in Lazarette and Non-Working Bilge Alarms

The National Transportation Safety Board’s report on what caused the sinking of the 53-foot steel-hulled F/V Hotspur two years ago in Southeast Alaska was released last week. The cause was instability caused by below-deck flooding and bilge alarms that did not sound in time. Within 20 minutes from when the crew first noticed a list to port, the seiner, loaded with gear, a seine skiff on deck, and a water-filled fish hold,  …

Photo of the Hotspur courtesy USCG. 

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Washington AG Charges Tacoma Seafood Wholesaler With Felonies Over Failure to Report Purchases

Tacoma wholesale fish dealer Westlake Seafood has been charged with multiple felonies for allegedly failing to report thousands of dollars worth of sea urchin and Dungeness crab purchases to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The business, which operates a warehouse in the Dome District at 2615 E. N St., was formed in 2017 and on its website claims to export 90 percent of its live products to China and sell the rest in local and domestic markets. According to charging documents filed…

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Vietnam’s Shrimp Industry Charts Own Course Amid Global Competition

Despite its availability in over 150 countries, Vietnam’s shrimp industry is grappling with fierce competition from global counterparts, prompting the proactive application of technology and strategic planning as the sector is making endeavors to carve out its unique path forward.

A representative from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) revealed that Ecuador has substantially boosted its shrimp production, reaching an impressive output of 2.5 million tons.

In a noteworthy development, the Department of Science and Technology in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, along with…

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Senator Murkowski Addresses Alaska Lawmakers With Candor and Optimism

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski’s signature probity was on display in her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature last week. Her remarks acknowledged the challenges, including political divisions, at play in the state and across the country, but highlighted the importance of solutions focused on issues, not party affiliation.

“As the elections approach, there’s going to be pressure to show whether you’re with the Republicans or with the Democrats, with probably very little in between,” she said. “So let’s show the country that sure we’ve got our differences…

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Dead NARW Off Georgia Coast Found With Blunt Force Trauma 

Last week NOAA Fisheries reported the second North Atlantic right whale (NARW) death of 2024 — a juvenile female identified as the offspring of Pilgrim (#4340). The body was reported to be “heavily scavenged” by sharks, and there were concerns that a necropsy would not be possible due to the condition of the whale. However, thanks to a team of partners, the carcass was able to be brought to shore and examined. 

According to NOAA, experts who conducted the necropsy found evidence of blunt force trauma, including fracture of the skull…

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Biden-Harris Administration Invests $3.9M for Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators Program

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $3.9 million in awards to help small businesses improve climate resilience in communities across the nation through the Ocean-based Climate Resilience Accelerators program as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, and in alignment with the National Climate Resilience Framework.

This investment, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, supports 16 awardees in 11 states to develop and advance new technologies for gathering coastal, ocean and Great Lakes data and observations — essential information to…

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Maine Wants to Lead in Offshore Wind; Governor Says She Has Location for a Key Wind Port

A state-owned site on the coast of Maine will serve as the location of an offshore wind port critical to developing the nation’s first floating offshore wind power research array, the state’s governor said Tuesday.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill last year that aims to see Maine procure enough energy from offshore wind turbines to power about half its electric load by 2040. An offshore wind port to build, stage and deploy the turbine equipment is a…

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Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture Grows Its Ranks

Fisherman, Food + Planet, RETI Center, Sea Pact, and Future Leaders join a growing chorus of diverse advocates for science-based aquaculture on the heels of Aquaculture America conference

On Tuesday the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture (CSA) announced new members, including three organizations focused on sustainability, a commercial fisherman, and five graduate students poised to become future leaders in the industry. The addition of these new members supports the CSA’s mission to take a stakeholder-led approach to sustainably and equitably launching offshore aquaculture in the U.S…

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France: 13M Investment for Commercial-Scale Shrimp and Greenhouse Farm

Agriloops, a French company combining shrimp and vegetable farming, has successfully concluded a fundraising round of 13 million euros to finance the construction of its first commercial-scale farm, Mangrove #1. Over the last 4 years, the French entrepreneurs have learned all about saltwater aquaponics, combining aquaculture and greenhouse growing to offer local, premium shrimp production. Now, they’re ready for the next step.

“Mangrove #1 is a key milestone to demonstrate the scalability and profitability of our technology. We are eager to demonstrate…

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Singapore Engineer Pivots From Oil Rigs to ‘Fish Farm of the Future’

A high-tech fish farm floats just off the coast of Singapore, part of a plan by a retired engineer who once built oil rigs to bring diners cleaner, healthier seafood.

The tiny city-state imports 90 percent of its food but hopes to locally source about a third of it by 2030 to guard against supply disruptions such as climate change, disease and conflict.

So officials are backing projects such as Eco Ark, a giant aquafarm that produces seabass, grouper and threadfin for restaurant tables…

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An Environmentally Friendly Way to Turn Seafood Waste Into Value-Added Products

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose: These are all ways we can live more sustainably. One tricky aspect of recycling, though, is that sometimes the recycling process is chemically intensive, and this is the case for recycling one of the world’s most abundant materials – chitin.

College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources Department of Nutritional Sciences researcher Yangchao Luo and his group have tackled this problem and found a way to sustainably recover chitin from seafood waste. Their findings are published in the International Journal of Biological…

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PODCAST: Wild Alaska Sole Association’s Pat Shanahan On The Need For A New Marketing Association

SeafoodNews Podcast co-hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione welcome seafood marketing expert Pat Shanahan to the show this week. Shanahan joins the latest episode to talk about the formation of a new non-profit marketing organization, the Wild Alaska Sole Association (WASA), of which she has been hired to serve as Executive Director. Listen as Shanahan talks about why the association formed and its goals for the Alaska flatfish fishery.

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Thai Union Provides Update on Red Lobster in Q4 Results Amid Exit From Seafood Chain

Thai Union released its Q4 2023 results, shedding more light on the seafood giant’s decision to sell its stake in Red Lobster.

As SeafoodNews reported last month, Thai Union confirmed that they intend to “pursue an exit of its minority investment in Red Lobster.”

“The combination of COVID-19 pandemic, sustained industry headwinds, higher interest rates and rising material and labor costs have impacted Red Lobster, resulting in prolonged negative financial contributions to Thai Union and its shareholders,” Thai Union CEO Thiraphong Chansiri said…

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The NFI Sushi Council Begins Inaugural Year 

The industry group will work to enhance food safety and product integrity 

The National Fisheries Institute is pleased to announce the formation of the NFI Sushi Council. A pre-competitive stakeholder group, the Sushi Council is made up of harvesters, processors, distributors, and end-users at retail and foodservice working to enhance sushi product integrity and promote industry-led food safety.

“Sushi has achieved household status and is a major contributor to U.S. seafood consumption,” Chairman Michael McNicholas, of Culimer USA LLC, said…

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Unified Command Transitions F/V Aleutian Storm Grounding Response to Sanctuary

It’s almost all over for the F/V Aleutian Storm.

After days of transferring fuel, gear and miscellaneous off the vessel and several failed attempts to refloat it, Mother Nature took over. Days of pounding surf after the vessel ran aground on Feb. 9 left gouges and holes in the hull and drove it deeper in the sand.

Now, as of Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s …

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Alaska: In Crabbers’ Turbulent Moment, Edmonds Seafood Processor ‘Saved Our Season’

When a processing plant in Alaska closed, Edmonds-based business Keyport stepped up to solve a “no-win situation.”

When a seafood processing plant in Alaska shut down in the middle of crabbing season, fishermen found themselves in a pinch.

Under the state’s quota system, harvesters can only catch a set amount of crab each year. And they must deliver 90% of their catch to a processor with a corresponding quota.

With the Peter Pan Seafood facility closed this winter in King Cove, there was no one to…

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Nova Sea to Acquire 33.4% Stake in Torghatten Aqua, Becoming the Company’s 2nd Largest Shareholder 

Norwegian farmed salmon producer Nova Sea will acquire a 33.4% stake in Torghatten Aqua. The purchase makes Nova Sea the company’s second-largest shareholder, behind Trøndelag Helgeland Invest, which owns a 39% stake. 

This new partnership means Nova Sea and Torghatten Aqua will eventually collaborate on farming operations. Nova Sea will provide investment and development company Torghatten Aqua with increased access to capital and expertise, while also contributing to sustainable growth and development in the Helgeland region of…

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