Alaska/Pacific Coast
Seafood Industry Letter To Unalaska Regarding COVID-19 KUCB by Seafood Industry Trade Associations - April 4, 2020 Dear Unalaska Community: Along with the rest of the nation and the world, the seafood industry of Unalaska has been coping with the fast-paced turn of events in the face of the national health pandemic created by the exponential spread of the coronavirus. Like you, we are very concerned about what the coronavirus pandemic means to our families, neighbors, and livelihoods in Unalaska and other Alaskan coastal communities, and the Alaska seafood system overall, both in the short and long term. https://www.kucb.org/post/seafood-industry-letter-unalaska-regarding-covid-19 Fishing continues despite pandemic Bristol Bay Times by Jim Paulin - April 3, 2020 Commercial fishing continues in the Bering Sea during the coronavirus pandemic, though there are precautions in place keeping the fishermen confined to their boats while making deliveries to processing plants. http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/article/2014fishing_continues_despite_pandemic It’s no business as usual for fishing industry Major processors make health and safety of employees, harvesters, community a top priority Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - April 4, 2020 For Alaska’s commercial fisheries industry in 2020, things will hardly be business as usual. Reports of the first case of novel coronavirus in the state prompted processors to get to work developing plant and vessel response plans in consultation with medical experts to assure the health and safety of employees, harvesters, communities they work in and the fish they will process by the ton. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/04/04/its-no-business-as-usual-for-fishing-industry/ Labeling and Marketing ANALYSIS: Pollock Block Market Thriving Amid COVID-19 Urner Barry by Lorin Castiglione - April 3, 2020 The market for reprocessed pollock blocks has remained steady amid all the disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak. The Alaskan pollock "A" season runs from January through April in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea with many vessels currently headed back home after finishing their first fishing season of the year, as planned, with supply intact. With fleets having been out at sea since January, there has been little threat or exposure to the crew aboard the vessels to the virus...
Be the first to gain access to analysis pieces from Urner Barry market reporters. Subscribe to Urner Barry's Comtell today. Read the analysis on Comtell here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1168120/ANALYSIS-Pollock-Block-Market-Thriving-Amid-COVID-19 ANALYSIS: West Coast Halibut Season Opens Amid COVID-19 Urner Barry by Liz Cuozzo - April 6, 2020 The fresh west coast halibut season began on March 15 amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Initial “first fish” sales were somewhat unsettled and reported to be in the mid $7.00 range, settling at $6.26 to close the month - a 10-year low. Current market prices for whole fresh 20-40 lbs., are 19% lower than their 10-year average of $7.77.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, fresh seafood sales have been constrained as demand has shifted from foodservice to the retail sector. Although fresh halibut has a presence in the retail sector on the west coast, demand has been tepid. The majority of fresh catches are destined for the live market; however, some market participants have noted that... Be the first to gain access to analysis pieces from Urner Barry market reporters. Subscribe to Urner Barry's Comtell today. Read the analysis on Comtell here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1168213/ANALYSIS-West-Coast-Halibut-Season-Opens-Amid-COVID-19 FYI’s
Northern Lights: Soup kitchen thrives on salmon culture National Fisherman by Scott Lingle - April 3, 2020 Program Director and Chef Scott Lingle started out in the dish room and has earned every burn and cut on his way to becoming a certified executive chef. Bean’s Cafe is a soup kitchen located in downtown Anchorage. The cafe provides warm and nutritious food, a warm and comfortable physical environment, an opportunity for socializing in an accepting atmosphere, and referrals and social services information to anyone requesting assistance. We exist to fight hunger for all ages, one meal at a time, while providing a pathway to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect. We rely almost solely on private donations to serve nearly 1,000 meals per day, with Alaska seafood and salmon being one of our most used and sought after commodities. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/viewpoints/alaska/northern-lights-soup-kitchen-thrives-on-salmon-culture/ Seafood Expo North America Rescheduled; Boston Seafood Show to Take Place in September Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - April 3, 2020 Diversified Communications, the organizers of Seafood Expo North America (SENA), announced on Thursday that the event has been rescheduled for September. SENA, also known as the Boston Seafood Show, was scheduled to take place from March 15-17. However, Diversified ended up postponing the event in early March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“After many weeks of monitoring the evolving situation around COVID-19 and evaluating the full spectrum of feedback we received among hundreds of calls and emails, we, Diversified Communications, have decided that the 40th edition of Seafood Expo North America/ Seafood Processing North America will not take place as scheduled in March and is postponed while we look at other options," a note from Liz Plizga, Group VP of Diversified Communications read. The decision to postpone came after a number of exhibitors and key buyers pulled out of the show, citing concerns about the health of their employees. Petitions were even put together to urge Diversified to either cancel the event or refund exhibitors who chose not to attend due to concerns over COVID-19. A few weeks later Diversified sent a survey to gauge interest and availability for two alternative dates: Sunday, May 31 – Tuesday, June 2, or Tuesday September 22 – Wednesday, September 23. Diversified confirmed on Thursday that the expo conference program will start on September 22, with the exhibit hall open from September 23-24. According to the show organizers, the September dates were “carefully chosen in consideration of the recent escalating situation with COVID-19, the venue availability, as well as feedback from customers and high-volume retail and foodservice Key Buyers from North America.” “While navigating this unprecedented situation, we know there is a need for business continuity and are committed to providing a platform that will bring back together the industry suppliers and buyers who, due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, were prevented from meeting in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Plizga. “It is fair to say that this year’s event will not be like any other years. However, the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America team is dedicated to delivering a high-quality event and services that are as similar as possible to what our customers have come to expect over the years.” The announcement explains that the September show will feature a “solutions-driven conference program led by industry experts covering today’s most relevant topics.” The exhibit portion will be held in Halls B and C of the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center. When sending out the survey last month, Diversified had noted that the September date would mean that the show would look different due to Hall A being unavailable. Halls B and C would require Diversified to redraw the show floorplan with “potentially smaller booth space due to more limited space options.” They also said that there would be “very few” meeting rooms available. National Fisheries Institute president John Connelly issued the following statement on the rescheduled event: "There is an old adage that action cures anxiety. In these anxious times a date-certain allows the global seafood community to begin planning for a new and exciting Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America 2020 where we will all reconnect and look toward the future of seafood sales. NFI looks forward to working with Diversified to provide a unique opportunity for NFI members and the broader seafood community to plan collaboratively for the future." Diversified also organizes the Seafood Expo Global show. Seafood Expo Global was scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belgium, from April 21-23, but was postponed by Diversified a week after they postponed SENA. The show organizers posted an update on March 18 explaining that they are still pursuing date options for 2020. The 2020 show was supposed to be the last year that the event would be held in Brussels before moving to Barcelona, Spain, in 2021. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1168016/Seafood-Expo-North-America-Rescheduled-Boston-Seafood-Show-to-Take-Place-in-September BREAKING NEWS: Crab Festival rescheduled to August due to coronavirus crisis KMXT by Maggie Wall - April 2, 2020 BREAKING NEW: Due to coronavirus concerns the Kodiak Crab Festival will not be held in May but is rescheduled to Aug. 19-23. Click arrow to listen to interview between KMXT’s Maggie Wall and Sarah Phillips, who is the Executive Director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. https://kmxt.org/2020/04/breaking-news-crab-festival-rescheduled-to-august-due-to-coronavirus-crisis/
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