Friday, April 25, 2025

National Responsible Fishery Management standard evolves into new global seafood certification program Seafood Source by Chris Chase - April 25, 2025 The Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) seafood certification standard is being rolled into a new global standard dubbed Certified Seafood International (CSI). https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/responsible-fishery-management-standard-evolves-into-new-global-seafood-certification-program *Requires Subscription How major FDA changes – both proposed and implemented – could impact the US seafood industry Seafood Source by Christine Blank - April 24, 2025 Significant proposed regulatory changes within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with large layoffs that have occurred across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – which oversees the FDA – could greatly affect seafood importers, processors, and other industry stakeholders in the near future, according to a former FDA seafood specialist. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/food-safety-health/how-major-fda-changes-both-proposed-and-implemented-could-impact-the-us-seafood-industry International US seafood importers in limbo as Trump trade war 'seems to change by the hour' Ongoing tariffs will 'restrict the American consumer's access to an affordable, healthy protein,' a leading US seafood importer told IntraFish. Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - April 24, 2025  The erratic nature of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies has rattled many US-based importers, with one prominent fish buyer telling IntraFish that the current uncertainty around global trade will affect American consumers' access to affordable seafood. https://www.intrafish.com/trade/us-seafood-importers-in-limbo-as-trump-trade-war-seems-to-change-by-the-hour/2-1-1809744 New wild-caught certification program launches, with global ambitions A new board made up of top executives from Silver Bay Seafoods, Clearwater Seafoods, Sodexo and several seafood associations will steer the program. Intrafish by Drew Cherry - April 24, 2025 A new third-party sustainability certification program has been launched, with ambitions to extend its standard to wild fisheries around the globe. https://www.intrafish.com/sustainability/new-wild-caught-certification-program-launches-with-global-ambitions/2-1-1810351 “I’d say the mood is glum” – Canadian seafood industry laments disrupted trade landscape" There's uncertainty, and business does not do well with uncertainty." Seafood Source by Emmanuel Samoglou - April 23, 2025 Though most Canadian goods have been spared from the steepest of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Jason McLinton, who recently became president of the Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC), said the reprieve was no cause for celebration. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/-i-d-say-the-mood-is-glum-canadian-seafood-industry-laments-disrupted-trade-landscape *Requires Subscription New surimi forecast reinforces Russian challenge to Alaska pollock A leading industry body is forecasting a 20 percent jump in Russia’s surimi production this year, with demand growing at home and abroad. Intrafish by Evgeny Vovchenko - April 24, 2025 Russia is forecasting an increase of at least 20 percent in surimi output this year, reinforcing its emergence as a leading global producer and competitor to the Alaska pollock industry. https://www.intrafish.com/whitefish/new-surimi-forecast-reinforces-russian-challenge-to-alaska-pollock/2-1-1810660 Environment/Science NOAA Fisheries Accepting Comments on Spatial Planning Study to Identify Draft Aquaculture Opportunity Area Options Within Alaska State Waters A 30-day comment period is now open. We will also host two public listening sessions to gather input. NOAA Fisheries - April 23, 2025 NOAA Fisheries filed a Notice of Availability releasing the preliminary results of the marine spatial planning study. It includes the identification of draft Aquaculture Opportunity Area options within state waters of Southeast, Southcentral, and Southwest Alaska as part of the identification planning process. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-fisheries-accepting-comments-spatial-planning-study-identify-draft-aquaculture Acoustic-Trawl and Optical Surveys and Research in Alaska The Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering Program supports fisheries management through world-class applied science, technology, gear, and data-driven research. NOAA Fisheries - April 23, 2025 We conduct acoustic trawl surveys, combiningmidwater and bottom trawling with sonar technology. These surveys assess the distribution and abundance of walleye (Alaska) pollock and other fish and invertebrate species in Alaska in winter and summer. Our survey data are critical for the Eastern Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and Bogoslof Island Region stock assessments. They are also used in the Ecosystem Status Reports and Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profiles for these areas. Our work supports the Eastern Bering Sea pollock fishery, the largest single commercial fishery in the United States, and communities in the Gulf of Alaska who rely on the pollock fishery. Our data also contribute to an understanding of rockfishes, krill and other forage species in the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and Chukchi Sea ecosystems. We lead the Acoustics on Vessels of Opportunity project, which uses acoustic data collected by chartered fishing vessels during the Groundfish Assessment Program bottom trawl survey to calculate an index of pollock abundance for the Eastern Bering Sea stock assessment. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/science-data/acoustic-trawl-and-optical-surveys-and-research-alaska Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/24/2025 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/24/2025-07065/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-pollock-in-statistical-area-630-in-the-gulf-of

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