Friday, March 25, 2022

Alaska Evidence from Gulf of Alaska survey points to chum salmon forming schools in winter The team of 60-plus scientists went to the Gulf of Alaska in February and March Times Colonist by Carla Wilson - March 24, 2022 Evidence that B.C. chum salmon form schools during their winters in the open ocean is intriguing scientists striving to piece together the puzzle of salmon survival. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/evidence-from-gulf-of-alaska-survey-points-to-chum-salmon-forming-schools-in-winter-5192880 International USTR reinstates expired tariff exclusions for certain seafood products Seafood Source by Chris Chase - March 24, 2022 The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced it has reinstated tariff exclusions on 352 products, including several seafood products facing additional tariffs on import from China. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/ustr-reinstates-expired-tariff-exclusions-for-certain-seafood-products Russian participation in salmon survey cut short in Gulf of Alaska The chartered Russian vessel R/V Tinro had to turn back after it was not allowed to fuel up in Dutch Harbour in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska Times Colonist by Carla Wilson - March 25, 2022 An international expedition to study salmon in the Gulf of Alaska lost its Russian vessel part-way through the venture as a result of sanctions in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/russian-participation-in-salmon-survey-cut-short-in-gulf-of-alaska-5197051 Sanctions on Russian seafood hitting some foodservice operations harder than others Seafood Source by Christine Blank - March 24, 2022 International bans on seafood from Russia – including one imposed on imports to the U.S. by U.S. President Joe Biden and similar tariffs by the United Kingdom – are having a mixed impact on foodservice operators and distributors, with some faring better than others. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/sanctions-on-russian-seafood-hitting-some-foodservice-operations-harder-than-others Russian Seafood Import Ban Deadline Pushed From March 25 to June 23, 2022 Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - March 25, 2022 Friday was supposed to be the last day for Russian seafood imports to enter the U.S. However, those who ordered product ahead of Biden’s Executive Order on March 11 and have yet to receive it can breathe a sigh of relief. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an update on Thursday, revealing that the import ban deadline has been delayed until June 23, 2022. But, of course, there is a catch. OFAC released the following update: “Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, all transactions prohibited by section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14069 that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the importation into the United States of fish, seafood, and preparations thereof of Russian Federation origin pursuant to written contracts or written agreements entered into prior to March 11, 2022 are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, June 23, 2022.” Based on this update, Russian seafood products are allowed to enter the country through June 23, 2022 as long as a company has documentation that the order was made prior to the Executive Order announced on March 11. In the days leading up to March 25 there were a lot of questions as product that was ordered ahead of March 11 became delayed or was scheduled to land after the deadline. Importers now have more time to get settled without having to request an extension. But the question is whether there is still demand for Russian product following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Prior to the executive order banning Russian seafood imports into the U.S. few industry players noted customers shifting away from Russian country of origin product, while the majority reported unchanged buying patterns. Urner Barry market reporter Lorin Castiglione reports that with groundfish having a large presence in the foodservice sector where country of origin labeling is not as easily visible, it’s the consumer-facing products, largely in the retail sector, that are under more pressure. Now that the executive order is in effect, demand remains intact and pricing firm, however, spot market volume is thin with the majority of product being used to fulfill contracts. Once those commitments are complete, the market will be dry until the ban is lifted. Within the cod market, demand has largely shifted towards Icelandic product, resulting in record high premiums, $3.00/lb. over the same time just 12 months ago. Urner Barry market reporter Janice Schreiber reports that demand for Russian crab products has been mixed. On the king crab side, market quotations have been unchanged while the undertone has been unsettled with both higher and at times lower quotations collected. The market on Russian red king crab at the end of this week looks to be in a “wait and see” position. The downward pricing pressure seen a few weeks ago appears to have subsided in the near term. Mid-March is not a high demand period for king crab so we will watch closely to see how this situation develops. With that said, Schreiber reports that the scenario for Russian snow crab is much different. Currently the market has been weak with an undertone heading into next week that remains barely steady to weak. With the Canadian snow crab season set to begin over the next few weeks, the market focus is there. Overall current demand for snow crab has been lackluster with both the Canadian and Russian quotations moving lower. Deep water crab, Angulatus or Japonicus, from Russia has also been moving lower, these species of crab historically trade at levels below snow crab and have seen downward pricing pressure from the snow crab market. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1221931/Russian-Seafood-Import-Ban-Deadline-Pushed-From-March-25-to-June-23-2022 Environment/Science New paper explains the role of seafood in sustainable diets Sustainable Fisheries UW by Max Mossler - March 23, 2022 Everything you eat costs the planet something. Land for crops and livestock, inputs to grow them, and energy for everything else. Reducing humanity’s dietary footprint will be the toughest conservation challenge of the 21st century. Electricity and transportation will eventually be 100% renewable, but there is no way to replace food—it will always have costs. The challenge will be feeding Earth’s growing population while minimizing the impacts. https://sustainablefisheries-uw.org/seafood-in-sustainable-diets-research/ As spill cleanup continues near Sitka, state looks at possible impacts on herring fishery KCAW by Katherine Rose - March 23, 2022 State biologists are looking into how a recent diesel spill around 15 miles northwest of Sitka will affect the sac roe herring fishery, which went on two-hour notice Tuesday morning. https://www.ktoo.org/2022/03/23/sitka-tugboat-spill-herring-fishery/ Federal Register Fisheries Finance Program; Announcement of Availability of Federal Financial Assistance for Western Alaskan Community Development Groups A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/25/2022 NMFS announces the availability of long-term direct loans for Western Alaskan Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups through the Community Development Loan program as a component of the Fisheries Finance Program (FFP). The Community Development loans will provide financing for the purchase of all or part of ownership interests in fishing or processing vessels, shoreside fish processing facilities, permits, quota, and cooperative rights in any of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island fisheries. FFP loans are not issued for purposes that could contribute to over-fishing. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/03/25/2022-06336/fisheries-finance-program-announcement-of-availability-of-federal-financial-assistance-for-western FYI’s Petersburg harbor rates going up KFSK by Joe Viechnicki - March 22, 2022 The cost of using Petersburg’s harbors goes up next month. Petersburg’s borough assembly Monday approved a five percent increase to moorage rates as well as hikes for many of the other fees. It’s the latest in a series of rate hikes for borough services. https://www.kfsk.org/2022/03/22/petersburg-harbor-rates-going-up/ Alaska’s senators open this year’s ComFish forums with wide-ranging legislative update KMXT by Kirsten Dobroth - March 24, 2022 The federal legislative forum at ComFish opened with tributes to the late Congressman Don Young, who was also supposed to be part of the panel. Afterwards, however, the ongoing effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine were top of mind for Alaska’s senators. Appearing via Zoom, Sen. Murkowski described the close ties between Alaska’s seafood industry and Ukraine. https://kmxt.org/2022/03/alaskas-senators-open-this-years-comfish-forums-with-wide-ranging-legislative-update/ Freighter fleet capacity to expand with addition of 737-800s Alaska Air Cargo - March 24, 2022 Our dedicated freighter capacity will essentially double in 2023 when we add two 737-800 aircraft to our Alaska Air Cargo fleet, giving us five scheduled freighters serving the state of Alaska and connecting to the Lower 48. https://www.alaskaaircargoconnections.com/news-and-updates/freighter-fleet-capacity/ How Seafood Powers Alaska's Economy: 2022 Update Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute - February 28, 2022 Alaska’s seafood industry is the largest private sector employer in the state and integral to the Alaska and U.S. economies. Harvesters, processors, fuel suppliers, power companies, machinists, shipyards, transportation and grocers are all part of the economic ecosystem supported by the seafood industry. Alaska’s abundant seafood resource provides irreplaceable access to livelihood and food security for Alaskans, Americans, and millions around the world. Find out more at https://www.alaskaseafood.org/industr.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLm2nF95u4E&t=1s NOAA Fisheries Names Jon Kurland New Regional Administrator in Alaska Agency veteran brings over 31 years of experience to the job including three other senior leadership roles in Alaska. NOAA Fisheries - March 24, 2022 Today, NOAA Fisheries announced that Mr. Jon Kurland is the new Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Region. He will assume his new duties on March 27, 2022. Mr. Kurland has been with the agency since 1990, serving in two Regional Offices and headquarters, including three senior leadership roles in the Alaska Region: Assistant Regional Administrator for Habitat Conservation, Acting Deputy Regional Administrator, and, since 2012, Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources. He succeeds retiring Regional Administrator Dr. Jim Balsiger who had been in the position for 21 years. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-fisheries-names-jon-kurland-new-regional-administrator-alaska Pacific Seafood Processors Association 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: admin@pspafish.net; Website: www.pspafish.net Our office days/hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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