Alaska Alaska Marine Science Symposium keeps going green Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - January 3, 2021 For the past two years the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, the annual late January event in Anchorage that attracts seafood harvesters, processors and scientists from all over the world, has been going greener, with detailed conference events posted online. https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2021/01/03/alaska-marine-science-symposium-keeps-going-green/ Alaska Fisheries Report Dec 31 KMXT - January 2, 2021 1 Boat, 1 Family, 1 Direct to the Consumer Marketing Company https://kmxt.org/2021/01/alaska-fisheries-report-dec-31/ West Coast North Pacific fishing crews on edge about what they’ll find this month, after a tough 2020 of small fish and COVID-19 Seattle Times by Hal Bernton - January 4, 2021 Skipper Kevin Ganley spent most of the summer and fall pulling a massive trawl net through the Bering Sea in a long slow search for pollock, a staple of McDonald’s fish sandwiches. The fish proved very hard to find. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/skinny-small-fish-and-covid-19-made-2020-a-difficult-year-for-north-pacific-pollock-fleet/ International Russian Fisherman Continue Search for Alternative Sale Markets Due to China’s Closure SeafoodNews.com by Eugene Gerden - January 4, 2021 Russian fisherman are continuing to look for ways to compensate their losses associated with the closure of the Dalyan seaport – the last Chinese seaport which received fish exports from Russia. Currently the sides continue their talks regarding the resumption of supplies, however it has not been associated with any results. In this regard, fisherman hope to re-orient at least part of their supplies to the domestic market, despite the fact that its saturation with domestic fish products remains already high. Analysts expect the supplies to the domestic market could be increased by a maximum of 50% compared to the current figures, which will not allow producers to fully offset their losses. Due to this, producers continue to search for alternative foreign sale markets, which could replace the closed Chinese market. In addition to South Korea, particular hopes are put on some markets of Western Europe, particularly those where the demand for Russian white fish has significantly increased in recent years. Most Russian fisherman have no plans to reduce the planned volume catch in the first half of 2021, despite the fact that prices for some fish species, such as pollock have already declined from last years’ US$1,600 per tonned to US$1,000-1,200. The reduction of catch is also unacceptable for producers and may lead to the withdrawal of their quotas in accordance with the current Russian legislation in the field of fishing. Still, most Russian analysts hope both China and Russia will be able to reach an agreement about the resumption of fish supplies, which is also due to the status of China of one of the world’s largest re-exporters of Russian fish and the existing dependence of the Chinese fish processing facilities from the supplies of Russian fish. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1188707/Russian-Fisherman-Continue-Search-for-Alternative-Sale-Markets-Due-to-Chinas-Closure REPORTER: King and Snow Crab Remain Popular on the Consumer’s Pandemic Plate Urner Barry by Janice Schreiber - December 31, 2020 This article was originally featured in the Winter 2021 Edition of Urner Barry's Reporter magazine. Much of the upward pricing pressure remains in both the king and snow crab markets. Inventories remain tight for both species and insatiable demand continues. Unfortunately, additional product does not appear to be on the horizon. Delays in getting product to the U.S. market, as well as competition overseas—especially for live king crab—remains at the market’s forefront. King Crab King crab imports released for September reveal an almost 32% decrease from August 2020. When comparing to September 2019 imports are up 79% and year-to-date through September 2020 are up 4.2% compared to the same period last year. Consistent demand has remained over the past several months. Heading into the holiday season, king crab, from a historical standpoint, is a popular item at foodservice. However, from mid-March on, we see that demand shifting to other outlets due to constraints at foodservice persisting and even worsening depending on the area of the country. Competition for king crab overseas in Russia continues to be vigorous. Replacement product pricing is said to be climbing. Most of the product negotiated as of this writing, will most likely arrive to the U.S. market in January and February, where many market participants report that demand remains active for the beginning of Lent and Valentine’s Day. Pricing continues to climb; 9-12 Russian red king crab has trended up 12% since the end of August. All sizes of Russian red king crab are seeing similar upward pricing pressure heading into the holiday season.
Snow Crab
Similar to the king crab market, snow crab supplies are tight and inventories continue to be thin across the U.S. and the world. Canadian snow crab supplies, in particular, are extremely light. In mid-November, quotations for both 8 and 10-up snow crab out of Newfoundland and the Gulf were removed due to lack of supply in order to establish them. Normally quotations are removed before the beginning of the next season, which is the spring. Having them removed in the late Fall is extremely abnormal. The situation therefore creates an opportunity for buyers to look for additional supplies. Russian snow crab has been the answer for some. The market share for Russian snow crab has increased from 18% in 2019 to a robust 28% in 2020. With the U.S.’s seemingly insatiable demand for snow crab even during a pandemic, increased imports of Russian snow crab have been well received.
This additional product is combined with a crab season out of Canada in which the U.S. market has so far seen the highest volume of imported snow crab year-to-date since 2017; 77.7 million pounds out of Canada compared to 32.2 million pounds out of Russia. Pricing for all sizes and origins of snow crab are currently at all-time-highs.
Focusing in on retail, snow crab continues to see a high level of promotional activity. 2020 is up 4.2% over 2019 when we look at buying opportunities or promotions at retail. Market participants continue to report that inventories are extremely low and that product has made it through the supply chain. It is either with the end user or has been consumed.
Snow crab and king crab both enjoy an ease of use and preparation for the customer and this looks to be a driving force behind sales in our new world of increased retail usage and take-out. Heading into the fourth quarter with holiday celebrations, demand may remain constant and could continue heading into 2021.
https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1188724/After-a-Tough-2020-of-Small-Fish-and-COVID-North-Pacific-Pollock-Fleet-Prepares-for-Winter-Season
Labeling and Marketing
3MMI - Quality Seafood The Consumer Preference in 2021
TradexFoods - January 4, 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put a strain on dine-in foodservice operations, seafood sales at the retail level in-turn saw tremendous growth throughout 2020 and industry experts are anticipating even more growth in 2021. As COVID-19 protocols continue to be the new normal, Americans eating at home will be seeking foods that offer value, quality, and transparency where "value does not necessarily mean they are seeking the lowest-priced item".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3i4EQjWqaY&feature=emb_logo
Federal Register
Nominations for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Permanent Advisory Committee
A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 01/04/2021
NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, is seeking nominations for the advisory committee established under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (Act). The Permanent Advisory Committee, composed of individuals from groups concerned with the fisheries covered by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (Convention), will be given the opportunity to provide input to the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/04/2020-29075/nominations-for-the-western-and-central-pacific-fisheries-commission-permanent-advisory-committee
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