Labeling and Marketing
GAPP Remains Pleased with Wild Alaska Pollock’s Performance Despite Overall Consumption Dip
Urner Barry by Ryan Doyle - February 25, 2021
Although Americans consumed less pollock in 2020 compared to the year prior, the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) was pleased to report that a record 61% of Pollock fillets consumed in the U.S. was of domestic origin.
With the increased market share for Wild Alaska Pollock, GAPP believes that its product is “on the rise” with an additional 10 million consumers knowing the product's name and attributes than 2019.
“Despite last year’s challenges related to an unpredictable global pandemic, the bright spot was that Wild Alaska Pollock was perfectly positioned where consumers were and that Wild Alaska Pollock was the brand that most consumers looked for in their Pollock purchases,” said Craig Morris, GAPP CEO. “We’re continuing to see consumer awareness about Wild Alaska Pollock’s attributes increase and consumers are clearly voting with their wallets,’ in choosing Alaska-origin Wild Alaska Pollock products over other options.”
Pollock consumption was down for the year due to a lack of imports and challenges during the Alaska pollock fishing season.
Urner Barry market reporter Lorin Castiglione wrote in October, “Changing fishing patterns include smaller, younger fish classes into the fishery, fish moving farther into FAO 61 area, as well as the pollock not traveling in tightly knit schools have all been factors in production slowdowns and supply issues.”
Castiglione highlighted that NOAA data through September 26, 2020 found for the 2020 B season for fillets, blocks and minced product forms has produced 29.6 percent less volume than the same 2019 B season timeframe.
Even with the 11% drop in consumption when compared to 2019, last year’s number of 0.873 pounds per person was still above 2018’s level of 0.717 pounds per person.
“The decline in the amount Wild Alaska Pollock consumed by Americans in 2020 from 2019 is, in part, a reflection of our fishery being a sustainably managed wild-caught fishery that only harvest what the fishery can sustain,” said Morris. “Despite this slight decline in 2020, the jump in the percentage of domestically-caught fish makes it clear that U.S. consumers are trying, loving, and gravitating towards our Wild Alaska Pollock like never before.”
When looking at what Alaska pollock has in store for 2021, NOAA data shows a significant drop in landings as of February 13. Castiglione noted that many vessels delayed the start of their seasons for two weeks to have crews quarantine.
The slow start to 2021 has landings as of February 13 sitting at 123,386 mt compared to 211,810 mt at this time during 2020.
https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1192891/GAPP-Remains-Pleased-with-Wild-Alaska-Pollocks-Performance-Despite-Overall-Consumption-Dip
Federal Register
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 02/25/2021
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 139th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Pelagic and International Standing Committee, Executive and Budget Standing Committee, and 185th Council meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. A portion of the Council's Executive and Budget Standing Committee meeting will be closed to the public for a briefing on litigation by counsel.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/25/2021-03911/western-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meetings
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Final 2021 and 2022 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 02/25/2021
NMFS announces final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the remainder of the 2021 and the start of the 2022 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). The 2021 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications, and the 2022 harvest specifications will be superseded in early 2022 when the final 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications are published. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/25/2021-03564/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands-final-2021-and
FYI’s
Ocean Beauty Launches New Website After Merger to Form OBI Seafoods
Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - February 25, 2021
Last May Ocean Beauty Seafoods and Icicle Seafoods announced the merger of their salmon and Gulf of Alaska groundfish operations to form a new company called OBI Seafoods. Now, Ocean Beauty just announced that they’ve launched a new website which redefines the company’s strengths following the merger.
“Ocean Beauty Seafoods is now focused on our extensive distribution operations and our smoked and value-added seafood product lines, and our new website now reflects that,” explained Ron Christianson, VP of Sales and Marketing for the company. “The new site provides much more information on our distribution offerings and our brands, and the detailed product information will be particularly useful for our customers.”
The new website features Ocean Beauty’s seven distributions offices, including Astoria, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Dallas, Texas; Helena, Montana; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Renton, Washington.
As mentioned by Christianson, the website also highlights their smoked and value-added product lines, including their two smokehouses in Monroe and Renton, Washington. The products section also breaks down the company’s foodservice products, as well as fresh and frozen seafood offerings.
“In addition to targeting a seafood industry audience, we have added content for consumers who are purchasing our branded seafood items,” continued Christianson. “They will be able to find recipes, how-to videos, and other content to assist them in safe handling and easy preparation of all our products.
You can check out the new Ocean Beauty Seafoods website by visiting OceanBeauty.com
https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1192901/Ocean-Beauty-Launches-New-Website-After-Merger-to-Form-OBI-Seafoods
PFMC: Groundfish Endangered Species Workgroup to hold online meeting April 26-28, 2021
Pacific Fishery Management Council - February 24, 2021
The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:
The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Groundfish Endangered Species Workgroup will hold a three-day meeting, which is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Monday, April 26, 2021 through Wednesday, April 28, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day has been completed.
https://www.savingseafood.org/news/council-actions/pfmc-groundfish-endangered-species-workgroup-to-hold-online-meeting-april-26-28-2021/
NPFMC April meeting via webconference
North Pacific Fishery Management Council - February 24, 2021
The following was released by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council:
The NPFMC will hold meetings April 5-17, 2021, via webconference. The eAgenda, Schedule, and a list of when documents will be available are now posted. Please note the SSC has a separate SSC eAgenda. More detailed information is available on our website.
https://www.savingseafood.org/news/council-actions/npfmc-april-meeting-via-webconference/
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