Thursday, March 10, 2022

Alaska Report on beached fish barge that caused $4.5 million in damages National Fisherman by Jessica Hathaway - March 8, 2022 A late-summer storm that blew across Alaska’s Bristol Bay region at the end of the salmon season in 2020 sent Northline Seafoods’ fish processing barge SM-3 broadside onto a beach, leaving a three-mile stretch of debris and causing $4.5 million in damages to the vessel. The National Transportation Safety Board has released a report concluding the likely cause of the grounding. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/report-on-beached-fish-barge-that-caused-4-5-million-in-damages International Longshore union says it stands in solidarity with Ukraine, stops handling Russian cargo KUCB by Theo Greenly - March 8, 2022 The International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced in a statement Thursday that they won’t touch Russian ships or cargo. https://www.kucb.org/2022-03-08/longshore-union-says-it-stands-in-solidarity-with-ukraine-stops-handling-russian-cargo Governor Dunleavy Urges Biden, Cabinet Sec's and Navy to Increase Pressure on Putin From Alaska SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - March 9, 2022 In a series of letters to President Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai­, and US International Trade Commisisoner David Johanson, Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy urged the administration to “reverse obstructive policy decisions” and expand energy production, mining activities, and national defense, from Alaska. Dunleavy, a Republican who established close ties with former President Trump, has been a staunch critic of President Biden. At yesterday's press conference, Dunleavy joined North Slope Borough Mayor Harry Brower criticizing the Biden administration for blocking use of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska to add to domestic oil production. In his letter dated March 7, one day before Biden announced a ban on imports of Russian oil, Dunleavy reminded the president that “Alaska stands ready to fill any temporary gap in supply that would be created by the ban. “While not immediate, the Willow project in NPR-A [National Petroleum Reserve] is nearly shovel ready and provide a domestic source of oil that creates jobs for Alaskan and avoids funding activities by Russia such as the slaughter of innocent civilians occurring now in Ukraine,” Dunleavy wrote. The governor’s letter also included statements about lax Russian environmental regulations and “…pipeline safety laws are so weak that leaks are intentionally hidden for months…” Ironically, the same day the letter was sent, ConocoPhillips was evacuating employees from their North Slope Alpine oil development site just west of the new Willow development. The evaculation was due to a natural gas leak, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The leak is below gravel and under investigation, and the plant continues to supply the nearby village of Nuiqsut with gas used for heating. Nuiqsut Mayor Rosemary Ahtuangaruak is opposed to the Willow development. She remembered a blowout ten years ago at a drilling site run by Spanish oil company Repsol. During that event, Ahtuangaruak said, gas emissions lasted several days. “Our village had to hunker down during that process, and it was weeks that community members had respiratory distress,” Ahtuangaruak told ADN earlier this week. “We are still highly concerned, and we are on high alert and awaiting updates.” At Dunleavy’s press conference yesterday, he also called for state agencies and state-owned corporations to divest from “Russian assets, businesses, local governments, and university relationships…” He asked all Alaskans to “end all business relationships with Russia. We must do our part to bring pressure upon Putin to help end this war as quickly as possible.” Alaska Revenue Commissioner Lucinda Mahoney joined the governor, giving specifics on how divesting from Russia can occur. “Considering the geopolitical tragedies launched by Russia in Ukraine, it is critical for the State of Alaska to divest of interests and investments in Russia,” Mahoney said. But her advice on how to do it was veiled, hinting at unnamed banks that put profits above human rights. “Additionally, it has been reported that a few financial institutions, with anti-Arctic investing policies, made the decision to purchase distressed Russian corporate debt with the aim of making a profit while ignoring their own ESG [environmental, social, governmental] policies regarding human rights,” Mahoney said. “The State of Alaska should not work with companies that discriminate against Alaska in the name of climate change while simultaneously choosing profits over human rights in the Ukraine.” Governor Dunleavy’s letter to Secretary of the Navy Braithwaite urged him to advance “the presence and physical infrastructure for the Navy in Alaska” including expansion of the Navy submarine facilities in Southeast Alaska, selecting a deep-water port for a submarine, reopen the Adak Navy Base, and homeport submarines there. He also asked Braithwaite to “coordinate with the U.S. Corps of Engineers to see if the design of the Nome Port can accommodate visits bay Navy vessels. If so, advise the Corps immediately.” To Secretaries of Energy and Defense, Dunleavy asked them to take immediate steps to “develop a domestic supply chain of rare earth and critical minerals that includes new mines in Alaska.” Dunleaved called for “the development of a domestic supply chain of rare earth and critical minerals that include new mines in Alaska and to block the export of materials that could aid Russia in developing a rare earth industry.” To the Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the governor asked for an investigation on “the unrestricted importation of Russian seafood to the U.S. while Russia unfairly bans the import of seafood from the U.S.” and for a “formal section 301 investigation into such unfair trade practices with Russia on seafood.” https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1220617/Governor-Dunleavy-Urges-Biden-Cabinet-Secs-and-Navy-to-Increase-Pressure-on-Putin-From-Alaska What the U.S. Ban on Russian Oil Could Mean for U.S. Consumers Urner Barry by Courtney Shum - March 9, 2022 On Tuesday, President Biden announced a U.S. ban on Russian oil and gas imports as a measure to target “the main artery of Russia's economy”. The ban also applies to Russian coal, according to the White House briefing. "We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be accepted in U.S. ports, and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin's war machine," said Biden. The ban coincides with record-high gas prices, not adjusted for inflation. According to AAA, the national average climbed to $4.25 a gallon today, up 8 cents from yesterday and a 16.3% increase from the week-ago figure. Consumers have not seen gas prices this high since the summer of 2008. Californians are currently facing the largest expense at $5.57 per gallon on average. During yesterday’s briefing, President Biden conveyed efforts to minimize the extent of price hikes for U.S. consumers by releasing oil reserves and ensuring the reliable supply of global energy. According to Mr. Biden, the United States has released 60 million barrels of oil from the nation’s joint oil reserves. The president said the decision to ban Russian oil and gas energy was made in “close consultation with our Allies and our partners around the world, particularly in Europe,” but recognized that “many of our European Allies and partners may not be in a position to join us”. Yesterday, Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Kwasi Kwarteng tweeted that the UK will phase out the import of Russian oil and oil products by the end of this year. According to the Department of Energy, Russian oil made up about 4.7% of total U.S. oil imports in December 2021. While the United States is less dependent on Russian energy than some European countries, some analysts have expressed concerns that the ban on Russian imports could cause oil prices to escalate further to fresh record highs. Biden warned Americans that they should expect even higher gas prices as Russia's invasion of Ukraine persists, explaining “[s]ince Putin began his military buildup on Ukrainian borders, just since then, the price of the gas at the pump in America went up 75 cents. And with this action, it’s going to go up further.” Meanwhile, inflation is already eroding other areas of household budgets. Some investors are anticipating tomorrow's Bureau of Labor Statistics data to show an annual CPI figure of around 8%. Brent Crude oil achieved its all-time high at $147.50 a barrel in 2008, lifting gas prices in the U.S. that year to over $5 a gallon. On Tuesday, Brent Crude oil gained nearly 8% to $132.75 per barrel before pulling back to end at $123.21 per barrel. Due to Russia’s sizable hand in global energy production and supply, the global marketplace could face a massive energy supply disturbance. The ripple effects for producers and consumers could lead to even higher prices for food, energy, and beyond. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1220583/What-the-US-Ban-on-Russian-Oil-Could-Mean-for-US-Consumers Environment/Science California Fisheries Biologists Present 2022 Ocean Salmon Abundance Forecast Fishermen's News - March 9, 2022 The California Department of Fish and Wildlife held its annual Salmon Information Meeting via webinar on March 2. The public meeting featured the outlook for this year’s commercial ocean salmon fisheries and a review of last year’s salmon fisheries. File photo via CDFW. https://fishermensnews.com/california-fisheries-biologists-present-2022-ocean-salmon-abundance-forecast/ Federal Register North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting A Notice by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 03/10/2022 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)'s Enforcement Committee will hold a webconference March 29, 2022. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/03/10/2022-05048/north-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting FYI’s Ahead of Southeast Board of Fish meeting, a look at Wrangell issues KSTK by Sage Smiley - March 9, 2022 The Southeast Board of Fisheries meeting kicks off March 10 in Anchorage, where the board will consider more than 150 proposed regulatory changes for Southeast commercial, sport, subsistence and personal use fisheries. https://www.kstk.org/2022/03/09/ahead-of-southeast-board-of-fish-meeting-a-look-at-wrangell-issues/ Seafood Industry Gears Up for the Return of Seafood Expo North America Urner Barry by Ryan Doyle - March 10, 2022 After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seafood Expo North America is set to return. Many in the industry are looking forward to returning to in-person meetings and traveling again, some experiencing normal business meetings for the first time since the pandemic began all the way back in March 2020. Over recent weeks, SeafoodNews has covered plenty ahead of the show but just days ahead of the event we wanted to share everything we know and provide some insights from a few attendees and exhibitors as they prepare for the Boston Seafood Show. When speaking to both exhibitors and attendees, one thing was clear, the importance of relationships in the industry. Fortune Fish & Gourmet described SENA as a “building block” in building relationships between purveyors and their customers. This year’s show will mark the first time the company attends as an exhibitor after a 20-year run as an attendee of the show. “The seafood industry thrives on relationships and these relationships are the key to our businesses,” the company said. “As our industry grows, there are new faces, and live events like this give everyone, especially those new to the industry the opportunity to learn and make connections.” Alberto Carlos Bicca, Agribusiness Coordinator at Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian trade and investment promotion agency, mirrored Fortune’s sentiment. “Introducing the world to what Brazil has to offer by bringing our products to these types of trade shows and letting industry executives experience our unique offerings for themselves, firsthand, in-person – especially for something like seafood within the food and beverage sector, which is of course largely sensory-driven – is critical,” Bicca said. New, New New As always, the Boston Seafood Show will feature a plethora of new products. SeafoodNews has highlighted a number of products making their long-awaited SENA debuts in recent weeks including a trio of offerings from Del Pacifico Seafoods. Jennifer Barrett, VP of Sales for Del Pacifico Seafoods highlighted the company’s new farm-raised shrimp and oysters and line-caught White Snook. “Because this a new area of seafood that we’re delving into, it’s important for our industry partners to try the products, ask questions and hear the story behind them,” Barrett told SeafoodNews. “For us, we are really going to be focused on showcasing our new products and how we continue to tell our story on how we set ourselves apart in the industry with sustainable products. We’re excited to offer samples of our new products and are looking forward to connecting in-person once again!” Ocean Beauty Seafoods will also debut five new products from their Echo Falls line, as SeafoodNews’ Managing Editor Amanda Buckle put it, the company is making up for the lost time. “We have been continuing to innovate during the pandemic and can’t wait to get back to Boston to show the seafood world all of our new products,” said Ron Chistianson, Ocean Beauty’s VP of Sales and Marketing. Alaskan Leader Seafoods is going to be debuting six total products following victories in the 2022 Alaska Symphony of Seafood. The company took home first place in three categories – the Seattle People’s Choice and Juneau’s People’s Choice for their Wild Caught Alaska Black Cod in Japanese Miso Marinade and Bristol Bay Choice for their Wild Caught Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon. Of course, these new products only scratch the surface for what is expected to be featured on the show floor next week. Expect photos and more from SeafoodNews’ live coverage of SENA 2022. A Long Road As SENA drew closer and closer, news surrounding the show underwent a lot of twists and turns. But shortly before the event began, COVID-19 related mandates in the city of Boston have been lifted as vaccination and mask requirements have changed course. The months leading up to the event saw a number of companies either drop out of the event citing health concerns and others pushing on as a way to bring forward a return to business as normal. SeafoodNews covered the saga as major players like Peter Pan Seafood announced they would not have a presence at the event in January followed by a notable stretch of cancellations later in the month. While others like OBI Seafoods, Cooke Seafood and Trident Seafoods made announcements in the coming weeks announcing their intentions to attend. Trident, who exhibited in 2019 and showed off their Protein Noodles, decided to head into this year’s show as just attendees. Back in January, SeafoodNews founder John Sackton wrote about what the Boston Seafood Show may look like in the future. He chronicled his history with the show and a look at what could be done to continue its state as a critical industry event. “Taking crab as an example, something different today is that there is widespread discussion at the Global Seafood Market Conference and in online and news sites about the current market. There is no reason for anyone to be surprised who is paying attention to the stresses and strains of extreme high prices at a time when demand may be softening. The Boston Seafood Show used to be the only place you could get a feel for this. That is no longer true, not just for crab, but for a whole range of species,” John wrote in his column. “…personal meetings are important. The seafood industry depends on trust. An order for 10 loads is worthless if you don’t trust your supplier to deliver. And this trust is built up over time by performance and transparency in individual situations. If a producer sees an issue that might affect delivery, it is in the face-to-face meetings that this is addressed.” Read John’s Winding Glass column here. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1220701/Seafood-Industry-Gears-Up-for-the-Return-of-Seafood-Expo-North-America 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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