Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Alaska NSEDC Not Purchasing Crab in 2022 Winter Fishery In Effort to Preserve Red King Crab Stock Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - January 19, 2022 Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) announced last week that they will not be purchasing red king crab from the 2022 winter fishery in an effort to preserve the stock on the Norton Sound. “The results from the 2021 Norton Sound Alaska Department of Fish and Game trawl survey show an increasing number of crab growing to legal size (measuring 4 ¾” or greater across the carapace) for commercial harvest, which is encouraging,” a press release from NSEDC reads. “However, the data still appear to show very few crab that will be of market size (at least 5” across the carapace), which is the minimum size NSEDC will purchase.” As NSEDC goes on to explain, the viability of the present and future crab stock depends on the current mature crab having the opportunity to breed. The non-profit, which represents 15 member communities and more than 8,700 in the Bering Straight Region of Northwestern Alaska, believes that a commercial winter fishery this year will negatively impact the stock’s health and supply few marketable crab. In addition to their decision not to purchase crab from the winter 2022 fishery, NSEDC and Norton Sound Seafood Products (NSSP) said that they will not be selling commercial crabbing gear or commercial quantities of bait. NSEDC plans on making a determination about how to approach the 2022 summer fishery in the next few weeks. “We are cautiously optimistic that a level of commercial harvest could be achieved while preserving crab for the coming years, both for reproduction and future harvest,” NSEDC concluded. “In essence, we believe any commercial harvest of this current cohort should be conservatively managed and spread out to achieve longer-term benefits for both the crab stock and all users who depend upon it.” https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1216884/NSEDC-Not-Purchasing-Crab-in-2022-Winter-Fishery-In-Effort-to-Preserve-Red-King-Crab-Stock FYI’s After less than a year of service, Ravn Alaska halts flights to Dillingham again KDLG by Isabelle Ross - January 14, 2022 The airline said it didn’t have enough passengers booking its three scheduled Anchorage flights each week. Alask Airlines will continue to operate daily flights to Anchorage. https://www.kdlg.org/business/2022-01-14/after-less-than-a-year-of-service-ravn-alaska-halts-flights-to-dillingham-again March 2022 Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting Update Pacific Fishery Management Council - January 18, 2022 The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council: This letter is an update regarding our plans for the March 2022 Council meeting. As the March Council meeting date approaches, we are continuing to monitor the COVID pandemic while making plans for a partial in-person setting. These plans were outlined in an earlier letter from Chairman, Gorelnik, and entail an in-person meeting of the Council, the Salmon Technical Team, the Salmon Advisory Subpanel, and in-person accommodations to facilitate Tribal advisors as requested. Appropriate precautions will be in place, such as testing and masking. We plan to have all other Management Teams, Advisory Subpanels, the Scientific and Statistical Committee, and the public participate in the meeting remotely. https://www.savingseafood.org/uncategorized/march-2022-pacific-fishery-management-council-meeting-update/ NFI President John Connelly Announces Planned 2023 Retirement NFI Media - January 18, 2022 The Association’s Board of Directors Has Impaneled a Search Committee Orlando, FL – January 18, 2022 – John Connelly discussed with the NFI Board of Directors today his intention to retire from NFI in February 2023. He has served as NFI President since February 2003. https://aboutseafood.com/press_release/nfi-president-john-connelly-announces-planned-2023-retirement/ Updated List: Exhibitors Begin Pulling Out of 2022 Seafood Expo North America Show Urner Barry by Amanda Buckle - January 13, 2022 Updated 1/19/22 at 6:20 a.m. - Arctic Fisheries confirmed that they have not renewed as exhibitors of the show. It’s been two years since COVID-19 began to wreak havoc on the world. Events were canceled, stay at home orders were put in place, and toilet paper disappeared from the shelves. Fortunately in the span of two years we’ve been able to work our way towards a “new normal” that includes vaccinations, masks, and an overwhelming supply of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. But despite the best efforts to stop the spread of the virus, new variants continue to pop up. The latest variant to emerge is Omicron, causing a spike in COVID cases across the globe. While everyone would like to return to the normalcy of pre-COVID days, the reality is we’re just not there yet. And in the seafood industry, that’s become evident by the recent announcements from companies deciding to pull out of Seafood Expo North America. Seafood Expo North America, also known as the Boston Seafood Show, is held in March every year. However, in 2020 the event was postponed (and ultimately canceled) just two weeks before it was set to take place. The decision came from the show organizers, Diversified Communications, after a handful of exhibiting companies began to withdraw due to concerns surrounding the virus. The event was canceled again in 2021. Now, two years, later Diversified Communications is ready to bring Seafood Expo North America back to Boston. But is the seafood industry ready to attend? Diversified Communications has been very open about the health and safety protocols they are taking. But despite all the information being made available, some companies are still finding the event too risky. As SeafoodNews reported earlier this week, Peter Pan Seafood became the first company to publicly pull out of the Boston Seafood Show. "With COVID-19 cases rising, we agree that it is irresponsible to attend the seafood show in Boston this year," said Chief Growth Officer Rodger May. "This is not an easy decision and it's one we'll lose money on -- having already made meaningful investments to be at this year's event, while rolling out our new look and brand. For us, it boils down to what we've been saying all along -- nothing is more important than the health and safety of our team, our partners and loved ones. Attending this show, while it would be good for business, is not worth putting our employees, partners or loved ones at risk." On Thursday Cermaq released a statement confirming their decision to also withdraw as an exhibitor at the 2022 event. “During this challenging period, our focus has been our customers, managing uncertainty, and being a reliable supplier,” the statement from Cermaq reads. “In the current situation we cannot risk that participation in Boston may have negative impact on our contingency and availability to supply our customers. The health of people always comes first…We look forward to a normal situation when we again can meet new and current customers and others at industry fairs.” Undercurrent News is reporting that Mowi, H&N Group and Harbor Seafood will also not be exhibiting at the event. Mowi executive Ola Brattvoll told the outlet that the decision stems from customer drop out, as well as health and safety concerns for their colleagues. Christine Ngo, executive vice president at H&N Group, told Undercurrent that the company has not renewed since pulling out of the 2020 show. Meanwhile, Harbor Seafood president Christian Limberg said that part of his decision not to exhibit stems from the “expense of exhibiting versus the potential value.” Limberg said that while Harbor Seafood won’t be exhibiting, he and other employees will still be in attendance. International Seafood Ventures also confirmed on Thursday that they will not be attending Seafood Expo North America. "We were looking for to having those long-awaited face to face meetings at our booth but with the new variants still on the rise, we think it is prudent to, unfortunately, not attend the 2022 show," ISV President Stuart Kozloff said in a statement. "The health and safety of our employees, customers, and strategic trading partners is our top priority. We look forward to holding our 2022 planning meeting with our key customers and suppliers using the various video online meeting platforms in the safety of our respective offices." On Wednesday, one day after the announcement from Peter Pan Seafood, Diversified Communications released a press release saying that Seafood Expo North America “will take place as planned” in March. “We are excited to be back in-person in Boston to reconvene seafood professionals looking to do business in the North American market,” said Wynter Courmont, Event Director at Diversified Communications. “Year over year, industry suppliers and buyers have valued the business opportunities at the event, and this year will be no exception.” Rob O’Sullivan, VP of Sales in the Americas for Clearwater Seafoods, and Brenden Beck, the EVP of Sales and Marketing at Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, both provided quotes to be included in Diversified’s press release, seemingly signifying that both Clearwater Seafoods and Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods are committed to attending the show in some sort of capacity. The press release also states that key buyers from retail and foodservice companies, including “Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Avendra, Bloomin’ Brands, Costco, Captain D’s, Darden, Foodbuy, McDonald’s, PFG, Publix, Red Lobster, Stop & Shop, Sysco, Target, Wegmans, Whole Foods and many more,” have already registered to attend. According to Diversified, “taking into consideration recent cancellations,” the event covers 210,900 square feet of exhibit space. “To put it into perspective, this represents 82 percent of the event’s largest edition which nearly filled the entire exhibit floor,” added Courmont. “While we have received some cancellations, many from companies in countries facing long quarantine restrictions, our event is substantial and represents a very valuable supplier base. We continue to receive interest from the industry and new exhibitors are joining the event daily. As companies continue to submit their listing information, more exhibitors will be added to the website. The event will have a comprehensive representation of the industry supply chain.” As of Thursday, January 13, Diversified Communications has 419 exhibitors listed on their website. However, that list still includes Cermaq and Mowi. An updated list (in alphabetical order) of all the companies who have publicly stated that they will not be exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America in 2022 can be found below: -Arctic Fisheries Ltd. -Cermaq -H&N Group -Harbor Seafood -International Seafood Ventures -Mowi -Peter Pan Seafood https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1216900/Analysis-Vaccine-Mandate-or-Not-US-Canada-Cross-Border-Freight-Rates-Poised-to-Rise 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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