Alaska/Pacific Coast
Study reveals changes in Commercial Fisheries over three decades Webcenter11 by Julie Swisher - April 26, 2019 FAIRBANKS, Alaska - As Alaska gears up for the upcoming fishing season, a new study “reels” in some changes that the fishing industry has encountered over the years. https://www.webcenter11.com/content/news/Study-reveals-changes-in-Commercial-Fisheries-over-three-decades-509152221.html Togiak herring fishery opens, breaking record for earliest start KDLG by Isabelle Ross - April 26, 2019 Commercial fishing for purse seiners opened at 5 p.m. on April 16, beating the previous April 17 record set in 2016 by one day. http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/article/1917togiak_herring_fishery_opens_breaking_record The Alaska Department of Fish and Game predicts a big jump in salmon numbers for this year KTUU by Kristen Durand - April 26, 2019 Good news for anglers in Alaska looking to catch salmon this year — The Alaska Department of Fish and game predicts a big jump in salmon numbers over those harvested last year. https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/The-Alaska-Department-of-Fish-and-Game-predicts-a-big-jump-in-salmon-predictions-for-this-year-509127811.html International China Lures Global Salmon Suppliers with Rosy Market Prospects SeafoodNews.com by Amy Zhong - April 29, 2019 As statistics show, prices of salmon imported to China have exceeded 90 yuan ($13.37 USD) per kg in China’s first tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in mid-April. Stocked salmon have been mostly sold out there, while some foreign suppliers have halted operation temporarily to celebrate Easter. Most new salmon arrivals in China’s wholesale markets are from Chile and Scotland, according to media reports, while there is not a large supply of Norwegian salmon products until April 26. Higher cost is another reason for the recent price increase. For example, the cost has exceeded $11 per kg USD for Norwegian salmon and $10 per kg USD for Chilean ones. Local importers and distributors are trapped with wholesale prices close to or even lower than their costs. But salmon continue to flood into China in large quantities to meet local demand. This is great news for salmon suppliers worldwide and some of them have decided to build branches in the huge market. Mowi, for instance, has built a processing plant in Shanghai, which is said to specialize in instant salmon food products. Mowi has placed greater importance on the Chinese market since the beginning of this year. It has chosen to build its sixth Asian plant in Shanghai to better develop that market. And in addition to signing cooperation agreements with high-end restaurants in China, the giant also plans to open 2,000 stores by 2025 to promote instant salmon products to foodies there. According to its plan, the annual revenue is expected to reach $600 million USD by then. Meanwhile, it is reported to be spending more efforts developing online sales channels to reach more consumers. China’s distributors have always shown a preference to large-sized salmon, those greater than 6 kg each, which poses a challenge to foreign suppliers in their entry to the market. But sizes won’t matter that much once they are able to sell salmon through retail channels, according to Brattvoll, a Mowi representative. Apart from great demand, foreign suppliers also need to learn about other consumption habits for greater market shares. First, obvious regional differences in its consumption exist. China is among the most important seafood market worldwide, and its seafood imports reached $11.91 billion USD in 2018. But only 42% of locals eat seafood frequently, while seafood consumption is quite rare for the remaining ones. Most consumers are from coastal regions, and those in inland regions with lower incomes have much less access. Second, seafood consumption there is found to be seasonal and can be heavily influenced by holidays. For example, Chinese are much more likely to buy seafood for themselves or as gifts to friends during such festivals as the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festivals. And autumn is believed to a good season for eating seafood. The integration of online and offline sales channels also helps boost seafood sales there. Branded products are said to win over local consumers more easily, and most major seafood companies in China have opened virtual sales channels and are working hard to strengthen customer loyalty through online and offline channels. Foreign commodities used to inherently have a competitive edge in China, but now things have started to change. Consumers are starting to place more importance on qualities than places of origin. And with higher incomes, they are more willing to pay for the price differences of tasty and quality seafood. It is not that easy for foreign seafood suppliers to establish themselves in the fierce competition of the Asian market, but it is very rewarding. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1139632/China-Lures-Global-Salmon-Suppliers-with-Rosy-Market-Prospects Environment/Science Scientists search for genetic code behind herring spawn KCAW by Enrique Pérez de la Rosa - April 23, 2019 All hands are on deck at Sitka Tribe of Alaska when herring spawn. Every year, employees and volunteers from across a variety of departments drop their regular responsibilities to set hemlock branches and collect as many herring eggs as possible. https://www.kcaw.org/2019/04/23/scientists-search-for-genetic-code-behind-herring-spawn/ Patagonia, Whole Foods, and others speak out against Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay Seafood Source by Brian Hagenbuch - April 26, 2019 A coalition of more than 200 businesses that includes Patagonia, Hy-Vee, Whole Foods, and PCC Markets drafted a letter this week to speak out against Pebble Mine, a proposed open-pit copper, gold, and molybdenum mine at the headwaters of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/patagonia-whole-foods-and-others-speak-out-against-pebble-mine-in-bristol-bay Federal Register Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/29/2019 NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2019 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/29/2019-08545/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-greenland-turbot-in-the-aleutian-islands-subarea
Ann Owens Pacific Seafood Processors Association Office Manager 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: pspafish@gmail.com; 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. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. *Inclusion of a news article, report, or other document in this email does not imply PSPA support or endorsement of the information or opinion expressed in the document.