Alaska Fishing Updates for January 2020

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch –

There’s lots of fishing going on across Alaska and more to come in the winter line up.

Cod and a mix of groundfish kicked off the year on January 1 in the Bering Sea and in many parts of the Gulf.  Boats also are targeting black rockfish in Southeast, the westward region of Kodiak, Chignik and the Alaska Peninsula and along the Aleutians.

Lingcod also is open in Southeast. Divers there have pretty much wrapped up a 2 million pound sea cucumber fishery but...

LISTEN: Alaska Cod Fishery Update; GE Salmon Label; Charlie the Tuna Doll and More

This week on the SeafoodNews podcast hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione talk about the Alaska cod fishery; the Dungeness crab season opening; genetically engineered salmon; and Charlie the Tuna's Funko Pop! doll. Plus, find out what's going on in the octopus, pollock and salmon markets.

This episode is brought to you by COMTELL, which will be receiving a complete redesign in 2020. Subscribers who utilize COMTELL to track market quotations, analyze trends and stay on top of key industry news will see a host of...

Russian Pollock Market Continues Move Toward Consolidation

Poronay, a Russian fish company based in the Sakhalin region, aims to become one of the leading fish and seafood producers in the domestic market in years to come, according to some market sources and local analysts.

For this purpose, the owners of the company recently closed a deal for the acquisition of local rival Everon. Local businessmen Efim Malkin and Irina Panchenko, reportedly affiliated with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, negotiated the deal.

The estimated at USD $330 million acquisition will allow Poronaya to increase the...

Russia Plans to Replace Chinese Fish Processors in US Pollock Fillets Market in Future

Russia plans to replace Chinese fish processors in the US pollock fillets market in years to come, mainly due to the ongoing US-China trade wars and the overall stagnation of fish processing industry in China, according to recent statements, made by Petr Savchuk, deputy head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo). 

Savchuk believes the current trade war with the US and the introduction of customs duties negatively affect the level of competitiveness of Chinese fish products in global market.

Petr Savchuk comments...

Russian Fish Producers to Raise Prices to Offset Growing Fuel, Tax Costs

Leading Russian fish and seafood producers have announced their plans for a significant increase of prices for their product ranges, due to the growth of production costs and the additional pressure from the state, according to recent statements by fishermen and analysts.

The forthcoming introduction of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships will result in the increase of fuel prices in Russia by at least 20%, they said. In addition, tax levies for the catch of fish and seafood in Russia will...

Russian Government Stays With Historical Participation for Distribution of Fish Quotas

The Russian federal government has rejected a proposal to distribute fish quotas via auctions instead of on the basis of historical participation in the fishery, according to recent statements an official spokesman of the press-service of the state and industry’s analysts.

Some domestic fishermen and state officials, including the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service, earlier pushed the idea to distribute fish to domestic producers via auction, replacing distribution based on history. The FAS said this scheme would have created conditions for the attraction of additional revenue...

Fortune, American Seafoods Launch New Wild Alaska Pollock Products

American Seafoods, the world’s largest at-sea processor of Wild Alaska pollock, teamed up with Fortune to launch three new Wild Alaska Pollock products.

The companies announced the release of Perfect Pollock Portions, in a 3.8 or 5.1 oz. variety and Wild Alaska Pollock loins.

The new offerings should appeal to every level of at-home cook. Pollock can be thrown in the oven, tossed on the grill, or prepared in several other ways. American Seafoods highlighted the versatility of pollock in many recipes...

The Winding Glass: The Trade-War No One Wins

[The Winding Glass is a weekly analysis and opinion column from SeafoodNews Founder John Sackton]

It’s Lucy and the football again, Charlie Brown. For those not familiar with the Charles Schulz comic, every time Lucy holds the football for Charlie Brown to kick, she pulls it away at the last minute, leaving him flat on his back. The joke is that Charlie Brown never stops hoping she won’t pull the ball away, and is always disappointed.

This is exactly the position most of the American business community is in regarding...

Sergey Darkin Aims to Become Leading Russian Fish Producer in the Years to Come

Sergey Darkin, a well-known Russian fishing tycoon and a former governor of Russia’s Primorsky Territory, plans to make the Nakhodka Base of Active Sea Fisheries (Nakhodkinskaya BAMR) subsidiary the largest fish processor in the Russian Far East within the next several years, according to some sources close to the businessman and some leading Russian analysts in the field of fish business.

As part of these plans, Nakhodkinskaya BAMR has recently launched deep-sea processing of squid, pollock and...

WATCH: Urner Barry Staff Tries Trident Seafoods' Wild Alaska Pollock Protein Noodles

Trident Seafoods' Protein Noodles, made from Wild Alaska Pollock, have been making headlines for the past few months. The new product, which is packed with 10g of protein, took home first place in the retail category and the Seattle's People's Choice category at the Symphony of Seafood, won the 2019 FABI Award at the National Restaurant Association Show, and was awarded funding from the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers to help get the product in North American club stores.

Well, after hearing all of the praise for the versatile noodles, Urner Barry's staff had to see what all the fuss was about...

Russian Government Concerned About Decline of Domestic Pollock Processing

The Russian government has sparked concern regarding the decline of pollock processing volumes in the domestic market. The increasing decline has been observed this year despite good figures of catch and stable domestic reserves, according to recent statements made by senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and Rosrybolovstvo.

Regarding pollock production, the catch volume in the Sea of Okhotsk region -- a major Russian production base -- amounted to about 840,000 tonnes during the first half of the pollock fishing season this year. That volume accounted for ...

VIDEO: Gulf of St. Lawrence Closures; Trident & Nancy Fuller; ASMI's Exec Director; Dead Zone

Join SeafoodNews Weekly Video hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they discuss the latest Gulf of St. Lawrence fishing closures; Trident's partnership with Food Network star Nancy Fuller; ASMI's new Executive Director; and the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone.

This week's episode was brought to you by Foreign Trade Data. Reduce uncertainty, minimize risk and uncover opportunities with the only website designed exclusively for the seafood import/ export community.

Vietnam May Overtake China as the World’s Largest Pollock Processor

China may lose its status as the world’s largest pollock processor in the future -- due primarily to the ever-growing competition from some other countries in the region. One of those countries is Vietnam, say some leading Russian and Korean analysts in the field of fishing.

As Kim Jong-Sok, professor of the South Korean Maritime Institute, said during the IX Far Eastern Russian-Korean Forum, Vietnam will be able to overtake China in terms of the annual volume of pollock processing already in...

Russia Considering Ban of Foreign-Owned Transport Ships in Domestic Waters

Russian ships specializing on the transportation of domestic fish harvests, could be transferred to domestic jurisdiction. The move is in response to earlier National Border Service demands to stop seafood transportation within the Russian territorial waters by foreign ships.

Last year the Russian Border Service, which is responsible to the Federal Security Service, demanded Russian fishing companies to stop using foreign-owned ships due to the issues of national security.

In accordance with the existing Russian federal law, “On Fisheries and the Conservation of...

Highly Ironic That Export Award from Gov’t Went to Maine Company Most Hurt by Seafood Tariffs

[The Winding Glass is an opinion and commentary column from SeafoodNews Founder and Publisher John Sackton.]

The danger of an escalating trade war with China for the seafood industry runs on two tracks.  For importers, especially of tilapia, the prospect of a permanent 25% tariff will force a major reshuffling in the category.  Unless the exemption on taxing products from the US processed in China is revoked, other items like pink salmon, twice frozen cod and pollock, and processed flatfish which are...

Russian Fish Harvests Level Off, Decrease After Years of Consecutive Growth

Russia may be faced with the decline of total fish catch this year after several years of consecutive growth, according to recent statements of some leading Russian fishermen and experts of Rosrybolovstvo.

According to official state statistics, as of May 8, the total fish catch in Russia amounted to 1.78 million tonnes, which is by 1.7% lower than same period last year.

The biggest decline is in the Northern Basin, where total catch amounted to only 179,800 tonnes, which is 33.46% below the 2018 level.

The decline was...

Russia Expects Significant Seafood Export Growth This Year

Fish exports from Russia are expected to reach $4.83 billion USD this year, up 12.7% on a year-on-year basis, according to recent predictions of the All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises (VARPE) President German Zverev and some other industry analysts.

In volume terms, exports will grow by about 3.1% and reach 1.832 million tons, one of the record figures for Russia for the last several years.

According to VARPE experts, Russian fish export value growth can mainly be explained by the strengthening of global prices for whitefish, particularly...

Symphony Winners: Cod Fry Kit, Kelp Salsa, Wild Pollock Wings

A fish and chips meal kit featuring Alaska cod was the favorite in the first round of the Alaska Symphony of Seafoods competition held last weekend at Pacific Marine Expo. The snappy kit by Alaskan Leader Seafoods won the Seattle People’s Choice Award. Keith Singleton heads the company’s value added division.

“It's really a lot of fun. You've got the French fries, the batter, the panko and the fish, which of course is Alaska cod.”

Alaskan Leader, which pitches itself as “America’s Cod Company” won the overall grand prize...

Pollock Parts Plug Body Holes, Clean Lead From Soil

Fish Radio likes to spotlight fish parts that go well beyond dinner plates and can add up to more value than fillets.

Pollock, for example, Alaska’s largest fishery produces millions of pounds of fish sticks, surimi and roe – but other pollock parts are being used to seal holes in lung and blood vessels. 

Researchers at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have discovered that gelatin from pollock skins makes a sealant that is 12 times stronger than conventional uses.

A big plus is the fish gelatin remains liquid at room...

Putin Launches Operations of Gidrostroy’s New Plant on Shikotan

At the Far East Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin, alongside, Gidrostroy’s founder and chairman Alexander Verkhovskiy, remotely launched operations for Gidrostroy’s new fish plant on September 4.

The plant located on Shikotan Island in the northern Pacific Ocean will process pollock and pelagic fish. This new plant will further increase Gidrostroy’s impressive production in the country. Annually, the company produces 300 thousand tons of fish, accounting for 30 percent of the total catch in the Sakhalin region.

According to the Federal Agency of Russia for Fisheries...

GAPP Seeking Wild Alaska Pollock Surimi, Roe Proposals for 3rd Round of Partnership Funding

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) is once again seeking out companies that have an innovative new product or channel that they are seeking to place Wild Alaska Pollock in.

Earlier this year the GAPP Board of Directors approved $1 million in funding for the second round of the North American Partnership Program. Now, the Association is searching for proposals for the third round of funding.

"We are thrilled to be able to partner with even more companies to continue to...

Alaska Fishing Updates for August 2019

Alaska’s salmon catches range from the ridiculous at places like Southeast and Chignik – to the sublime at Bristol Bay.

The statewide harvest by yesterday was nearing 105 million salmon, more than half  - 53 million – are sockeyes. Of that, 43 million of the reds are from Bristol Bay, the second largest catch in its history. Most processors have now posted a base price of $1.35 for Bay sockeyes, not including nice bonuses for chilling, bleeding and more.

The statewide pink catch so far has just topped 40 million...

Russia Plans Production Increases, Diversification of Seafood Exports this Year

Russia plans a significant increase and diversification of its fish and seafood exports this year, paying a particular attention to some far-abroad nations, according to recent statements of some leading Russian fishermen and senior officials of the Russian Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).

According to latest data provided by Rosrybolovstvo, fish exports out of Russia over the past five years have increased by 400,000 tonnes in volume and $1.8 billion USD in value. Traditionally, the biggest exports were observed in frozen fish, such as pollock and...

Despite Higher Tariffs, the U.S. May Still Turn to China for Processed Seafood

According to American media, the country’s plan to raise tariffs on Chinese commodities has taken a toll on bilateral trading and also its seafood industry. Some industry participants in the U.S. are worried and have called on the government to stop the action that is expected to increase the costs of local processed seafood.

Within the past two decades, China has been playing a leading role in processing seafood. Large quantities of seafood like fish have been sent from the U.S. to China for processing...

UrnerBarry's Summer 2019 Reporter Issue Released; Read It Online For Free Now

A brand-new issue of UrnerBarry's Reporter is out now! The Summer 2019 issue is the annual market analysis edition, and just like previous years, the magazine is jam-packed with need-to-know information.

On the seafood side of things check out analysis pieces on the….

Shrimp Market: U.S. imports record volume of shrimp in 2018, prices feel pressure

Lobster Market: Life after the 25% Chinese tariff

King and Snow Crab Markets: King crab down 17% at retail; Unprecedented spread between...

The Winding Glass: We Need a New Magnuson Act to Deal with Climate Change Impacts on Fisheries

[The Winding Glass is an opinion and commentary column from SeafoodNews Founder and Publisher John Sackton.]

50 years ago fisheries were in crisis.  The prevailing international law allowed no national control of ocean activities beyond 12 miles.  

Similar fishing situations were occurring around other coastal nations. 

The key features of the Magnuson-Stevens Act passed in 1976 were regional councils,  the best available science, and to involve all stakeholders in the council and decision-making process.

Today we are facing a new crisis...

Trident Seafoods Partners with Food Network Star Nancy Fuller

Food Network star Nancy Fuller is the new brand ambassador for Trident's Louis Kemp brand Crab Delights.

Trident Seafoods announced the partnership with the star of "Farmhouse Rules" on Thursday, revealing that the move is part of their effort to connect "healthy and easy-to-prepare seafood with current food and lifestyle trends." And Fuller is wasting no time in making that connection. Those that visit the Louis Kemp website can find Fuller's 5-minute "Easy Breezy Crab Dip" recipe, or her "Red, White & BBQ Pizza" recipe...

How Much U.S. Seafood is Imported? New Paper Challenges Conventional Thinking

Story note: Max Mossler studied environmental perception & policy in grad school. He thinks a lot about how other people think about the planet. He is the managing editor at Sustainable Fisheries UW.

According to the latest science, 35-38% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is produced domestically, meaning 62-65% is imported.

The commonly quoted statistic that “90% of seafood consumed in the United States is imported” is out of date and should stop being cited. In this post, I explain the origins of the 90% myth...

Russia Facing Drop in Domestic Pollock Consumption in Near Future

Russia may be faced with a significant drop in the domestic consumption of pollock within the next several years, according to recent statements of some senior state officials from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and independent experts in the field of fishing. The forecast decrease is primarily due to the ever-growing prices for it in the local market.

In recent years, prices for pollock in Russia have significantly increased and currently continue to grow, despite the country being one of the world’s leading producer...

Trident Accepts FABI Award at National Restaurant Association Show for 10g Protein Noodles

Trident Seafoods has picked up yet another award for their new 10g Protein Noodles. Earlier this week John Salle, SVP of Marketing and Innovation at Trident Seafoods, accepted the National Restaurant Association Show's 2019 FABI Award on behalf of the company for their the 10g Protein Noodles, which are made from Wild Alaska Pollock.

Every year the National Restaurant Association Show honors the year's "most delicious, unique, and exciting food and beverage products that benefit restaurant operators and consumers." Trident was just one of the companies...