Saving Seafood

Pandemic accelerates major shifts in China’s seafood marketplace

April 27, 2021 — Long a proponent of sourcing more seafood from overseas, China’s central government has shifted its strategy in response to pressures related to COVID-19.

China continues to encourage seafood imports, which have long been seen as a means of dampening consumer price inflation. Recently, China reduced the tariff on frozen cod from 7 percent to 2 percent, while duties on ribbonfish, frozen crab, and frozen small shrimp were also reduced from 7 percent to 5 percent. The rate on live or fresh abalone imports dropped from 10 percent to 7 percent. The biggest cut was for “fertilized fish eggs,” which went from 12 to zero percent. Chinese import taxes for most seafood range from 5 percent to 7 percent, while VAT is charged at 9 percent.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

US importer recalls Chinese catfish product

April 26, 2021 — Super World Trading is recalling more than 26,000 pounds of a ready-to-eat catfish product from China.

The Brooklyn, New York-based company is recalling the catfish-containing “Golden Spoon Hot Pot Fish Chips” from the People’s Republic of China, since China is ineligible to export processed siluriformes products to the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a press release.

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Biden’s early days show new tack on trade, but little chance of China tariff removal

April 23, 2021 — As the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden approaches its one-hundredth day in charge, its early actions are laying the groundwork for the country’s stance on trade.

Speaking during a National Fisheries Institute Global Seafood Market Conference webinar covering the first 100 days of the Biden administration, NFI Vice President for Government Affairs Robert DeHaan predicted the new administration will likely take a different tack than that of former U.S. President Donald Trump. SeafoodSource is providing exclusive coverage of the GSMC webinar series, which will be providing market-focused content throughout 2021.

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Milestone reached as China assigns first on-board observers to distant-water fishing vessel

April 19, 2021 — Five Chinese government-appointed observers have departed a Chinese port onboard a reefer, in what is potentially a major development for China’s governance of its distant-water fleet.

The five observers, appointed by China’s Agriculture Ministry, are the first such observers to travel on Chinese fishing vessels, according to the ministry. They are now travelling on the transport ship to the Pacific and Indian oceans to ensure that “no illegal catches” are taken, according to a statement from the ministry.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

ALASKA: Kodiak Fisheries Adjust to Tariffs, Pandemic and Climate Change

April 15, 2021 — For the first time in 20 years, China is not a viable market for U.S. seafood suppliers due to increased tariffs between the two countries, as well as complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This uncertainty has raised concerns among Kodiak processors, harvesters and industry leaders.

In an effort to keep processors working, the trawl industry had requested that the rockfish season begin on April 1, one month earlier than is typically authorized.

Read the full story at Seafood News

China’s dietary advisory body calls for more seafood consumption to improve health

April 14, 2021 — China’s national dietary advisory body has suggested the country needs to eat more seafood in order to reduce chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, which are on the rise.

In its annual report on national dietary problems, the China Nutrition Society, a research group attached to the ministry of civil affairs, said the national average daily intake of seafood of 24.3 grams was low by international standards and should rise to 40 grams. It also called for a reduction in sodium and sugar intake, which it blames for a rise in diabetes and coronary artery disease in China.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Swelling demand intensifying challenges facing China’s seafood processors

April 13, 2021 — Chinese processing factories are suffering “a lot” from rising costs related to heightened inspections and delays on seafood being shipped into China, according to a supplier of processing equipment to the industry.

Wang Yunfeng, the CEO and founder of Shanghai AUS Food Technology Co, which imports fish processing machines from Europe to China, said those costs are exacerbating troubles already faced by the industry, which is in the midst of a seismic shift from production for export to feeding domestic demand for seafood.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

China Blue Joins GSSI

April 7, 2021 — The following was released by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative:

The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative is pleased to announce China Blue Sustainability Institute has joined GSSI as an Affiliated Partner.

China Blue is a Chinese NGO that works in close collaboration with Chinese academia, government, and industry for Chinese fishery and aquaculture’s transformation towards sustainability.

“China is an important player that no one would ignore when talking about business sustainability. To tackle the sustainability challenges for China’s seafood industry of high diversity and complexity, we need more creative technology and systematic solutions. We believe working with GSSI is a strategic choice for China Blue to align the local efforts with global initiatives”, said Han Han, Founder and Executive Director, China Blue Sustainability Institute.

Read the full release here

Leaked US intelligence document calls for support of South American countries’ fight against Chinese IUU

April 1, 2021 — A leaked document originating from the Office of Intelligence and Analysis – part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – has recommended the creation of a multilateral coalition with South American nations led by the U.S. to challenge China’s illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and trade practices.

The document was obtained by news service Axios and revealed in an article published 23 March.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

WHO, USDA reports refute Chinese concerns over COVID-19 traveling via cold chain

March 30, 2021 — A World Health Organization (WHO) team studying the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak has released a report saying its spread to humans from the packaging of “cold-chain” food products is possible, but not likely.

According to the Associated Press, which obtained an advanced copy of the report, the WHO team – working in conjunction with Chinese researchers – determined COVID-19 can travel through the cold chain, but that the risk of transmission is much lower than through human-to-human transfer.

Read the full story at Seafood Source