Saving Seafood

Cooke Aquaculture sends more boats to help flooded communities

April 26, 2019 — The following was released by Cooke Aquaculture:

Cooke Aquaculture has diverted three more boats and marine staff from its Charlotte County fish farming operations to help with flood relief efforts in Grand Bay-Westfield and the City of Saint John in New Brunswick.

This is in addition to the two boats the local, family-owned company already sent to the Village of Cambridge-Narrows on the Washademoak Lake this week. The motor boats are all 21-25 feet long, equipped with safety equipment and are run by trained Cooke Aquaculture operators accompanied by local first responders.

The New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) has advised the public that water levels have yet to reach their highest levels in a number of communities along the southern regions of the St. John River basin. And that residents living near the St. John River system should continue to exercise extreme caution and remain alert to rising water levels over the coming days.

“We encourage people to follow the Emergency Measures Organization advice to avoid boating, kayaking or other water activities this time of year as currents are strong and may carry debris,” said Joel Richardson, Vice President of Public Relations with Cooke Aquaculture. “In last years flood our boats retrieved everything from half-submerged building materials, gas cans, and tires to propane tanks from the water. People should stay away from the rivers and lakes until it is safer.”

Omega Protein: New York menhaden law a ‘feel good’ for environmentalists

April 26, 2019 — Omega Protein says it won’t be hurt by a new law that blocks it from fishing for menhaden in New York state waters in order to preserve the forage fish for whales and other wildlife because it never goes there.

Rather, it’s “feel-good legislation for the environmental community, but it will have zero impact on the company’s operations”, commented Ben Landry, director of public affairs for the Houston, Texas-based division of Canada’s Cooke, when called by Undercurrent News Tuesday for a response.

The legislation passed unanimously, 61-0, by New York’s Senate in February (companion bills S. 2317 and A. 2571) went into effect immediately upon being signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday. The new law, which was sponsored by Democratic senator Todd Kaminsky and assembly member Steve Englebright, prohibits the taking of menhaden with the use of purse seine nets within three miles of the state’s coast.

Because menhaden are sensitive to oxygen levels in the water and can die off by the thousands when large schools become too confined in one area during hot weather, the law allows the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue a temporary order to allow purse seiners to reduce the population.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Cooke Inc. Acquires All Seas Wholesale, Inc.

March 19, 2019 — The following was released by Cooke Inc:

Cooke Inc. (“Cooke”), a New Brunswick company and parent of Cooke Aquaculture Inc., has acquired All Seas Wholesale, Inc. of California, a distributor of up to forty species of fresh seafood, live shellfish, and frozen seafood products. The transaction was completed in mid-February of this year.

For 33 years, All Seas Wholesale, Inc. has been proudly servicing the San Francisco Bay area’s hotels, country clubs, airline & event caterers, upscale retail markets, and restaurants as a same day purveyor of the finest quality seafoods.

“Purchasing All Seas allows us to continue to strengthen our vertical integration and distribute our True North Seafood products to additional markets,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke Inc. “All Seas prides itself on being able to receive an order early in the morning and have it delivered fresh to the customer to serve on their lunch menu that same day, and that fits very well with our drive for high standards in both top quality products and customer satisfaction.”

“We are thrilled to have joined the Cooke family of companies,” said Peggy Howse, General Manager, All Seas Wholesale. “Cooke is respected globally for delivering delicious, sustainable seafood products and now All Seas Wholesale will be taken to the next level serving customers.”

“95% of All Seas Wholesale employees have been with the company for over 10 years,” added Howse. “Our devoted professionals have united with the top seafood team dedicated to offering freshest seafood imaginable.”

The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed as both companies are private family-owned businesses.

Cooke Inc. is showcasing it’s fresh, sustainable True North Seafood Company branded products this week in Boston, MA, at Seafood Expo North America, in booths 1133 & 1233.

Read the full release here

Cooke strikes again, buys California distributor

March 19, 2019 — Acquisitive seafood group Cooke has snapped up a distributor based on the US West Coast, the company confirmed to Undercurrent Newsduring the Boston seafood show.

Cooke confirmed a deal for All Seas Wholesale of San Francisco, California, having bought JC Seafood, an importer based in Florida, last year. The news of the deal comes days after Cooke confirmed the acquisition of shrimp farmer and processor Farallon Aquaculture de Nicaragua, after also buying Seajoy Group earlier this year.

Undercurrent sources said the deal is done and Peggy Howse, general manager of All Seas, was on the Cooke booth at the Boston show. A spokesman for Cooke then confirmed this.

“I can confirm with you that Cooke Inc. acquired All Seas Wholesale of San Francisco, CA, in mid-February of this year,” said Joel Richardson, vice president of public relations with New Brunswick, Canada-based Cooke, in a statement sent to Undercurrent.

“We are thrilled to have joined the Cooke family of companies,” said Howse, in the statement. “Cooke is respected globally for delivering delicious, sustainable seafood products and now All Seas Wholesale will be taken to the next level serving customers.”

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Cooke Aquaculture One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies

March 8, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — Cooke Aquaculture has reason to celebrate. For the 14th year in a row the family-owned and operated company has been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies.

“Serving our customers while focusing on environmental stewardship remains at the forefront of our sustainable growth strategy,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke Aquaculture Inc. “Regardless of what country we operate in or sell to, we understand that our relationship with the environment is vital to our business and to producing top quality seafood. We view this as a significant component of our corporate social responsibility. There is always room for improvement – and we continue to try new techniques, implement new practices and test new equipment. We know the company depends on a healthy marine environment for growing and harvesting seafood.”

Applicants are evaluated by an independent judging panel that consists of representatives from program sponsors, as well as special guest judges. Winners of the Best Managed program award are “amongst the best-in-class of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues over $15 million demonstrating strategy, capability and commitment to achieve sustainable growth.”

“Best Managed companies are elevating Canada’s place on the world-stage,” said Lorrie King, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “By broadening their network, and thinking globally, the Best Managed program is honoring these winners for their achievements in Canadian business, and growing influence worldwide.”

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Cooke Inc. branches into shrimp production with Seajoy acquisition

February 4, 2019 — Cooke Inc. announced on 1 February it has finalized its acquisition of Seajoy Seafood Corporation, one of Latin America’s largest producers of farmed shrimp, with operations in Honduras and Nicaragua.

SeafoodSource previously reported on the acquisition, which was completed in November 2018, but the formal announcement came after the companies finalized the details of the transaction.

“The acquisition of Seajoy is an important element in our focus on product diversification to meet our customers’ needs,” Cooke CEO Glenn Cooke said in a press release. “Seajoy is a world-leading shrimp producer utilizing the highest quality and food safety standards and newest available technology. This aligns perfectly with our existing aquaculture and wild seafood fishery divisions. We feel Seajoy’s entrepreneurial drive, industry knowledge and care for their communities has made them successful and a big reason why we feel this is an incredible cultural fit.”

The purchase gives Cooke Inc., the parent company of Black Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada-based Cooke Aquaculture, an avenue to expand its product repertoire to include shrimp. Seajoy is one of the largest vertically integrated, premium shrimp farms in Latin America, with a focus on producing value-added and organic Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and selling to customers in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Washington taking comment on permits for Atlantic salmon fish farms

January 4, 2019 — The state Department of Ecology is taking comment now on permits for four Cooke Aquaculture Atlantic salmon farms — three in Kitsap County and one in Skagit Bay.

Farming Atlantic salmon in net pens is officially banned from Puget Sound starting in 2022.

Ecology is using the investigation from the 2017 Cypress Island net pen collapse to mandate more protective permit requirements.

Cooke Aquaculture, the only company farming Atlantic salmon in Washington state, lost its lease in Port Angeles in 2017.

Ecology is accepting comments on the permit through Feb. 25 and will make a final determination after reviewing them.

Read the full story at the Peninsula Daily News

MSC grants more time to menhaden fishery audit, but might not be needed

November 20, 2018 — The Marine Stewardship Council has granted auditors an extra three months – until March 6 — to finish their final report on whether to grant certification to the menhaden fishery on the Atlantic coast of the United States.

However, Ben Landry, public affairs specialist for Houston, Texas-based Omega Protein, the US’ largest harvester of menhaden and a division of the Cooke group of seafood companies, said he doesn’t think the extra cushion will be needed as the audit is expected to be wrapped up within weeks.

By certifying both the menhaden fisheries on the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, MSC looks to bolster its presence in the US significantly. Combined, the two fisheries account for nearly 800,000 metric ton of fish — about 11% of all of the wild-caught fish in the US – second only to the already MSC-certified Alaskan pollock fishery, responsible for 1.5 billion metric tons, or 30%, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

According to assessment reports by third-party assessors and NOAA data, roughly 70% of US landings by volume have been certified by MSC, including Alaskan pollock, and another 16% are currently under review, including the two menhaden fisheries, an MSC official told Undercurrent.

The menhaden fisheries are also North America’s largest source of fish for meal and oil, providing Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada-based Cooke with a large source of omega-3-enriched feed for its considerable salmon aquaculture operations. Cooke completed its acquisition of Omega Protein almost exactly one year ago.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

 

Omega Protein disputes article ‘attacking’ menhaden fishing

October 22, 2018 — US menhaden harvester Omega Protein has disputed the accuracy of recent statements made by a conservation group that wants to end commercial fishing of the species.

Paul Eidman of the group Menhaden Defenders recently wrote an essay, “Trouble comes to town”,  describing a fishing trip that an Omega vessel recently took to New Jersey and New York waters. That trip, Eidman asserted, harvested menhaden that otherwise would have been consumed by whales.

“This event sparked an outpouring of renewed interest in menhaden, and now local folks want to stop the harvest completely since Omega Protein is removing all of the whales’ food from the area,” Eidman wrote.

The company wrote in a Oct. 18 press release that all of its fishing, including the recent trip up north from its usual more southerly fishing grounds, complies with state and federal regulations and that Eidman’s piece got “key facts wrong”.

A limit on menhaden fishing was established by the Atlantic States Fisheries Management Council and Omega is in compliance with this limit, the company, which is owned by Canada’s Cooke Aquaculture, said.

“This limit ensures that the menhaden fishery is not taking a harmful amount of fish from whales’ diets. Last year, an analysis  using data from the 2017 Atlantic menhaden stock assessment found that current management leaves 92% of menhaden in the water to fulfill their role in the ecosystem,” the company said.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Omega Protein close to netting MSC for menhaden

October 18, 2018 — The menhaden fisheries on both the Atlantic coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico — North America’s largest source of fish for meal and oil – are within months of gaining Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, and Cooke Aquaculture is in a prime position to take advantage.

The Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada-based seafood giant recently acquired Omega Protein, the largest harvester of menhaden in both fisheries, and could, if it wanted, begin promoting at least some of its farmed salmon products as being fed a diet made from MSC-certified ingredients.

But it doesn’t, and it won’t.

“At this time, this is not our intention as we use other marine ingredients that come from various sustainably managed fisheries,” Joel Richardson, a Cooke spokesperson, told Undercurrent News in an email.

The Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) fishery — which landed 164,880 metric tons of fish in 2016, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data — has received the required set of scores from independent MSC auditor SAI Global and all of the necessary signatures by state authorities and others, Ben Landry, Omega Protein’s public affairs specialist, told Undercurrent News this week.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News