April 16, 2020 — The COVID-19 pandemic has had a monumental impact on global seafood trade.
Fishing fleets are tied up and fish farmers are facing an ever-increasing biomass in their cages, ponds, and tanks. Transport links all over the world have been severed, restaurants have closed, and supermarkets have either abandoned or reduced their fresh seafood offerings.
April 16, 2020 — As fisheries councils in the U.S. and abroad begin relaxing observer requirements in order to meet safety needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple NGOs have issued a joint statement cautioning against those relaxed requirements becoming permanent.
The letter comes as the National Marine Fisheries Service announced that it is suspending West Coast observer coverage, in response to a recommendation made by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The council suggested in a letter to the NMFS that the waiver could “match the duration of ‘shelter-at-home’ or similar orders by the governors of Washington, Oregon, and/or California.”
April 16, 2020 — The following was released by Diversified Communications:
Diversified Communications, organizer of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the world’s largest seafood event, has reluctantly determined that the continued and expanding magnitude of the public health and safety issues caused by COVID-19 worldwide now requires the cancellation of the 2020 edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global. The event had previously been postponed due to COVID-19.
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global was originally scheduled for 21-23 April 2020 at the Brussels Expo in Belgium. When we announced the postponement of the 2020 event, we had expected to reschedule later this year. Given the recent announcement that the limitation on large gatherings in Brussels has been extended through 31 August 2020 and the ongoing impacts of COVID–19, including global travel restrictions, and the broad need to practice physical distancing, we have concluded it is impossible to hold the event. The complexities of organizing a safe, global, seafood event drawing seafood professionals from more than 158 countries in the midst of a pandemic pose too many insurmountable hurdles. We are disappointed to concede that hosting a 2020 edition of the event is infeasible.
If you purchased a registration ticket to attend the 2020 edition in April, your registration to the exhibit hall will automatically be applied to the 2021 edition in Barcelona, Spain. Once the 2021 registration is opened later this fall, you will receive communications from us about your rolled over registration. If you have not registered for the April 2020 edition, you will receive communications from us as soon as the registration for the 2021 event opens.
Looking ahead: mark your calendar for 2021!
While we all continue to navigate this difficult situation, the Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global team is engaged in intensive planning for the next edition, scheduled for 27-29 April 2021, in our beautiful new location, Fira Barcelona Gran Via, in Barcelona, Spain.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us at info-global@seafoodexpo.com if you have any questions.
We wish you all good health and look forward to seeing you in Barcelona in 2021.
April 16, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council, which met April 14-15, 2020 exclusively by webinar for the first time in the Council’s history, confronted several issues challenging the groundfish industry during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Council discussed mid-range planning at the start of its meeting. Given ongoing travel restrictions and limitations on public gatherings due to COVID-19, the Council voted to postpone final action on Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23. The amendment is being developed to improve catch accounting in the fishery while minimizing costs to industry but still maximizing the value of the data that’s collected.
April 16, 2020 — New York City is seeking philanthropic support for its food distributors, raising some concerns about the viability of the merchants that sell fruit, vegetables and meat to groceries and bodegas in the epicenter of the United States coronavirus epidemic.
Food distributors are facing such “a significant liquidity issue,” that City Hall has asked the philanthropic and financial sectors to create a fund to support the merchants, according to a confidential memo acquired by POLITICO. While philanthropic dollars have been devoted to meals for the poor and vulnerable, the city is asking for donations to bolster a private industry crucial to the food supply of more than 8.6 million people.
“We’re completely dependent on the food distribution network,” said Kathryn Garcia, who serves as both the city’s Covid-19 food czar and its sanitation commissioner, in an interview Wednesday. “That’s how we eat. We need them to be resilient. We need them to be healthy.”
April 15, 2020 — The following notice was released by NOAA. Earlier today, the PFMC recommended suspending West Coast observer coverage. In March, NOAA suspended observer requirements in the Northeast.
As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and consistent with the authority provided under the Emergency Rule signed on March 24, 2020 (Available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/noaa-fisheries-issues-emergency-action-waive-observer- coverage-case-case-basis), NOAA Fisheries is temporarily waiving the requirement for commercial fishing vessels and first receivers in west coast fisheries to carry a fishery observer or have a catch monitor. The waiver will be in effect beginning on April 16, 2020 for 14 calendar days. This waiver applies to the following requirements:
This waiver does not apply to trips that are currently underway at sea with an observer onboard or to electronic monitoring (EM) requirements. For vessels using electronic monitoring, this waiver applies to human observers only.
This action is consistent with the Emergency Rule authority to grant waivers for observer requirements under certain circumstances. NOAA Fisheries is granting this limited duration waiver for observer coverage for vessels and processors in west coast fleets based on new social control guidance issued by west coast observer and catch monitor providers. West coast observer and catch monitor service providers (Alaskan Observers Inc., Saltwater Inc. Techsea International Inc., Frank Orth and Associates, and Tenera Environmental) have notified us that they intend to immediately implement policies to address health and safety concerns of the fishing industry and observers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers intend to implement a policy instituting a 1-to-1 ratio of observers and catch monitors with vessels and plants, and 14-day self-isolation of observers/catch monitors before starting their deployment with their assigned vessel/plant. Providers have requested that NOAA Fisheries temporarily waive coverage requirements in west coast fleets to allow observers/catch monitors time to complete the 14-day self-isolation. I have determined that this situation meets the criteria for a waiver under the Emergency Rule criteria and warrants a temporary waiver for all west coast fleets to allow observers/catch monitors to complete the 14-day self-isolation period before deploying.
From April 16 – April 30, 2020, vessel owners or operators must still notify the applicable observer program before taking a trip and otherwise comply with applicable regulatory and other requirements. NOAA Fisheries will waive the observer coverage requirement for those trips that are randomly selected for observer coverage.
Industry self-reporting of protected species interactions/take is still required.
NEXT STEPS
During this waiver period, NOAA Fisheries will evaluate the impact of this observer coverage waiver on the conservation and management of the affected fishery resources and may make adjustments to the fishery and catch accounting system in the future.
The West Coast Regional Office and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center will evaluate the impacts of this waiver on our fisheries and observer programs throughout this period as follows:
Following this initial 14-day waiver, on May 1, 2020, we do not intend to renew the blanket waiver for all fleets. After the end of the waiver period, providers’ social control guidance will likely result in some shortage of observers/catch monitors to meet the coverage needs of all fleets because observers/catch monitors typically serve multiple vessels and plants. However, we anticipate having sufficient observers/catch monitors to maintain the current level of observer coverage in most fleets. We intend to use the Emergency Rule authority to waive individual trips and vessels in lower priority fleets on a case-by-case basis to ensure qualified observers/catch monitors are available for higher priority fleets (i.e., fleets with 100% coverage requirements or bycatch of ESA-listed species).
Observers and catch monitors are an essential component of commercial fishing operations and provide critical information that is necessary to keep fisheries open and to provide sustainable seafood to our nation during this time. We will continue to monitor all local public health notifications, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for updates. We are committed to protecting the public health and ensuring the safety of fishermen, observers, and others, while fulfilling our mission to maintain our nation’s seafood supply and conserving marine life.
For additional information, please contact Ryan Wulff, Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries at (916) 930-3733 or ryan.wulff@noaa.gov.
April 16, 2020 — A fishing industry group wants New Hampshire and neighboring states to put off planning offshore wind development during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, or RODA, sent a letter to the governors of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts on Tuesday. The group represents the fishing industry in states with offshore wind development.
Among RODA’s requests is a six-month halt on the federal planning process for putting wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. Their letter raises concerns that efforts to fight COVID-19 will limit the public’s ability to weigh in on the process – especially for fishermen.
“The fishing industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic,” RODA says in a statement, “forcing the commercial fishing sector to divert time and effort to addressing the current crisis, and leaving insufficient opportunities for engagement in offshore wind siting and other planning.”
April 15, 2020 — COVID-19 is having a significant impact on North America’s seafood economy, which is more globalized than it has ever been. Fishers, however, are scrambling to respond, adapt and share lessons with each other. Community-supported fisheries may be the ones most ready to weather this difficult time.
Major commercial fisheries, including the iconic Maine lobster fisheries, have ground to a halt. The closure of restaurants and fresh seafood counters has created a serious dent in demand. Even temporarily, this is a serious blow to small-scale harvesters and fishing communities, who often derive most of their sales from these markets.
Consider the lucrative Pacific halibut fisheries, which opened in mid-March. These fisheries largely serve fine dining restaurants. Grilled halibut entrees fetch northward of $30 at iconic Vancouver restaurants such as Joe Fortes. But with restaurants closed, wholesale halibut prices are d … of US$5.30 per pound and are expected to drop further.
Combined with the loss of sales to markets like China, seafood producers from east to west are without a market for their product.
April 15, 2020 — The West Coast groundfish fleet has been pushing for relief from onboard fishery observers and shoreside catch monitors due to the coronavirus, but NMFS’ message to the fleet: No.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council met via webinar last week and one of the major points of contention was observers on fishing vessels in this era of COVID-19 that includes stay at home and social distancing orders.
April 15, 2020 — The covid-19 public health crisis spreading across the globe is causing economic turmoil in most industries, including fisheries. For Alaska salmon fisheries, covid-19 presents unique challenges that are an immediate threat to the 2020 season.
The seasonal influx of thousands of harvesters and workers from around the world, starting in May, represents a substantial risk for introducing covid-19 to remote communities — where it has yet to be detected, and where people are particularly vulnerable and medical resources are distinctly limited. Further risks are associated with the often crowded conditions aboard fishing vessels and in fish processing facilities that create perfect conditions for the rapid spread of covid-19.
Concern that the Bristol Bay sockeye salmon fishery represents a substantial public health risk has prompted requests for severe restrictions or even complete closure of the fishery until the threat of covid-19 has passed. In addition to the immediate economic impacts of such a policy, these discussions have generated widespread concern about “over-escapement” — that severely restricted fishing would result in spawner abundances (escapements) beyond what watersheds can withstand, thereby severely depressing future salmon production.