Saving Seafood

Alaska trade group provides seafood industry updates on COVID-19 protocols, new benefits for fishermen

April 15, 2020 — How can fishermen be sure their vessels are clean of coronavirus contamination? Where can they find out about relief funds that are newly available for fishermen?

COVID-19 has Alaska’s seafood industry traveling in uncharted waters as more fisheries continue and get underway, and fishermen and processors prepare for a salmon season that’s just a month away. Information in an upside down world changes daily, making it tough to plot a course.

United Fishermen of Alaska has crafted a “one stop shop” for the latest fishing-related COVID-19 updates, including onboard checklists for fishing vessels and tenders, protocols for crews coming and going and more.

“We have all the mandates the state has put in place, the UFA updates that we send out weekly, helpful documents to download, the onboard procedures telling fishermen what they need to do to have a season, and a tab for economic relief and links to other resources and websites,” said Frances Leach, UFA executive director.

Read the full story at the Anchorage Daily News

Restaurant Closures Put Oregon Seafood Industry In Limbo

April 15, 2020 — Commercial fisherman Clint Funderburg should be on the ocean right now, catching Dungeness crab on his fishing boat, the Widgeon. Instead, he’s in his shop in Newport, and his boat is parked at the dock — likely until June.

When crab prices tanked a few weeks ago, he shifted gears to his off-season side gig. So, he’s building a refrigeration system for one of the many fishing boats that are stuck at the dock right now.

The coronavirus pandemic dealt its first blow to the West Coast fishing fleet back in January, cutting off lucrative live crab sales to China for the Chinese New Year.

From there, things only got worse as the virus spread across the globe and restaurants everywhere closed their dining rooms. This time of year, Funderburg would normally be getting $7 or $8 a pound for Dungeness crab. When it got down to just $2 a pound last month, he gave up.

“The company was starting to lose money,” he said. “We just quit fishing, called it a season. There are very few people left fishing. You know, you basically can’t hardly get rid of the crab. Normally, we would crab through May, and a lot of the guys do. Especially the smaller boats count on March, April, May to really make their seasons.”

Read the full story at OPB

PFMC Requests Blanket Waiver on Observer Coverage for West Coast Fisheries

April 15, 2020 — Last week, the Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously voted (with National Marine Fisheries Service abstaining) to send a letter to NMFS requesting a blanket waiver for observer coverage in all West Coast fisheries with Federal observers, as well as catch monitors in the groundfish IFQ shoreside monitoring program. The letter was sent today. The Council requests that the waiver remain in place as long as the shelter in place orders are in effect for Washington, Oregon, and California.

“In light of the rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout the U.S. since [waiving observer coverage in some situations], the uncertain rate of infection in in many areas, and especially of new information on asymptomatic transmission of the virus, we urge you to now adopt stronger, more proactive protections for public health and the safety of fishermen, observers, and others with whom they have contact,” the letter states. “In particular, the Council requests that NMFS temporarily suspend federally authorized at-sea observer coverage in all West Coast fisheries (including at-sea sectors) and trawl catch share program shoreside catch monitors.”

Read the letter here

ALASKA: Bering Sea commercial fleets taking extra precautions during pandemic

April 15, 2020 — Commercial fishermen who have embarked on the Bering Sea for the 2020 season are taking extra precautions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has moved much of the world into isolation.

According to a report from The Bristol Bay Times, Bering Sea snow crabbers who are still out working the waters have been confined to their boats while making deliveries to processing plants. They’ve also been urged to avoid contact with plant workers to help prevent any potential spread of the deadly virus, the Intercooperative Exchange’s Jake Jacobson told The Times.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

RODA request pause in offshore wind development amid COVID-19 pandemic

April 15, 2020 — The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance – a lobbying group formed in January 2018 to represent the East Coast fishing industry in discussions over offshore wind energy development – has called for all a six-month pause in the regulatory process pertaining to offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The call for a delay came via a letter sent to governors of New England states, including Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Janet Mills of Maine, and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire. The letter was also sent to Walter Cruickshank, the acting director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The letter sites the importance of public participation in regulatory decisions, which is hampered by measures many states are taking to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Bioriginal producing BioTide sanitizers for health authorities and retailers

April 15, 2020 — The following was released by Bioriginal:

Bioriginal, a division of Omega Protein that is now part of the Cooke Inc. family of companies, has gained the CRA and Health Canada approval to produce three different sanitizing products including a sanitizing gel for hands, a surface sanitizer that replaces rubbing alcohol for medical uses, and a workplace sanitizer for equipment.

Working closely with the University of Saskatchewan, Bioriginal developed a sanitizer formula guided by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is now being distributed to local health authorities, with retailers following in the coming weeks. The products are available under the name BioTide as licensed products deemed safe, effective and of high quality.

“We knew we wanted to step up in the best way we could to help with the demand. We worked with our existing suppliers to source the raw materials necessary to develop the approved formula,” said Joe Vidal, President of Bioriginal Food & Science Corporation.

“Over the past two weeks, the team has moved heaven and earth to make this product happen in a way that meets all regulations in Canada. Health Canada and other federal agencies have been very helpful in expediting this,” said Professor Martin Reaney, a Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program Chair at the University of Saskatchewan.

The Bioriginal manufacturing plant in Saskatoon underwent retrofits to prepare for production of the new substances. Some of the plant changes included a ventilated flammable proof processing area using skylights to provide illumination, pneumatic fillers, a new conveyor system using hydraulic power packs, the installation of true earth grounding to remove static electricity and explosion proof packaging. Bioriginal staff were trained on new safety protocols including procedures on safe handling of flammable liquids.

“The retrofits and renovations to the plant were something we were prepared to do in order to supply our health authorities during this pandemic,” added Vidal. “As a family company we are making every effort to support our local hospitals, clinics, and retail locations in our communities to ensure front line essential workers and the general public have access to certified safety products.”

For over 25 years, Saskatoon-based Bioriginal has been a global leader in delivering complete nutritional solutions to the food and nutraceutical industries, scientifically combining ingredients from all over the world. Bioriginal has facilities in Canada, United States, and Netherlands, developing and distributing a growing line of plant and dairy proteins, plant and marine oils and nutraceutical products to business customers worldwide.  The Cooke family of New Brunswick acquired Bioriginal in 2017 through the purchase of Omega Protein Corporation, a leading provider of specialty oils and specialty protein products.

San Diego’s Fishing Community Pivots to Stay Afloat

April 15, 2020 — The COVID-19 shutdown of many of the city’s restaurants has left much of San Diego’s commercial fishing fleet reeling, and right now they’re doing everything they can to stay afloat including shifting the way they’re selling fish at the weekly Tuna Harbor Dockside Market (598 Harbor Lane), which has remained open as an essential business.

Starting today at 5 p.m., San Diegans looking to add fresh seafood to their meals will be able to access an online store to place pre-orders for locally caught seafood that will be portioned and ready for pickup at the outdoor market between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday. To test out the new pickup system, the variety available online will be limited to finfish like ahi tuna and opah plus sea urchins, crabs and spot prawns. The goal is to spread out the number of shoppers coming to the market at the same time.

Customers will also be able to purchase fish from the market during its normal hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. under expanded protective guidelines: An extended 12-foot social distancing designation will be in place for those waiting to enter the market; there will be strict limits on the number of people (including staff) who will be allowed on the pier at one time; and customers are being asked to wear a face mask while shopping at the market.

“The commercial fishing fleet has always provided food for people and we’re still here,” says commercial fisherman Kelly Fukushima. “We want them to know they can rely on us to put food on people’s tables.”

Read the full story at Eater San Diego

Massachusetts lobster harvesters try direct sales again, triple results

April 14, 2020 — A second effort by lobster harvesters in Massachusetts to overcome coronavirus market challenges and sell directly to consumers, using Facebook, saw triple the results of the earlier attempt.

Troy and Doug Durr, the organizers of the South Coast Direct Source Seafood page, reported that well over 100 cars waited in line at the Union Wharf in the town of Fairhaven and bought almost 2,200 lobsters from four vessels on Easter Sunday, April 12. The harvesters set a price this time of $6.00 per pound for lobsters in the 1-1.45/lb range, and $7/lb for anything 1.5 lbs or larger.

The boats – the Intimidator, Miss Molly, Voyager and Cynthia Lee – began arriving at 1:30 p.m. and were sold out in four hours, according to the organizers, a Mattapoisett-based real estate agent and his uncle, a crew member on the lobster boat Mary Anne.

Another 200 lobsters from a late-arriving vessel were sold on Monday, Troy Durr told Undercurrent.

The Durrs previously organized a vessel direct sale effort on April 5 – also a Sunday — after processors stopped buying from harvesters due to the coronavirus-related closures of restaurants and the loss of export business, as reported by Undercurrent News. At the first event, which involved only the vessels Miss Molly and Mary Anne, 600 lbs of lobster were sold out at a price of $6.00/lb in 90 minutes.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

As Coronavirus Disrupts Seafood Supply Chains, Struggling Fishermen Seek Other Markets

April 14, 2020 — Scott MacAllister has mixed feelings about heading out to sea these days. This time of year, the 27-year-old dayboat fisherman primarily catches skate and monkfish from his home port of Chatham, Massachusetts. And while he certainly needs the income, MacAllister worries about exposing himself and his crew to coronavirus on his 40-foot boat, the Carol Marie.

“It’s a pretty small space [for] three or four people. If one of us gets it, we’re all going to get it,” he told Civil Eats. Still, MacAllister (pictured above) is grateful that the regional wholesaler who buys his catch, Red’s Best, still wants to buy his product.

Other fishermen in New England’s billion-dollar industry, which employs some 34,000 people, aren’t as lucky. Markets for lobster, oysters, and shellfish have collapsed along with restaurant closures and a sharp downturn in trade, leaving many fishermen struggling to make ends meet.

“There are certain things there are no markets for,” said Jared Auerbach, founder and CEO of Red’s Best, which buys solely from small, dayboat fishermen. While Red’s Best usually sells seafood fresh, the company is freezing fish in the hopes that international trade will eventually pick back up—or that the product will find new, domestic uses.

Read the full story at Civil Eats

ALASKA: Anchorage ‘hunker down’ order likely to be extended as frustration with distancing rises

April 14, 2020 — On the eve of the expiration of the city’s “hunker down” order, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz on Monday laid out a list of criteria for what must happen before Anchorage can go back to normal. That included a slower transmission rate, more testing and more access to personal protective equipment for health workers.

Alaska’s urban hub is not on the verge of meeting all of those criteria. While the “hunker down” order would expire Tuesday if left untouched, it’s almost certain that won’t happen. Berkowitz has repeatedly said he will extend the order, which requires many Anchorage businesses to remain closed, but he has not said until when.

“For the economy, we are not flipping this switch on a set date,” Berkowitz said Monday during a community briefing. “We are going to ease off on what the restrictions are. We are going to be very mindful, because the lessons of history are absolutely clear.”

On Tuesday, the Anchorage Assembly will vote on extending the emergency declaration period, which would allow Berkowitz to extend the “hunker down” order. Berkowitz on Friday asked to have the city’s emergency declaration period extended to Nov. 15, although that does not mean the “hunker down” order will be extended for the same amount of time.

Read the full story at the Anchorage Daily News