Saving Seafood

ASMFC October 18-21 Meeting to be Held by Webinar Only

September 10, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Due to concerns about the continued spread of COVID-19 and the challenges of conducting a fully participatory hybrid meeting (in-person and virtual meeting combined), the Commission’s Executive Committee, which met via webinar today, made the difficult decision to shift its meeting, scheduled for October 18-21, from an in-person meeting to one that will be conducted entirely via webinar. The details regarding the other committees that were scheduled to meet (Law Enforcement Committee, Habitat Committee and Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Steering Committee) are still being worked out and will be shared over the next couple of weeks. At the Executive Committee’s direction, Commission staff will also explore the possibility of shifting the in-person Annual Meeting in New Jersey to January 2022.

Tokyo Olympics’ sustainability legacy outweighs actual sales

September 8, 2021 — The Tokyo Paralympics wrapped up on 5 September, following the first-ever Olympic Games without spectators, and despite challenges related to COVID-19, the event was still a win for seafood sustainability – both the advocates and the organizations promoting it.

Exactly how much certified seafood was sold during the Olympics, and what percentage of that total was comprised of products certified as sustainable, will not be known until an external review of the procurement code and its operational performance is completed, which is expected by the end of 2021.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

 

US Northeast groundfish market in flux due to pandemic, labor shortages

September 7, 2021 — In 2019, the U.S. state of Maine’s total commercial groundfish landings were valued around USD 4 million (EUR 3.4 million). In 2020, fleets in Maine landed just 58,730 pounds of cod, averaging USD 2.55 (EUR 2.16) per pound at the dock for a total value of USD 149,844 (EUR 126,926), whereas 15.2 million pounds had been landed a decade before.

A 2021 NOAA status update reported that in New England, 13 commercial species are currently considered “overfished,” including Atlantic cod (considered collapsed), yellowtail flounder, Atlantic halibut, winter flounder, and Atlantic herring.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

 

MARYLAND: Nearly 80% of commercial fishermen stopped work during COVID. Relief on way for industry

September 2, 2021 — A seafood industry recovering from a pandemic just got additional support thanks to $3.4 million in relief funds announced in August  by Gov. Larry Hogan.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 doubles down on financial assistance for the industry previously provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, for those who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has slowed our sales down because people aren’t buying our products like before,” said Harry Phillips, owner of Russell Hall Seafood LLC in Fishing Creek. “Due to lack of (employees) in restaurants and being only at half capacity, that’s why sales have been down. It’s actually possibly getting worse, but we haven’t received assistance like this because our sales were strong last summer.”

Read the full story at Delmarva Now

Peter Pan Seafood will require COVID vaccine for employees

September 2, 2021 — Peter Pan Seafood announced Wednesday, 1 September, it will require all shoreside employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as case numbers are on the rise in the U.S. states of Alaska and Washington.

The company’s new policy will go into effect by tiers. The first tier will pick up the remaining 5 percent of unvaccinated workers at processing plants and support facilities around Bristol Bay, Alaska, and at its Valdez processing plant, as well as at warehouses in Washington. All employees in tier one must be fully vaccinated by 1 October. Employees at the Peter Pan facility in King Cove, Alaska, face mandatory vaccination under Peter Pan’s tier two timeline. The vaccine policy does not extend to the fleet, but Peter Pan said it encourages its fishermen to get the vaccine and it said it will help them get vaccine appointments in Seattle or Alaska.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

 

Alaska Symphony of Seafood – Announcing Changes and Call for Product

August 31, 2021 — The following was released by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation:

After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AFDF is proud to announce the 2021-22 Alaska Symphony of Seafood, including the Call for Product and exciting new changes to the event. The deadline for entry into this year’s competition is October 04, 2021. The Call for Product can be downloaded here.

Since 1994, AFDF has organized the “Symphony”, a competition for commercial-ready value‐added products made from Alaska seafood. The Symphony is an exciting platform that encourages companies to invest in product development, helps promote those new products and competitively positions Alaska seafood in national and global markets. Product development is critically important to the entire industry and the fishing communities that depend on it. Innovative new products position the industry to remain competitive and relevant to consumers.

Read the full release here

SAFMC September 2021 Meeting to be Held via Webinar

August 30, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and increasing transmission rates in the region, the September 13-17, 2021meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will be held via webinar. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Charleston, South Carolina.

Briefing book materials for the September meeting are now available from the Council’s website along with an online public comment form. The meeting materials include agendas and overviews for each committee meeting throughout the week along with meetings of the Full Council. Presentations and supporting documents are also included.

Council members will discuss federal management measures affecting:

  • Establishment of an allowable fishing area for the Rock Shrimp fishery along the western boundary of the Oculina Bank Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida (Coral Amendment 10)
  • Management measures for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, Snowy Grouper, and Yellowtail Snapper
  • Catch level recommendations for Red Snapper
  • Information on the current “two-for-one” federal permit requirement for the commercial snapper grouper fishery

The meeting webinar begins Monday, September 13, 2021 with a meeting of the Full Council at 1 p.m. Meetings of the Council’s committees will continue through the week, concluding with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday, September 17th.

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council will accept public comment on agenda items during this time. Public hearing comments will also be accepted for Snapper Grouper Amendment 50 addressing proposed management measures for Red Porgy.

Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public via webinar. Registration is required. Register now and receive reminders as the meeting date approaches.

Meeting materials, the online public comment form and additional meeting information are all now available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

Louisiana crawfish processor forced to pay USD 140,000 for labor law violations

August 27, 2021 — Crowley, Louisiana, U.S.A.-based Acadia Processors has paid USD 138,629 (EUR 118,000) after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor found it owed back wages to 100 employees.

In June 2020, the Center for Migrant Rights filed a whistleblower complaint with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration on behalf of two former Acadia Processors workers who tested positive for COVID-19.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

ASMFC 80th Annual Meeting Preliminary Agenda and Public Comment Guidelines Now Available

August 27, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 80th Annual Meeting will be held October 18-21, 2021 at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, 1 Ocean Blvd, Long Branch, New Jersey. As of now, the Commission is moving forward with an in-person meeting that will also be accessible via webinar. ASMFC leadership is monitoring CDC guidelines for large meetings/gatherings, state travel restrictions, and the occurrence of COVID-19 cases in Monmouth County. Please do not make travel reservations yet; we will notify when to do so. Additional meeting information regarding the hotel, registration for social events, and reimbursement guidelines will be provided as we get closer to the meeting date.

The preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines, which follow and are attached, are also available on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2021-annual-meeting. The final agenda and meeting materials will be available on October 6th on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2021‐annual‐meeting.

Restaurant sector performance strong, but labor and pricing pressures persist

August 26, 2021 — This summer has been relatively good to the U.S. restaurant industry, as most operators are at full capacity after facing service limits due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. But the industry’s growth could be hampered by mounting inflation, labor shortages, and other operating challenges.

Consumer spending at restaurants soared 32 percent in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter of 2020, according to research firm NPD Group. Thanks to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in many areas, dining inside restaurants or off-premises increased by 22 percent in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year, but fell compared to the second quarter of 2019.

Read the full story at Seafood Source