Saving Seafood

NEFMC Converts In-Person Committee and AP Meetings to Webinars

March 13, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

Due to public health concerns regarding the new coronavirus, COVID-19, and the growing number of travel restrictions being imposed by state and federal agencies, universities, and other organizations, the New England Fishery Management Council is taking steps to convert several upcoming meetings to webinars.

Details about logistics are still in the works, but in an effort to help participants plan ahead, the Council is announcing the list of meetings that will be immediately impacted.

Read the full release here

Coronavirus outbreak is sinking lobster prices, reports claim

March 13, 2020 — Bring in the dancing lobsters, and get ‘em while they’re hot.

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak is drowning Chinese demand for American lobster, reportedly plunging market prices to record lows.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, lobster prices in the U.S. have hit their lowest in at least four years, Bloomberg reports. China is one of the biggest export destinations for live lobster, where the delicacy is “a sign of wealth and status” among the middle class, as well as a popular choice for Lunar New Year celebrations and weddings as a “symbol of good fortune,” according to The New York Times.

However, no one is quite indulging like they used to during widespread lockdowns and the continued outbreak. Travel restrictions, too, have effectively canceled the once-frequent charter flights of the crustaceans from the U.S. and Canada to the Asian nation.

Read the full story at Fox News

Coronavirus causing trade disruptions between Russia and major trading partners

March 13, 2020 — Russia’s seafood industry is facing a serious threat from the COVID-19 pandemic, with two of its biggest export markets, China and South Korea, essentially shut down.

China and South Korea are crucial to Russia, accounting for a vast majority of the country’s seafood exports. In 2019, Russia exported 1.7 million metric tons (MT) of seafood, with 1.2 million MT, or 70.5 percent, going to China. Half of this volume was pollock, according to the Russian Customs Service.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

US foodservice industry upended by public response to COVID-19

March 13, 2020 — U.S. restaurant chains and other foodservice outlets are struggling to cope with rapidly changing dining habits of Americans fearing exposure to COVID-19.

A new Datassential survey released on 12 March found 89 percent of Americans feel more comfortable eating food from home or grocery stores, while only 11 percent feel comfortable eating food from restaurants or away from home. Fifty-four percent said they would eat at restaurants less frequently due to COVID-19.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

US seafood suppliers, organizations forge ahead with Boston plans

March 13, 2020 — The Global Aquaculture Alliance and other companies and nonprofits involved in the seafood industry have rescheduled events originally planned for Seafood Expo North America to online meetings and webinars.

The GAA Stakeholder Update Meeting will take place as a webinar on 19 March at 11 a.m. EST. GAA board and committee meetings, which are closed to the public, will also be held online.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Small Business Administration and Labor Department Announce COVID-19 Response

March 13, 2020 — The following Small Business Administration (SBA) loan opportunities and new Labor Department guidance announced yesterday by the Trump Administration may be of interest to commercial fishing companies.

The following was released by the SBA:

Small Business Administration Will Provide Disaster Assistance Loans (link)

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for a small business. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Further resources can be found in the attached document as well as on SBA’s website: www.SBA.gov/coronavirus and www.SBA.gov/disaster. The announcement is available here: https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sba-provide-disaster-assistance-loans-small-businesses-impacted-coronavirus-covid-19

Read more about the SBA’s response to COVID-19 here

The following was released by the Labor Department:

Department of Labor Announces New Guidance on Unemployment Insurance Flexibilities (link)

Today DOL announced new guidance outlining flexibilities that states have in administering their unemployment insurance (UI) programs to assist Americans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. States will be able to pay benefits where: (1) An employer temporarily ceases operations due to COVID-19, preventing employees from coming to work; (2) An individual is quarantined with the expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over; and (3) An individual leaves employment due to a risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member. In addition, federal law does not require an employee to quit in order to receive benefits due to the impact of COVID-19.The full announcement is available here: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20200312-0

Huffman to Postpone Fisheries Listening Tour Amid Public Health Crisis

March 12, 2020 — The following was released by The Office of Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA):

Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, today announced that he will be postponing the remaining stops on his nationwide fisheries listening tour in an abundance of caution during the coronavirus outbreak.

“The public health crisis from the coronavirus is escalating, and health officials have advised against large gatherings as a preventative measure. In accordance with advice from the Centers for Disease Control, I will postpone the remaining sessions of my listening tour until further notice,” said Rep. Huffman. “I remain committed to completing this tour with additional regional discussions and gathering input from as many stakeholders as possible on reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act. As we work through this pandemic, I invite everyone, particularly those in regions I have not yet been able to visit, to submit their comments and read up on the Magnuson-Stevens Act on my website.”

To submit your comment, simply visit https://huffman.house.gov/msa/comments and fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

Rep. Huffman’s goal for this listening tour has been to assess whether improvements to the Magnuson-Stevens Act are needed and if so, what they should be. More information, a public comment page, and the full press release for this tour can be found on our website here.

Trump institutes travel ban due to ongoing coronavirus outbreak

March 12, 2020 — Just hours after the World Health Organization declared that the outbreak of COVID-19/coronavirus is officially a global pandemic, U.S. President Donald Trump declared in a televised speech that all travel from Europe to the U.S. would be suspended for 30 days, starting at midnight on 13 March.

While Trump initially stated in his speech that the travel prohibitions would also apply to trade and cargo, the White House later clarified that the ban only applies to foreign nationals trying to travel to the U.S., not goods, cargo, or U.S. citizens trying to return. The ban currently does not apply to the United Kingdom.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

“No Show Fish Show” seeks silver lining in Seafood Expo North America postponement

March 11, 2020 — A number of seafood companies that were planning on exhibiting at or holding events during Seafood Expo North America in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. – postponed by organizer Diversified Communications last week due to the COVID-19 outbreak – are going ahead with online versions of those meetings and live social media demonstrations.

In an effort being coordinated by Jennifer Bushman, principal of Route to Market, a strategic development consultant for aquaculture companies, this ad hoc group of seafood companies have joined together on a social media and publicity campaign dubbed the “No Show Fish Show.”

Read the full story at Seafood Source