Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: Dunkin’ gift cards available to all New Bedford vaccine recipients; waterfront site to close

May 27, 2021 — On May 30, the waterfront vaccination clinic at Hervey Tichon Avenue will distribute its last doses of COVID-19 vaccines for walk-up appointments.

According to a press release from the city, the site operated by CIC Health will close this weekend. Vaccines will be available this weekend including Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some second-dose appointments are also scheduled for June 1.

The waterfront site was a mobile vaccination site in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide additional doses to hardest-hit communities.

CIC Health will now offer vaccinations at the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center at 181 Hillman St. on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting June 7. Mobile vaccine clinics are available at grocery stores, schools and community partners. A full schedule of supermarket and community-based walk-up vaccination clinics will be announced.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global Rescheduled for 26-28 April 2022

May 26, 2021 — The following was released by Diversified Communications:

Keeping our customers’ best interest in mind is our top priority. After evaluation of suppliers and buyers’ concerns around the continued uncertainties caused by the on-going COVID-19 situation worldwide, it became evident that 2021 would still be too soon to host an international event that would provide the global experience the seafood community would find valuable. The 28th edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will now take place 26-28 April 2022.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global is the world’s largest and most diverse seafood trade event bringing together more than 29,000 industry professionals from around the globe. More than 158 countries are represented at the event and each country’s complex COVID-19 regulations and governmental restrictions make it impossible to hold a large-scale global event in September 2021.

We are committed to Barcelona and will continue working with Fira de Barcelona and the city to host a valuable in-person event at the Gran Via venue in 2022. We have received strong participation interest from all sectors of the global seafood industry and look forward to having the most successful first edition in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain.

We understand the need for our customers to meet with industry buyers during these challenging times. Until we can meet again face to face in Barcelona, we will be looking at online event opportunities to connect suppliers and buyers and keep the seafood community informed on the latest topics in the industry.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info-global@seafoodexpo.comor visit our website at www.seafoodexpo.com/global for additional information.

We can’t wait to see you all in Barcelona on 26-28 April 2022!

COVID-19 delays inaugural Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global in Barcelona

May 26, 2021 — The first edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global to take place in Barcelona has been pushed back due to COVID-19.

The 28th edition of the world’s largest seafood expo, which was scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain from 7 to 9 September, 2021, will now take place 26 to 28 April, 2022, Portland, Maine, U.S.A.-based organizer Diversified Communications announced on Wednesday, 26 May. 

Read the full story at Seafood Source

The U.S. government is buying $40 million worth of pistachios and $70 million of seafood

May 21, 2021 — Pistachios are my favorite nut. I can house a whole bag of those in no time at all. Apparently the American government is into them too, because they’re not buying just a bunch, but a massive amount. During times of crop and product surpluses, the USDA will buy up extra to keep America’s food banks stocked; in 2016, it bought $20 million in cheese. Now, Food & Wine reports, the government is buying up millions of dollars of pistachios, among other delicious bounties.

It’s obvious that COVID-19 has mucked up all sorts of farming supply issues, and plenty of Americans are having a hard time getting by. So the USDA is currently making big buys to help those that produce food and those who need it. Last week the Biden administration announced that the USDA would be purchasing $159.4 million worth of seafood, fruits, legumes, and nuts. Of that, $70.9 million will be spent on seafood, the largest government seafood purchase ever.

“The impacts of COVID-19 reverberated from our farms to our oceans,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “U.S. fisheries and the American seafood industry were dealt a heavy blow…. These healthy, nutritious food purchases will benefit food banks and non-profits helping those struggling with food hardship as the Biden Administration works to get the economy back on track for American families.”

Read the full story at The Takeout

MASSACHUSETTS: Pandemic, new NOAA rules sink tuna tourney

May 21, 2021 — The COVID-19 restrictions on personal protections and public gatherings are easing. They just didn’t ease in time to save this summer’s Bluefin Blowout tuna fishing tournament.

The organizers of the popular Gloucester-based tournament, which raised $366,000 in charitable donations in the last year the tournament was held in 2019, have canceled the 2021 tournament that was to run July 29 to 31 at the Cape Ann’s Marina Resort off Essex Avenue.

It would have been the ninth year the tournament was held. Now, it is the second consecutive year it has been canceled because of the pandemic and its impacts.

“As restrictions to the COVID pandemic loosen up, it is apparent that we have to make a decision based on current conditions facing the tournament,” Warren Waugh, the producer and driving force behind the Bluefin Blowout, said Wednesday in a statement. “Presently, we understand that NOAA regulations are very restrictive for a weekend tournament and there are changes proposed that would make the tournament very difficult to pull off.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

US West Coast is vanguard of direct-to-consumer seafood phenomenon

May 20, 2021 — COVID-19 permanently changed how consumers buy seafood – and food in general. Many Americans now want to receive delivery of their favorite food items at their homes, providing significant new business for seafood suppliers and wholesalers.

Moss Landing, California, U.S.A.-based Santa Cruz Fish Company and Honolulu, Hawaii-based Honolulu Fish Co. are two companies benefiting from the direct to consumer (DTC) trend.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Alaska seafood marketing arm hopes to finally benefit from federal pandemic relief dollars

May 18, 2021 — Alaska’s lone seafood marketing arm gets zero budget from the state and to date has received no pandemic funds.

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is hoping to get a breather from the more than $1 billion coming to Alaska in the latest round of federal relief dollars under the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

The influx also provides $518 million of nondiscretionary funds to Alaska and $220 million for public health and safety, workforce development, education, transportation and emergency management.

ASMI put in a $20 million request two months ago, but Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy made no mention of it in mid-April when he released his proposals for the ARP money nor anything since.

Dunleavy did include $150 million for Alaska Tourism Revitalization, citing the need for “industry relief to promote tourism and adapt services for potential loss of cruise ship season.”

Read the full story at the Anchorage Daily News

LOUISIANA: An oysterman’s new worry: Will state’s coastal plan wash out his business?

May 18, 2021 — Sun-kissed lines frame Terry Shelley’s face like high tide stains a fishing dock. Today, those creases seem deepened by anger, but it’s the tone of his voice that gives it away.

Mr. Shelley has spent his entire working life as a commercial fisherman. Before he was a full-time oyster farmer and harvester, he spent the first part of his career harvesting shrimp and reef fish. He’s seen a lot, but not a pileup of challenges like now.

Back in September, Hurricane Zeta rumbled over small-town Port Sulphur, Louisiana, where the family’s oyster farm and processing center are based. The Shelleys lost half their cages, and they only managed to retrieve about half of that. Already by then, the COVID-19 pandemic had temporarily halted the supply lines Shelley Farms uses to sell its oysters.

Now, after losing most of his oyster crop last year, Mr. Shelley has another worry on his mind.

Louisiana coastal planners are pushing a $2 billion project proposal designed to fight back against the trend of persistent coastal erosion.

Read the full story at The Christian Science Monitor

States Begin Work on Second Round of COVID-19 Funds as Some First Round Funds Falter

May 17, 2021 — Last year’s $300 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding was intended to help fishermen, processors and tribes as the COVID-19 virus disrupted markets, displaced workers and generally created havoc around the globe.

But some of that funding has yet to be distributed, even as a second round of federal funding is pending. An additional $255 million in fisheries assistance funding was provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and announced by NMFS in late March.

Read the full story at Seafood News

ALASKA: Copper River salmon harvest set to begin May 17

May 17, 2021 — Alaska’s 2021 salmon officially starts on Monday, May 17 with a 12-hour opener for reds and kings at the Copper River.

All eyes will be on early Cordova dock prices for Alaska’s famous “first fresh salmon of the season” as an indicator of wild salmon markets. COVID-forced closures in 2020 of high-end restaurants and seafood outlets tanked starting prices to $3 per pound for sockeyes and $6.50 for king salmon, down from $10 and $14, respectively the previous year.

But early signs are looking good.

Heading into Mother’s Day on May 9, demand for seafood was “fanatic” said Mitch Miller, vice president of national upscale seafood restaurants Ocean Prime in Nation’s Restaurant News.

National Retail Federation President Matthew Shay said there is a lot more consumer optimism this year as more people are getting vaccinated and stimulus checks are being distributed, and friends and family are moving about more freely.

Alaska’s 2021 salmon harvest is projected to top 190 million fish, a 61% increase over the 2020 catch. The breakdown includes 46.6 million sockeye salmon, 3.8 million cohos, 15.3 million chum salmon, 296,000 Chinook and 124.2 million pinks.

Read the full story at The Cordoba Times