Saving Seafood

NOAA, Canadians fight Swedish lobster ban

June 7, 2016 — NOAA and its Canadian counterpart are ramping up opposition to a Swedish-led proposal to ban the import of American lobsters into the European Union, saying the Swedish risk assessment falls far short of the necessary scientific standards to support the ban.

Sweden, concerned about the appearance of fewer than 100 American lobsters in its waters during the past decade, performed a risk assessment it said reflects the potential for the species Homarus americanus to become an invasive alien species capable of overwhelming Europe’s indigenous lobster population.

“Among other claims, the Swedish risk assessment finds that there is a high risk of Homarus americanus successfully reproducing and overpowering the native Homarus gammarus in EU waters, with a major/massive ecological and economic impact,” Eileen Sobeck, assistant administrator for fisheries for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, wrote in a letter to Daniel Calleja Crespo of the European Commission. “Our initial findings suggest that these conclusions are not supported by the best available science.”

Sobeck went on to say “there is no evidence of successful life cycle completion or establishment” of the American lobster population in Swedish waters or corresponding “negative impacts to biodiversity or related ecosystems when introduced (deliberately or otherwise) outside of its native range in western North Atlantic waters.”

The cooperative U.S.-Canadian effort has both economic and political motivations.

Its overarching motivation is to protect the North American lobster exporting industry, in which Canada and the United States collectively ship more than $200 million worth of live lobsters to the EU each year.

Read the full story from the Gloucester Times

Marauding American Lobsters Find Themselves in Hot Water

May 6, 2016 — The male American lobster is clawing his way toward hegemony. Scientists say his unusually large crusher claw compared with other species can be irresistible to female lobsters and menacing to less-endowed males.

This means war—or at least a trans-Atlantic trade war.

Claw size is at the center of a push by Sweden to ban imports of live Homarus americanus to all European Union countries. The effort began with the release of an 89-page report in December by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, featuring a full-color, half-page photo of an American lobster and 13 instances of the words “invasive alien species.”

“Once the American lobster is established, it will be impossible to eradicate,” says Gunvor Ericson, state secretary at the Swedish ministry for climate and the environment. The report contends that American lobsters have the potential to spread diseases to Europe’s smaller, native Homarus gammarus.

Sweden says big-clawed Americans could spawn a new generation of hybrids and eventually crowd out European lobsters. The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, is expected to start deliberating the import-ban proposal in June.

Read the full story at The Wall Street Journal

Sweden, fearing a flood of Maine lobster, goes on the offensive

May 6, 2016 — Peace-loving Sweden, a country that remained neutral through World War II and brought Volvos and Ikea meatballs to the masses, has launched a bitter attack on New England’s lobster industry.

Swedish government officials have proposed banning the sale of live US lobsters in the European Union and designating them as an invasive alien species, citing concerns about diseases that US experts contend are rare.

The simmering dispute prompted a New England congressional delegation to appeal to the Obama administration to intervene.

Just how similar are the two crustaceans on two continents? For those who have never even heard of Swedish lobster, or enjoyed a warm bowl of signature hummersoppa, it may hard to imagine.

Read the full story at The Boston Globe

Reps. Moulton, Keating, Lynch Lead Delegation to Protect Massachusetts Lobster Industry

May 2, 2016 — The following was released by the office of Congressman Seth Moulton:

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmen Seth Moulton (D-MA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), and Bill Keating (D-MA) led an effort to protect the Massachusetts lobster industry in response to the Swedish government’s petition to classify the American lobster as an invasive species. The petition ultimately seeks to ban the import of live American lobsters from the United States to the European Union (EU).

Moulton, Keating, and Lynch were joined by the entire state delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Ambassador Michael Froman, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator, Kathryn Sullivan. The letter notes that the EU’s alien species regulations must offer robust scientific evidence in support of any species ban, and argues that this is not the case for the American lobster. The letter can be viewed here.

“The Sixth District is home to the largest and most active lobster fleet in Massachusetts, and the lobster industry is a critical part of our history and local economy,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “This effort to ban U.S. exports of American lobster is not based in science. In fact, studies conducted by leading marine scientists refute Sweden’s assertions that American lobster meet the criteria to be banned by the European Union. This ban would not only have a detrimental impact on the livelihoods of hardworking men and women in the lobster industry, but it would also hurt the entire Massachusetts economy. I’m grateful that our entire delegation stands united to ensure our lobster industry continues to thrive, and I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and the Administration to advance a collaborative and transparent dialogue on this issue.”

“The lobster industry is as important to our local economy as it is to our history,” said Congressman Bill Keating, who represents Massachusetts’s South Shore, South Coast, and Cape and Islands. “I will continue working with my Massachusetts colleagues to oppose efforts to list the North American lobster as an invasive species, including by working directly with our European counterparts in my role as Ranking Member of the Trade Subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee.”

“I respect Sweden’s commitment to protecting the environment from invasive species, but their proposal to halt imports of North American lobsters is not based on sound scientific reasoning,” said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. “The evidence they have presented is inconsistent with E.U. standards and I hope the State Department, the United States Trade Representative, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will continue to work together to advocate for the continued trade of live American lobsters with the E.U. A ban could have serious effects on our hardworking Massachusetts lobstermen and their families.”

“From the decks of Massachusetts lobster boats to the plates of European diners, we need to ensure American lobster continues to benefit families and businesses on both side of the Atlantic,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “The current effort by Swedish authorities to reclassify American lobsters an invasive species and ban their importation into the European Union would undermine a centuries-old relationship and have enormously negative impacts on the Massachusetts lobster industry. Any decision by the EU Commission on the American lobster should be informed by scientific principles and current standards. American lobster is one of our most delectable exports, and we should ensure that Europeans can continue to enjoy it for years to come.”

“Lobsters are a big part of the Massachusetts economy, and I’m very concerned about any attempt to block imports of American lobsters. A ban on live lobster imports is not in line with the EU’s standards or with the research conducted by New England’s leading marine scientists on how best to protect the environment,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said. “I’ll keep working with the congressional delegation to support our local lobstermen and to keep the markets open for Massachusetts’ lobsters.”

“The European Union markets are extremely important to our commercial Lobstermen here in the Commonwealth,” said Beth Casoni, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association. “We are appreciative and encouraged by the efforts being put forth by Congressmen Moulton, Keating, Lynch, and the entire Massachusetts Delegation to bring a resolve to this matter.”

Bay State joins Maine fight to prevent European ban on North American lobster

May 2, 2016 — Massachusetts is joining Maine to fight a possible ban on North American lobster by the European Union.

All 11 members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation sent a letter Friday to the Obama administration urging it to work with its European counterparts to continue the trans- Atlantic trade of lobsters. The delegation has joined Maine lawmakers to fight concerns raised by Sweden that the American crustacean poses an invasive threat to its own native lobster species.

The Massachusetts delegation voiced its concerns in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Kathryn Sullivan about the impact of a ban by the EU, which accounts for one-fifth of all American lobster exports.

“A permanent ban on the importation of American lobster to the EU could … have devastating consequences for the Massachusetts lobster industry and the New England maritime economy,” the delegation wrote.

The delegation said in the letter that Sweden’s petition to add American lobsters to the European Commission’s list of invasive species is not consistent with its own standards and does not appear to be the correct method to resolve Sweden’s concerns.

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald

Canada and the European Union Work Together to Fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

April 29, 2016 — BRUSSELS, Belgium — Canada and the European Union signed a joint statement today to work together more closely to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the world’s oceans.

Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, signed the statement after their meeting during Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium.

“The world has to step up and join together to protect our oceans and our fisheries,” said Minister Tootoo. “We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, nor can we try to address it on our own. It is a global problem and it needs global solutions. We look forward to working with the European Union and our other world partners to solve this problem.”

Read the full story at Yahoo! Finance

Coalition of Thai Seafood Companies Agree to Use Electronic Catch Reporting System

April 28, 2016 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The European Union’s threat to maintain its yellow card on Thai seafood imports over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has not dented the private sector’s hopes for a positive ruling from the bloc next month.

The sector cited its partnership with the government in taking action to tackle the issues, including the use of an electronic marine catch purchasing document from this coming Sunday.

The new system will also control the trade of aquatic products and aquaculture development including sanitation. This will help to accurately trace the sources of Thailand’s aquatic species according to the Fisheries Act.

The Department of Fisheries, Fish Marketing Organization, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing, Board of Trade and the Thai Fishery Producers Coalition (TFPC) signed a letter of cooperation Wednesday to set up the marine catch purchasing document.

The TFPC comprises the Thai Frozen Food Association, Thai Food Processors’ Association, Thai Shrimp Association, Thai Tuna Industry Association, National Fishery Association of Thailand, Thai Overseas Fishery Association, Thai Fishmeal Association and the Thai Fishmeal Producer Association.

Poj Aramwattananont, president of the TFPC and vice-chairman the Board of Trade, said the problems of the fishing industry and related industries had accumulated over many years.

The government and private sector are committed to tackling fishery issues and view the issue as a national agenda, he said.

The government released Fisheries Decree 2558 on Nov 13 last year with the aim of preventing fishing by unlawful methods. This also included the welfare of workers on fishing boats and management of fisheries so that they can be sustainable, Mr Poj said.

“From now on, it’s the government’s duty to explain in a written statement to the EU about Thailand’s intentions and efforts,” he said.

“We admit that to tackle the accumulated problems about fishing practices and to amend existing laws could not be achieved in the short term. But if the EU rules to maintain the yellow card or even to issue a red card, it would need to have a very clear explanation for the action in a written statement.”

He also said the upcoming EU ruling on the IUU issue should not be politically motivated.

Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber was gravely concerned about the IUU issue and had tried its best to promote cooperation with private counterparts in the fishing industry to create a traceability system for products.

Mr Poj insisted that, whatever the EU’s ruling, it was unlikely to greatly affect overall fishery product exports but would damage the country’s image.

Despite the termination of Generalised System of Preferences tariff privileges in European countries and IUU pressure, Thailand’s frozen seafood shipments are expected to grow this year, he said.

Tuna exports are expected to fetch about 90 billion baht, up from 80 billion baht last year, with shrimp shipments increasing to about 70 billion baht from 58 billion baht in 2015 as production improves to 300,000 tonnes this year from 230,000 tonnes last year.

Associated Press news agency reported last week that the EU was maintaining its threat of a seafood import ban on Thailand because the country was not doing enough to improve fishery and labour practices.

The 28-nation bloc is keeping up the pressure after Thai legislation enacted last year to curb illegal practices yielded insufficient follow-up in subsequent months, said two EU officials.

Seafood exports make up 40% of Thai food exports, worth 1 trillion baht annually.

This story originally appeared on Seafoodnews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

EU declines to recommend endangered label for American Eel

April 26, 2016 — The European Union has decided not to recommend listing American Eel as an endangered species at the upcoming CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Conference of the Parties, to be held later this year.

In a report submitted to CITES (“Conservation of and trade in Anguilla SPP.”), the EU and its Member States instead recommended funding for a study of eel species not listed as endangered by CITES and noted that data on eels in the Northeast U.S. is more comprehensive than elsewhere in the world.

The European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) has been listed in CITES Appendix II since 2009. Currently export and import of European Eel from and into the EU is illegal, and EU Member States have enacted a zero export quota for the species since 2011. That led to an increased demand for other eel species, and an increase in illegal trade. As the EU report explains, U.S. fisheries managers passed a harvest quota and regulations to limit the expansion of the harvest of American Eel (Anguilla rostrata). The U.S. harvest is restricted to one fishery in Maine and a smaller fishery in South Carolina.

The report states that, for American Eel, “there are data for most of this species’ life stages (glass, elver, yellow and silver) from the northern part of its range (Canada and central Atlantic States).” It is more critical of data on eels in the Caribbean, northern South America, and East Asia, and pushes for more information that would lead to effective conservation and management of eels.

In its recommendations, the EU encourages parties involved in the trade of eel species to provide CITES with specific information to inform a potential study, and to participate in workshops where they can share their expertise and knowledge on priority topics.

The EU report comes ahead of the CITES Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will convene from September 24 to Octobers 5 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Read the full report at the European Commission of the European Union

Portland Press Herald: Case for EU ban on live Maine lobsters doesn’t hold water

April 21, 2016 — Thirty-two lobsters. Taken off the same shore in one day, and it’s a grand start toward a summer feast.

But picked out over a long stretch of coast in an eight-year period? That hardly warrants an absent-minded mention at the dinner table, much less an international trade incident.

But that’s just where Sweden is taking its find, as the country seeks to ban all imports of live American lobster into the European Union’s 28 member nations.

The ban would be a $10 million annual hit to the pockets of Maine lobstermen – and roughly $150 million for the U.S. industry as a whole – all over a number of bugs that would have a boat captain cursing if it were one day’s haul.

Sweden’s proposal, backed by dubious science and questionable motives, is now in front of the EU, which should reject the ban, and tell Sweden to find a solution much more on scale with the problem.

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald

State Department enters trade dispute over Maine lobsters

April 18, 2016 — The U.S. State Department is adding its muscle to help resolve an impending trade dispute between exporters of live Maine lobsters and the European Union.

Responding to a letter from Maine’s congressional delegation, officials in the Obama administration have committed the State Department to address the trade threat. In March, Sweden announced it was attempting to ban live North American lobsters from the 28-country EU, citing concerns that some of them have been found in European waters and are an “invasive species” that threatens Europe’s native lobster species.

“The State Department is on our side,” Sen. Angus King said Friday evening, “and I think they’re going to be aggressive.”

King said the response from the State Department was strong and suggested a concerted effort with other U.S. agencies to offset the risk of a ban. According to a letter from the State Department, the EU would have to consider the economic impact of a ban, along with the science, before blocking imports of U.S. lobsters.

King said the government “needs to press on all levels” to try to keep the EU from banning imports of live North American lobster, also known as Maine lobster.

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald