Saving Seafood

NFI Red Crab Council Renews Commitment to Improving Chinese Crab Fishery

July 20, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The National Fisheries Institute’s Red Crab Council and its partners –  Ocean Outcomes (O2) and Tao Ran on the ground in China – have renewed their annual contract to keep the comprehensive Red Crab Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) on track.

“For a number of years the Red Crab fishery has faced adversity from things like the pandemic, the market and tariffs,” said Newport International President Anjan Tharakan, the NFI Red Crab Council Chair. “But none of the companies we partner with, and certainly not O2 nor Tao Ran, have lost sight of the importance of working hard towards the most sustainable fishery possible. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. If nothing, this is one committed group.”

The FIP is focused on improving crab production in Fujian Province, the leading harvesting region in China for red crab.

The NFI Red Crab Council funds the work by assessing a fee on its members based on the number of pounds they import each quarter.

“Despite all the external challenges this FIP has faced, we’ve never changed our ultimate objectives,” said O2 Founder and CEO Rich Lincoln. “We have dedicated companies supporting the work and experts on the ground executing it. Continuing this contract keeps us on track to seeing the best science-based strategies driving Red Crab fisheries management in the Fujian region”

The status of the Fujian Zhangzhou Red Crab FIP is updated biannually on fisheryprogress.org.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on the Executive Order “Promoting Competition in the American Economy”

July 12, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The National Fisheries Institute is pleased that the President’s Executive Order on competition and the economy directs the Federal Maritime Commission to, “vigorously enforce the prohibition of unjust and unreasonable practices in the context of detention and demurrage.”

We believe deeply in a free market economy but this year alone we expect seafood companies to incur an estimated $88 million in extra port-related costs, an amount 20 times higher than last year. Skyrocketing detention and demurrage charges coupled with untenable delays is not about economics and competition it’s about a problem in the supply chain that needs to be addressed.

Alaska pollock: Alaska product now 86 percent of U.S. consumption

July 6, 2021 — The Bering Sea TAC for pollock has been ratcheted back to 1.375 million metric tons — that’s down from last year’s 1.425 million and close to what it was set at in 2019. In the Aleutian Islands harvest area, the quota has been set at 19,000 metric tons, unchanged from last year. For the Gulf of Alaska waters, the TAC fell from the 115,930 metric tons to 113,227 metric tons for 2021.

In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the purchase of $159.4 million in domestic seafood and agricultural products. Of that, seafood will account for $70.9 million. Alaska pollock products have always been high on the list of purchases by the USDA for school lunch and other institutional food programs, and pollock contracts in 2021 will tally up to $20 million.

Also in May, data released by the National Fisheries Institute indicated that pollock pulled ahead of tilapia to rank fourth place in domestic seafood consumption. Though shrimp, salmon and canned tuna continue to rank above pollock, NFI noted that consumption of pollock products increased by a quarter pound per capita from 2018 to 2019. Meanwhile, the NFI research conducted for the Seattle-based Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers found that wild Alaska pollock products comprised 86 percent of that national increase from 2018 to 2019.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

US FDA: PFAS chemical contaminant levels in fish “not a concern”

July 6, 2021 — The levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fish do not represent a human health concern, according to a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration report.

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally, were created as a solution to waterproof and grease-proof surfaces. They are still in use in a number of consumer goods and have been found to be contaminating water supplies across the United States. Medical studies have linked PFAS build-up in humans to cancer, liver and kidney harm, damage to human reproductive and immune systems, and other diseases, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

National Fisheries Institute Statement on the passing of Ray Jones

June 22, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Ray Jones was a long-time executive for Rich Products, but his reach and impact went far beyond one company.

Ray was a genuine advocate for seafood and a trusted voice in meeting with members of the House, Senate, and regulatory agencies. He addressed unnecessary regulations and defended rules that work, all in an effort to ensure retail stores, and ultimately American families, had access to safe, plentiful seafood.

When he retired in 2017, NFI’s Board of Directors passed a resolution naming him a Seafood Industry Leader.

He was truly a leader but also a friend whose work has had an enormous impact on the broader seafood community. It wasn’t just what Ray did that made him impactful but how he did it. His manor and integrity were hallmarks that will be deeply missed.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on the NOAA Appointment of Janet Coit

June 22, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute: 

The National Fisheries Institute is pleased the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has appointed Janet Coit to lead the agency as the assistant administrator.

During her tenure at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, she developed an ability to work with stakeholders to ensure seafood was harvested the right way, streamlined agency processes, and promoted seafood locally and abroad. This same approach is needed at the federal level.

We look forward to working with Janet Coit in her new role.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on Suspension of UK Tariffs

June 17, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Just days after the US and European Union (EU) officials announced plans to suspend tariffs on goods involved in the Boeing/Airbus trade dispute, policy makers are revealing a similar deal with the United Kingdom (UK.)

The decision to halt parallel tariffs on effected US and UK products, for five years, is an important move. It helps produce a more consistent climate for seafood companies to operate in. Stability and predictability, especially in export markets, are prized and contribute to market growth.

The National Fisheries Institute supports decisions, like these, that will increase opportunities for US seafood companies.

National Fisheries Institute Statement on Suspension of EU/US Tariffs

June 16, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The National Fisheries Institute applauds the decision to suspend tariffs on goods involved in the Boeing/Airbus trade dispute. Today U.S. and European Union (EU) policy makers revealed plans to shelve the tariffs for five years as part of a new agreement.

This bilateral action is an important development that helps seafood companies operate in a more predictable climate. The EU is an important growth market for US seafood exporters, and they will benefit from this more stable environment.

Throughout this dispute seafood has been collateral damage, as fish swimming in the Atlantic Ocean could not be further from the planes flying overhead. Today’s announcement is welcome news.

Seafood price hikes underway as suppliers face major labor shortage

June 4, 2021 — U.S. seafood suppliers, processors, and wholesalers are facing a major labor shortage, transportation price hikes, and increased costs of seafood, packaging, and other supplies that are complicating their operations, just as the country looks set to emerge from the yearlong COVID-19 crisis.

National Fisheries Institute President John Connelly said the labor shortage is the latest in a long line of challenges that have beset the industry since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full story at Seafood Source