Saving Seafood

US tuna tie-up causing skipjack prices to firm further for February

February 9, 2016 — Skipjack tuna prices for delivery in February to the Asian tuna hub of Bangkok, Thailand are firming up on the previous month, sources told Undercurrent News.

With the US vessel tie-up continuing, prices for January deliveries firmed somewhat, a trend that is looking set to continue.

A deal has been done at $1,175 per metric ton between a trader and a canner, sources in the US and Asia told Undercurrent.

The large tuna traders, a US-based executive said, are holding out for $1,200/t for the rest of the deals.

“They [the traders] are only offering around half of the usual contract monthly tonnages,” he said. “Canners tell me that $1,300/t or $1,400/t for March is talked of, but I don’t see them able to pay that.”

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

Tuna-Fishing Deal Dispute Keeps U.S. Boats Out of Pacific Waters

January 12, 2016 — U.S. boats are set to be locked out of the world’s best tuna-fishing waters after reneging on a deal with 17 Pacific states, amid a slump in prices for the fish sold in cans in supermarkets all over the country.

The standoff means U.S. boats cannot access seas where around half of the world’s skipjack tuna are caught each year. It is also endangering a vital revenue stream for some of the world’s poorest nations.

A group of Pacific island states—which includes small islands and atolls such as Tuvalu, Tokelau and the Marshall Islands—along with New Zealand and Australia are refusing to issue fishing licenses to around 36 U.S. vessels to trawl in their waters after their owners, typically tuna-supply companies or individuals, refused to meet payments agreed in August last year.

“These are the most attractive fisheries in the world and there are boats dying to fish in these waters right now but they can’t go and fish,” said Transform Aqorau, chief executive officer of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, a grouping of eight of the islands which control most of the regions’ best fishing grounds.

Read the full story at the Wall Street Journal

 

Aramark To Source All Canned Tuna From MSC Certified Sources By April 2016

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SeafoodNews] — October 16, 2015 — Major foodservice distributor Aramark plans to source all of its canned skipjack and albacore tuna products certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) by April 2016.

The $15 billion global supplier of food, facilities management, and uniforms, developed the plan in consultations with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and the MSC. When the transition is complete in April 2016, Aramark will have converted an estimated 2.5 million pounds of tuna to sustainably sourced product.

“The Marine Stewardship Council congratulates Aramark on its commitment to source from MSC certified tuna fisheries. In making certified sustainable seafood available to its customers, Aramark is helping to raise consumer awareness about the importance of ensuring wild fish supplies for generations to come,” said Brian Perkins, MSC Regional Director, Americas.

All contracted canned tuna products Aramark purchases in the U.S. will meet green “Best Choice” or yellow “Good Alternative” by Seafood Watch recommendations: all skipjack canned tuna products will come from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fisheries; and all albacore canned tuna products will be pole-and-line caught or from MSC certified fisheries, whenever available.

“Aramark is committed to providing our consumers with safe, high-quality, nutritious food that is sourced responsibly,” said Scott Barnhart, Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Procurement, Aramark. “By transitioning to 100% sustainable canned tuna, we are strengthening our responsible sourcing practices, while delivering on our mission to enrich and nourish lives.”

This transition is the next significant step in Aramark’s sustainable seafood commitment. The company has already transitioned half of its total seafood purchases to sustainable sources. As of October 2014, 99% of frozen fin fish purchases met the Seafood Watch® “Best Choice” and “Good Alternative” recommendations.

“Aramark’s commitment is helping to transform the marketplace,” said Jennifer Dianto Kemmerly, Director of Seafood Watch®. “By creating more demand for seafood from ocean-friendly sources that protect sea life and habitats.”

This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It has been reprinted with permission.

Pacific fisheries to get higher fees in US deal for 2016

August 10, 2015 — A one-year transitional arrangement for United States vessels for 2016, agreed to on 5 August this year is expected to bring greater benefits to all Pacific Islands.

Dr Transform Aqorau, CEO of Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), said the one-year deal was sealed after a negotiating session in Australia confirming the value of the PNA’s vessel day scheme (VDS) for managing the skipjack tuna fishery in the western and central Pacific ocean.

The islands will receive higher fees for fewer fishing days than in the current agreement for 2015.

He said a positive development reflecting the value of rights based fisheries management for the Pacific Islands, the deal for one-year however underscores the increasing difficulties in getting agreement on longer term access for U.S vessels as they enjoyed, until PNA introduced the VDS.

PNA had set US$8,000 as the minimum fee for VDS days for 2015 and 2016 while capping the number of fishing days for 2015 and 2016 at fewer than 45,000. Many fishing nations in 2015 are paying significantly more than this benchmark price to secure fishing days for their fleets.

The eight PNA members including the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau,  Papua new Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu will receive US$12,600 per finishing day, a 34 percent increase over the US$9,380 currently paid by the U.S purse seine fleet.

Read the full story from Matangi Tonga Online