Message

Alaska/Pacific Coast

Announcing the New Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries

Message from NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco

NOAA News, February 10, 2010

It gives me great pleasure to announce Eric Schwaab as the new assistant administrator for fisheries, starting February 16.

We are excited to have someone with Eric’s experience and proven leadership to bring a fresh perspective to the management

of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100210_fisheries.html

NOAA to establish climate center in Alaska

ADN, February 11, 2010

ARCTIC: Staff will study effects; make reports like Weather Service.

http://www.adn.com/news/environment/warming/story/1133686.html

Bill links Alaska hiring to oil tax reductions

ADN, February 10, 2010

STATE LOSES MILLIONS: But sponsor says it will put more oil in pipeline, Alaskans on payroll. JUNEAU -- A bill in the

state House could give oil companies tax breaks worth millions for hiring local people -- even if they add just a handful of

Alaskans to their payrolls, according to state revenue officials.

http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/1133747.html

U.S. producers tell Japanese no increase in surimi production forthcoming, urge setting prices early

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [BANR JAPAN REPORTS] Feb 11, 2010 Tokyo - USSC president Christensen tells Japanese surimi product makers that U.S. DAP surimi production in 2010 will likely stay at around 30%; urges Japanese users for early price setting. Mr. Doug Christensen, president of the United States Surimi Commission (USSC), exchanged views on the trend of surimi market with the All Japan Kamaboko Makers & Marine Product Association (president: Mr. Kimiho Kotani) on February 4 in Shizuoka City, west of Tokyo. (Kamaboko is one of traditional fish surimi products in Japan.) In the meeting, Mr. Christensen suggested that the proportion of pollock surimi in the 2010 season will likely stay at around 30%, which will be a continued low level from the previous season. The meeting was held prior to the product exhibition by Tokai Denpun Co., a general food maker, on February 5. The Japanese association expressed the hope that the USSC will continue steady supply of pollock surimi to Japan, noting that 'the failure to realize stable supply and prices will be an undesirable situation for both parties.' Notably, the association requested for constant supply of high-grade pollock surimi which tends to be in short supply. To the Japanese request, the USSC explained about trend in surimi production in the United States amid the circumstances where pollock catch quota in Alaska has been slashed by as large as 45% over the past five years. During that period, the USSC said, the proportion of surimi shrank more than 60% while that of H&G products increased exorbitantly by 270% against the backdrop of active demand from China. The production of fillet also grew supported by brisk demand mainly in Europe. Commenting on the situation surrounding surimi, Mr. Christensen noted that 'one of the factors of decreased surimi production in the U.S. is that price setting for surimi is going at a slower pace compared to other pollock products.' 'If surimi prices are not established before the close of the season, production may see further cutback,' he added, stressing the need to determine prices at an early stage. Further, he presented an outlook that the proportion of surimi in this season may be around 30%, more or less the same level as compared to 34.4% in 'A' season and 28.9% in 'B' season in 2009, while production for fillet and H&G will also be kept at around the previous year's level. Regarding the prospect of recovery of pollock resources in the U.S., the USSC head said he considers the resources in Alaska will rebounce in 2011 and afterwards. 'But we may not be able to place high expectations on product yields because there will be massive recruitments of small-size 2006 year-class fish,' he said. Meanwhile, Mr. Christensen said earlier that the first auction for pollock roe in 'A' season this year will take place in Seattle on March 16-19. The pollock operation in Alaska opened on January 20. According to the USSC, size of pollock roe about one week after the opening was favorable, while yields stayed low. The pollock operation is due to close at the end of March. The second pollock roe auction is slated for early April.

International

China's imports of pink and chum salmon double this year, to near 170,000 tons

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [BANR JAPAN REPORTS] Feb 11, 2010 - Tokyo - China's imports of chum and pink salmon from the U.S., Japan and Russia combined in 2009 nearly doubled, closing up to 170,000 tons. It was reconfirmed from the December 2009 import statistics issued by the Chinese customs office that China's imports of chum and pink salmon from the United States, Japan and Russia in 2009 amounted to a record high level. See attached(EXCEL) Table. The combined imports in 2009 on a calendar year basis from the three countries combined nearly doubled from the previous year to around 168,000 tons. For the August-December period when the new season products were shipped, the imports jumped 2.2-fold from the corresponding period of the previous year to 149,000 tons. The Chinese imports in January-December in 2009 aggregated 168,549 tons, up 97% from 85,357 tons in 2008 and up 58% from 106,701 tons in 2007. By exporting country, shipments from Russia totaled 811,742 tons, up 3.4 times from 23,752 tons in 2008 and up 3.8 times from 21,090 tons in 2007. The prevalent view is that the sharp increase in pink salmon imports resulted from the strong harvests in Sakhalin and East Kamchatka in the previous season. Imports from the U.S. totaled 50,070 tons, up 58% from 31,617 tons in 2008 and staying nearly level from 50,194 tons in 2007. Analysts point out that imports of pink salmon from the U.S. returned to the 2007 level backed by robust landings in Alaska, although those of chum remained at the previous year's level. With regard to Japan, despite the differences in figures between Japanese and Chinese customs offices, shipments, as presented by the Chinese authorities, came to 36,737 tons, up 23% from 29,988 tons in 2008 and up 4% from 35,417 tons in 2007. While the calendar year-based overall imports from the three countries showed a nearly double growth, those in August-December aggregated 149,342 tons, which was a jump of 2.2 times from 65,330 tons in the similar period in 2008 and up 52% from 92,458 tons in 2007. In terms of the 2008 salmon season (August-December 2008 plus January-July 2009), imports for the entire season totaled 84,537 tons, with those of the 2007 season standing at 112,485 tons, thus showing that the 2009 imports on a calendar year basis exceeded those in the two past seasons. Notably, imports from Russia in the 2008 season were 24,541 tons with those in the 2007 season standing at 20,641 tons and 48,526 tons in the 2006 season. This year's imports from that country showed a fast-pace growth exceeding that of 2006 when the highest level of imports since 2004 were achieved. Meanwhile, Japanese customs statistics on a calendar year basis shows that China's chum imports from Japan in 2009 were 47,196 tons (55,388 tons when other species are included). The corresponding figures for 2008 were 37,505 tons (44,642 tons), with those of 2007 standing at 47,903 tons (57,050 tons) and at 57,548 tons (65,534 tons) in 2006.

Nancy Diaz