Alaska/Pacific Coast
Proposed environmental rule changes threaten fish spawning areas in Alaska Seafood Source by Ben Fisher - April 8, 2019 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, together with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, are attempting to loosen water pollution standards in areas where fish spawn, according to Alaska Public Media. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/proposed-environmental-rule-changes-threaten-fish-spawning-areas-in-alaska International Erratic US Admin Threatens Another Tariff Headache for US Seafood Importers: Salmon Fillets, Octopus SeafoodNews.com by John Sackton - April 9, 2019 As many in the seafood industry know, our own government has been hurting both American consumers and exporters with seafood tariff wars that have resulted in significant disruption and dislocation for some segments within the US seafood industry. This is likely to continue if Washington goes through with retaliatory tariffs against Airbus. The US Trade representative published a list of items being considered for a tariff to counteract subsidies that the US claims the EU provides Airbus. The EU denies that these subsidies exist, and say that their export support efforts are no different than what the US does for Boeing. The potential tariffs would amount to around $11 billion. The US has been engaged with the WTO in litigation around Airbus for 14 years and the trade office thinks a decision may be imminent, allowing the US to impose tariffs under WTO rules. A WTO arbitrator is likely to set the total amount of tariffs if the case is won by the US. At the same time, a countersuit against Boeing subsidies by the EU faces a likely win at the WTO, allowing both groups to impose tariffs. The proposed tariff list, among which products may be chosen for final tariffs, concentrates on aircraft and helicopter parts but also contains a number of consumer export items including cheese, olive oil, and some seafood. The principal seafood item would be tariffs on fresh salmon fillets from the EU. Most EU salmon exports to the US are whole fish, and would not be affected. Norway is not part of the EU and would not be affected. However, the US does import around $130 million of fresh salmon fillets annually from EU members such as Ireland, the UK, and others. The EU exports about $1.1 Billion worth of salmon fillets, so the amount going to the US is only a small proportion of their overall market. Another seafood item is prepared herring and salmon. These are processed and often sold in jars or tins, like sprats. The total EU exports for salmon and herring in this form to the US is about $550 million. Other seafood items where the tariffs could have an impact, if they were put into place, include Spanish octopus and squid. Spain exports about $15 million worth of octopus to the US, and this is often sold at a premium to Philippine octopus and has been increasing in popularity in recent years. Spain also exports about $11.5 million worth of squid and cuttlefish, which would be listed under the proposed tariff. The point is that the seafood marketplace is made up not just of the big volume items like shrimp, salmon, and whitefish, but it also has room for a host of smaller niche products, whether sardines, sprats, octopus or others. Those who specialize in these types of products cannot afford to contend with more price uncertainty, as their ability to sell this product is at risk while the US and the EU fight over aircraft. https://www.seafoodnews.com/Story/1137670/Erratic-US-Admin-Threatens-Another-Tariff-Headache-for-US-Seafood-Importers-Salmon-Fillets-Octopus Environment/Science Pebble backs lawsuit to halt Bristol Bay seafood association’s funding for anti-mine groups Six Bristol Bay commercial fishermen are suing the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association, which they belong to. They are challenging over $250,000 in contracts it made with groups that advocate against the proposed Pebble Mine. KDLG by Elizabeth Harball - April 8, 2019 Six Bristol Bay commercial fishermen are suing a regional seafood association they belong to, challenging over $250,000 in contracts it made with groups that advocate against the proposed Pebble Mine. https://www.kdlg.org/post/pebble-backs-lawsuit-halt-bristol-bay-seafood-association-s-funding-anti-mine-groups#stream/0 FYI’s 2019 Seafood Expo North America brought over 21,500 industry professionals to Boston Seafood Source by Madelyn Kearns - April 8, 2019 Last month, more than 21,500 seafood industry professionals from around the world arrived in Boston, Massachusetts for the 2019 edition of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, event organizer Diversified Communications revealed on 8 April. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/2019-seafood-expo-north-america-brought-over-21-500-industry-professionals-to-boston Fish net gets new life as carpet squares Cordova Times by Margaret Bauman - April 8, 2019 Sustainability and environmental engineering professional Robin Schiro is repurposing nets them into carpet squares made of 60 to 80 percent recyclable material. Courtesy photo https://thecordovatimes.com/2019/04/08/fish-net-gets-new-life-as-carpet-squares/
Ann Owens Pacific Seafood Processors Association Office Manager 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: pspafish@gmail.com; Website: www.pspafish.net Our office days/hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. *Inclusion of a news article, report, or other document in this email does not imply PSPA support or endorsement of the information or opinion expressed in the document.