Alaska
As herring fisheries struggle around the state, one rebounds in Prince William Sound
KMXT by Davis Hovey - November 6, 2024
For the first time in decades, there will be a commercial herring fishery in Prince William Sound. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced on Oct. 25 that a small food and bait fishery, with a GHL of 500 tons, will open sometime this month – that is, if fishermen can find a buyer.
Silver Bay Partners with APICDA in False Pass, Buys More Plants in Aleutians, AK Peninsula
SeafoodNews.com by Peggy Parker - November 7, 2024
Yesterday the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association (APICDA), and Silver Bay Seafoods jointly announced a partnership regarding processing operations in False Pass, Alaska.“APICDA will assume ownership of the False Pass facility (formerly owned by Trident), and Silver Bay Seafoods will lease and manage the operations of the facility and fuel company,” the November 6 joint release said. “This strategic partnership will support seafood processing stability in the region during a time of change in the seafood processing sector.”In early June, Silver Bay Seafoods and Trident Seafoods jointly announced a deal for Silver Bay to acquire Trident’s False Pass processing facility and fuel business, including the intention that APICDA would own the facility and lease it back to Silver Bay.“The timing of False Pass acquisition early this summer allowed us to immediately provide critical fuel and services and maximized opportunity for our fishermen partners ahead of the 2024 season while we worked with APICDA and other local stakeholders on a long-term, mutually beneficial plan,” said Cora Campbell, President and CEO Silver Bay Seafoods.Also yesterday, Silver Bay announced its intention to buy the Peter Pan Seafoods processing facilities in Dillingham and Port Moller, as well as support sites in Bristol Bay, from Rodger May, former co-owner of Peter Pan Seafoods. May successfully bid on the properties in a bankruptcy process brought by Wells Fargo Bank, Peter Pan’s largest creditor, where May was both co-owner and creditor at different times in the process.Finally, Silver Bay committed to joining a working group formed by May to discuss the future of Peter Pan’s King Cove plant.That brings Silver Bay’s plants in Alaska to eight, located in Craig, Sitka, Valdez, Kodiak, Naknek, Dillingham, Port Moller, False Pass (built by Silver Bay in 2019, separate from Peter Pan’s older plant there.)
Les Hodges: The Holiday Buying Season Begins with New Alaska Fisheries
Seafood News by Les Hodges with Hiroshi Onuma - November 8, 2024
The Alaska king and snow crab fisheries are underway, with all eyes looking north. This season, the red king crab quota has been raised by 7.5% to 2.310mm pounds. Meanwhile, tanner (or bairdi) snow crab has seen a remarkable increase, tripling last year's quota to 6.27 million pounds. Additionally, there's an unexpected opening for opilio snow crab, with a quota set at 4.720mm pounds. However, St. Mathew blue king crab and the Pribilof red and blue king crab remain closed.Norway also announced 2025 quotas for red king crab and opilio snow crab. Red king crab is increased from 966 metric tons to 1,510 metric tons while snow crab receives a 24% increase to 12,724 metric tons.In other news, NOAA's September import data reveals a decrease in U.S. imports of both king and snow crab compared to last year.Snow crab imports, in particular, have been on a downward trend since peaking in May, with September imports dropping 50% from August, and total imports down 5% year-on-year. As inventories tighten and demand remains strong, snow crab prices continue to rise.As we approach year-end, the U.S. king crab market is supported by a limited red king crab supply from Norway and Alaska's red and golden king crab fisheries. Carryover stocks of Russian product are now largely depleted.Meanwhile, Russia has been shipping record volumes of king crab and snow crab from the Barents Sea and Far East fisheries to Asia, with China replacing the U.S. as the largest buyer. China and South Korea remain focused on live crab, while Japan's demand is mainly for processed crab.For more ADF&G detail on the Alaska crab quotas and breakdown on IFQ and CDQ quotas for 2024/25, please click on the link.Production:Russia: The November export duty for crab increased from 5.5% to 7%, the maximum allowed for goods with flexible duties. Export duties for deep water crab and select other seafood products have been eliminated for 2024.The Russian king and snow crab resource is stable and healthy. The 2025 totally allowed catch (TAC) for crab shows a 3.4% overall increase, with the projected total harvest reaching just under 110,000 metric tons (M/t). The red king crab quota remains steady at 28,753 M/t, while minor increases are set for blue and golden king crab, at 7,912 M/t and 2,770 M/t, respectively.For snow crab, opilio increases from 47,706 M/t to 50,099 M/t, while Tanner snow crab has increased by 16% to 5,284 M/t. The deep-water Angulatus and Japonicus snow crab quotas have been raised to 13,500 M/t.The latest SSD fishing report highlights current activity. In the Barents Sea, three processors are harvesting live red king crab. In the Far East, 38 vessels are fishing for live crab with 18 harvesting both cooked and raw crab for Asian markets. Twelve processors are handling live red king crab, while 17 vessels are harvesting live snow crab, with six vessels processing raw and cooked crab. Golden king crab is being harvested by five vessels, four of which are preparing it for the cooked market.China remains the largest market for live crab, while Japan leads in frozen crab imports. As of late September, China's frozen king crab imports have surged 45% to 3,589 M/t, while snow crab imports increased by 18%, totaling 8,230 M/t. Imports of live crab into China also rose by 14%, with current volumes through August totaling 17,300 M/t.During the week of October 20th 1,333 metric tons (M/t) of king and snow crab were delivered to ports in China and South Korea Of this, 68% were live king and snow crab, with the remaining portion split between cooked and raw crab.Norway: In October, Norway achieved record-high seafood export values, led by salmon, trout, and mackerel, with mackerel performing exceptionally well. Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, announced these results.The largest markets for Norwegian seafood exports in October were Poland, U.S., and the Netherlands. While exports to the EU market was down 5%, shipments to Asia increased by 31%. Norway's diverse export portfolio includes frozen crab shipped to nine countries and live crab to ten countries in October.Norway exported 147 M/t of king crab in October, valued at $7.3million - down 28% in volume and 20% in value compared to September according to Josephine Voraa, Head of Shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council.The U.S. was the largest market for both live and frozen king crab in October receiving 94 M/t, followed by Tunisia and France.The 2025 totally allowed catch (TAC) for red king crab has been set at 1,510 M/t, an increase of 544 M/t. The 2025 snow crab TAC has also risen by 24% increase from 10,300 M/t to 12,725 M/t reflecting the growth in this resource according to the Norwegian Seafood Council.NOAA data reports that U.S. imports of Norwegian snow crab increased 14% through September, reaching 3,550 M/t (7,827 million pounds). Japan saw the largest market growth, with imports rising to 1,003 M/t through September, up from 314 M/t in the same period in 2023. source: Japan Custom ServiceLooking ahead to 2025 season, Norwegian processors may be required to deliver 10% of their snow crab live instead than processed.Alaska: The 2024/25 season for red king crab, tanner crab, and opilio snow crab in Alaska opened on October 15. For the same year, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Bristol Bay red king crab experienced a 7.5% increase to 2.310 million pounds from its 2023 level, whereas the tanner crab (bairdi) count tripled to 6.27 million pounds compared to 2023. Alaska red king crab and some tanner crab along with golden king crab should be available for the holidays.The opilio snow crab TAC was unexpected and was set at 4.720 million pounds. The opilio snow crab fishery normally begins in January.Reports suggest a high likelihood of Kodiak fishermen having another tanner crab season in January 2025, even though it might be smaller than the previous season's 3.48 million lbs.Canada: Canada dominates the U.S. snow crab market, accounting for 92% of total imports through September, 2024.The high level of sales in May and June along with a reduced TAC in 2024 almost assured that U.S. imports would drop for the remainder of the year. U.S. inventories in November are limited and snow crab will be short for the holidays.In September, 2024, U.S. imports of Canadian snow crab dropped sharply, falling 54% from August to 2.406 million pounds. Year-to-date imports now trail 2023 levels by 5.1%, totaling 107.8 million pounds through September.From the season's start in April through September, 7,096 M/t (15.644 million pounds) were exported to world markets other than the U.S. Source: Statistics Canada.caThe quoted price levels on Urner Barry for Canadian Gulf of St. Lawrence 5-8 oz snow crab increased another 9% in October reaching $8.00/lb and is projected to increase. Year-over-year, prices on Gulf 5-8 oz. snow crab have increased 37%, with 8+oz snow crab up 42% to $11.75.
Alaska releases promising Bristol Bay sockeye salmon forecast
Bristol Bay's sockeye salmon harvests in 2024 came with unusually small fish, but a large inshore run.
Intrafish John Fiorillo - November 7, 2024
A total of 51.31 million sockeye salmon are expected to return to Bristol Bay in 2025, according to data released Thursday by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
*Requires Subscription
National
Nomination Period Now Open for the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Nominations are being accepted through December 23, 2024.
NOAA Fisheries - November 6, 2024
NOAA Fisheries is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. The Committee advises the Secretary of Commerce on all marine life matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. It researches, evaluates, and provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary and NOAA on agency policies, activities, science, conservation, and regulatory programs critical to the mission and goals of NOAA Fisheries.
USDA seeking more Alaska pollock following record 2024
The USDA's 2024 purchases for pollock were the second-highest ever in terms of volume and third-highest in value.Intrafish by Rachel Sapin - November 7, 2024The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking 920,000 pounds of frozen Alaska pollock to use in its domestic food distribution programs in the form of frozen fillets and fish sticks.
https://www.intrafish.com/markets/usda-seeking-more-alaska-pollock-following-record-2024/2-1-1736703
*Requires Subscription
International
America plunges global seafood into the unknown Donald Trump has been in the White House before. This time, the potential for disruption to global seafood trade will be greater.
Intrafish - November 6, 2024Americans cast their ballots for change on Nov. 5. For the seafood industry, Donald Trump’s return to power brings an entirely new set of questions.
https://www.intrafish.com/opinion/america-plunges-global-seafood-into-the-unknown/2-1-1735959
*Requires Subscription
Pacific Seafood Processors Association 1900 W Emerson Place Suite 205, Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206.281.1667 E-mail: admin@pspafish.net; Website: www.pspafish.net Our office days/hours are Monday-Friday8:00 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.
Kommentare