Seafood Headlines June 5, 2017
Tuna Recalled in California, Oklahoma and Texas over Hepatitis A Fears
On May 1, the Hawaii Department of Health notified the FDA that a sample of frozen tuna cubes from Indonesia tested positive for the hepatitis A virus. On May 2, the FDA contacted the Tropic Fish Hawaii LLC, a subsidiary distributor of Hilo Fish Company, to obtain additional information related to the positive tuna sample. Tropic Fish Hawaii LLC initiated a product recall because the affected product had been distributed to its customers in Oahu, Hawaii (U.S. mainland and other Hawaiian Islands were not affected by the recall). The state of Hawaii embargoed the lot that tested positive and the FDA confirmed the sample was positive. To read the full article click here. Source Food Poison Journal.
When winds blow salmon into their birth rivers
A warmer-than-average April could mean an early return of kings to the Yukon River and fish watchers are on alert for signs of the first pulse to arrive around June 10. While low numbers mean no commercial fishery again this year, the kings are crucial for subsistence users. To read the full article click here. Source adn.com.
Where is the Pink Salmon Market Headed?
Russian Fishing News recently reported that in 2016 Russia became the world’s largest producer of salmon, producing 53 percent of the global salmon production. What does that mean for Global Salmon and Pink Salmon Supply in 2017? Watch the 3 muinte market insight here. Source Tradex.
Scottish government accused of colluding with drug giant over pesticides scandal
The Scottish Government allowed a US drug company to secretly rubbish a scientific study blaming one of its pesticides for killing wildlife in Scottish sea lochs.
The Sunday Herald has uncovered that the ￡76 billion New Jersey multinational, Merck, hired reviewers to criticise evidence in a scientific study that the company’s fish farm chemical was causing widespread environmental damage. To read the full article click here. Source The Herald.
Norway's fish industry gets Chinese boost
China is delivering the world's first batch of intelligent offshore ocean farming facilities to Norway, designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the country's aquaculture industry, the equipment's manufacturer and analysts said on Sunday. To read the full article click here. Source China.org.cn.
FDA Investigates Findings of Hepatitis A Linked to Frozen Tuna
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are assisting state and local officials in assessing the risk of hepatitis A virus exposure from contaminated frozen tuna sourced from Sustainable Seafood Company, Vietnam, and Santa Cruz Seafood Inc., Philippines. If unvaccinated consumers have consumed the recalled product within the last two weeks, post-exposure prophylaxis may help prevent hepatitis A virus infection. To read the full article click here. Source FDA.
Fish, seafood distributors tipping the scales in favor of safety
J. J. McDonnell & Co., Inc. processes thousands of pounds of fish a day: lobster trucked to its Howard County headquarters from Maine, crabs plucked from Tangier Sound, farmed oysters from Southern Maryland and tuna flown in from Africa. They’re different species, but their requirements are the same — constant, consistent cold. Under 50 degrees for live fish, under 40 degrees for dead ones. To read the full article click here. Source Bay Journal.
First Draft of Tropical Marine Finfish Standard Open for Public Consultation
The Tropical Marine Finfish Standard has been handed over to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and is now open for public consultation. The standard focuses on four species groups- grouper, snapper, barramundi and pompano- and was posted on the ASC website on May 31 for a 30 day public consultation period that will conclude on June 30. To read the full article click here. Source asc.
The Ocean Conference | 5-9 June 2017 | Incentivising Sustainable Fisheries Through Certification
For additional information on the conference click here. Source oceanconference.un.org.
Easy catch returns with iCatch
The iCatch app is just one of those smart ideas. Developer Graham Murt specialises in software for restaurants. But living in Padstow in Cornwall, where crabs and lobsters are part of the way of life, and with close family connections to fishing, he decided to apply his skills to something that would help the local shellfishermen – including his brother Johnny who runs the Homarus from Padstow. To read the full article click here. Source Fisker Forum.
Shrimp catch limits per vessel modified
In view of the abundance of shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) has decided to increase the catch limits per vessel by 2017 between 50 and 150 per cent while prohibiting fishing in the Gulf of San Jorge. To read the full article click here. Source FIS.
US Foods to acquire F. Christiana
US Foods has agreed to acquire F. Christiana, a broadline distributor of food and food-related products with a focus on center-of-the-plate categories as well as dairy and dry goods. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by mid-June, were not disclosed. To read the full article click here. Source Food Business News.
Former tuna company executive accused of price-fixing
A former tuna company executive faces one charge of conspiring with officials from other tuna companies to fix the price of canned seafood from 2011 to 2013, according to a court filing. To read the full article click here. Source CNBC.
Seafood Watch Upgrades Recommendation of ASC-Certified Farmed Salmon to 'Good Alternative'
In an update to its Seafood Watch standards, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has today announced that farmed salmon, certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), have advanced in their sustainable seafood ranking to a 'Good Alternative'. The updated recommendation recognizes that ASC-certified farmed salmon aligns with many of the Seafood Watch's guiding principles for sustainable seafood production, and moves ASC-certified farmed salmon onto the program's recommended list of seafood for consumers to buy. To read the full article click here. Source PRNewswire.
The Ocean Cleanup Gets Help in Cleaning the World’s Oceans
Dutch foundation The Ocean Cleanup has received a helping hand from AkzoNobel in its aim to completely remove plastic from the world’s oceans.
Under the agreement between the parties, AkzoNobel will provide advanced, biocide-free coatings technology for all the devices and equipment used by The Ocean Cleanup for the next five years. To read the full article click here. Source World Maritime News.
NORWEGIAN BILLIONAIRE FUNDS WORLD’S LARGEST YACHT TO SCOOP UP PLASTIC
Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge R?kke has profited from offshore drilling. But now the businessman, who started as a fisherman, wants to give back with a colossal yacht for marine research. The vessel will be able to scoop up around five tons of plastic every day, and then melt it down – all in yet another private effort to help clean up the ocean. To read the full article click here. Source superhv.com.
New Trump budget abolishes USDA catfish inspection program
According to the budget proposal, reverting to the prior catfish inspectionprogram implemented by the FDA would save an estimated US$2.5 million per annum by eliminating unnecessary and duplicative costs.
“This is just more evidence that anyone looking to cut waste and benefit American Taxpayers, by getting rid of duplicative bloat, recognizes how much of a boondoggle this program has always been.” said Gavin Gibbons of the NFI. To read the full article click here. Source Talk Vietnam.
Proposed Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
In January 2017, the proposed Safe Food for Canadians Regulations were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part Ifor a 90-day public comment period. At the same time, the CFIA sought input on a series of accompanying documents incorporated by reference. The consultation was an opportunity for all Canadians to have their say on the proposed regulations.
We had the privilege to engage with thousands in-person and virtually. During multiple webinars, information sessions and other meetings, we provided an overview of the proposal and the available tools, resources and guidance materials. Most importantly, we had the invaluable opportunity to hear directly from food businesses and to answer questions. For additional information click here. Source CFIA.
ASC certified salmon isn’t really a “Good Alternative” seafood
SeaChoice disagrees with the decision by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program to consider farmed salmon certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) as a “Good Alternative”. Seafood Watch published its new recommendation on June 5th, following a benchmarking review of the ASC’s Salmon Standard. To read the full article click here. Source Seachoice.
Mississippi shrimp season opens June 7
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has set the opening date of the 2016-2017 shrimp season in state territorial waters for 6 a.m. Monday.
All boats engaged in catching or transporting shrimp from Mississippi waters must be licensed or permitted by the MDMR. To read the full article click here. Source Sun Herald.
NEW RESEARCH: Warming seas threat to seafood quality
CLIMATE change could start to have an effect on the nutritional value of seafood say NSW North Coast university scientists.
An experiment conducted at the South Cross University's National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour, which has facilities to simulate ocean warming, found climate change and ocean acidification has the potential to lower the quality of seafood. To read the full article click here. Source The Daily Examiner.
Scientists launch global agenda to curb social, human rights abuses in seafood sector
As the United Nations Oceans Conference convenes in New York, a new paper calls on marine scientists to focus on social issues such as human rights violations in the seafood industry.
Authored by a team from Conservation International, the University of Washington and other organizations, the paper is the first integrated approach to meeting this global challenge and will be presented as part of the UN Oceans Conference and the Seafood Summit, which both take place June 5-9 in New York and Seattle, respectively. To read the full article click here. Source PHYS.ORG.
No free market in Maryland crab picking
Daniel Costa for the Economic Policy Institute: I don't doubt how productive and valuable Mexican immigrant crab pickers in Maryland are. Their bosses say they're the heart of the crab industry. But upon closer inspection, it seems the seafood companies don't really think this important work is worth a fair wage. The companies have lobbied tenaciously to make sure that the legal and regulatory framework of the H-2B visa program allows them to legally underpay their workers compared to what they would have to pay to attract workers in the free market ... To read the full article click here. Source Washington Examiner.
Time to get serious about CO2, for the ocean and our own sake
AS we commemorate World Environment Day, connecting with nature, we focus our periscope on our Ocean. We must remember that our actions affect the ocean, even if we don’t live by the beach or eat fish. Reducing our carbon dioxide emissions will support ocean health – and the alternative is grim. To read the full article click here. Source Pasifik.