Saving Seafood

International & Trade

Cooke Acquires Copeinca

November 29, 2024 — The following was released by Cooke Aquaculture Inc:

November 26, 2024 -Cooke Inc. (“Cooke”) of New Brunswick, Canada, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Corporación Pesquera Inca S.A.C. (“Copeinca”) of Peru.

This follows the Cooke announcement of November 7 disclosing that Copeinca Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cooke, and PF Cayman New Holdco Limited, as seller, had executed a binding share purchase agreement pursuant to which Cooke agreed to indirectly acquire all the outstanding shares of Copeinca.
 
Copeinca was established in 1994 and has grown to become Peru’s largest fishing company, one of Peru’s largest anchoveta processors and one of the world’s largest anchoveta fishmeal and fish oil producers and exporters.
 
With its corporate global headquarters in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, the Cooke family of companies now operates global aquaculture and wild fishery divisions in 15 countries with more than 15,000 employees providing a sustainable seafood source reaching tables all over the world. 
 
Cooke’s core purpose is to ‘cultivate the ocean with care, nourish the world, provide for our families, and build stronger communities’.
 
“We’re excited to welcome Copeinca’s dedicated employees to the Cooke family of companies,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke. “Copeinca will be a major contributor in furthering Cooke’s growth as a leader in strengthening global food security.”
 
With the completed acquisition, Cooke further strengthens its growing marine ingredients business and diversifies its geographic and species portfolio.
 
Cooke entered the marine ingredients sector in 2017 with its acquisition of US-based Omega Protein Corporation, a nutritional product company and a leading integrated provider of specialty oils and specialty protein products.
 
The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Trump’s tariff proposal on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China would affect over USD 5.6 billion in seafood

November 27, 2024 — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump proposed big hikes in tariffs on all goods from Canada, Mexico, and China on 25 November in a move that would affect one-fifth of all U.S. seafood imports by value.

Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, said he would charge tariffs of 25 percent on all products from Mexico and Canada and 10 percent tariffs on goods from China – above any existing tariffs.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US Senate committee approves bill directing offshore energy revenues to coastal states, fisheries research

November 27, 2024 — The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has approved a bill that would take money from offshore energy projects and redistribute it to adjacent states for coastal restoration, infrastructure, and fisheries research.

First introduced in 2021, the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems (RISEE) Act would create a new offshore wind revenue-sharing model, requiring offshore energy projects to share 37.5 percent of revenue with adjacent states. Those states can spend that money to support coastal restoration, invest in hurricane protection, improve infrastructure, or dedicate it to fisheries science and research.

The legislation was passed out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in 2022, but never received a vote from the full Senate.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Illegal Wildlife Smuggling Operation Shut Down in Puerto Rico

November 27, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement led a joint investigation resulting in the sentencing of two Dominican nationals. They were sentenced to a combined 4 years in prison for smuggling live American juvenile eels. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and the Environmental and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section successfully prosecuted Simon De la Cruz Paredes and Saul Enrique José De la Cruz. Paredes was sentenced to 24 months in prison and De la Cruz was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Coast Guard identified and intercepted the two smugglers in February. They were transiting in a high speed panga in federal waters north of Puerto Rico. The smugglers refused to heave to and follow USCG orders, ultimately leading USCG to disable their vessel’s engines through force. Upon boarding, USCG officers noticed large bags containing live eels and aerators, in addition to a firearm and ammunition. USCG officers contacted NOAA Enforcement officials to aid in determining the bag’s contents and jurisdiction. Our close collaboration and cross-training with partner agencies aided in identifying the suspects intent to smuggle wildlife and started the joint investigation.

Our enforcement agents and officers train USCG personnel at their regional training centers. They develop close working relationships with local sector Living Marine Resource officers, who specialize in fishery related boardings. USCG personnel are trained to identify and inspect vessels and persons potentially engaging in illegal fishing activities. In this case, USCG officers informed NOAA enforcement of a potential fisheries violation. We consulted with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources biologists to determine the species seized. American eels spend part of their lives in freshwater, which falls under the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We worked with USFWS agents in the investigation. DNER rangers assisted with transport of the suspects and evidence upon USCG’s arrival in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “Our joint enforcement partnerships expand our ability to enforce marine resource laws more efficiently,” said Paige Casey, acting Assistant Director of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division. “In this case, we saw how effective our partnerships are with the successful arrest and prosecution of two individuals who illegally harvested eels. Our collaboration is vital in ensuring that individuals who violate marine resource laws are held fully accountable.”

The harvest of juvenile eels, commonly known as glass eels, are a lucrative business. They typically yield $2,200 per kilogram in a legal market. Black markets supported through operations similar to Parede’s and De la Cruz’s actions can increase retail prices of glass eels and encourage illegal activity. The Coast Guard seized more than 100,000 eels, estimated at $132,000. The two suspects spent months illegally harvesting eels at a freshwater creek in Puerto Rico. After illegally harvesting the eels, they attempted to transport the catch to the Dominican Republic. The eels would then be sold in Asian markets where the product would ultimately be worth more than $1 million.

NOAA Fisheries enforces fisheries and seafood regulations. Illegal wildlife trafficking, such as these eels, falls under the Lacey Act. Identifying and putting a halt to illegal seafood coming into or leaving the United States is integral in protecting our domestic fisheries. This successful prosecution is credited to the close working relationship we have with our partner agencies. It aids in ensuring a level playing field exists for U.S. seafood dealers and distributors.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

US says a drug cartel is behind the longstanding problem of illegal fishing in the Gulf of Mexico

November 27, 2024 — For years, U.S. authorities and fishermen have been complaining about illegal fishing for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, and now it’s been revealed who is behind the lucrative trade: a Mexican drug cartel.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Tuesday against members of the Gulf drug cartel, which operates in the border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros, across from McAllen and Brownsville, Texas.

While commercial fishing and drug cartels may seem like an unlikely combination, it makes perfect sense for a criminal organization.

The department says the cartel uses fishing boats to facilitate drug and migrant smuggling; along the way, the boats catch tons of red snapper, a commercially valuable but vulnerable species. The boats often launch from Playa Bagdad, east of Matamoros, on the Gulf coast.

“The Gulf Cartel engages in the illicit trade of red snapper and shark species through ‘lancha’ operations based out of Playa Bagdad,” the department said. “Apart from their use for IUU (illegal, unregulated or unreported) fishing in U.S. waters, lanchas are also used to move illicit drugs and migrants into the United States.”

Read the full article at the Associated Press 

ALASKA: The current state of Alaska fisheries

November 27, 2024 — The state of Alaskan fisheries was discussed at this year’s Pacific Marine Expo. The panel featured Senator Gary Stevens, president of the Alaska State Senate, Jeremy Woodrow, executive director of Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, and Nels Ure, deputy director of Commercial Fishermen for Bristol Bay.

Senator Stevens began the discussion, highlighting the Alaska Seafood Task Force, comprised of four senators and four representatives, which was established to address industry challenges. “We’re facing enormous problems in the state of Alaska right now in the fishing industry,” Stevens said. “We will introduce legislation in mid-January, which will then go through committees in both the House and Senate,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of finding solutions for fishermen, processors, marketers, and impacted communities.

Stevens highlighted difficulties faced in communities like King Cove and the Pibilofs that have lost their processing capabilities. To combat these issues, the task force is exploring incentives for innovation, improved marketing, and tax credits for value-added equipment. “Processors, fishermen, and communities are all in the same boat,” Stevens said, underlining the need for collaboration.

Jeremy Woodrow of ASMI discussed Alaska’s position in the global seafood market. He stressed the importance of capitalizing on opportunities created by the U.S. ban on Russian seafood imports, which has opened a $450 million market gap. “This is our number one opportunity right now, to sell more Alaska seafood to more Americans,” Woodrow said.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

MASSACHUSETTS: Town Urges Islanders To Lobby Federal And State Preservation Authorities Over SouthCoast Wind Mitigation

November 27, 2024 — With the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) set to issue a permit for the SouthCoast Wind project south of Nantucket next month, the town has put out an “urgent” plea for island residents to lobby state and federal preservation authorities to stall the process.

The goal is not only to get BOEM to improve its proposed mitigation for Nantucket, but also to potentially drag out the approval process beyond the Jan. 20th, 2025 inauguration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to end offshore wind projects on “day one.”

The SouthCoast Wind project is still in the midst of the so-called Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act, which deals with the impacts on historic propertiesthe Se and gives the town standing with BOEM, as the island is a registered National Historic Landmark. The town has already objected to BOEM’s mitigation proposal for the SouthCoast Wind: just $150,000 for historic property surveys and archeological assessments – to limit the impact of the offshore energy development on the island. Despite those objections during the Section 106 process, BOEM appears poised to issue a permit for SouthCoast Wind on December 19, an approval which opponents believe is being rushed through before the Biden administration leaves the White House.

Read the full article at Nantucket Current

NEW JERSEY: Watchdog group calls for greater transparency in turbines used for New Jersey wind farm

November 27, 2024 — A New Jersey shore community is calling on state regulators and an offshore wind company to conduct a transparent and detailed safety analysis on the turbines selected for the Atlantic Shores South Project.

Save Long Beach Island, a group dedicated to preserving the New Jersey shoreline, sent two invitations to the developers of the Atlantic Shores South Project to participate in a panel discussion on the proposed 200 wind turbines plotted for 8.7 miles offshore. Both requests were ignored.

Read the full article at Washington Examiner

ALASKA: Alaska 2024 salmon season tanks in both total catch and value

November 27, 2024 — Alaska’s 2024 salmon fishery saw double-digit declines in both catches and value. Just over 101 million salmon were harvested across Alaska, a 56% decrease from the more than 232 million fish caught in 2023.

Fishermen’s paydays also took a big hit, with the total salmon value at $304 million. That’s down nearly 24% from $398 million last year.

Those numbers are from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) preliminary harvest and value figures for the 2024 Alaska Commercial Salmon Fishery.  

It gets worse.

Alaska’s 2024 all-species catch of 101 million fish weighed in at 450 million pounds—the third lowest on record for total fish harvested and the lowest on record for total pounds harvested since 1985. For ex-vessel value (dockside), adjusted for inflation, the estimate of $304 million was the third lowest since 1975.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

South Atlantic black sea bass fishery approves ropeless gear intended to protect right whales

November 27, 2024 — The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) has approved the use of ropeless fishing gear, also known as on-demand gear, in its black sea bass fishery, which spans the U.S. coastline from the state of North Carolina to Florida.

The new gear aims to reduce instances of right whale entanglements. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most critically endangered species in the world, with an estimated 372 individuals remaining.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource