SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [by John Sackton] โ April 2, 2014 โ US shrimp import volumes surged 7.6% year to date, driven by a big increase in exports of shell on headless shrimp from Ecuador.
Ecuadorโs market share surged to 35% in February, while it averaged about 25% for all of last year. Shipments to China rose also, indicating it is increased production, not a shift in markets that is behind the surge.
Eastern Fisheries is planning to announce a minority share purchase in a Japanese Hokkaido scallop company next week, and is also looking to expand its vertical integration through purchase of other overseas scallop companies. Eastern has been in China for 30 years, and has a subsidiary there. Demand for larger size scallops continues to be very strong, says Joe Furtado, executive vice president.
The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association announced that Sue Aspelund will become the new Executive Director. Aspelund, who is well known in Alaska fisheries, is currently deputy Director at ADF&Gโs commercial fisheries division. She also served as director of Cordova Fishermen United, and operated a set net on the Naknek river.
NOAA has reversed course and declared that fishing activities cause โno jeopardyโ to Steller Sea Lions. After a widely criticized biological opinion in 2010 that led to emergency action, NOAA took into account peer review criticisms and issued a new 2014 Bi-op that will allow commercial fisheries to reopen in some areas, consistent with conservation rules.
We run a story on the rapidly growing market for โfakeโ meat and fish โ which is vegetable protein processed to achieve texture and taste. Whole Foods recently mixed up two batches of chicken salad โ one with chicken, on with fake chicken, and customers never knew the difference. These are very sophisticated products, far more so than the old โveggieโ burgers.
In rating High Liners new debt lines totaling $480 million, Moodyโs reaffirmed their rating of the company. Despite a weak foodservice environment limiting the companyโs growth potential, they see High Liner improving its debt to earnings ratio, through its continuing integration of its recent acquisitions.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.