GAPP Funds 20 New Partnerships to Broaden Demand for Wild Alaska Pollock in NA and EU

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) announced their investment of over $1.6 million to partner with 14 companies that will launch new products made with sustainable wild Alaska Pollock. The companies will introduce new products made with pollock to retail and foodservice outlets across North America and Europe.

The competition was stiff for GAPP’s co-investment funds again this year, said GAPP CEO Craig Morris. 

“Our Board set an ambitious goal to attract new partners and exciting innovations to the ...

US District Attorney Fires Back at American Seafoods: No Restraining Order Against CBP

On Thursday, Anchorage’s Acting US Attorney Bryan Wilson filed a motion in opposition to a Temporary Restraining Order filed by American Seafood’s subsidiary Alaska Reefer Management (ARM) and Kloosterboer Int’l Forwarding (KIFF), an affiliate.

The court action relates to penalties issued to the two companies and others in violation of the Jones Act, that have exceeded $350 million. The penalties began August 9, 2021 and included frozen seafood shipments from Dutch Harbor to East Coast markets by way on foreign flagged vessels and Canadian railways. That route ...

Court Docs Say “Bayside Program" Was Known by Feds For Decades, Supply Route Now Paralyzed

In the baffling crack down on a transportation corridor used by Bering Sea Pollock at-sea processors and known to federal officials for decades, penalty fines have been so high that it has paralyzed that route and sent suppliers scrambling for options. There are few. 

Over $350 million in fines from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has stopped 24.82 million pounds of seafood product held in cold storage in Bayside, New Brunswick, more than 2 million pounds of seafood product currently on board ...

China to Continue to Put Pressure on Russia in Pollock War Between Countries

China will continue to put pressure on Russia in the ongoing pollock war between the two countries, according to recent statements, made by some Russian analysts in the field of fishing and media reports.

According to a recent report by Planet Tracker, the UK think tank, as China has not yet opened its ports for Russian fishermen it can use the closure to secure the right to conduct pollock catch in the territorial waters of Russia.

According to analysts of Planet Tracker, China may put...

Russian Government to Ensure More Active Supplies of Pollock to Domestic Market  

The Russian government will create conditions for the increase of pollock supplies to the domestic market and stabilization of prices for it, according to recent statements made by some senior state officials and local media reports.  

As part of these plans, the government will provide subsidies for the delivery of pollock from Kamchatka and other Far East regions of the country to the European part of Russia.   

According to recent statements, made by Russia’s Prime-Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the government has also plans to...

GAPP: Wild Alaska Pollock One of the Most Climate-Friendly Proteins

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) was pleased to share that Wild Alaska Pollock is one of the most climate-friendly proteins available after assessing the results of its comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

GAPP kicked off the LCA process alongside sustainability consultancy Quantis nearly two years ago. The assessment took a look at Wild Alaska Protein through several key impact categories such as global warming potential, energy use, use of land and water resources, and waste outputs...

JAPAN: May Seafood Imports, Exports Up In Value, Down In Volume

According to the May customs statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on June 29, imports of marine products (including non-edibles) have picked up slightly even though they are less than last month. The value increased significantly as unit prices continued to rise. Suisan Keizai reports that due to rising international prices and the Japanese yen depreciation, procurement costs are likely to be high.

Imports in May were 177,551 tons; 120,246.02 million yen ($1,091.94 million), which is a decrease of 2.4% from...

May Hokkaido Surimi Production Stalling In Pollock, Up In Atka Mackerel

The National Surimi Manufacturers Association on June 25 announced the production of land-based surimi in Hokkaido. While Alaska pollock surimi was sluggish, Atka mackerel surimi strengthened its recovery trend. In addition, although shipments have leveled off slightly, they continue to perform well. As a result, inventory at the end of the month has hit a new low in recent years.

Production of surimi in Hokkaido in May was 1132 tons, which was 36.2% less than the same month of the previous year, and continued to lack growth....

Russia’s Alaska Pollock Run Into Trouble in Chinese Market

Under the influence of COVID-19, China has strengthened customs clearance. Instead of sampling, almost every container is now examined before officially entering this Asian market. This has taken a toll on the country’s seafood imports, and many suppliers have been hit hard by the decision. One case in point is Alaska pollock suppliers in Russia.

Nearly 40% of pollock worldwide is said to be sent to China for processing every year. These Russian suppliers used to deliver pollock to China’s northern region, and Shandong’s Dalian and Qingdao are said to...

Japan April Export Volume: Frozen Yellowtail Fillets Up More Than 5 Times

According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, the quantity of marine product exports (seafood and its preparations, fish meal) in April increased by 33% from the same month of the previous year to 82,390 tons. The value increased by 73% to 25,935 million yen ($235.59 million). Furthermore, in the same month of the last year, there was a reactionary increase in quantity and value due to the impact of the new coronavirus. Sales of frozen scallops and other products increased...

JAPAN: April Preliminary Report Shows Stalling Imports Again

According to the April preliminary trade report released by the Ministry of Finance on May 20, the quantity of seafood imports (excluding non-edible marine products) decreased again. The value continued a positive increase for three months in a row but remained at the same low level as the previous year when it plummeted due to the COVID.

Imports of seafood in April were 173,336 tons, or 132,370 million yen ($1205.14 million); a decrease of 3.6% and an increase of 1.9% compared to the same month of the previous year...

6 Highlights From the 2019 Fisheries of the United States Report

On Thursday NOAA Fisheries released their 2019 Fisheries of the United States Report, which provides fisheries statistics for the nation, including commercial landings and value. According to the latest figures, in 2019 U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.3 billion pounds of seafood valued at $5.5 billion. This was on par with 2018, representing a less than 1% decline in volume and 2% decline in value. Find five more highlights from the report below:

Highest Value Species Groups

Of all species caught by U.S. fishermen...

GAPP Research Finds Potential need to “Relaunch” Surimi

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) hired C+R Research last year to conduct a two-phased research project to gather recommendations for the industry. The project, which commenced in the fall, has found that there is a potential need to “relaunch” surimi to consumers.”

“I always like to see challenges as opportunities and this research certainly identified many opportunities for our industry and the future of surimi seafood here in the U.S.,” said GAPP CEO Craig Morris. “I’m excited to review these results...

PODCAST: America the Beautiful; Push for a National Seafood Council; March Shrimp Imports and More

Join SeafoodNews Podcast hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione as they talk about the Biden Administration's "America the Beautiful" report; the push to develop a National Seafood Council; March shrimp imports; and much more!

This episode is brought to you by Urner Barry Consulting. Urner Barry Consulting provides tailored solutions to identify growth opportunities within the fast-paced protein commodity sectors. Combining the expertise of our analytical team, our warehouse of proprietary and trusted data, and unparalleled insight into market forecasting, Urner Barry Consulting will...

GAPP Partners With Urner Barry on Surimi Paste Tracker

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) is once again partnering with Urner Barry—this time to create the Surimi Paste Tracker.

“This tool will quite literally illuminate the specifics around surimi paste production and facilitate forecasting, sales management and overall better understanding of the composition of surimi paste, by species,” said Craig Morris, GAPP CEO. “One of the first things oure Surimi Committee wanted to provide back to our industry was a better understanding of the importing countries in the global surimi paste trade and who...

Funds for Alaska Pollock Products, Market Inroads

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch.  Got ideas for making or marketing new pollock products? You could get financial backing. 

The trade group Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers, or GAPP, is on a mission to create more awareness and demand through its Partnership Program in North America and Europe.

Proposals are being accepted for new items or to help get Alaska pollock introduced to food influencers and decision-makers at places where it hasn’t previously had visibility. 

“One of the things that we do here at GAPP is try to...

Alaska Pollock Surimi Price Rising Sharply in Japan Due to Tight Supply

The price of Alaska pollock surimi from the US, which is indispensable for paste products, is skyrocketing. Behind this is the impact of the spread of the new coronavirus infection and the poor catch and small size of Alaska pollock, and production has not kept pace with demand. A major domestic supplier told Suisan Keizai Newspaper that "it is likely that it will take time to restore the balance of supply and demand." It seems that it will still take time to resolve the high surimi price.

There has been concern that the supply of surimi will decrease due to the leftover catch quota for the 2020 B season. Still, the import unit price of surimi soared to CIF 385 yen/kg ($3.51/kg) around April of this year...

Alaska Shipping Firms File Restraining Order Against Jones Act Fines Over $350 Million

Yesterday Kloosterboer International Forwarding (KIF) and Alaska Reefer Management (ARM) filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, to stop a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement action that threatens to bring shipping of Alaska seafood from Dutch Harbor to U.S. customers on the East Coast through the Canadian port of Bayside, New Brunswick and onward to Maine, to a standstill.

Beginning August 9, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began issuing enormous Penalty Notices for ...

Russian Pollock Producers Call on New Talks with China to Resume Supplies 

The closure of the Chinese market for Russian pollock producers may lead to a drop in revenue by almost 27% this year, according to producers.

In order to prevent the crisis, the All-Russian Association of Fisheries (VARPE) has recently called on the government to hold new negotiations with China to remove obstacles for the imports of Russian pollock to the Chinese market.

As the Russian Kommersant business paper has recently reported citing on the letter of the president of VARPE German Zverev...

USDA Looking to Buy Just Shy of 8 Million Pounds of Alaska Pollock Products 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is at it again. For the third time in a week, the USDA issued an open purchase request for seafood products. USDA’s latest request is for a whopping 7.942 million pounds of Alaska pollock products.

USDA’s latest invitation urges firms to provide offers to sell pollock products for use in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs. Acceptances will be announced by midnight on August 13...

JAPAN: January-May Surimi Product Exports Reach Record High

According to the Ministry of Finance's trade statistics, the cumulative export volume of surimi products (excluding fish sausage) such as kamaboko steamed surimi increased by 18% from the same period of the previous year to 4433 tons. The export value increased by 14% to 4,078.1 million yen ($37.02 million). The value rose to a record high for the cumulative total from January to May. The United States, which has settled down regarding the new coronavirus pandemic, and has a booming economy, was the largest destination...

Russian Western Bering Sea Pollock Nets MSC Certification

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced that the Pollock Catchers Association (PCA) has achieved certification for the Russian Western Bering Sea Pollock fishery.

The certification follows nine months of independent certification by Lloyd’s Register for compliance with the MSC Fisheries Standard.

The assessment focused on the mid-water trawl pollock fishery in the Navarinsky area of the Bering Sea (West Bering Sea zone east of the 174th meridian) on the stock status of the target species, the environmental impacts, and the effectiveness of the fisheries management system, the MSC wrote...

ANALYSIS: 2021 Pollock B Season Start Sees Improvement Over 2020

The 2021 Alaskan Pollock B season opened June 10, 2021 in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Vessels are eager to see improvements in fishing compared to the previous 2021 A season, as well as the 2020 B season.

Currently, the 2021 total allowable catch for Bering Sea pollock is set at 1.375 million metric tons, 50,000 metric tons less than it was in 2020.

As per the most updated data from NOAA on June 24, 2021, the first two...

JAPAN: March End Surimi Inventory Record Low

The stock of frozen surimi announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) at the end of March was 33,299 tons, 101% of the previous month. The breakdown is 14,600 tons of Alaska pollock, 97% of the last month, and 18,699 tons of other surimi, 104% of the previous month, reported Kamaboko News.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, the total amount of frozen surimi was 83%, that of Alaska pollock was 69%, and that of other surimi was 97%; all at low levels...

Kamchatka to Become Center of Russian Fish Processing in Years to Come 

The authorities of the Russian Kamchatka region, together with a private investor, plan to increase investments in the development of the fish processing sector of the region in years to come.

As Vladimir Solodov, the governor of the Kamchatka region, said in an interview with the Russian Komsomolskay Pravda business paper during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the region continues an active building of its fish processing sector and fishing fleet. Over the past five years the...

GAPP Hosting Informational Webinar For Next Round of Partnership Funding

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) is once again seeking innovative proposals for its next round of Partnership Program funding in North America and Europe.

GAPP initially announced back in April that they were looking for proposals.

“Our Board continues to see incredible value in these partnerships and bringing so many new Wild Alaska products—now more than three dozen—to market with our previous partners,” GAPP CEO Craig Morris said last month. “This year, we want to think even bigger, bringing new partners into the program...

Meal Prep Company Clean Eatz Kitchen Adds Alaskan Pollock Noodles to Menu

Clean Eatz Kitchen, a direct-to-consumer meal plan and meal prep company, has added Alaskan Pollock Noodles to their offerings. As a service that offers specialized meal plans for those looking for keto-friendly or gluten-free meals, Alaskan Pollock Noodles check every box.

“It’s the craziest thing, I was very skeptical at first,” said production manager Ben Mitchell. “The idea of a noodle made from fish sounds like it’s going to taste fishy and have a strange texture, but when it’s in the dish...

USDA Makes Historic Seafood Purchase for Food Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced it will purchase up to $159.4 million in domestically produced seafood, fruits, legumes and nuts as part of the Section 32 food assistance funding program.

The products will be distributed to a variety of domestic food assistance programs, including charitable institutions, the USDA said in a press release. These purchases are being made utilizing funds under the authority of Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended. It is one of the ...

USDA Looking to Make 8.3 Million Pound Alaska Pollock Purchase 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking to purchase over 8.3 million pounds of Alaska pollock products. The USDA released a bid solicitation on May 4 that said the purchases will be used for the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs.

The USDA said acceptances will be announced by midnight, May 26, 2021 and deliveries are to be made between July 1, 2021 through February 28, 2022. The Department is seeking products including pollock sticks, nuggets and frozen fillets...

Russia to Start More Active Promotion of Domestic Fish in EU Market  

Russia is in talks with China over the resumption of supplies of its fish to the Chinese market, continuing the development of the domestic fish processing sector, according to recent statements made by representatives of some leading domestic producers and local media reports.  

As Herman Zverev, head of the All Russian Association of Fish Producers (VARPE) said in an interview with the Russian Rossyiskay Gazeta business paper, while containers with Russian fish are currently being unloaded at the port of Qingdao, the deliveries have not yet been...