EMEA editor Neil Ramsden brings you a roundup of the main stories from the previous week.
Two news items from Canada topped our most-read stories last week.
First was the news that the proposed South Coast Fjords National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has been reduced by nearly 30%, according to new information from the Canadian agency responsible for establishing and managing national marine conservation areas. The updated boundary shrinks the NMCA from 9,114 square kilometers to 6,491 square km.
Second was the news that Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans is considering the possibility of a week’s earlier start to the season in the world’s largest snow crab fishery in NL. “The department is working with [the Fish Food and Allied Workers, or FFAW] and [Association of Seafood Producers, or ASP], as well as the provincial government and Indigenous partners, to explore the possibility of an opening date prior to April 1,” said a spokesperson.
Clearwater Seafoods, a long-time leading exporter of live lobster based in Canada, is selling off some of its lobster holdings. The shellfish giant, which is 50% owned by Premium Brands and 50% owned by a coalition of Mi’kmaq First Nations, is making changes to its lobster procurement, grading, live storage and processing business, including the sale of its major live lobster holding facility in Arichat, Nova Scotia.
And Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors, a massive food distributor that bought from many of the largest seafood suppliers in the US, is reported to be closing and laying off all its employees. The independent Detroit, Michigan-based company, which had nearly $4 billion in revenue in 2023, deals in a wide catalog of food items, including an expansive selection of seafood products. It has more than 6,000 retail, wholesale and foodservice accounts nationally, according to its website.
There’s a close watch on US president Donald Trump’s plans to introduce tariffs. Last Thursday, he clarified the new start date for his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, saying they will go into effect on March 4. China also will be charged an additional 10% tariff on the same date, he said. The US commerce secretary has confirmed this date, though the level of the tariffs will be decided by Trump.
Also last week, layoff notices were received by multiple probationary employees working at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency charged with regulating commercial fisheries in the US, multiple agency sources told Undercurrent News. Boilerplate notices hit the email inboxes of probationary NOAA employees on Feb. 27, warning their employment would end in just a few hours.
For the rest of last week’s most-read stories, click the headlines below.
