Ukraine Seafood Company Struggles to Survive, SeafoodSource Says
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to devastate the nation, one seafood company is working hard to maintain production, despite huge losses such as the loss of 5,000 pounds of frozen fish when a warehouse was destroyed.
SeafoodSource editor Chris Chase looked at how Kiev-based Universal Fish Company, a leading Eastern European fish and seafood processing company, is faring in wartime.
“It is too early to make an estimate, as the hostilities have continued unabated, and the situation remains grim,” UFC’s Tetiana Krupenko is quoted in the article. “We lost over 5,000 tons of frozen fish in the largest warehouse, amounting to USD 15 million [EUR 13.9 million]. Another loss amounting to roughly USD 20 million [EUR 18.6 million] was in the logistic center in occupied part of Kharkiv region.”
Chase writes that the Ukraine seafood company “is eager to resume business inside and outside of Ukraine as soon as possible.”
“It is vitally important to restore our production and business overall and thus to support Ukraine’s economy,” Krupenko told Chase. “Internal demand is much lower now, it is just about very basic items.
“So, any new export request would be highly appreciated. Any new customer from [the] E.U., U.S.A., and [the] rest of the world would be an opportunity for us.”
To read the full article, click here.
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Alaska Seafood Online Marketplace Goes Live
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has launched the Alaska Seafood Online Marketplace, a new web-based directory designed to connect global buyers and suppliers. As the number of seafood purchases taking place online continues to grow, the Marketplace will provide opportunities for Alaska seafood businesses to showcase products to seafood purchasers.
The Marketplace takes the place of ASMI’s former Suppliers Directory and includes new features to better serve users. The platform allows businesses to create custom company profiles, list products and share product specifications.
Consumers and seafood buyers can search the Marketplace by species, sales region and even contact suppliers directly within the platform. Buyers looking for specific seafood items can also create an account to post specific product needs or purchase requests. The new “For Consumers” section simplifies the search process by providing quick access to companies that direct ship seafood to individuals.
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Alaska Salmon Season on Copper River Opens May 16
Alaska’s Copper River commercial salmon season will begin May 16, when the region’s commercial fishermen will be allowed to set their nets for 12 hours to harvest king and sockeye salmon from the icy glacial fed waters of the Copper River Delta.
Sustainably harvested according to strict guidelines set by the state of Alaska, Copper River wild salmon — king, sockeye and coho — are renowned worldwide for good reason. High in protein and naturally rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, Copper River salmon return to the region’s massive Delta each year from May to September, making the journey up the steep glacial fed waters. In anticipation of this arduous migration, these salmon naturally build reserves which fuel their journey and make them deliciously rich and desirable to cook.
The small Copper River fleet is made up of independent fishermen who operate small 32-foot boats, carefully catching and bleeding each fish by hand, ensuring the highest quality wild Alaska salmon is sent to retailers in a timely fashion.
The fishery, which has a long legacy of providing superior wild Alaska salmon to restaurants and supermarkets is monitored and managed by biologists at Alaska Department of Fish and Game, using sonar counts, weir passage, aerial escapement surveys, and fishery performance data, to determine escapements and allowable catch. The 2022 commercial harvest forecast for the Copper River District is expected to be below average, so biologists expect a “conservative management approach” at the start of the season.
As the season progresses and more king and sockeye salmon escape up the river to spawn, biologists will adjust commercial openings guided by the state’s regulatory management framework, at the heart of which is the “sustained yield principle.” Overall, this type of management has, as mandated in the Alaska State Constitution since 1959, played a pivotal role in maintaining the fishery while balancing the needs of the environment and fishermen, as well as the marketplace.
“The excitement in town regarding the start of the fishery is palpable right now, always a wonderful time to be on the ground preparing for another season,” said Jeremy Botz, area botanist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Gillnet Management. “A tried and true management approach will be used again this year — conservative management measures are planned early in the season based on the below average forecasts, and, as the season progresses, management will be adapted quickly based on in season indices of run strength to balance fishing opportunity and escapement needs. The commercial fishery will be an important means of evaluating the strength of the king and sockeye salmon runs.”
“Here at Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association,” Executive Director Christa Hoover said, “we are excited to see our small boat fishermen preparing for the season ahead. As they harvest these special, wild, nutrient rich fish from our local Alaska waters, we take pride in the fact that our fishery remains sustainable and viable, which considering the global supply issues at hand, is more important than ever.”
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