Weather:

Relatively mild winter weather has moved into the northeast over the past couple of days. After the last two storms passed, many fishermen are returning to the fishing grounds. Although the weather has improved for fishing it appears that the fish have scattered and are hard to find. A return to severe weather is expected by the weekend and into next week.

Groundfish:

USA:

• Landings: Volume of landings remains very light at all ports.
• Extended outlook: Landings should increase as boats return later in the week.  
• Species mix: Pollock, Hake and Flatfish make up the majority of fish landings.
• Prices: Prices have dropped on most species except Cod.
• Outlook: Winter weather conditions will return by the weekend forcing boats into port.

CANADA:

• Landings: large volumes of Haddock and Halibut were landed in Nova Scotia over the weekend, but much of the fish is undersized and can not be shipped to the USA.
• Expected landings: More boats are expected to offload over the next two days as the DFO has closed Georges Banks until April 1^st.
• Species mix: Haddock, Halibut and Pollock landings are up.

• Prices: Have dropped for Haddock and Halibut, but remain strong for Cod.
• Quota: Quotas for 2012 are still under review by the DFO, but there will be a reduction in Cod, Haddock, Pollock and possibly Halibut.
• Outlook: Landings will drop off dramatically now that Georges Bank is closed to fishing.

Scallops:

USA:

• Landings: Scallop landings have remained light as most of the fleet has used their allocated quota.
• Expected landings: Landings are expected to increase by mid week from large offshore boats.
• Extended outlook: Expect limited landings until the new season starts in March.
• Prices: Boat prices have remained very high between $11.25 per pound to $12.00 at auction.
• Quota: Approximately 99% of the quota has been caught for this season and the new season does not start until March 2012.
• Outlook: Landings will be very limited for the balance of this season.
• NOTE: The Maine inshore season has been modified and Cobscook bay is currently closed, landings are very limited.

CANADA:

• Landings: Landings have increased from the inshore fishery from the Canadian Maritimes.
• Expected landings: Landings will increase over the next couple of days and drop off before the weekend.
• Extended outlook: Expect landings to remain light from all areas until the weather improves in the spring.
• Scallop mix: Most of the landings has been for 30/40 to 40/50 sizes from the small boat fleet.
• Prices: Pricing remains is very high for all sizes.
• Quota: The Department of Fisheries and Oceans set the new quotas for 2012, but has not given boats the conditions.

JAPAN:

• Landings: Harvesting has stopped at all farmed sights in North Hokkaido.
• Expected landings: The season is finished in North Hokkaido, but just beginning in East Hokkaido.
• Extended outlook: The harvesting season in East Hokkaido will begin soon and last into the spring.
• Scallop mix: Offerings from Japan have been for product between, 16/18 counts down to 27/36 count.
• Quota: The Japanese government will evaluate the harvest and set the new quota for 2012.

• Outlook: Expect imports to remain limited into the USA until next summer.

MEXICO: The season in the Baja has been officially closed until next year; currently the Mexican government is evaluating the fishery.

PERU:

• Landings: Harvesting has dropped off from most farmed areas in Peru.
• Expected landings: Harvesting is expected to remain light until the scallops begin to grow.
• Extended outlook: Farms will begin to harvest scallops after allowing the scallop meats to grow in the shell.
• Prices: Prices are up for all sizes and will remain high this year.

• Quota: Farm raised product do not have a quota, but the government fisheries agents in Peru monitor and control the harvest.
• Outlook: Frozen inventories are good and supply should meet demand.

PHILIPPINES:

• Landings: Weather conditions have prevented harvesting with major flooding and mudslides creating problems in most coastal communities.
• Expected landings: Landings have been isolated and minimal.
• Extended outlook: Depending on coastal damage to scallop beds the harvest is uncertain at this time.
• Scallop mix: Sizing has been in the range of 200/300 count up to 60/80 count with the majority150/200 count.
• Prices: Pricing has increased as inventories dropped off.
• Quota: The Philippine government is reviewing the data from 2011 to determine the quota for 2012.
• Outlook: Frozen inventories are limited.

CHINA: At Bristol Seafood we currently do not offer any Chinese scallops as a company policy.

FAS Haddock:

• Landings: Long Liners continue to land large volumes of fish in Norway.
• Expected landings: Volumes should increase over the next couple of weeks as more boats continue to offload.
• Prices: Prices have started to increase as demand from the USA, China and Great Britain has increased.
• Quota: The Norwegian government is evaluating the 2011 catch and could increase the 2012 quota.
• Outlook: Haddock landings should remain strong through the winter and into spring when the spawning season starts. 

FAS Cod:

• Landings: Bad weather in Alaska continues to restrict the fishing effort and landings have decreased.
• Expected landings: Landings should increase as the weather improves. Extended outlook: Volumes normally begin to increase in late February as most boats begin fishing the [A] season Quota.

• Prices: The demand for Cod worldwide has pushed prices higher this season.
•  Quota: Alaskan Cod is highly regulated and is basically caught in a two season format. A season and B season.
• Outlook: Cod landings should be strong as more boats begin fishing the A season quota.

Halibut: 

EAST COAST:

• Landings: Volumes of trip Halibut have increased from the large offshore hook boats.
• Expected landings: Many of the large boats are concentrating on halibut and landings should be heavy over the next few days.
• Extended outlook: The small hook boats will switch gear next week and not fish again until the new season starts in April.
• Prices: Pricing has started to drop, but still remains very high compared to past seasons.
• Quota: The DFO has not issued final quotas for 2012, but most boats will fish until the quotas are set.
• Outlook: Landings from large offshore boats has increased, but volumes from the small inshore fleet will remain limited until after April when the new season starts. but increasing as the weather improves this spring.

WEST COAST: The west coast season ended on the 15^th of November. The new season will start in March of 2012and there could be an additional reduction in quota for 2013?

Salmon:

EAST COAST:

• Harvesting: Harvesting has remained steady from most farms.
• Pricing: Prices have increased as early demand for Valentines Day has created some shortages.
• Outlook: Harvesting should continue throughout the winter with some disruptions because of weather.

WEST COAST: All areas are closed to harvesting or fishing for wild Salmon until next year.

Shellfish: 

• Landings: The mild weather has allowed increased harvesting of shellfish in the northeast.
• Expected Harvest: With another storm approaching this weekend volumes could drop off next week.
• Extended outlook: If the storm causes substantial flooding and run off in tidal some areas could be closed to harvesting.
• Prices: Have been holding steady for most shellfish.
• Outlook: Shellfish harvesting at this time of year is sporadic and supply can fluctuate wildly depending on weather conditions.

Swordfish:

• Landings:  Boats fishing in the Gulf have had limited landings.
• Expected landings: Landings will remain limited from the American fleet until the summer when fish begin to migrate into the Gulf Stream and begin the journey north.

• Extended outlook: Supply will remain limited from the American boats and the majority of supply will be imported.
• Prices: Prices have increased recently and will remain high for the next few days.

Tuna:

• Landings: The NMFS has shut down most Blue Fin Tuna harvesting in the Gulf of Mexico until June and landings for other Tuna have dropped off.
• Expected Landings: Imported Tuna from Central America and Asia will be the majority of supply until summer.
• Extended outlook: Central and South American fisheries should be in full operation by the end of February.
• Prices: Imported fish prices are expected to be much higher this coming season.
• Outlook: Tuna imports should increase during the winter, but worldwide supply is expected to be limited.

Eat seafood, for a strong mind and body.

Have a great week.

Ray Swenton

Chairman/CEO

Bristol Seafood

Copyright Notice - All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Bristol Seafood, Inc. or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. Links to websites other than those owned by Bristol Seafood, Inc. are offered as a service to readers. Bristol Seafood, Inc. was not involved in their production and is not responsible for their content. For more information about copyright permissions, please contact us at (207) 774-3177.