To all

Most areas along the East Coast remain hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms; the last few days have seen some improvement. Fishing conditions are very good for ground fish and scallops. Clam and mussel harvesters working inshore or near shore have been dealing with local closures in the Gulf Of Maine caused by Red Tide outbreaks and runoff.

Groundfish

The offshore fleets are back on Georges Bank, many vessels are having trouble locating and catching fish, particularly Cod and Haddock. Some of the larger vessels will look for fish on the northern edge of Georges Bank, where they hope to find Haddock chasing the feed fish. It could be another month before any large volumes of fish are landed again.

Scallops

Fishing in the Nantucket Lightship area has almost ended as most vessels have used their allotted allocation. Many vessels are moving back to the Mid Atlantic and the Delmarva areas to scallop. The quality of scallops from these areas tends to be a little soft and milky at this time of year. With the Lightship area almost finished, demand for large scallops has remained very high, but prices for U/10’s and U/12’s from other areas have dropped because the quality is inferior. Very few boats are fishing for 10/20 and 20/30 sizes and the product will remain scarce. Supply should start to increase when the Nantucket Lightship area is closed and the fleet moves into Georges Bank and other open areas.

Canadian scallops remain in short supply as the small boat fleet and the large vessels in the offshore fleet are selling their product before it is landed. Prices have risen with demand and are at an all time high for this time of year.

Japanese scallop landings remain very low, and many areas are reporting only small sizes being caught. There has been much speculation that the severe winter in North Hokkaido and that the colder waters seriously affected the growth patterns of the scallop beds.

The sizes being exported are mostly 18/23, 23/27 and 27/36 count sizes with no large product being offered.

Mexican bay scallops are being offered for sale in the US market but prices are extremely high and inventories are very low.

Peruvian scallops are extremely hard to find and any new production is being shipped to European markets that are paying a premium for Roe On frozen scallops.

Philippine scallop inventories have dropped and availability is limited, but prices are still lower than Chinese product.

Chinese scallops are available for most sizes although prices have increased from last year.

FAS Haddock

Most of the Norwegian Long Liners are fishing in the Barents Sea for Cod, Ling, and Saithe. The Long Line fleet will target Haddock in early fall when the fish migrate North. Currently there are some draggers that are catching Haddock, but the quality is inferior to Long Line fish. Our inventory of FAS Long Line Haddock should enable Bristol to keep our valued customers supplied throughout the summer and early fall.

FAS Alaskan Cod

The Alaskan Long Line Cod fall B season starts in September and landings are expected to be strong. Demand is very high worldwide with the larger sizes expected to be exported to Asia and Europe. There is some shore frozen CDQ and Pot caught fish available, but it is inferior to the FAS Long Line Cod. Our inventory of FAS Alaskan Cod should enable Bristol to keep our valued customers supplied throughout the summer and fall.

Halibut 

The 48 hour opening in Quebec/Labrador started and ended this week, but landings were less than anticipated. Prices are much higher than last year and most of the product was presold into the market. Landings from other ports in Nova Scotia have been very light and there are no expected large trips due for at least a week.

West Coast Halibut landings have been very light as many vessels have switched to salmon fishing, price are up across all sizes for fresh and frozen.

Shellfish

RED TIDE has forced closures along the Maine coast and some Canadian coastal areas for Mahogany clams and other shellfish.

Some areas have reopened, but quantities are limited and if the weather becomes hot and humid again with heavy rain there will be more closures.

Salmon 

East Coast farmed Salmon supply has remained steady for most sizes and products. Demand has remained steady from the summer tourist trade. Imported Salmon from Norway continues to fill the shortage created by the lack of Chilean product, but supply is limited and expensive.

West Coast salmon supply has increased with huge landings predicted for chums and other types of salmon, supply should remain strong this summer.

Swordfish

Landings of swordfish have been very good from the American fleet and the many Canadian boats fishing. Prices have fluctuated with the weather and the moon tides.  Supply should remain steady into the fall and prices should also be reasonable.

The Canadian fleet has been catching Swordfish in the Gulf Stream earlier than normal, with warmer temperatures this season the harvest is expected to be strong. According to NOAA the East Coast swordfish stock is fully rebuilt and sustainable at current harvest levels.

Tuna

Remains very tight with imports filling in for the shortage of American fish, prices are also very high. I expect supply of Tuna to remain low throughout the summer with the occasional surplus when American and Canadian boats begin landing.

Fish is brain food.

Ray Swenton

President

MULTI MULTA NEMO OMNIA NOVIT