Here’s a recap of this week’s must-read SeafoodSource news stories and commentaries:
• Fraud is one of the biggest challenges facing the global seafood trade. Whether it’s adulteration of species substitution, short-weighting or transshipping, rarely does a week pass without a report of seafood fraud surfacing. This week, there’s a report of Chinese counterfeiters illicitly using the Clearwater Seafoods logo on packages of lobster, shrimp and clams. The time to act is now, urged SeaFood Business Associate Editor James Wright in his “Unite in the fight against fraud” commentary on Thursday. Both SeaFood Business magazine and SeafoodSource are joining the fight by giving seafood professionals an opportunity to increase their awareness of economic integrity and get recognized for doing so. Check out Wright’s commentary for the details.
• It’s been a rough decade for the Mediterranean’s sea bass- and sea bream-farming industry. But 2010 brought with it new hope for struggling producers — demand for the fish grew, triggering higher farm-gate prices. Will 2011 mark a turnaround for the region’s sea bass and sea bream industry? Perhaps. Take a look at SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Jason Holland’s “Buying into the potential of bass, bream” commentary from Monday.
• Sushi isn’t a mass-market affair in France, according to Gira Conseil. The Paris-based market research firm just released its first study on the emerging French sushi market. With an annual turnover of EUR 864 million, sushi remains a niche in France’s food arena. Cécile Rossi, a Gira Conseil analyst, talked to SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Lindsey Partos about the report’s findings. (SeafoodSource premium membership is required to listen to the interview.)
• As usual, sustainability was a reoccurring theme on SeafoodSource this week. Coverage included a proposal to make London the world’s first Sustainable Fish City; Tesco’s pledge to source only poll-and-line caught tuna; Monterey Bay Aquarium updating its influential seafood-buying guide; and SeafoodSource Assistant Editor April Forristall’s interview with Jennifer Hill of Pennsylvania-based sustainable seafood distributor River & Glen.
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall took his Fish Fight campaign to the airways on Tuesday, with the debut of his Channel 4 program aimed at raising awareness of fish discards as well as the United Kingdom’s three most commonly consumed fish species — tuna, cod and salmon. But will the celebrity chef paint an accurate picture of farmed salmon or dabble in misperception? SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Nicki Holmyard takes a stab at the question in her “Will farmed salmon ever get a fair shake?” commentary.
All Commentary >
