The closure of McDonald’s restaurants in the United Kingdom and continental Europe has resulted in a glut of Alaska pollock, which is used in the chain’s iconic Filet-o-Fish sandwich.
McDonald’s closed all 1,270 of its stores in the United Kingdom last week on 23 March, as well as all of its locations in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands earlier in the month due to COVID-19 concerns. The presumption is that pollock suppliers will have to pay for the costs of storing the fish. All Filet-o-Fish sandwiches at McDonald’s locations in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Brazil are Marine Stewardship Council-certified for sustainability.
At the same time, according to Forbes, the Alaska pollock is experiencing high demand due to its use in frozen products. In the U.S., sales of frozen seafood rose 4.9 percent for the month ending on 7 March. According to Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers CEO Craig Morris, the situation is similar in grocery stores in Europe.
“We're in unprecedented times and there are ups and downs right now that the entire Wild Alaska Pollock industry is working through. Retail is up, and a bright spot for us right now. We remain committed to helping all of our foodservice customers and will be here for them when they are able to ramp back up everywhere around the world when things return to the new normal,” Morris told SeafoodSource.
“Obviously we would love to be able to help our foodservice partners in China obtain the consistent quality of Wild Alaska Pollock and look forward to a tariff reduction there to help us do that,” he added.
It is unclear how else the coronavirus crisis will affect the pollock industry in Alaska going forward. On 23 March, Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a mandate requiring anyone entering the state to self-quarantine for 14 days. They will not be allowed to work, and can only leave for medical emergencies, he said. Much of the seafood workforce in the state is composed of foreign and out-of-state workers.
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