KODIAK -- The message that wild salmon is a healthier and more environmentally friendly choice is making headlines almost daily in the mainstream media. Most recently, the Los Angeles Times published a two-part feature against fish farming practices in British Columbia, and followed it with an editorial warning consumers to be "vigilant" when they purchase farmed salmon. The editorial advised buyers to ask for wild Alaska salmon instead.
Salmon is the third most popular seafood in the U.S., and it can't be denied that more Americans are becoming concerned with what they're putting into their mouths. As with hormones in milk and genetically modified foods, news of the routine use of antibiotics, insecticides and colorants by the farmed salmon industry (all of which float "downstream") are meeting with more resistance by consumers. Now, supermarkets that seldom offer their customers a choice are feeling the heat.
Recently, concerned consumers picketed a Fred Meyer store in Seattle, launching what may be a movement against major outlets. Fred Meyer is owned by Kroger Corp., one of the nation's largest grocery operators. According to the Wave News Network, the activists say Costco -- one of the world's largest buyers of farmed salmon -- is next, along with various consumer groups throughout the nation.
The movement is not lost on the fish farmers. IntraFish Media reports that the trade group SalmonChile is already leading a crusade to form "global bonds" with other world producers to promote and defend the farmed fish industry. The group was reportedly scheduled to meet first with farmers from Canada and then Norway. "The idea is to work together and show the world that our product is extraordinary, and to promote salmon consumption in all countries of the world. We can make the world see that we are a sustainable industry, with clear social responsibility," SalmonChile president Jose Ramon Gutierrez told IntraFish. Gutierrez said campaigns will target Japan, Europe and U.S. markets.
The promotional effort prompted this response by John Fiorello, editor of the World Catch News Network: "Gutierrez and his fellow fish farmers better get busy. Their opponents have a huge head start and momentum is on their side. If they are successful in taking their protest to the major salmon buyers at the retail and foodservice level, things could get awfully uncomfortable for salmon farming companies. I doubt their clients -- Kroger, Safeway, Costco, etc. -- want to get drawn into this food fight."
No more freezer stats
As people gear up for various fishing seasons, one of the things that's often used in determining the strength of a market is how much inventory is in cold storage. But the industry will no longer know how much of any particular product is in the nation's freezers. After more than 50 years, the National Marine Fisheries Service is discontinuing its monthly cold storage reports. The reason? The seafood industry isn't providing enough information to make the overall data reliable. "It was useful in a general sense but you didn't want to pin down very specific numbers with it. My understanding is that it represented about 70 percent of what was in frozen holdings," said market analyst Chris McDowell. NMFS has published the cold storage report since February 14, 1938.
More Alaska salmon for Japan
For the first time in several years, imports of Alaska salmon to Japan in 2002 are projected to increase by 10 percent to 36,000 tons. A USDA report credits the boost to a trend towards "wild" and "natural" foods, along with new laws that label seafoods as wild or farmed. The report said imports of U.S. roe is also expected to be up by five percent to 6,700 tons.
Members wanted
The Federal Subsistence Board is seeking members for ten Regional Advisory Councils, which report to the Board on subsistence hunting, trapping and fishing on federal public lands. Recommendations by regional councils carry a great deal of weight with final decisions. This year 27 appointments will be made to fill expiring terms, along with 19 new seats. Each of the ten councils will have either 10 or 13 members. Seventy percent of the seats are designated for subsistence users, and 30 percent are for commercial, sport, guides or other fish and wildlife user groups. Regional Advisory Council members are appointed to three year terms, and meet at least twice a year. Council members are not paid for their service, but all travel related expenses are reimbursed. For nominations or applications, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Anchorage. The deadline is Feb. 28.
Kodiak-based free-lance writer Laine Welch can be reached via e-mail at msfish@ptialaska.net.
