W52 Salmon Update: Global Aquaculture Initiatives and USD 9 Million Salmon Purchase From USDA

Global Aquaculture Trends and Regional Dynamics in 2024

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has initiated a global campaign underscoring the pivotal role of aquaculture in dietary shifts aimed at mitigating emissions and fostering sustainable development. The recently unveiled Global Roadmap by the FAO highlighting the nutritional richness of aquatic food, emphasizes its role in emission mitigation due to its low greenhouse gas footprint. The roadmap encourages nations to enhance aquaculture productivity, promote good aquaculture practices, integrate technology in aquaculture, and refine policies.

Looking ahead to 2024, several nations are poised for significant developments in their aquaculture sectors. In Canada, the aquaculture industry faces challenges as about 40% of British Columbia's in-ocean salmon farming sector has been closed, with legal challenges mounting against these decisions. Norway is set to allocate an increased payout of USD 136 million to coastal communities hosting fish farming sites, contributing to welfare and social projects. Scotland, with an ambition to grow aquaculture production, observes a direct economic contribution increase of 154% to USD 600 million over a decade. Vietnam aims for sustainable aquaculture, projecting production to reach seven million tons with export revenue of USD 12 billion by 2030. Australia's aquaculture industry, exceeding USD 2 billion in seafood production annually, surpasses wild-caught fish, contributing 56% to the total seafood industry's value. China continues to innovate with various forms of offshore aquaculture, already utilizing more than 20 thousand "gravity cages" and developing its first offshore aquaculture base for salmon, Deep Blue 1. Chile, responding to regulatory violations, plans to update its national law governing fisheries and aquaculture, seeking a balance between operational growth and environmental sustainability. These diverse initiatives underscore the global commitment to fostering sustainable aquaculture practices, addressing environmental concerns, and enhancing the economic contributions of this vital sector.

USDA Initiates Robust Support for Domestic Salmon Industry with USD 9 Million Procurement for Nutrition Programs

The United States (US) Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled a substantial purchase of wild-caught domestic salmon, surpassing USD 9 million, aimed at supporting youth nutrition programs and various domestic food distribution strategies. Announced on December 29, 2023, the procurement includes USD 9.075 million worth of canned pink salmon and salmon fillets.

Trident Seafoods, based in Seattle, Washington, secured the largest contract, supplying over USD 6.06 million worth of canned pink salmon to the USDA. Other recipients include Pacific Seafood, OBI Seafoods, and Silver Bay Seafoods, collectively contributing to the fulfillment of contracts. This initiative follows the USDA's call for bids to supply 184 thousand metric tons (mt) of wild salmon, showcasing its commitment to sustaining the Pacific Northwest commercial salmon fishery. Scheduled for delivery between Feb-24 and Aug-24, this procurement aligns with broader efforts to fortify regional seafood industries and nutrition programs. Moreover, the USDA has recently awarded contracts for additional seafood species, highlighting its multifaceted approach to supporting diverse segments of the domestic seafood market. Channel Fish Processing and Trident, for instance, secured USD 1.75 million in Alaska pollock contracts, with Channel Fish supplying frozen pollock sticks and Trident providing bulk surimi. This comprehensive strategy underscores the USDA's dedication to fostering a resilient and vibrant domestic seafood sector.