FISHupdate briefing

US Seafood market surge
America’s Best Seafood Chef
Outrageous cigarette smoking prank
Warning over Irish Sea fish stocks
 
BIG RISE IN US SEAFOOD MARKET PREDICTED
THE US processed seafood market is expected to be worth more than $21,210.7 million by 2018, says a latest assessment on the statement of the North American industry.
It is already worth around $165,592,000 million. The report, ‘Processed Seafood & Seafood Processing Equipment Market by Types’, predicts an annual growth of 4.1 per cent between 2013 and 2018.
Meanwhile the seafood processing equipment market is likely to grow by 3.8 per cent a year over the same period to reach $1,469.5 million.
The report says leading processors are focusing on the expansion of the respective businesses and products across various regions to ramp up production capacities and broaden the overall product line.
Major industry participants are involved in new product launches and acquisitions to penetrate the untapped markets of Asia, ROW and Latin America.
 
LOBSTER GYOZA WINS THE DAY FOR TERRY
TERRY White, a chef from Florida, has been hailed as the winner of the 2014 Great American Seafood Cook-Off.
He won the title with a country ham-crusted Gulf cobia with spiny lobster Gyoza, caramelised baby bok choi and a Florida orange and saffron emulsion.
A total of 18 chefs from New Hampshire to Alaska competed for the coveted title of ‘America’s Best Seafood Chef’ but it was those from the Gulf states which took the most honours, with Texas and New Orleans coming second and third respectively.
 
OUTRAGE AT SMOKING FISH PRANK
A GROUP of fishermen has come under fire after they forced a fish to smoke a cigarette before filming the incident on video.
They lit the cigarette and then stuck into the mouth of the fish and then posted the video online. They are now being accused of cruelty by the public who saw the video.
The men could be heard laughing while the fish struggled for breath. The identity or nationality of the fishermen is not known at this stage, but the prank has triggered outrage around the world.
 
FEARS OVER IRISH SEA STOCKS
FISH stocks in the Irish Sea and inland waterways are continuing to decline despite tight European quota restrictions and angling controls.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, which monitors stocks for the Government, believes that global warming may be blame.
It may also be affecting the eel population. Walter Crozier, the head of Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems at AFBI, said the fishing industry had done all it could to halt a decline in numbers.
‘Irish Sea cod has been doing very badly in recent decades and that caused our advice to the European Commission for a reduction in the catches,’ he added.