Macgregors Seafood Notes

July 1, 2009
THE SEASON IS IN FULL SWING!

OPEN AREA DAYS:
About 50% of the open area days are left. Substantial quantities are being landed. For the rest of the season, we anticipate continued strength. Expected sizes harvested are as follows: 10 to 15% will be U10’s, 10 to 15% will be 10/20’s and the remainder will be 20/30’s.

PROTECTED AREAS:
Elephant Trunk Area
70% of the catch is in. The Elephant Trunk is closing from Sept. 1st to October 31st due to the Atlantic Turtle migration. There have been less U10’s than originally thought leading to a remaining estimated harvest of 10% U10’s and 90% 10/20’s.

Delmarva
70% of the catch is also in, here. The remaining harvest estimates here will also be heavier on 10/20’s (90%) and lighter on U10’s (10%) of the total.

Georges Bank: Access Area II
George’s Bank was closed on June 28 for the remainder of the season due to the excessive Yellow Tail Flounder by-catch. The U10’s were 60% of the harvest (significantly lighter than originally projected) while 10/20’s accounted for 40%.


Both demand and supply have been very healthy. Pricing has been stable.

Based on the outlook for the remaining harvest we are more convinced than ever that U10’s will be in short supply this year. Scallop suppliers have been trying to build up inventories for the winter but, due to the high demand, this has been difficult to do. Higher pricing will be the result of this situation.

The value size, from a price and supply standpoint, will be 10/20’s.

30/40’s will continue to be in tight supply and priced accordingly.