Macgregors Seafood Notes

Scallop Market Update for January 2010

OPEN AREA DAYS:
We anticipate that the remaining open area fishing will be done in the Channel. Landings have been light with 50% being 10/20’s and 50% being 20/30’s.

PROTECTED AREAS:
Elephant Trunk Area
90% of the catch is in. Anticipated landings going forward are as follows:
50% 10/20’s and 50% 20/30’s.
Delmarva
90% of the catch is also in, here. Regarding the harvest, we expect to see 35% 10/20’s and 65% 20/30’s.


Demand has continued to be very strong. However, landings have decreased considerably due to the number of days left at sea. This has resulted in higher prices. Prices will continue to rise from now through the new season in March 2010.

Pricing will be high and availability will be extremely limited on U10’s based on the outlook for the remaining harvest. This means that 10/20’s and 20/30’s will be a value due to stronger supply. 30/40’s will continue to be in tight supply and priced accordingly.


The preliminary outlook is that there may be a decrease in the number of days allowed at sea. However, it is far too early to tell if this will be the case. All of the necessary petitions and requests for amendment of any reductions are in place. The ultimate decision rests with the U.S. Government and National Marine Fisheries.

Scallop Market Update:

OPEN AREA DAYS:
About 35% 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% will be U10’s, 50 to 60% will be 10/20’s and the remainder will be 20/30’s.

PROTECTED AREAS:
Elephant Trunk Area
80% 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
80% 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
This particular area in 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.

The fisherman are returning to the fishing grounds early. They will be on the fishing grounds Friday, August 21st.
This means, that with any luck, we’ll have fish into Edmonton Tuesday evening (25th) and into our hot little hands by Thursday the 27thth. HALLELUJAH !!
This will be fish from the 30 Mile River, Cambridge Bay – all trap caught. These babies can easily run 15-25#. These are the fish revered by the tribal elders.

A couple of notes on how the week of the 10th is shaping up...

Fresh Pickerel is seasonally tight. As of writing this, no fresh avail for the beginning of the week –only re-freshened, which I have passed on. The same can be said about Whitefish.

Carolina Stone Bass / Wreckfish in Tuesday.

Fancy grade, H&G Muckleshoot AK King Salmon expected Tuesday. Lots of Sockeye available Monday as well (Kenai Peninsula AK).

Wild Nunavut Arctic Char will be TOS next week. Should be back on line by the week of 24th. There is some wild product out of Baffin Island avail., but doesn’t compare to the Wild we get from Cambridge Bay, so I’ve passed as price was exorbitant for lesser quality fish.

Wild Nantucket Striped Bass still a great feature option. Lots coming in throughout the week.

Paul

We've spent the past several years positioning ourselves as your source for sustainably caught or sustainably farm-raised fish with the theme of: Regional, Seasonal & Unique. Wild Nunavut Arctic Char season is on (!!) and it's definitely one of the highlights for us, especially because it's uniquely Canadian. Wild Char is an extraordinary fish with a deep complex flavor and a tremendously rich, healthful fat-content.

"For more than two thousand years, the Inuit of the Nunavut region of arctic Canada have caught wild arctic char to sustain their community. For only the second season, the Inuit fishermen and CleanFish are bringing this extraordinary fresh fish to seafood lovers across North America. The season for wild arctic char is short - it begins when the ice breaks in July and concludes in early September when winter returns. Caught in intensely cold, pristine waters, this fish is rich in heart healthy omega-3s with a firm texture and elegant flavor. Wild Nunavut Arctic Char is an exceptional fish with a brief, delicious season."

Check out some pictures of the fish we have in house here: http://www.twitter.com/pFvK or visit our supplier partner website: www.cleanfish.com

Paul

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.

Hello, my name is Paul and I'm now a Twitter-er! Okay, I've owned up. Unfamiliar? A quick easy way to "follow" along with what a Fish guy like me is doing, thinking about and generally musing about....in 140 characters or less (which suits about how in depth my thoughts are). So what am I talking about? The fish I'm sourcing, when it's coming, posting pic's of what it looks like, insightful (debatable) fish facts, events we're participating in, all coupled with wit, charm & humor (also debatable). You can come along when I travel to various ends of the earth and get to know our supplier partners. Get a glimpse how and where your fish comes from! It's all very exciting (again, debatable).
I'm feeding live updates to our homepage even.

This week I'm talking up the new season Pole & Line Caught Carolina Mahi Mahi, the day-boat Hook & Line Caught Haddock, Wild Ivory King Salmon from Alaska, Wild Striper's and Black Sea bass, the Seafood for Thought event this Thursday at the Toronto Zoo with our Ocean Wise partner and restaurant partners Pangaea, C5 & Trios Bistro (Marriott).

http://twitter.com/pFvK

Check out some of the people I'm following as well...

Paul