Chris Chase is the Portland, Maine-based associate editor of SeafoodSource. Previously, he worked covering local issues at the Coastal Journal in Bath, Maine, where he won multiple awards from the Maine Press Association for his news coverage and food reviews. Chris is a graduate of the University of Maine, and got his start in writing by serving as a reporter and later the State Editor of The Maine Campus, an award-winning campus newspaper.
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The U.S. Department of Labor is reportedly expanding its child labor investigation into New Bedford, Massachusetts-based seafood processing companies and the staffing firms that provide them with labor.
The U.S. Department of Labor started investigating Atlantic Red Crab and Sea Watch International, as well as staffing agencies Workforce Unlimited and B.J.’s Service Company, in late 2023. A Labor Department spokesperson told SeafoodSource
… Read MoreA vessel formerly owned by Carlos Rafael – aka the “Codfather” – that was later relaunched by the now-bankrupt and defunct Blue Harvest Fisheries has been declared a total loss after a recent fire.
The fire department in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, U.S.A. said the F/V Carrabassett is a total loss after welding aboard the vessel caused a large fire.
“Upon arrival, heavy fire was coming from the pilot house
… Read MoreThe salmon-farming industry in Tasmania, Australia, is facing increasing opposition to its operations in Macquarie Harbour, with an activist shareholder activism campaign pushing major retailers to stop buying Tasmanian salmon.
Environmental groups blame the industry for the decline of the endangered Maugean skate, a type of ray. The Maugean skate is endemic to the harbor, and scientists found the population of the species has dropped by 50
… Read MoreOutdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia has released a film targeting the salmon industry in Iceland as part of a campaign calling on the country to ban the practice.
The new movie, “Laxaþjóð | A Salmon Nation,” premiered at an event in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 8 February, featuring prominent anti-salmon-farming activists.
“Without drastic action, wild salmon faces extinction. That’s why I
… Read MoreThe South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) concluded its latest meeting on 2 February, during which labor and human rights at sea, transshipment monitoring, and observer coverage were addressed.
However, the regional fishery management organization failed to pass measures intended to increase the organization’s transparency.
SPRFMO manages fisheries in the Southern Pacific Ocean, including the region's jack
… Read MoreThe Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has wrapped up charges related to a major two-year investigation of the halibut fishery in Nova Scotia, Canada, that resulted in heavy fines and multiple convictions.
The DFO announced a total of four trials for five individuals and three companies that collectively perpetrated 18 violations of Canadian halibut fishing regulations. Charges include failing to have catch verified at the dock and
… Read MoreWayzata, Minnesota, U.S.A.-based Cargill is a provider of aquaculture feed, operates 38 feed facilities in 20 countries and is one of the largest suppliers of feed to salmon producers in Norway, Chile, Scotland, the U.S., and Canada, and is also a leading supplier of feed to shrimp and tilapia farmers in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. In recent years, the company has continued to invest in aquaculture development by investing in research on
… Read MoreGarðabær, Iceland-based processing equipment manufacturer Marel has entered a strategic partnership with Fosnavåg, Norway-based seafood-processing, -handling, and -cooling equipment provider MMC First Process.
Marel announced on 6 February that the new partnership will enable both companies to drive efficiency and sustainability in fish handling, processing, and water treatment. The two companies “fill complementary
… Read MoreMerck Animal Health, a medical company with a focus on veterinary pharmaceuticals, has signed an agreement to acquire the aquatic-focused business of Elanco Animal Health for USD 1.3 billion (EUR 1.2 billion) in cash.
Merck Animal Health said the deal includes all of Elanco’s portfolio of medicines, vaccines, nutritionals, and supplements for aquatic species, two related manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Canada, and a related
… Read MoreNorway earned a record amount from its seafood exports in the first month of 2024, but a big portion of the high value continues to stem from a weak krone and high salmon prices.
According to data gathered by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries-owned Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Norway exported seafood worth NOK 13.3 billion (USD 1.24 billion, EUR 1.15 billion) in January – an increase of NOK 640
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