Winter 2018

Winter 2018

We welcome in the New Year and its first publication, the "DNI Group Newsletter - Winter Issue 2018".  You'll find a variety of topics, among them:

• DNI Group President, Devan Nielsen shares his thoughts on what you can expect to see from DNI Group in the new year
• We take an inside look at our family of Maneki® Value products - Sushi Ebi, Nobashi Ebi, Tempura Shrimp and Panko Breaded Shrimp
• According to the Industry Update, salmon and shrimp aquaculture continue to drive seafood supply growth
• We visit Sapporo, Hokkaido's Culinary Hub with a food culture unique to Japan's Northern Island
• The Salmon Report explores the argument that 'Clean Fish' Bring Danger of Disease to Salmon Farms
• Statistics show shrimp exports from India are soaring
• See what's hot for the food trends in 2018...you'll find them here

As we step into 2018, please accept our warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  We hope you enjoy this issue and as always, thank you for your continued support.

 New Year Message from the President

                Devan Nielsen, President

I am personally grateful to each one of our customers for their support throughout 2017.  We know there are many seafood product vendors in the market and we are deeply appreciative for your continued loyalty and support.  I hope we have made a positive contribution to the success of your goals in 2017.  As always, it is our intention to be your trustworthy business partner focusing on a win-win outcome for the long term.

As we enter the New Year, please know that DNI Group will continue to offer high quality sashimi grade seafood and authentic Japanese appetizers.  It remains clear that a constant, reliable supply chain is the foundation for a successful seafood business and this continues to be a priority at our company.  It is only with a steady, stable supply chain that we are able to provide you with quality products, accurate service, reliable inventory and timely delivery.

We are looking forward to continuous improvement in 2018.  Last month we moved into a  brand new office and fully equipped test kitchen.  In the last 6 months we have added an additional relationship manager and traffic coordinator to strengthen our client satisfaction.  As for new products, our sales team will be introducing our new Crane Bay® Kani Kama and Crane Bay® Sashimi Grade Atlantic Salmon Pre-Cut Trim E.  

On behalf of myself and all the staff at DNI Group, please accept our best wishes for a peaceful, happy and prosperous 2018.  We look forward to experiencing continued mutual success in the New Year.

Warm Regards,

Devan Nielsen
President
 

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Maneki® Value Family of Products

We're kicking off 2018 with a look at our growing family of Maneki® Value Products - let's begin here...

The Maneki® Value brand was officially launched in October, 2015.  It was developed specifically to introduce a new line of low cost - high value shrimp  products.  Our goal was to combine great quality with competitive pricing to meet both your specs and price point. We began with Maneki® Value Nobashi Ebi and Sushi Ebi - both BAP certified products in limited but popular sizes and larger pack styles. 

• In January, 2017, we added Maneki® Value Tempura Shrimp in size 21/25, 150 pieces per case, bulk packed and BAP certified.

• In July, 2017, we introduced Maneki® Value Panko Breaded Shrimp in size 16/20, packed in bulk with 125 pieces per case and BAP certified.

Reading on, you will find specifications and features of these four products.  All the products are available in our three warehouses in Los Angeles, Newark, NJ and Miami, FL.   

Product Videos

Click on any of the Product Videos below to learn more about 

Maneki® Value shrimp items from our Corporate Chef, Kevin Lee: 

We hope this information will be useful for you and your customers.  Should you have any questions, please contact your DNI Group representative today

RECIPE IDEA: Maneki® Value Tempura Shrimp Breakfast Nachos

Crane Bay® Panko Breaded Shrimp Breakfast Nachos

Tempura Shrimp for Breakfast...why not!  Hidden underneath crunchy Maneki® Value Panko Breaded Shrimp and tortilla chips lie scrambled eggs and country style spicy sausage gravy. Top with popular garnishes of jalapeno, cherry tomato, avocado, crema and scallions for a zesty, flavorful way to start the day.

INDUSTRY UPDATE: Salmon, shrimp aquaculture continues to drive seafood supply growth

Aquaculture supply is expected to continue its growth in 2018, albeit at a gradually declining rate, Rabobank has said in a new report on global protein markets.  Global growth in both 2017 and 2018 is estimated to be in the range of 3-4% in volume terms, Rabobank stated in the report.

Despite good growth, persistent risks - such as disease issues, trade policies and weather problems - continue, especially in Asia, which is the most important producer of farmed seafood, the bank wrote.

An expected slowing or stagnation of production in China, the largest producer, is expected to be offset by new growth regions, especially in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.  India is an example of a rapidly growing export-oriented aquaculture industry, which has been doing well in 2017.

Meanwhile, wild catches are expected to experience a mild recovery as El Nino recedes, according to Rabobank.  The wild catch sector is fairly stable in global harvest volumes, with increasingly well managed fisheries.  Overall wild catch in 2017 should recover by 1-2% and remain at this level of production in 2018.

The recovery from El Nino, which saw improved catches in 2017, should continue, at least in the first half of 2018, Rabobank said.

Salmon Market in Recovery Mode

After a record contraction in 2016, major salmon producers Norway and Chile recovered strongly in 2017, though this growth will not persist beyond 21018, Rabobank feels.  In 2017 both Chile and Norway experienced a reversal of fortunes, with growth resuming after a record contraction due to an algal bloom in Chile and sea lice resistance in 2016.

"We expect supply growth of about 5% in 2017, with slightly higher growth projected for 2018.  The last quarter of 2017 and the first half of 2018 are expected to see strong supply growth, but this will not persist.  Some months could reach double-digit growth.  However, legislative constraints, especially in Chile, will cause supply to drop below long-term demand before the end of 2018, Rabobank's report reads

The first half of 2017 saw new record salmon prices globally, with prices in Norway breaching the NOK 70/kg mark for a second and third time, but by the end of summer, prices were back below 2016 levels, indicating that the peak of the cycle has now passed, according to Rabobank.

"We expect somewhat lower prices for 2018.  Nevertheless, we are still in a long-term supply-constrained environment with good demand globally.  We do not expect prices to fall to historical averages.  If there is a price correction, it will probably occur in late summer 2018 and be short-lived.  We expect salmon prices to be in the range of NOK 50/kg to NOK 65/kg in 2018, and to remain as volatile and unpredictable as they have been in recent years." Rabobank said.

Shrimp Industry Likely to Continue Growing

Rabobank expects the gradual shrimp supply growth of 2017 to persist, as a number of regions such as India and Ecuador continue expanding supply; provided early mortality syndrome (EMS) and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) pressures remain under control.  The shrimp industry resumed moderate growth in 2017, with India and Ecuador being the main drivers.  China and Thailand did not show the recovery expected during 2017, with EHP in these countries now emerging as an equal or even greater threat than EMS, Robabank said.

"We expect the good momentum in supply growth to continue in India and Ecuador in 2018, with some hopes that Indonesia could join these countries as a significant growth driver," Rabobank said.

Supply growth in 2017 was matched with demand growth, resulting in fairly stable prices at a level only slightly higher than the long term average.  This comes at a time when a number of high-end seafood and meat products have reached - or are close to reaching - historical highs.

"We believe this to be demand-creating for the shrimp industry and at current price levels, we expect good demand for shrimp in 2018.  If some of the bullish supply expectations materialize, 2018 will be a good year for the sector, with firm prices but no excessive price volatility," Rabobank said.

Taken from Undercurrentnews.com November, 2017
 

JAPANESE CULTURE: Sapporo, Hokkaido's Culinary Hub

A Food Culture Unique to Japan's Northern Island  

                          Soup Curry

Hokkaido is home to a rich variety of foodstuffs, and Sapporo is a great place to find fresh seafood and any number of agricultural products. With a population of about 1.89 million, Sapporo is the largest city in northern Japan. It developed as the main urban center of Hokkaido, and its international profile grew considerably in 1972, when it became the first Asian city to host the Winter Olympics.
 

Soup Curry a Sapporo Favorite

Soup curry has taken root as a Sapporo favorite after taking the culinary scene by storm. Typical Japanese curry is fairly thick, as it uses a roux base that includes fried flour. Soup curry, by contrast, is thin and marked by heavy spices. A deep bowl is filled with potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables, and diners can choose to add chicken, pork, or another main ingredient, and they can also choose the spiciness of the "soup."

The owner of a popular restaurant in Sapporo's Chuo Ward explains the factors behind the boom: "Sapporo has always had a soup culture. Soup with lots of vegetables in it is an archetypal Hokkaido dish." With local fresh vegetables available at low prices, it is little wonder that soup curry has taken off there.

Traditional Local Food Alive and Well

Some 14 million tourists visit Sapporo annually, and it is believed that the vast majority eat ramen while they are there. Different types of ramen often bear the name of the place where that style of noodle originated, such as Hakata ramen and Kitakata ramen. Sapporo ramen is one of the best known and most popular of these types. The base of the soup in Sapporo ramen is miso, and the noodles are thicker than average and crinkly. Generous  helpings of onion, bean sprouts, and other toppings complement the flavor of the soup.

Genghis Khan 

In addition to ramen, the local cuisine known as Genghis Khan, which features lamb or mutton and vegetables broiled together on a helmet-shaped hot plate, remains popular. It has been designated as a piece of Hokkaido Heritage, a cultural asset of Hokkaido that should be preserved for future generations. As Hokkaido is so vast, the methods of preparing and eating this dish vary by locale, but visitors to Sapporo will find all the regional varieties of Genghis Khan available to sample.

With its naturally fresh foodstuffs and skilled chefs, this northern city provides visitors with a mouth-watering range of dining options.

- Taken from Trends in Japan

INDUSTRY REPORT: 'Clean Fish' Bring Danger of Disease to Salmon Farms

Thousands of fish kept in cages with farmed salmon as a natural solution to deadly sea lice blighting Scottish aquaculture risk bringing "more problems than they fix", campaigners have warned.  Wrasse and lumpfish, which feed on parasitic lice, are being caught and farmed in growing numbers, but critics of salmon farming claim that such "cleaner fish" threaten to introduce other diseases and infections.

They point to a scientific report from Norway, an aquaculture pioneer, that warns of a "high" risk that cleaner fish could introduce new viruses.  "Far from being a panacea, scientific research shows that cleaner fish are vectors of disease transfer and carry huge disease risks," said Don Staniford, director of campaign group Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture.  "It's pretty obvious that they can bring infectious diseases and spread more. Cleaner fish only deal with sea lice - but bring a hell of a lot more problems to the table."

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment published a report earlier this month that stated: "The disease status of wild-caught cleaner fish is, in general, poorly known. Translocations of such fish may result in the introduction of new pathogens to farmed salmonids."  It added that using wild caught cleaner fish that had been moved from areas where disease was endemic to those free from disease might bring a "high" risk of infecting salmon farms with the deadly salmonid alphavirus.

While vaccinations can protect farmed salmon from some of the threats considered, the report also raised suspicion that the potentially lethal amoebic gill disease was passed from cleaner fish to farmed Atlantic salmon in Norway.

However, Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organization, accused critics of using "well intentioned studies to promote speculation".  "To our knowledge, no disease has been introduced to salmon as a result of using cleaner fish," he said. "We monitor each species and ensure their health is optimised. If we need to respond, we will."

Landsburgh added that cleaner fish had been "hugely" beneficial to Scotland's aquaculture and the sector was reviewing its "world-leading" code of good practice.  That code already included screening cleaner fish before use and continually monitoring the health of salmon and cleaner fish "throughout production", with "action taken" if necessary.

Marine Harvest, a Norwegian firm with fish farms in Scotland, said the benefits of using cleaner fish "far outweigh any possible risks to our farmed salmon".

 -Taken from SeafoodNews.com, January 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS:  Seafood Expo North America 

SALMON INDEX:  December Report -

                               Data from November 2017    

FOOD TRENDS:  Top 14 Food Trends of 2018

Whole Foods and The Specialty Food Association-a trade association made up of food artisans, importers, and entrepreneurs-just released their annual food trend reports that predict which eats will rise to stardom and transition from niche to mainstream in 2018. The Amazon-owned retailer consulted its global insiders, from sommeliers to meat experts, while the SFA summoned its Trendspotter Panel to discover which foods we'll become obsessed with. So read on to find out what the next year's trends are forecasted to be. 

SHRIMP UPDATE:  

India shrimp exports to increase strongly

Indian shrimp exports are likely to surpass 550,000 metric tons in the financial year of 2018, increasing 30% compared with the year prior, reports Business Standard.

"Following 19% volume growth registered during [the financial year of 2017], the trend continued in the first half of FY18 with volumes growing 33.6% year-on-year. India currently accounts for 35% of the global frozen shrimp exports," said rating agency Icra in a report.

Icra expects shrimp exports during FY18 to grow 25-30%, led by strong order books for Indian exporters and continued demand from main importers such as the US, said Pavethra Ponniah, vice-president and sector head of Icra.

-Taken from UndercurrentNews.com, December 2017 

SHRIMP INDEX:  

Fall 2017

Fall 2017

Summer has come and gone so we welcome the beauty of fall and the array of events that come with it...including the fall issue of our Quarterly Newsletter.  In this publication, you will find an assortment of articles on seafood products, industry news and a peek at another slice of Japanese culture.  Here are a few articles that may be of interest you: 

• Our Product Spotlight shines on a brand new item in our family of products -
• Crane Bay®  Sakura Kani Kama
• The Industry News takes a look at the recent Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership (GOAL) Conference that took place in Dublin, Ireland earlier this month
• The Shrimp Update explains why the Global Shrimp Industry depends on a small University of Arizona Laboratory
• This fall, consider visiting the Alpine area of Takayama, Japan to see beautiful vistas, enjoy delicious food and luxuriate in the famous natural hot springs 
• Investors and salmon farmers that see Iceland as the next frontier received some welcome news, read about it here 
• Our Corporate Chef, Kevin Lee, blogs about the evolution of Hawaiian Poké, the hottest food trend around

We hope you enjoy this issue and as always, thank you for your continued support.
 

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT:

CRANE BAY® KANI KAMA

(Imitation Crab Leg)

We are pleased to introduce the newest addition to our family of Sashimi Grade Seafood and Japanese Appetizers, Crane Bay® Kani Kama

SPECIFICATIONS:     

Crane Bay® Sakura Kani Kama is currently available in our Los Angeles and Newark warehouses and will soon arrive in Miami.

SALMON UPDATE: Chile's Salmon Output May Increase More than Expected, Help Shares

SANTIAGO - Chile's farmed salmon production could increase more than expected this year, helping share prices of Chilean producers at a time when salmon from leading global producer Norway is limited, according to a trade association and analysts.  As stricter regulations are implemented to tackle environmental problems that have decimated fish populations, local companies had forecast stable output in 2017 after a 20 percent decline a year earlier due to a deadly algae bloom.

Production now looks likely to surpass expectations, said Felipe Sandoval, president of the SalmonChile association, which represents producers.  "The companies are in better sanitary conditions. There has been less mortality," Sandoval told Reuters last week. He said production could reach 720,000 tonnes in 2017.

Chile's department of fish and agriculture, part of the Finance Ministry, said last year's salmon harvest was 675,000 tonnes in the world's No. 2 salmon producer, a level last seen in 2011. The low global supplies sent inter- national prices soaring.

Norway has also struggled to raise output levels in recent years due to outbreaks of sea lice and disease.

After gains of as much as 200 percent in 2016, shares of Chilean salmon producers like Multiexport Foods, Camanchaca, Invermar and Australis Seafoods rose between 20 and 50 percent in the first half of the year, well above growth rates of Santiago's benchmark index.

Analysts and traders said the shares have continued last year's gains due to a combination of solid growth and demand.

"We have been aiming to improve our efficiency levels, focused on reducing costs, which, in spite of the production cycles, has already been reflected in our results," said AquaChile, Chile's largest salmon producer, in an e-mailed response to questions.

Salmon producers have benefited from lower food costs as fishmeal production rises, while the use of antibiotics has decreased, according to government data.

AquaChile lowered costs by 13 percent in the first quarter of 2017, in line with other competitors. The company's shares rose 60 percent in 2016 and 13 percent in the first half of the year to 323 pesos and could rise another 25 percent, Guillermo Araya, analyst at local brokerage Renta 4 Chile said.

"According to technical indicators, this stock I see easily at 400 pesos," he said. "(AquaChile) isn't the only one that looks good, the whole industry does," he said.

- Taken from Seafoodnews.com, July, 2017

SALMON UPDATE:  Icelandic salmon farming is here to stay

A landmark new report paves the way for the industry's expansion.   

The report concluded that the industry can sustainably grow to 71_000 metric tons in its current structure_ and potentially more with some changes to operations

Investors and salmon farmers that see Iceland as the next frontier received some welcome news.

A new multi-stakeholder report submitted to the Icelandic Parliament last month made recommendations for sustainable development of the sector and concluded that the industry can sustainably grow to 71,000 metric tons in its current structure and potentially more with some changes to operations.

The report, commissioned by Iceland's Ministry of Fisheries and Ministry of Environment, was crafted over the past year by a committee of salmon farmers, recreational salmon industry executives, scientists and government officials, giving the conclusions objectivity that will likely carry weight with the government and the parliament when they debate them.  "This is a milestone," Iceland Aquaculture Association Managing Director Kristijan Davidsson said.  "It confirms Icelandic salmon farming is here to stay."

Davidsson is confident that the Icelandic government will approve and adopt recommendations by the end of the year, and incorporate them into the existing laws.  The Icelandic salmon farming industry is today in its early stages with only around 6,000 metric tons exported last year.

The new report, which incorporates recommendations from Iceland's Marine Research Institute(MRI) found that current areas on the West and East coasts of Iceland used for salmon farming could sustainably handle a biomass of 132,000 metric tons without significantly impacting the environment.  However, the capacity recommendation is for 71,000 metric tons, cased on the current structure, which includes a risk assessment of potential genetic impact on wild salmon populations.  

Davidsson noted that with counter-measures that would further reduce risk and environmental impact, such as sterile salmon, it's reasonable Iceland could dole out concessions to allow 100,000 metric tons per year.  The current legal framework for salmon farming was only created in 2004 and revised in 2014 based largely on Norway's rules at the time.  Davidsson expects the new recommendations will be incorporated into the law in the coming months.

Several overseas investors have expressed interest in developing the country - including most notably Norway Roya Salmon, who acquired 50 per cent of Icelandic salmon farmer Arctic Fish in 2016 but Davidsson said Iceland's policies on growth and development have lacked enough clarity for some.  "If you're going to invest several million euros in a smolt facility, you want to make sure you can use it," Davidsson said.  

Given the early stages of Iceland's salmon farming industry, he expects further adaptions in regulations as the industry develops.  Reaching the 72,000 metric ton mark won't happen overnight - though Davidsson said it could get to that level in as soon as five years, assuming the level of investment and development continues at the current pace.

- Taken from Intrafish.com  September, 2017

SALMON INDEX: October Report -
                         Data from August 2017    

INDUSTRY UPDATE:  Global Aquaculture Alliance's Annual GOAL (Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership) Conference 

At the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), the mission is to promote responsible aquaculture practices through education, advocacy and demonstration.  For over 20 years, they have demonstrated their commitment to feeding the world through responsible and sustainable aquaculture.  This is done by providing resources to individuals and businesses worldwide who are associated with aquaculture and seafood.  GAA improves production practices through partnerships with countries, communities and companies as well as online learning and groundbreaking journalism that boasts active leadership in every country of the world.

Each year the GAA hosts its annual Global Outlook for Aquaculture Leadership (GOAL) Conference.  It is a unique opportunity to learn, network and connect producers and suppliers to the marketplace, all in a business-friendly yet casual environment.  Earlier this month, the attendees met in Dublin, Ireland to open the meetings.  One of the topics of discussion was the growth of global shrimp production.  Read the article below to learn what they had to say.

GOAL:  Industry is bullish over global shrimp production in 2018, 2019 

DUBLIN, Ireland - Shrimp industry players are bullish over production growth, forecasting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% between 2016-2019, according to an industry survey of Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) members.

Presenting the survey results at the GOAL conference in Dublin, Jim Anderson, professor at the University of Florida, showed industry expects shrimp production to grow strongly over the next few years, particularly in 2018 and 2019.  The survey also showed that production grew faster in 2017 than in 2016.  In 2016, production growth was relatively flat.

India and Ecuador are expected to be key drivers of global increases in shrimp output, he said.  Production in Southeast Asia is expected to grow too.  "We see the Americas - led by Ecuador - and India as the main increasing areas of production around the world," said Anderson.  "India has seen tremendous increase over the past couple of years, over 10%.  And in the America's there's been very healthy increase."

Referring to Southeast Asia, he said "Between 2015-2019 we're looking at roughly a 7.7% increase."  China, though, may offset this; "it is, at best, relatively flat.  And some people suggest it's seen a bit more of a decline than that."

In Latin America, while Ecuador charged ahead, other countries are not performing to expectations. "Ecuador for the past 8-9 years is doing very well.  In contrast, Mexico and Brazil are really not living up to the vision of what they expect," he said. 

Vannamei accounts for about 76% of global aquaculture production, roughly 5 million metric tons, he said.  "Just looking at Asia alone vannamei now accounts for about 71% of Asia's production."  When viewing aquaculture production and wild production together for the past decade, farmed output has equaled a bit over half of global shrimp production - "our estimates are around 53%."

Getting Accurate Data

Anderson acknowledged the challenges involved in getting accurate data on shrimp production- he said it is still no easier than 15 years ago when he started collating data.  According to statistics by the Food and Aquaculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, global vannamei production has grown every year since 2002, even during the peak of disease outbreaks such as early mortality syndrome, he noted.  In contrast, GAA's survey data showed production dropping significantly in 2013 and 2015.  "It appears the FAO data is not reflecting the impact of diseases around the world.  So you have the situation where there's clearly uncertainty in the data," he said.

But estimates can vary significantly within the industry, too.  For China, GAA's figures for vannamei production range from just 600,000t to 1.7m metric tons. The range in production estimates for China has grown especially since 2010.

- Taken from Undercurrentnews.com  October, 2017

JAPANESE CULTURE:  TAKAYAMA and the

                                       NORTHERN ALPS  

It makes sense that Takayama is sister city to Cusco, the culturally rich and picturesque Peruvian city with an Incan heritage that is set in the Andes. It is also sister cities with Lijiang, a city in Southwestern China known for its traditional architecture and spectacular views of nearby mountains. Takayama has all these qualities: a lovely setting in the foothills of the northern Japanese Alps, an intensely atmospheric historic district that makes you feel as if you are transported back into the old Japan and a rich cultural heritage.

That heritage is highlighted each spring and fall in festivals the city hosts. The festivals honor the Shinto god who resides at the base of the mountain that rises behind the city. The god is carried from its shrine around the city, approving and blessing the activities of the people. The mood of the festivals is joyous - a happy communion between the people of Takayama and the place they live.

Takayama Festival

The festival highlights elaborate "floats" that are not floats at all but towering carriages that showcase Takayama's ancient traditions of superb craftsmanship in metal and wood. Men in traditional costume haul the twelve floats, each representing one of Takayama's traditional neighborhoods, through the narrow streets of the old city.

Takayama Festival

Takayama's wonderful cuisine is on display in stands and small shops: grilled rice dumpling glazed in soy; miso cooked on magnolia leaf; and, of course, sumptuous Hida beef, which is grilled on skewers or served in luscious lightly cooked slabs as sushi. The city has seven sake breweries that host tastings and sell their wares. It's delightful to stroll through the remarkable architecture of the old town, absorbing the celebratory atmosphere of the festival, eating small snacks when the urge arises, and sampling sake. The old city has lovely coffee shops where you can to sit and watch people and recharge for more festival action.

                   LEFT: Miso cooked on magnolia leaf.                                                             RIGHT: Grilled Hida beef on skewers.

Beyond the city, the jagged ridgelines of the Northern Japanese Alps rise into the sky, topping ten thousand feet. The Northern Alps are rich in onsen (hot springs), and there are numerous reasonably priced ryokan in the Okuhida-Onsengo onsen area that have their own private bathing pools and offer breakfast and dinner as part of their rate.

                        LEFT: Open-air hot spring baths (onsen) in the Alps                                       RIGHT: Shinhotaka Rope Way

The seven-minute Shinhotaka Rope Way sky tram takes you up to a panoramic viewing platform. Far below, a sparkling river tumbled through the valley's cleft. The steep-sided mountains were resplendent with fall foliage. The mountains stretched on and on-a huge area, stretching into the distance. You will see why this region is known as the "enfolded land," and why for so long it has retained a remote secluded character, its feeling of authenticity and integrity-a place that time forgot.

- Taken from Only in Japan

SHRIMP REPORT:  Global Shrimp Industry Depends on Small University of Arizona Lab  

The Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory tests shrimp samples, identifies diseases and certifies disease-free stock to help the nearly $40 billion farmed shrimp industry provide a safe food supply.

A world-renowned laboratory in Tucson has a quiet presence at the University of Arizona, but within the global farmed shrimp and aquaculture industry it exerts a tremendous influence.

The Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory, housed within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, works with commercial shrimp farming enterprises, research institutions and nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, from across the world to diagnose infectious diseases of penaeid shrimp and other crustaceans in samples delivered to the UA, certify pathogen-free stock, test feed ingredients, conduct research and train shrimp disease specialists.

Clients pay for these services, which in turn help them maintain the biosecurity of their products and ultimately the health and profitability of their industry. For example, baby and adult brood shrimp can't be sold to large shrimp operations around the world - in the U.S., Mexico, South America, the Middle East and Asia - unless they are certified. The laboratory conducts certification testing and validation.

The laboratory can do this because it is a reference laboratory, the only one in North America, certified for crustacean diseases by the Office International des Epizooties in Paris. It is also an approved laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

"This lab has done a wonderful job of addressing the needs of the shrimp industry in terms of disease diagnosis and disease prevention worldwide," said Arun K. Dhar, associate professor of shrimp and other crustacean aquaculture and director of the lab since January. He succeeded longtime professor and founding director Donald V. Lightner, who developed and guided the lab for more than 30 years as it became a facility recognized around the world.

"We identify the pathogen, we get the specifics," Dhar said. "When a disease emerges, we jump on it to determine the etiology (cause), the methods to detect it and the tools to prevent the spread of the disease. Then we tell that story to various audiences."

- Taken from SEAFOODNEWS.COM  September, 2017

SHRIMP INDEX:  

Published by Urner Barry. © Urner Barry 2017 All Rights Reserved.

Summer 2017

Summer 2017

Well, summer has arrived and with it, the quarterly edition of our Newsletter.  In this issue you will find a range of industry wide articles on seafood trends along with product information and a glimpse at a slice of Japanese culture.  Here are a few of the topics you can read about:

• Our product spotlight focuses on a review of our family of Maneki® Value products - growing strong!

• The Industry News segment reveals that the Monterey Bay "Seafood Watch" List has upgraded farmed salmon to a "Good Alternative"

• Shrimp activity is up in volume this year as compared to last year's totals

• Going to Japan this summer?  Consider trekking through nature - long trails Japan style

• The Salmon Update includes a look at salmon prices in summer decline and an update on the developmental growth of land-based salmon farming

• And lastly, our blog explains the purpose and benefits of our customer relationship managers and their interaction with our clients

We hope you enjoy this summertime issue and as always, thank you for your continued support.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Maneki® Value Family of Products

By now, many of you know our Maneki® Value brand of quality seafood.  Debuting in October of 2015, the brand was developed specifically to introduce a line of low cost/high value shrimp products.  Our goal was to combine great quality with competitive pricing to meet your specs and price point.

We began by offering Maneki® Value Nobashi Ebi and Sushi Ebi BAP certified products in limited but popular sizes and larger pack styles.  In January of 2017, we added Maneki® Value Tempura Shrimp in size 21/25, 150 pieces per case bulk packed and BAP certified.  And later this summer, we will present the newest member of this growing family, Maneki® Value Panko Breaded Shrimp, in size 16/20, packed in bulk with 125 pieces per case and BAP certified.

Let's take a quick look at each of these products:  

Give these Maneki® Value products a try!  The convenient pack styles deliver efficiency while reducing costs.  And you'll get lower pricing with no compromise on quality.  Please contact your DNI Group representative today for information, pricing and samples

RECIPE IDEA: "ROLL" Out Your Summertime Specials

Maneki® Value Shrimp -  Three Ways!!

Your customers will like this delicious summertime combination platter highlighting Maneki® Value products in 3 ways.  Serve from the bar menu, as an appetizer or a lunch special.

First, for a sweet, crunchy sushi roll, use Maneki® Value Tempura Shrimp as the centerpiece and add rice, avocado then flavor with wasabi mayonnaise.

Next, a light and flavorful spring roll featuring Maneki® Value Sushi Ebi with rice noodles, lettuce and mint wrapped in rice paper.  Serve with a tangy sweet chili dipping sauce.

And lastly, finish with a beautiful sushi hand roll, "temaki", of Maneki® Value Panko Breaded Shrimp - a combination of shrimp coated in crispy Panko bread crumbs with rice, avocado and cucumber.

INDUSTRY NEWS: Monterey Bay upgrades farmed salmon on Seafood Watch list  

Farmed salmon, certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), is now considered a "Good Alternative."

 

The Monterey Bay Aquarium announced that farmed salmon certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has advanced in its sustainable seafood ranking to a "Good Alternative."

The updated recommendation recognizes that ASC-certified farmed salmon aligns with many of the Seafood Watch's guiding principles for sustainable seafood production and moves ASC-certified farmed salmon onto the program's recommended list of seafood for consumers to buy.

This updated recommendation will significantly increase the availability of sustainable farmed salmon in retail stores and restaurants, making it much easier for consumers to make an informed decision over the seafood they purchase.

At present, nearly a quarter of all farmed salmon produced globally is ASC certified and members of the Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) are the main sources of ASC-certified farmed salmon, worldwide producing over 350,000 metric tons of the product in 2016.  The GSI is a collective of leading global salmon farming companies that have made it their target to be 100 percent ASC certified by 2020.

"Producers that have met the ASC Salmon Standard have been comprehensively and independently audited to ensure they meet the highest assurance levels for responsible production and have demonstrated they care for their workers and communities," said Chris Ninnes, CEO of ASC.  "When consumers purchase ASC-certified seafood, they can feel confident they have selected fish from farms that are certified to the highest social and environmental standard."

All farms certified to the ASC Salmon Standard must meet a total of 154 performance criteria and 521 compliance criteria, thereby showing they deliver real environmental and social benefits.

"Farmed salmon has long been an excellent protein choice for consumers," said Gerardo Balbontin, Co-Chair of the GSI and CEO of Blumar Seafoods.  "It is healthy, nutritious and packed full of protein.  But now, following the comprehensive ASC standard certification process, we are able to document the sustainability, and environmental and social performance of our industry.  For customers looking for the gold standard in seafood, they know that when they purchase farmed salmon recommended by the Seafood Watch program and the ASC, they are making the right choice in choosing seafood that is produced to the highest standards."

- Taken from Intrafish.com, June 2017

SHRIMP REPORT: U.S. Shrimp import prices, volumes on the rise

Most popular size jumped 12% in volume and 21% in price

U.S. shrimp imports through April were up compared to the same period as last year.

Overall, the United States imported 179,700 metric tons of shrimp worth $1.7 billion, a 3 and 9 percent increase in volume and value respectively, year on year, according to statistics released Friday by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Imports of shell-on, frozen warm water shrimp, all sizes combined, amounted to 63,335 metric tons worth $605.3 million, a 1 percent drop in volume but a 3 percent increase in value year on year.

The most popular size was 31/40, with the United states importing 13,411 metric tons worth $113 million, a 12 and 21 percent increase in volume and value, respectively year on year.  Most came from Ecuador: 4592 metric tons worth $37.8 million a 25 and 35 percent jump in volume and value respectively.

The next most popular size in volume was 21/25: 10,524 metric tons worth $106.3 million were brought into the U.S. during a period, a 2 percent drop in volume but a 4 percent increase in value year on year.

The U.S. also imported 13,747 metric tons of breaded frozen shrimp worth $99.8 million, a 7 and 11 percent increase in volume and value, respectively year on year.

- Taken from Intrafish.com June, 2017

Thai Producers Plan for Shrimp Output to Rebound in Second Half of 2017

Thai producers plan to increase their shrimp output in the second half of this year, after output from farms dropped year- on -year in the first two quarters of 2017, industry sources told us. Heavy rain, which has caused floods in several provinces, as well as ongoing disease issues, limited the growth of Thai shrimp production in the first half of this year, Thai Union Group's shrimp unit managing director, Preerasak Boonmechote, told us during a recent visit to the firm's processing plant near Bangkok, before the Thaifex trade show in Bangkok.

Thai shrimp production is expected to grow 5% overall this year, lower than earlier expectations of 10-15% output growth, Boonmechote said, pointing to the fact that heavy rain had limited the country's production growth plan.

In 2016, Thailand's production increased around 50,000 metric tons to 300,000t, Robins McIntosh, senior vice president of Thai agribusiness and food processing giant Charoen Pokphand Foods, said in January, at the Global Seafood Market Conference in San Francisco, California. According to Thai Union's estimates, Thai production in 2016 totaled slightly less, about 250,000t.

Meanwhile, Thai shrimp prices, which are on the rise again, are expected to either remain stable or grow 5% y-o-y in 2017, according to Boonmechote.

- Taken from Seafoodnews.com June 2017

SHRIMP INDEX: Thursday, July 6 2017

Published by Urner Barry. © Urner Barry 2017 All Rights Reserved

JAPANESE CULTURE: Trekking Through Nature- Long Trails Japan Style   
 

The beautiful Shinetsu Trail along the border of Nagano Prefecture
and Niigata Prefecture.

Mountain climbing and camping have become popular in Japan over the past few years.  More and more young people are enjoying mountain climbing in fashionably colorful clothing that combines function with style. Also, long trail hiking is starting to boom as a new and enjoyable activity.In general, long trail hiking, which is different from aiming to reach the top of a mountain as a goal, is hiking outdoors from place to place using old roads, forest roads and trails. Long trail distances can be from hundreds to thousands of kilometers in length, but only a few people trek through the entire distance of a trail in a single journey; you can simply enjoy your favorite route on the weekend and hike at your own pace. A reason long hikes are popular is because the path may pass through towns and villages, where you can learn about the area's history and culture and meet the local people as part of the trip.

Enjoying the Outdoors of a Locality on Foot

There are long trails that are several thousand kilometers in length in Europe and America, the home grounds of long hiking, but in narrow Japan with its limited land area there are no such long trails. On the other hand, each region in Japan does have its own distinctive trails, and there are now 10 trails registered with the Japan Long Trail Association. Here we will introduce some of them.

There are also tour events on the Hokkaido Tokachi Long Trail in which many people hike together.

In the far north of Japan, in Hokkaido, there's the Tokachi Long Trail. The Tokachi region is an agricultural area, and along this trail you can enjoy rural scenery such as corn crops, and pastures for cows, horses and sheep.

The 80-kilometer Shinetsu Trail along the border of Nagano Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture is a hike through beautiful beech forest. It used to be a key transportation route, and it's said that it was used to carry salt and seafood from the Japan Sea and Japanese paper and rapeseed oil from inland. It's a trail where you can enjoy nature and history.

Many people from youngsters to seniors enjoy the outdoors along the Yatsugatake Sanroku Super Trail.

Takashima Trail. It has scenery that can only be seen by the people that hike it

Just about in the middle of the Japanese islands is the Yatsugatake Sanroku Super Trail. It's about 200 kilometers long and circles the base of the Yatsugatake mountain range. It has many highlights like beautiful mountains, alpine plants, lakes, bogs and historical ruins.

A long trail that's typical of the Kansai area is the Takashima Trail in the northwest of Shiga Prefecture. There's abundant vegetation, irreplaceable nature, and you can also expect to see Lake Biwa, Japan's biggest lake, and the novel narrow inlet of Wakasa Bay from many places.

One more of the attractions of the long trails is enjoying the foods grown locally.

Proper Equipment for a Safe and Comfortable Trip

If you have standard outdoor equipment you can feel at ease and comfortably enjoy long trail hiking. This includes rainproof and moisture-permeable rainwear, inner wear to prevent sweating and chilling, pants that are easy to move in, hiking boots and a backpack that can hold all the items you need to carry.

Because you'll be walking long distances it's important to choose light items. Also, be sure to have water, a course map, headlamp and first aid supplies. Make careful preparations and be sure someone knows your route and schedule.  You'll enjoy walking Japan's long trails.

- Taken from Trends in Japan

SALMON UPDATE:  Farmed Salmon Prices Enter Summer Season Decline   

Farmed salmon prices have been in decline since Memorial Day weekend with traders reporting quiet demand in the market with inventories well supplied.

This is a typical time of the year to see farmed salmon prices come down. Salmon starts to compete with other, more grill friendly protein options at the retail level. Buyers also begin to source wild-caught salmon from Alaska as those supplies come become readily available.

Urner Barry's Salmon Index shows monthly prices in June at $5.25 per pound, just marginally lower from May but more than $0.50 per pound lower from the start of the year.

Weekly prices have been in decline since before Memorial Day weekend.

The seasonal decline is not as pronounced in 2017 as it's been in past years like in 2014 and 2016 and these prices are still at record levels.

Still, fresh salmon fillet imports are down about 8 million pounds compared to last year but traders are reporting adequate supplies and a quiet demand.

So while farmed salmon prices are still trending at record highs in June the market does appear to be entering a period of summer season decline.

- Taken from SeafoodNews.com June, 2017

Land-based Salmon Farming: The numbers now make sense.

One of Langsand Laks' 13 tanks

Land-based salmon farming is closer than ever before to being a financially viable alternative to traditional net pens, according to a report by DNB Markets.  (DNB Markets is Norway's leading investment bank.)

With supply growth from traditional farming dwindling due to biological challenges and tighter regulatory controls, and new licenses expensive or impossible to secure, land-based is increasingly an answer, wrote analysts Alexander Aukner and Tone Bjornstad Hanstad.

"With low supply growth, salmon prices are likely to stay high for the next two years, reducing the risk of a price collapse before volumes from a land-based project reach the market. At the same time, production costs for traditional and land-based farming are starting to converge as biological costs for sea-based farming increase, and technological advances reduce land-based costs."

In the past, high production costs and investment needs, combined with elevated risks and the long period from investment to first cash flow, have been major barriers for land-based salmon facilities.  Now, required investment per kilogram of land-based produced salmon produced has fallen with the technological development and increased scale, said DNB.

Click here to read full article

- Taken from undercurrentnews.com, March 2017

SALMON INDEX: June Report -  Data from April 2017