Supermarket Perimeter - June 2023 - 58

Seafood
SHELLFISH
NORWEGIAN PRODUCERS ARE CURRENTLY SHIPPING queen
snow crab (live and frozen), red king crab (live and frozen), Norway
lobster/langoustines (live), common whelk, frozen coldwater prawns
(shell-on and peeled), brown crab and frozen scallops for sale in US
grocery stores.
Norwegian red king crab in particular has become very popular
By Andy Nelson
" In order to protect other valuable species like the cod, all king crab
fishing in areas west of the North Cape is therefore unrestricted. Fishing
for the red king crab takes place all year with traps in the fjords and
coastal areas along the east of Finnmark. "
But red king crab is far from the only variety of shellfish from Norway
in the US, said Anne-Kristine Øen, director, USA, for the Norwegian
Seafood Council. High-end Asian cuisine is one popular destination for
the variety.
And, based on developments in two other areas of the world where red
king crab is sourced, that popularity will only increase, Øen said. One, the
US has banned red king crab exports from Russia because of the Russia/
Ukraine War. And two, Alaska red king crab stocks have collapsed.
Russian scientists brought red king crab to Norwegian and Russian
territorial waters in the 1960's. Since then, it has established a habitat
along the coast in the eastern part of Finnmark, a county in northern
Norway, and has become an invaluable resource of Norway's
northernmost fishing region.
Red king crab is a highly adaptable crab that feeds on bottomdwelling
animals and algae alike, and it has been known to spread along
the Norwegian coastline, leaving terror in its wake, Øen said.
For that reason, Norwegian authorities have established a two-part
strategy for maintaining a sustainable red king crab population: a
quota-regulated, long-term fishery in east of Finnmark; and limiting the
crab's dispersal outside of this designated area.
58 - JUNE 2023
that has enjoyed strong growth in recent years, Øen said. Frozen snow
crab volumes are up due to higher quotas and landings in Norway, and
US demand has been there to meet it.
Looking at overall shipments, export volumes of shellfish from Norway
have been on a steady rise, especially for snow crab, king crab and
Norway lobster. Demand for other species has fluctuated more, Øen said.
In marketing their country's shellfish, the Norwegian Seafood Council
highlights the country's cold, clear water, which gives shellfish a " special
and sweet taste and a unique texture, " Øen said.
Because of its status in the shellfish category, Norway must work
hard to differentiate itself from other producers.
" Norway is a niche producer of shellfish compared to other countries
such as Canada, Russia, the UK, France, and the US, " Øen said. " We must
make the most out of the little exclusive resource we have and deliver
the best quality. "
One shellfish variety that is making a comeback in Norway is the
arctic scallop.
In the 1980s, arctic scallop fisheries were closed due to overfishing.
Now that producers have once again been given the green light to fish
for the variety, two vessels have been given a five-year research quota
supermarketperimeter.com
Seafood from Norway
http://www.supermarketperimeter.com
Supermarket Perimeter - June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Supermarket Perimeter - June 2023
