Foreign Fishery Developments ther subdivide stocks into local groups; details regarding the structure of each stock or local subgroup have not been investigated and analyzed in detail. Some fishery biologists believe that the Walleye Pollock and Its biomass of all these pollock stocks ex­ ceeds that of any other demersal species. Utilization and Trade Much of the walleye pollock fishery is conducted by bottom trawling, al­ though gillnetting, longlining, and mid­ water trawling are also used in the fishery. The length of a mature walleye Introduction Ocean from the Sea of Japan, the Ok­ pollock is between 30 and 60 cm and hotsk and Bering seas, the Gulf of Alas­ the weight of an individual averages be­ The annual harvest of walleye pol­ ka, and extend into waters off British tween 0.2 and 1.4 kg. Walleye pollock lock, Theragra chalcogramma, also Columbia. Although fishery biologists is harvested throughout the North Pacif­ called Alaska pollock, currently repre­ are uncertain about walleye pollock ic wherever stocks are found, but in re­ sents the world's largest single-species stock identification, it is generally ac­ cent years greater harvesting efforts have fishery; catches were between 5 and 6 cepted that there is a likely amount of been made in specific fishing areas (Fig. percent of the total world fisheries migratory mixing among neighboring 1). About 75 percent of walleye pollock harvest in 1984 and amounted to a stocks in certain areas of the North harvests are made in the eastern North record high 6.0 million metric tons (t). Pacific-especially in the Sea of Japan. Pacific; the other 25 percent are made Although walleye pollock is found A study made in 19]7 suggested that west of long. 175°W, primarily in U.S. throughout the North Pacific, stocks are there are at least 12 major pollock stocks waters. Although the flesh of walleye centered principally within the exclusive in the entire North Pacific. Four of these pollock is most commonly utilized for economic zones of the United States and stocks are located in the Sea of Japan human consumption, stocks are often the Soviet Union. In addition, there are at: 1) Western Hokkaido; 2) northern adversely affected by parasites in many several pollock stocks located in the Sea Japan (Honshu); 3) western Japan (Hon­ fishing regions. In this event, harvests of Japan. Four countries (the Soviet shu); and 4) Primorskiy-Korean penin­ are often used for fishmeal. Union, Japan, the United States, and the sula. North of Hokkaido there are two Ever since the 1m El Nino phenom­ Republic of Korea (ROK» harvest over more pollock stocks at: 5) Kuril Islands enon decimated the Peruvian anchovy 95 percent of the world walleye pollock and 6) east and southern Hokkaido. In fishery, walleye pollock has been the catch. About one-fourth of this total the Sea of Okhotsk, there are two stocks world's largest single-species fishery. catch has been harvested within U.S. identified as the: 7) Sakhalin-Hokkaido Despite this fact, the pollock fishery is waters in recent years. and 8) northern Okhotsk stocks. Mov­ remarkably little known to the general Walleye pollock is marketed through­ ing east from the Sea of Okhotsk, American public, considering that a out the world in various forms and the observers note the 9) Kamchatka penin­ large segment of it occurs within the potential for expanded uses of this sula stock. 200-mile fisheries zone of the United groundfish species is great. The most The three remaining pollock stocks States. The reason for the lack of infor­ interesting commodity produced from are found around North America in: 10) mation probably stems from the fact that pollock is surimi, a minced product The eastern Bering Sea; ll) the Gulf of the fishery is only about 20 years old which is used to manufacture such prod­ Alaska; and, finally, 12) waters around around Alaska and did not involve U.S. ucts as imitation crab legs, scallops, British Columbia. It should be noted commercial fishery participation until shrimps, and other analog foodstuffs. that within these stocks observers report recently. Worldwide pollock surimi production differing genetic characteristics that fur­ Historically, the North Pacific fishery exceeded 400,000 t in 1984 and ex­ periments are being conducted on other marine species to test their commercial viability for surimi production. Walleye Pollock Harvests Pollock stocks occur throughout the eastern and western North Pacific

This news article was written by George Herrfurth of the Office of International Fisheries, ational Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Washington, DC 20235. Walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma

49(1), 1987 61 U.S.S.R. U.S.A.

OCEAN PACI FIC

Walleye pollock distribution

• Major walleye pollock fishing grounds

Figure I.-Distribution and major fishing grounds for walleye pollock.

for walleye pollock was limited to the Table 1.-World walleye pollock catch, by country, 1975-84.' coastal waters of Japan and Korea until Catch (1.000 t) the late 1950's, when it underwent a Country 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984' rapid expansion as a distant-water fish­ USSR. 1.958.1 2.090.9 1.975.1 2.011.9 2.048.8 2,111.7 2.137.9 2,497.9 2.747.0 3,449.6 ery. Japanese operations, in particular, Japan 2.677.4 2,445.4 1.927.6 1.546.1 1.551.1 1,552.4 1,595.3 1,570.4 1,434.4 1.605.9 spread quickly up into the Sea of Ok­ United States neg!. 0.2 0.3 1.8 3.1 1.4 60.7 130.4 284.5 455.1 S. Korea (ROK) 387.8 532.6 390.6 361.9 297.2 286.2 278.6 262.1 367.4 398.6 hotsk and across into the Bering Sea Poland 0.5 neg!. 1.4 1.2 40.4 61.0 92.9 0.4 53.7 during the 1960's. The Japanese harvest Germany (FRG) 6.0 10.3 16.1 23.7 24.4 1.3 of walleye pollock in the Bering Sea in­ Canada 0.9 2.4 3.4 2.2 1.1 0.9 1.0 0.7 creased from 25,800 t in 1960 to over Total' 5,023.9 5,070.4 4.295.9 3,925.3 3,944.0 4,020.8 4,176.8 4,478.2 5,047.3 5,986.0 655,800 t in 1969. At the same time, 'Sources: FAG "Yearbook of Fishery Statistics, various years; NMFS "Fisheries of the United States, 1984" pollock fishing efforts elsewhere in the North Pacific, particularly by Soviet fishermen, also expanded. During the 1960's, annual pollock harvests in­ potential for increased harvests depends 200-mile zones of the United States and creased from 465,000 t in 1961, to nearly upon the size of the walleye pollock the Soviet Union, vessels from Japan, 3.6 million tons by 1971. biomass, which is not known with any China, Korea (ROK), and other coun­ The annual world catch of walleye certainty by biologists. tries, have reportedly concentrated fish­ pollock was about 5.0 million tons in In an interesting development to the ing efforts there in recent months to 1975 (Table 1). Following the establish­ North Pacific pollock fishery, surveys offset restrictions made by either the ment of 200-mile fishery zones in the carried out by Japanese research vessels United States or the Soviet Union in North Pacific in 1977, the catch de­ have indicated that substantial schools their respective fishery zones. creased by over 20 percent. After 1980, of large adult-sized Alaska pollock in­ when Japan and Korea secured catch habit the surface and midwater layers of Soviet Union allocations within U.S. waters and the the 3,000-4,000 m deep Aleutian basin The Soviet Union currently maintains Soviet Union increased fishing efforts in the central Bering Sea. Observers the world's largest walleye pollock fish­ within their own waters, catches again believe that these fish are associated ery (Fig. 2), and harvests annually ac­ increased. Harvests exceeded 6.0 mil­ with stocks in the area and are not an count for about one-fourth of the total lion tin 1984, or about 20 percent more isolated population. Because a large part Soviet fisheries catch. Soviet fishermen than the catches made in 1975. The of the area in question lies outside the caught a record-high 3.4 million t in

62 Marine Fisheries Review 1984, accounting for 55 percent of the ~ world's pollock harvest. Soviet catches 3.500 have increased steadily since 1978 be­ cause of expanded fishing efforts within domestic waters. Estimates on the bio­ mass of the four pollock stocks located ~::t~ ~"'~ __..:u:;:;;.s;;..s;o.R_.__... within the Soviet 200-mile zone are un­ ,=[ _ available, and observers are not sure ~ . __~Ja~p~an~ _ whether Soviet stocks can withstand an­ ~ 1,500 - nual harvests of over 3.0 million t on a .Q" ~ sustained basis. 1.000 The Soviet Government, under terms of a bilateral treaty with Japan, permits 500 Japanese fishermen to harvest pollock Rep. of Korea ...... ···\is·~ Other within the Soviet 200-mile zone. Annual o ----,--.-r-,-==r,==;::,:::-;:;;~·::;:·r·":------:S;;;i~~T'~~~=:;- pollock quotas for Japanese fishermen 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 in the Soviet waters decreased from 290,000 to 250,000 t between 1980 and 1985, and decreased further in 1986, Figure 2.-World walleye pollock catch, 1975-84. after the Soviet-Japanese annual agree­ ment resulted in a quota of only 150,000 t of pollock for Japanese fishermen. Some observers have speculated that Japan may be forced to pay "coopera­ Japan's distant-water fishermen are by importing greater quantities of pol­ tion fees" to the Soviets in exchange for permitted to harvest pollock within both lock and pollock-surimi from other harvesting pollock within Soviet waters the U.S. and Soviet 200-mile fishery nations, or by developing a surimi in­ in future years. zones under terms of bilateral agree­ dustry utilizing other marine species, ments negotiated by the Japanese Gov­ which observers believe is unlikely. Japan ernment. As a result of these bilateral The Japanese pollock fishery was arrangements, the Japanese pollock har­ United States mostly limited to coastal waters until the vest remained relatively stable between Walleye pollock harvests by U.S. 1960's. The fishery became more im­ 1978 and 1984. This enabled the Japa­ vessels have increased significantly in portant to the Japanese after harvests of nese distant-water demersal fishing recent years. U.S. fishermen caught yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea great­ industry to weather socioeconomic dis­ 455,000 t in 1984, compared with only ly decreased in the early 1960's. An ruptions caused by the establishment of 20 t in 1975. This sharp increase in the additional impetus to the pollock fishery 200-mile fishery zones. In addition to pollock catch can be attributed to the in­ occurred in 1967, when Japanese fishery receiving allocations from the United crease of joint-venture activities with technologists developed a mechanical States and the Soviet Union, Japanese foreign countries, especially Japan and process to manufacture pollock into a vessels also participate in pollock joint the Republic of Korea, and increased traditional Japanese seafood com­ ventures with U.S. and Soviet fisher­ domestic pollock landings. modity: Surimi. Harvests by Japanese men. These joint ventures involve the Prior to 1977, pollock was harvested mothership and large trawlers increased over-the-side purchase of pollock by primarily by distant-water foreign ves­ greatly until reaching an apex during Japanese factory trawlers from U.S. and sels off the U.S. coast. Since 1977, 1972 and 1973, when catches exceeded Soviet trawlers. however, foreign access to U.S. waters 3.0 million t in both years. Because of the interesting capacity of has been restricted, thus enabling U.S. Japan's annual pollock harvest was U.S. fishermen to harvest and process fishermen to harvest increasing quan­ once that country's largest fishery, ac­ pollock, coupled with the fact that the tities of all commercially important counting for almost one-third of the total pollock stocks within the U.S. 200-mile groundfish species off Alaska. Mean­ fisheries catch. Because of the restric­ fisheries zone have decreased in recent while, foreign pollock harvests within tions placed upon Japanese distant-water years, it is likely that Japanese harvest­ U.S. waters decreased from 1.1 million trawling after the establishment of 200­ ing levels will decline during the next t to 0.8 million t in 1985 (Table 2). The mile zones, pollock harvests decreased few years and result in a greater depen­ U.S. pollock catch began to increase as and the fishery now ranks second in size dence upon imports and joint venture a result of increased joint venture ar­ to the sardine fishery. Over one-half (55 purchases to meet the domestic demand rangements with Japan and the Republic percent) of the Japanese pollock catch for pollock. Accordingly, it is likely that of Korea after 1981; the entire catch made in 1984 was harvested within the Japan's surimi production will slacken resulting from these joint ventures was 200-mile zones of the United States and in relation to decreased pollock harvests sold over-the-side to Japanese and the Soviet Union. unless the Japanese are able to offset this Korean processing vessels. U.S. fisher­

49(1), 1987 63 Table 2.-Foreign catch of walleye pollock within the Table 3.-Republic of Korea (ROK) pollock harvests, 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, by country and by quantity, 1970-84.' quantity, 1980-85.' ---- Harvest (t) 400 Catch (1.000 t) Year Adjacent-water Distant-water Total Country 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985' 1970 N/A' N/A 13,400 Japan 870.9 8552 8354 732.1 723.5 635.5 1971 N/A N/A 71,300 Korea 1972 N/A N/A 148,500 (ROK) 141.0 154.6 196.2217.1 2184 174.7 1973 N/A N/A 257,000 Poland 59.2 93.9 550 320 1974 N/A N/A 297.218 .•••J ... 0 Germany 1975 4.540 327.939 332479 38 (FRG) 6.0 103 16.1 236 244 1976 5.546 444,516 450.062 0 U.SS.R 392 118 1.5 1977 18,584 267.715 286.299 ~ Taiwan 5.0 34 4.2 1978 11.295 257,553 268.848 I' 1979 11.716 217.718 229,434 ~'t: ------1980 28.112 189,774 217.886 Total 1.119.1 1,117.3 1.051.9 972.8 1.033.2 843.7 1981 50,283 228.353 278.636 ~ 1982 38413 223.682 262,095 'Source: NMFS, "Flsherles of the United States," various 1983 29,642 337.780 367,422 36 0 rears. 1984 39.906 358.716 398,622 Preliminary statistics. lSource: Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, "Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics." 'N/A = Not available men landed only 10,900 t out of the 455,000 t of pollock that they harvested during 1984. In 1985, U.S. fishermen of Korea's pollock harvests have been o were able to increase domestic landings made in U.S. waters in recent years. J D of pollock greatly, and over 55,000 t Korean fishermen harvested nearly were landed at U.S. ports. 400,000 t of walleye pollock in 1984­ Within the past 5 years, U.S. com­ mostly in the eastern Bering Sea. The panies have introduced freezer trawlers Koreans also maintain an "adjacent­ into the pollock fishery off Alaska. In water" fishery for pollock within the 1985, some 14 U.S.-owned freezer trawl­ Sea of Japan, where about 30 percent ers were involved in harvesting and of their pollock harvests are made (Table 300 high-seas processing of pollock in the 3). During the early 1980's, Korea's Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, The pollock fishery was conducted by about presence of these vessels has enabled the 50 stern trawlers in the North Pacific. United States to increase domestic pol­ It is not known how many vessels are

64 Marine Fisheries Review permission from U.S. authorities to fish Table 4.-Japan's estimated walleye pollock supply, sausage is being produced in the Soviet 1984,' for surplus pollock in U.S. waters dur­ far east city of Ussuriysk and is re­ ing 1986. In addition, the Chinese have Amount portedly very popular with consumers. also established over-the-side pollock Source x 1,000 t Percent2 Japan joint ventures with U.S. fishermen. Imports' 60.0E' 3.0% Pollock is a popular and readily avail­ Utilization and Trade Joint ventures UN) With U.S.S.R. 50.0E 2.5 able species in the Japanese seafood The walleye pollock is an extremely With U.S. 341.0 17.0 diet. Besides being consumed in fresh versatile fish whose flesh is light­ Subtotal 391.0E 19.5 form, the fish is used to produce a vari­ colored, mild-flavored, moist, and firm­ ety of products including: Dried pol­ Harvests textured, with a low fat content. Because In U.S.S.R. zone 250.0E 12.0 lock, salted pollock, pickled pollock, In U.S. zone 723.5 350 the species is such an abundant resource Coastal/high seas 631.4E 31.0 and cured pollock roe. But the most in the North Pacific, it is most widely widely known use of pollock by Japa­ utilized as surimi; it is also gaining ac­ Subtotal 1,604.9E 78.0 nese consumers is in surimi end-product ceptance as a substitute for cod and had­ Supply 2,055.9E 100.0% form 1. The most common surimi prod­ Exports subtracted -30.0E dock in international groundfish trade ucts include: "Kamaboko", which is where it is marketed as individual fillets Total supply 2,025.9E semicylindrical and usually steamed on or as fish sticks and portions made from 'Sources: FAO "Yearbook of Fishery Statistics," a small wooden pallet; "chikuwa", a Japan Fisheries Association, and personal communi· frozen fillet blocks. In addition to the cations. slender hollow cylindrical product surimi and block markets, pollock roe 'Percentage of the total supply. which is usually roasted; "kanikama" 'Japan does not publish pollock import statistics; is also popular in Asian markets. observers estimated Japan's 1984 pollock imports at a shellfish analog product which is crab International trade in the walleye pol­ 60,000 t. flavored. In addition to these products, 'E = Estimated. lock is difficult to quantify and assess there are several other seafood analogs because few countries report pollock (such as imitation scallops, shrimp, imports and exports in separate statis­ lobster tails, etc.), as well as several tical categories. Much of the pollock food analogs, that are popular in Japan. trade is in the form of blocks or surimi Soviet Union Observers estimate that Japan ob­ and surimi-based products and is not Most of the Soviet pollock catch is tained about 1.4 million t or nearly 70 recorded in trade data by species. Japan, reportedly either consumed domesti­ percent, of its apparent total pollock the leading market for pollock, records cally or processed into fishmeal; the supply from either U.S., Soviet, or its pollock imports in a basket category, Soviets also export or barter an unkown Korean sources in 1984 (Tble 4). This but recently began recording exports of amount of pollock commodities, but supply consisted of allocated harvests pollock and other species processed as trade statistics are unavailable. A por­ made by Japanese fishermen in either surimi in an individual category. Trade tion of the Soviet pollock catch is pro­ the U.S. or Soviet 200-mile zones, joint statistics for the European Community cessed into fish meal because stocks in venture purchases from U.S. and Soviet recently began to include pollock in a some fishing areas-such as in the Tatar fishermen, and from pollock imports. separate category. Only a limited anal­ Strait off of Sakhalin Island-are ad­ The remainder of the supply-650,000 ysis of world trade in pollock commod­ versely affected by parasites. Because of t, or about 30 percent-was harvested ities can therefore be done using avail­ the desire to increase earnings of hard by Japanese fishermen either within able statistical information. currency, the potential for pollock com­ 200-miles of Japan's coast (either in the The most interesting and expanding modity exports from the Soviet Union Sea of Japan or off the east coast of use of walleye pollock is for the produc­ may intensify competition in the inter­ Hokkaido) or in the high seas (the Ber­ tion of surimi and surimi-based com­ national groundfish market. The Soviet ing Sea "doughnut"). modities. Although Japan is the world's Government, however, may not wish to Most of Japan's pollock supply is con­ leading producer of pollock surimi and market pollock commodities abroad verted into surimi, This fact can be surimi-based products, the Soviet because of the great demand for food deduced by comparing the total pollock Union, the United States, and the Re­ fish and fishmeal in the Soviet Union. supply with the total production of suri­ public of Korea, all have fledgling The Soviet Government not only has a mi. Table 4 illustrates Japan's apparent surimi processing industries that pres­ desire to increase per capita domestic total supply of pollock for 1984, based ently utilize pollock as a raw material. fish consumption greatly by 1990, it also upon all available sources. From this Several other countries, among them wishes to expand the domestic output of total estimated supply of pollock, Japan Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, fishmeal for much-needed use in the and the Faeroe Islands, are also involved agriculture industry. Besides utilizing 'Most surimi is produced from minced pollock in developing surimi production using whole and filleted pollock and fishmeal that has been washed, refined to remove im­ purities, and mixed with cryoprotectants to main­ local groundfish and pelagic resources. domestically, the Soviets also use pol­ tain essential physical properties of the product These industries may expand in the lock as a major ingredient to make an during frozen storage, As such, surimi is an inter­ mediary product that is not consumed directly, but future and intensify competition in the imitation sausage that is sold under the manufactured into a finished product for consumer world surimi market. brand name "Primorskaya". The fish use,

49(1), 19tJ7 65 produced 400,000 t of surimi during Table 5.-Japanese exports of surimi·based imitation Table 7.-Japan's pollock and pollock-surimi import crab legs (kanikama), by quantity and destination, quota lor the 1985 liscal year (April 1985 to March 1984. Because the conversion factor 1982·85.' 1986),1 in metric tons. from whole pollock to surimi is between Exports (t) Recipient/Import commodity 4/85-9/85 10/85-3/86 20 and 25 percent of whole pollock Destination 1982 1983 1984 1985 Fishermen's quota weight, this indicates that Japan con­ Japan Deep Sea Tralwers verted between 1.6 to 2.0 million t of United States 6,749 13,823 26,756 30,900 Association (Joint venture Australia 1,751 1,580 1,641 N/A' pollock for surimi) 230,000 300,000 round-weight pollock in 1984, or almost Unlled Kingdom 348 2,139 1,602 N/A Japan Fisheries Association all of the pollock harvested by Japanese Canada 26 210 778 N/A (Joint venture pollock nol New Zealand 114 309 428 N/A for surimi) 8,000 7,000 fishermen (1.6 million t), in addition to Netherlands 117 241 269 N/A Japan Shore Surimi Manu­ the pollock that was purchased directly Belgium 43 157 216 N/A facturer's Assn. (U.S. Other 182 369 772 N/A processed surimi only) 10,000 10,000 through joint ventures or from foreign processors (0.5 million t). The major­ Total 9,330 18,828 32,462 38,987 Subtotal 248,000 317,000 ity of the surimi produced by Japanese lSource: NMFS Foreign Fishery Information Releases, User's quota various issues. Zensui Kakoren (National processors goes to the domestic market, 'N/A = Not yet available. Federation of Fish Pro­ although in recent years Japan's exports cessors) (Frozen pollock from North Korea) 2,500 5,000 of surimi-based imitation shellfish prod­ Zen Chinren (National Federa4 ucts-mostly to the United States-has tion of Delicacy Fish Manu­ Table 6.--Japan's joint venture pollock pur· facturers) (Frozen pollock greatly increased (Table 5). chases lrom U.S. and Soviet lishermen, 1981·85, from North Korea 2,500 1,000 Japan purchased about 341,000 t of Zen Kyuhan (Japan School Jlv purchases (1,000 t) Lunch Federation) Frozen U.S.-harvested pollock under joint ven­ pollock from North Korea) 500 1,000 Year From U.S From U.S.S.R. Total Zen Kama (All Japan Federa­ ture arrangements with Alaskan fisher­ tion of Kamaboko Manufac­ men in 1984 (Table 6). This accounted 1981 11 50E 66E turers Cooperative Assns.) 1982 66 50E 116E (Global surimi) 1,500 1,000 for about 17 percent of Japan's pollock 1983 212 50E 262E supply that year. In addition to joint ven­ 1984 341 50E 391E Subtotal 7,000 8,000 1985 437 50E 487E ture arrangements with U.S. fishermen, Trader's quota the Japanese also purchased an esti­ lThe Japan-Soviet JOInt venture quota between Global quota on fresh pollock 1981-85 was 65,000 tons per year, but observers for factory ship processing mated 50,000 t from Soviet fishermen do not believe that the quota was annually attained. (Soviet Joint venture for roe 2E = Estimated. pollock a 65,000 through a joint venture in 1984. Precise Individual Traders details are not known about the Japa­ (Pollock from U.S.S.R. and South Korea) 15,000 10,000 nese/Soviet pollock joint venture with regard to prices received by Soviet fish­ Subtotal 15,000 75,000 ermen, nor is it clear whether or not fishing industry by announcing semi­ Grand talaI 270,000 400,000 these joint-venture activities will in­ annual quotas for several different lJapan's fiscal year is from April through March every crease in the future. It is known that the species, A problem in the quota system year. The Alaska pollock and pollock-surimi quota is al­ located biannually, the first allocation covering April through joint venture involved roe pollock pur­ was that it was impossible to determine September and the second covering October through chases an individual commodity's quota be­ March. Source: Regional Fisheries Attache, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo. With regard to direct imports of pol­ cause all commodities were lumped lock, exclusive of joint venture pur­ together and expressed as a single figure chases, only about 3 percent (60,000 t) in terms of value. After the United of Japan's total pollock supply was aug­ States complained to Japan about the mented by imports in 1984. The reason import quota system, the Japanese intro­ is used predominately for joint-venture why Japan did not obtain a more sig­ duced a new semiannual quota system purchases. nificant amount of its pollock from im­ on 15 June 1985. The new regime is The Japanese produce surimi both at ports in 1984 was due to quantitative unique because it removed pollock and sea in factory vessels and at land-based restrictions and tariffs (between 7.5 and pollock surimi from the previous quota processing plants. Of the 400,000 t of 16.0 percent ad valorem) which the Gov­ regime and established a new "global" frozen surimi manufactured by Japanese ernment of Japan continued to place quota exclusively for these commod­ processors in 1984, about 220-225,000 upon imports to protect the domestic ities. Unfortunately, however, it is still t was produced "at sea" on large surimi fishing industry. During 1984, the Japa­ not possible to distinquish between in­ processing vessels, while about 185,000 nese Government controlled imports of dividual quotas for these two commod­ t was produced at land-based process­ Alaska pollock through an import quota ities as they are still combined under a ing plants, Top grade factory-vessel pol­ regime known as the "98-Country single figure in terms of quantity. In lock surimi sold for about $0.79 a pound Quota on Fish and Shellfish." (A num­ addition, the quota is divided among in Japan in 1984, while land-based ber of marine species are still included Japanese fishermen, processors, and surimi sold for about $0.44 a pound, in this import quota, including cod, importers, with the fishermen-who Land-based surimi from other species, yellowtail, mackerel, sardine, saury, have little interest in importing pro­ notably croaker, sells for almost twice scallops, and others.) This regime reg­ cessed pollock-receiving the largest as much as sea-based pollock surimi ulated imports of certain fish and shell­ share (over 90 percent) of the import (between $1.40-$1.50 a pound). Because fish species of concern to the domestic quota (Table 7). The fishermen's share the harvest and availability of croaker

66 Marine Fisheries Review species is far less than the pollock year granted a 20,000 t allocation of beni, and Nippon Suisan have invested resource, it is doubtful that croaker can hoki, Macruronus novaezelandiae, in land-based surimi plants in the United supplant the demand for pollock. How­ within New Zealand's 200-mile zone States. In light of the increasing harvests ever, Japan has a large sardine resource and will conduct a test production of and greater access to surimi technology, which can possibly be produced into hoki surimi during June 1986. Mean­ the United States appears to be moving surimi with the present Japanese surimi while, the Japan Marine Resource Re­ toward developing its own place in the technology. Observers doubt that sar­ search Center (JAMARC), a quasi­ world market for pollock products. dine surimi can be produced economi­ governmental nonprofit organization, cally along the same lines as pollock was to charter a trawler owned by Nip­ Republic of Korea because it is an oilier fish with a lower pon Suisan to conduct experimental Pollock has been described as a "tra­ protein percentage in its meat, and the surimi processing using jack mackerel, ditional" item in the Korean seafood surimi that has been produced is of a Trachurus murphyi, stocks harvested off diet. Its availability to Korean con­ darker color than pollock surimi and Chile (but outside the Chilean 200-mile sumers has increased since the 1960's, may prove unacceptable to consumers. zone) during July 1986. mostly because Korean fishermen have Concerns about decreased supplies of developed distant-water fisheries for pollock from the US. and Soviet 200­ United States pollock. During the 1960's, before mile zones have resulted in Japanese Very little of the pollock harvested by Korean trawlers began distant-water pol­ companies increasing efforts to seek US. fishermen ends up on the world lock fishing near the Kamchatka penin­ other sources of groundfish to process commodity market. Because pollock sula and in the eastern Bering Sea, into surimi. For example, Nippon has been, until recently, an underutil­ Korean fishermen reported average an­ Suisan2 (Nissui) came to an agreement ized species, US. fishermen and pro­ nual pollock harvests of only 21,000 t. last year with the Government of the ducers' organizations are now increas­ After acquiring distant-water trawlers Faeroe Islands to provide surimi tech­ ing their knowledge of its handling and and fishing expertise in the 1970's, the nology to the Faeroese fishing industry. marketing. The United States has only annual Korean harvest of pollock in­ The Faeroese will produce surimi at sea just begun to explore the possibilities for creased to more than 235,000 t-or aboard the 3,800 t vessel Lesatender effective pollock utilization and trade. more than 10 times annual average har­ employing technology supplied by Nis­ Virtually all the pollock used for con­ vests during the 1960's. sui. The surimi produced by the vessel, sumption in the United States is in block Korea obtains its pollock supply from using local stocks of blue whiting, will form that has been supplied by foreign three sources: Harvests by domestic be forwarded to land-based processors processors. Perhaps this is due to the fishermen, joint-venture purchases from on the Faeroes who will then manufac­ fact that, unlike other forms of pollock­ US. fishermen, and imports. From this ture imitation crab legs (kanikama), based products, blocks are not subject supply, Korean companies have devel­ reportedly for export to countries in the to ad valorem duties. Also, transport oped both domestic and export markets European Community. A UK.-based costs for blocks are considerably lower for pollock. The domestic market is subsidiary of the Japanese company, than for other pollock-based products. divided into a market for consumers and Kibun Ltd., is building a $4.2 million US. imports of pollock blocks have re­ a market for the Korean military. It is surimi processing plant in Lanarkshire, mained steady over the past 5 years, not known how large these two "sub­ Scotland. The plant will be the first of averaging about 31,000 t annually. In markets" are in relation to one another, its type in Europe to supply the Euro­ 1984, the United States imported 31,500 but observers believe that the two mar­ pean surimi market, which observers t of blocks (over 10 pounds), with 18,900 kets combined account for about two­ expect to double in the next 3-5 years t coming from the Republic of Korea thirds of the Korean pollock supply. The from the current estimated annual turn­ alone. US. imports of pollock-based other one-third of Korea's pollock sup­ over of $14 million (wholesale value). products from Japan are comprised ply is exported-primarily to the United The company's operations will begin by mostly of surimi. Although only a small States. importing raw pollock surimi for imita­ fraction (less than 5 percent) of the Korean companies export pollock to tion shellfish processing. At a later date, Alaska pollock caught by Japan is ex­ the United States, Japan, and Europe. Kibun hopes to produce raw surimi ported to the United States, its value is The most important export market is the from blue whiting harvested by UK. quite high because it is in surimi form. United States. In 1985, Korea exported fishermen. Observers note that an esti­ Of the 35,800 t of surimi exported by over 18,000 t, valued at $22.7 million, mated 5· million t blue whiting stock is Japan in 1984, 27,100 t, valued at $84.5 of frozen pollock fillets in block form found in waters west of the British Isles. million, went to the United States. The to the United States. This export repre­ In addition to looking toward the United States presently has fledgling sents about one-third of the allocated North Atlantic for surimi sources, the surimi processing industries, and the pollock which Korean fishermen re­ Japanese are looking toward the South outlook for future surimi production is ceived in the US. 200-mile zone dur­ Pacific. A subsidiary of the world's favorable. Potential for domestic pro­ ing 1985, after a conversion factor from largest seafood company, Taiyo, was last duction of surimi represents a viable processed to round weight is calculated. outlet for increased US. harvests of Korea is the leading supplier of frozen 2Mention of trade names or commercial firms does not imply endorsement by the National Marine pollock. Meanwhile, Japanese com­ pollock blocks to the United States, ac­ Fisheries Service, NOAA. panies such as Taiyo, Nichiro, Maru­ counting for about two-thirds of US.

49(1), 1987 67 Table 8.-U.S. Imports of pollock blocks by quantity (t) and value (US$l,OOO), Table 9.-European Community (EC) whole, fresh and 1980·85.' frozen, pollock imports, by amount (t) and value (1,000 ECU'j, 1983 and 1984. Pollock imports Imports Imports Country 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 Commodily Commodity by country Amt. Value by country Amt. Value Korea (ROK) Quantity 15,206 14.876 14.297 21,899 18,889 18,111 Whole fresh Whole fresh Value 20,182 23,495 20,387 27,374 24,321 22,741 France 465 709 France 720 1,205 Japan U.K. 100 78 Belg.-Lux. 63 73 Quantity 1,720 725 858 1,756 811 1,066 Nether!. 33 24 U.K. 34 30 Value 2,382 1,220 844 2,319 1,134 1,272 Belg.-Lux. 9 15 Nether!. 20 12 Poland Germ. (FRG) 1 2 Germ. (FRG) 19 15 Quantity 4,672 6,165 4,281 311 7,557 Denmark 1 1 lIaly 8 17 Value 6,529 9,801 7,060 367 9,120 Greece 2 7 China Total, EC 609 829 Denmark 1 1 Quantity 38 36 247 367 Ireland 1 Value 54 35 338 458 Whole frozen Taiwan France 373 310 Total, EC 868 1,360 Quantity 186 U.K. 131 55 Value 230 Germ. (FRG) 32 23 Whole frozen Germany (FRG) Ireland 30 23 France 72 123 Quantity 20 320 83 Greece 44 52 Italy 69 90 Value 31 422 111 Italy 25 45 Belg.·Lux. 24 19 U.S.S.R. Belg.-Lux. 17 13 U.K. 17 3 Quantity 129 59 52 Germ. (FRG) 3 3 Value 114 33 81 Total, EC 652 505 Nether!. 1 1 Hong Kong Ireland 1 Quantity 73 Value 98 Total, EC 187 258 Grand tolal Quantity 21,800 21,825 19,271 24,322 20,030 27,287 'ECU = European Currency Unit. The average value of 1 Value 29,305 34,549 28,457 30,517 25,904 33,822 ECU equaled $0.89 in 1983 and $0.78 in 1984.

'Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Ihe Census.

from 18 December 1985 to 28 February 1986. Both commodities are normally pollock block imports in 1985 (Table 8). Japanese company, Mikasa Boeki, and assessed an import duty of 15 percent Korea's share of the U.S. block import utilize that technology on three factory ad valorem, but the EC temporarily market has fluctuated in recent years trawlers which they hoped to operate in suspended tariffs for 4,500 t of imported depending upon Korean frozen block the U.S. 200-mile zone. Korea current­ product. The EC apportioned this quota production and the supplies of pollock ly employs three factory vessels with a to three EC-member countries: The blocks that U.S. importers obtain from total annual production of 13,000-15,000 Federal Republic of Germany (2,400 t); other sources such as Poland. t of raw surimi. The addition of the three France (1,100 t); and the United King­ The expanding Korean surimi indus­ new vessels will increase Korea's annual dom (1,000 t). It is not known which try has already become a competition surimi production capability to 30,000 countries were supplying the Europeans concern for Japanese surirni processors. t. It is expected that the Koreans will with pollock during 1983 and 1984, Although Japan imported only 3,000 t process their increased surimi output in­ because EC import statistics do not pro­ of Korean-produced pollock surimi in to imitation shellfish products for the vide the source of the imports (Table 9). 1984, the Korean surimi was valued at domestic and export markets. Observers Sources of information on the pollock $1,220 per ton, compared with $1,625­ believe that the Koreans will also seek include: FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. 266, $1,710 per ton for surimi produced in to export greater amounts of raw surimi "The Fish Resources of the Northwest Japan. The Hokkaido-based surimi in­ to the Japanese market while, at the Pacific"; Alaska Fisheries Development dustry requested that the Japan Fisheries same time, trying to increase exports of Foundation, Inc., "Alaska Pollock: Agency establish import regulations for imitation shellfish products to the Resources, Fisheries, Products and the Korean-origin surimi, since there United States. Markets"; NMFS Southeast Region, was no such category included in the "Market Trends and Outlook for 1984 Japanese import quota of $40 mil­ Other Countries Surimi-based Foods", by John Von­ lion worth of Korean fishery products. Although the vast majority of the pol­ druska; Alaska Sea Grant Rep. 83-2, The following year, the Japanese Gov­ lock harvested in the North Pacific is "Proceedings of the International Sea­ ernment introduced the so-called destined for Asian and Soviet con­ food Trade Conference"; Arthur D. "Global Pollock and Pollock-Product sumers, several European countries Little, Inc., "The Development of a Bot­ Import Quota", which established a sep­ have recently increased their use of tomfish Industry: Strategies for the State arate import quota regime for pollock pollock products. This increased use of of Alaska"; Regional Fisheries Attache, and pollock-surimi. This quota system pollock products has been stimulated by U.S. Embassy, Tokyo; various Japanese allows the Japanese to better control im­ decreased supplies of groundfish, espe­ and U.S. press reports and personal ports of pollock and pollock-surimi cially cod, to European processors. The communications. Special thanks to Paul products from Korean processors. European Community (EC) temporar­ Niemeier and Michelle Miller, of the The Koreans intended to import at-sea ily suspended tariffs for frozen fillets NMFS Foreign Fisheries Analysis surimi processing technology from a and minced blocks (surimi) of pollock Branch, for their assistance.

68 Marine Fisheries Review has made significant inroads in develop­ ing a market for surimi products in the United States and various European countries. European and American Most of the surimi is marketed as various forms of crab, but smaller quan­ Surimi Developments tities are marketed as shrimp and scal­ lops. Japanese businessmen believe that surimi can eventually be used to pro­ Introduction High-seas processing enabled the duce analog products of many other sea­ Japanese to process the pollock imme­ foods. Japanese sales of analog products Japan is the major world producer of diately after catching it, a key factor as have helped offset reduced sales of other surimi and surimi-based foods. Japanese pollock deteriorates rapidly after it is surimi product lines, but accounted for production of surimi-based foods totaled caught. Japanese production has de­ only about 7 percent of total Japanese over 980,000 metric tons (t) in 1985, I clined, however, since the early 1980's production in 1985. more than 95 percent of the world total. because of reduced access to walleye The Japanese have been producing pollock within U.S. and Soviet 200-mile U.S. Import Trends surimi for centuries, but their surimi zones, higher prices, and expanding Precise data on the value of U.S. suri­ production expanded sharply in the consumption of other foods as part of mi imports are not available, but the 1950's and 1960's as a result of several the increasing affluence of Japanese NMFS Foreign Fisheries Analysis important innovations, especially at-sea consumers. Branch estimates that these imports in production and freezing, which enabled Surimi began to interest international 1985 were about $150 million, making fishermen to use the huge walleye, or traders when Japan developed the tech­ surimi one of the major U.S. fishery im­ Alaska, pollock, Theragra chalcogram­ nology in the early 1970's to produce port products. Many other countries rna, resource to produce high quality analog products from frozen surimi. besides Japan have now begun, or are surimi.2 Until then surimi was primarily used to considering developing, their own suri­ produce kamaboko which was almost mi industries to replace imports from entirely consumed in Japan's domestic Japan and other countries. 'This amount includes about 420,000 t of actual market. With the development of these U.S. import trends are difficult to fol­ surimi and 570,000 t of various additives. 2The article beginning on page 61 discusses the analog products, which are mostly imi­ low because, until 1985, there was no walleye pollock resource and its use and trade. tations of high-valued shellfish, Japan separate U.S. tariff category for surimi. Current U.S. surimi import categories do not cover all the surimi and surimi­

Table 1.-Recent U.S. surimi imports'. based products currently being imported into the United States. The Foreign Volume (t) Value (US$l,OOO) Fisheries Analysis Branch estimates that Jan.·June Jan.· Jan..June Jan.· less than half of the surimi and surimi­ Dec. Dec. Country 1985 1986 1985 1985 1986 1985 based products being imported by the

Japan' 5,357.1 8,403.5 15,000.0 16,819.0 29,773.3 47,348.0 United States is currently reflected in Spain 71.0 38.0 130.6 136.3 105.9 291.0 U.S. import statistics (Tables 1 and 2). Canada 22.1 31.8 47.2 95.1 124.5 193.7 Hong Kong 29.2 25.1 32.6 127.8 933 154.5 Data available from Japanese sources, Korea (ROK) 4.1 225.7 28.8 14.1 707.5 73.3 however, indicates that the United States Chile 8.2 9.7 25.4 28.7 Thailand 3.0 3.0 9.8 9.8 imported 36,900 t of surimi in 1985, Australia 2.4 2.6 10.5 10.5 Switzerland 1.0 2.2 3.7 8.4 nearly a 25 percent increase over the Norway 25 1.5 3.1 11.1 30,000 t imported in 1984. 3 Small ship­ Denmark 1.3 1.3 2.9 2.9 Taiwan 1.0 10.9 1.3 6.3 42.4 7.4 ments were received from eighteen United Kingdom 1.2 1.0 1.2 2.5 11.2 2.5 Israel 1.1 4.5 Philippines 0.2 4.2 0.7 1.2 6.6 3.5 India 0.5 0.5 1.5 15 China 0.5 0.5 4.9 4.9 Table 2.-U.S. price 01 Imported surimi, 1985·86, in France 0.2 0.3 0.3 2.3 2.7 3.3 U.S. doflars/kg.' Netherlands 1.0 3.5 Jan..June Jan.· Total' 5,503.2 8,744.4' 15,265.3 17,263.4 30,873.9' 48,160.5 Dec. Country 1985 1986 1985 'Due to the problems associated with introducing a new tariff category, these statistics represent less than half the surimi and surimi·based foods actually imported. They do, however, give a general Japan $3.14 $3.54 $3.16 indication of the level of activity in various countries. Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. Spain 1.92 2.79 2.23 'Japanese sources indicate that about twice as much surimi is exported to the United States as Canada 4.30 3.91 4.10 was reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Japan reported exports of surimi and surimi·based analogs Hong Kong 4.38 3.72 4.74 of about 36,900 t in 1985. Total Japanese shipments probably totaled about $150 million in 1985. South Korea (ROK) 3.44 3.13 2.55 'Totals may not agree due to rounding. Chile 3.10 NA' 2.96 'Japanese data show a decline in shipments to the United States during the first 6 months of 1986. The increase shown by U.S. statistics may simply reflect the gradual refinement of data. Exchange 'Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. rate fluctuations may have also been a factor. 'NA ~ Not applicable.

49(1), 1987 69 other countries, principally Spain, tations to comply with a 1985 Food and surimi, both for their domestic market Canada, Hong Kong (a transshipment Drug Administration regulation promul­ and to export. Some of the most impor­ point), South Korea (ROK), and Chile gated under a 1938 law. Crab analogs tant developments elsewhere in the (Table 1). U.S. imports consist primar­ appear and taste more or less like their world are reported here. ily of imitation shellfish, mostly crab natural counterparts, but they have analog products. Imports from Japan in achieved a lower-priced market niche. Western Europe 1985 consisted of 32,100 t of shellfish and Canada analog products and 4,800 t of surimi Price Shifts Both European and Canadian interest blocks. According to U.S. data, imports of in surimi is a recent phenomena and is imitation shellfish from Japan averaged due both to the great commercial suc­ u.s. Developments $3.54/kg (Lo. b. Japan) in the first 6 cess of surimi-derived analogs (crab Most observers believe that the U.S. months of 1986 (Table 2), 13 percent sticks, scallops, etc.) produced in Japan market for surimi and surimi-based higher than a year earlier. The Japanese and for the need to develop new fish­ foods will significantly expand in com­ yen price of the intermediate raw eries utilizing abundant stocks of under­ ing years. Observers estimate the U.S. material, top grade walleye pollock utilized species; this would reduce pres­ market doubled annually between 1981 surimi blocks, also rose about 13 per­ sure on traditionally fished groundfish and 1984. The market will probably cent at the Tokyo Central Wholesale and pelagic stocks. During the past 4 or continue to expand for the rest of the Market, but this has meant a 60 percent 5 years, a number of European fishery decade, although at a slower rate. One rise in the U.S. dollar price to an aver­ laboratories have conducted small-scale industry report suggests that by 1990, age of $2.86/kg in January-June 1986 testing on a variety of local species to the U.S. market could require as much because of the falling value of the U.S. identify potential sources of surimi from as 435,000 t of crab analog products dollar. U.S. industry sources report pay­ European waters. alone. Expansion to this level may re­ ing the higher price for Japanese surinti. By far, the most successfully tested quire the utilization of other species Corresponding increases in U.S. dollar species has been blue whiting, Micro­ besides Alaska pollock, which is cur­ prices of Japanese imitation shellfish, mesistius poutassou, which first at­ rently the primary raw material for however, appear to have been delayed, tracted the interest of the Nippon Suisan surimi production. absorbed, or offset via cost-reducing company of Japan in the late 1970's U.S. companies hope to produce an changes in production, such as shifts to when the firm conducted some incon­ increasing proportion of that projected lower priced (non-Japanese) surimi. It clusive tests on blue whiting in Scot­ total domestically. U.S. companies are is likely that price-cost considerations land. A number of small pilot produc­ planning both shore-based and at-sea and the decreased supply of walleye tion plants were built in 1985 and 1986, surimi projects to replace imports from pollock available to Japanese processors and Europe's first production and pro­ Japan. Three U.S. companies, all with helped reduce U.S. imports of Japanese cessing plants recently opened in the Japanese participation, are now begin­ analog shellfish in 1986. Faeroe Islands and Scotland, with Japa­ ning to produce surimi domestically U.S. import data suggest that 1985-86 nese help. European industry interest, using shore-based plants for processing price levels and directions in some of however, is still focused on determining from Alaska pollock. 3 At least two the other supplying countries may have the potential for species found locally, U.S. fishing companies are outfitting differed from those in Japan. Apart and consumer needs will have to be met vessels for high-seas production, and from possible data problems, any actual by imports for the next few years. additional companies are planning differences for prices expressed in U.S. Research carried on in Canada has equity joint ventures with South Korean dollars in such countries could be at­ been basically limited to testing local companies for high-seas production. tributed to many factors relating to North Atlantic and Pacific stocks for Another company plans to evaluate species used, production, marketing, possible use in surinti production. There menhaden surimi in a pilot project dur­ and exchange rates. Many new com­ appears to be no active research under­ ing 1986-87. panies which have entered the industry way by any Canadian universities, but Most of the initial production will be are perfecting production and marketing the Canadian Department of Fisheries marketed domestically, but company of­ practices. In some cases the relatively and Oceans (DFO) and several private ficials also hope to export to Japan. high prices reported for surinti products, firms have expressed interest in produc­ There has been considerable discussion especially Canadian prices, may reflect ing seafood analogs and are conducting in the United States on how to label and additional processing of the intermediate their own testing and marketing re­ market surimi-based foods. Virtually all raw material imported from Japan. search. Two production and processing analog products must be labeled as imi­ firms are currently producing seafood Country Developments analogs on a small-scale basis. 'Japanese export data indicate that Japan began ex­ Most developments in the surimi in­ porting to the United States in 1978 when about dustry have centered in Japan. Various The Faeroe Islands 400 t was shipped. Exports began a spectacular increase in 1982 when over 6,700 t was exported groups in other regions have now begun Faeroese surimi testing, production, to the United States. to experiment with, or actually produce, and processing has been the most suc-

70 Marine Fisheries Review cessful in Europe so far. Technologists port license to sell surimi-based meat stocks and has begun commercial pro­ from the Nippon Suisan Company4 and fish analogs produced from capelin cessing of "crab stick" products. Ocean (Nissui) of Japan are worlGng with and herring in 1985. If the experiment Delights, Inc., of Vancouver, British businessmen from the Faeroese com­ is successful, the company plans to build Columbia, is also presently producing pany Blue North, Ltd., to produce a production facility in Finnmark, Nor­ "crab sticks" on a limited scale using surimi aboard the freezer trawler, way. Fideco A/S plans to market its surimi imported from Japan. The DFO's Lasetender, using blue whiting. Pre­ product in the United States. Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, Mani­ liminary tests by Nippon Suisan suggest toba, is conducting research to deter­ that surimi made from blue whiting is Iceland mine the suitability of freshwater white­ superior to that of Alaska pollock. The An experimental effort to manufacture fish and tullibee in surimi manufacture. blue whiting biomass is estimated at 2-3 surimi in a freezing plant at Rif, on the million t and huge schools of blue western Snaefellsnes Peninsula, was Latin America whiting spawn off the southwestern started in mid-1985. Experiments are be­ coast of the Faeroe Islands from Janu­ ing conducted by the Icelandic Fisheries Chile ary to May of each year. The catch will Laboratories in cooperation with the A Chilean company is producing suri­ be processed into imitation crab ("Blue Coldwater Seafood Corporation and the mi at a small plant located at Los Rojas Sticks", "Blue Flakes", and "Blue Icelandic Freezing Plants Corporation. along the country's southern coast. The Lops") on board the Lasetender for ex­ The plant is using trimmings from fIllet­ company is using hake, probably Mer­ port to the European Community. ing lines-mostly Atlantic cod, Gadus luccius gayi, although one report sug­ morhua, and small saithe, Pollachus gested that the company was also ex­ United Kingdom virens. Future testing will include silver perimenting with mackerel. Most of the Europe's second full-scale surimi pro­ smelt, Argentina silus, and blue herring. production is marketed domestically, cessing facility began operations in The Samband Corporation is also con­ but 10 t was shipped to the United States Lanark, Scotland, in July 1986. The ducting experimental work with surimi. in 1985, the first such shipment from plant, opened with Japan's Kibun Latin America. The Japanese Marine Group, is using walleye pollock caught Denmark Fishery Resource Research Center by Japanese trawlers in the North Pacific The Danish Fisheries Technological (JAMARC) has experimented with Chi­ to produce "Crabsticks" (30 sticks in a Laboratory at Lyngby has experimented lean jack mackerel, Trachurus murphyi, vacuum pouch), "SeaSticks" (a smaller with surimi production from Norway as a raw material for surimi. The utiliza­ crab stock designed for the catering pout, Trisopterus esmarkii, and sand tion of high-oil content pelagic species trade), and "Oriental Parcels" (white­ eel, Ammodytes spp. Earlier experi­ is technically possible, but involves fish, shrimp, and vegetables in a pasta ments on cod produced poor results and higher costs to remove the oil. Nippon shell) for sale to British retail outlets. discouraged the industry from becom­ Suisan, using the results of the Kibun is importing several other ing involved in surimi production. JAMARC research, is currently con­ products ("Prawnies" and "Seafood ducting high-seas surimi production Choice") from their processing plants Sweden and Ireland utilizing the jack mackerel being taken in Japan; ultimately these surimi prod­ Swedish technologists have concen­ off Chile. The company plans to pro­ ucts may be produced at their new fac­ trated on examining ways to use cod, duce 3 t of surimi per day and hopes to tory in Scotland. Kibun plans to launch cod trimmings, and herring as raw have the product on the Japanese market a major promotional program in the materials for surimi. The work is still by October 1986. United Kingdom to stimulate consumer in the experimental stages. buying. Ifproduction can be sustained, An Irish fisherman has ordered a new Mexico the company plans to process blue freezer stern trawler built in Norway to Unconfirmed reports indicate that a whiting, possibly starting in 198B. process blue whiting and silver smelt in­ Japanese company, Suzuhiro Kamaboko to minced fish. The vessel is expected Gogyo, plans to build a small pilot Norway to produce about 40 t of minced fish per surimi plant near the Pacific port of The Norwegians have focused on the day when it is completed in October Mazatlan. The plant's estimated annual possibility of producing surimi from 1987 and press reports indicate that the production would be about 350 t. Pro­ capelin, Mallotus villosus; herring, product will be used to make surimi. ductos Pesqueros Mexicanos (PPM), Clupea harengus; mackerel, Scomber the state fishing company, has previous­ scombrus; blue whiting, and a few other Canada ly marketed a minced fish product species. The Government of Norway The Terra Nova Fishery Co., Ltd., of called "Pepepez," a product requiring granted Fideco A/S of Tromso an ex­ Clarenville, Newfoundland, set up a some of the same processes as surimi. surimi production plant in 1984 using PPM is not currently producing Pepe­ Japanese processing equipment supplied pez, but it plans to eventually resume 'Mention of trade names or commercial firms does not imply endorsement by the National Marine by Bibun, Inc. The plant is currently production when a new plant is com­ Fisheries Service, NOAA. producing surimi using Atlantic cod pleted. Government officials are cur­

49(1), 1987 71 rently studying the possibility of pro­ surimi industry, however, will probably men to operate off the Falklands, and ducing surimi. be delayed until the economics of utiliz­ competition with distant-water fisher­ ing pelagic species has been established. men operating in the South Atlantic have Peru all hurt the country's fishing industry. Several Peruvian companies have ex­ Argentina Few Argentine companies currently pressed an interest in surimi. The In­ The Latin American country with the have the capital to finance the produc­ stituto Tecnologico Pesquero (ITP) in greatest potential for surimi production tion and marketing of a major new Callao has done considerable work on is Argentina. The substantial demersal product. Some Argentine companies, surimi and fish paste products. ITP is resources of hake and other species off however, are already producing minced currently working with the Empresa the southern coast could provide Argen­ fish. The United States imported about Publica de Servicios Pesqueros tina with enough raw material to sup­ 300 t of minced fish blocks from Argen­ (EPSEP) to market fish hamburgers port a major surimi industry. The coun­ tina in 1985. made from sardines. Peru's state fish­ try's Instituto Nacional de Desarollo meal company, Pesca Peru, operates an Pesquero (INIDEP) has reportedly done Uruguay experimental marine beef plant and some research on surimi, and several Like neighboring Argentina, there are plans to build a larger plant. Much of Argentine companies have contacted no known Uruguayan surimi projects, the machinery and processing pro­ Japanese companies concerning surimi. but Bero, S. A., a fish processing com­ cedures to produce marine beef and The development of a significant surimi pany is looking for a partner to launch surimi are similar. Some Peruvian ob­ industry, however, is probably several a surimi project. Uruguayan companies servers believe that Pesca Peru should years off. Many of the country's major already produce minced fish. The U.S. redirect its efforts to surimi which may fishing companies are badly in debt. imported over 500 t of minced fish prove more commercially successful. Fluctuations in squid and shrimp fish­ blocks from Uruguay in 1985. (Source: Any major Peruvian entrance into the eries, the inability of Argentine fisher­ IFR-86/52.)

ports. Officials in both countries are unsure of the long-term trend. Peruvian officials closed the fishery for most of 1986, except for some limited artisanal fishing. Panamanian officials have The Latin American been studying possible management Scallop Fisheries, 1980-86 measures. Export Trends Latin American scallop exports to the United States were negligible in 1982. Introduction 1982-83 EI Nino event. In 1986, Peru­ But as a result of climatic changes off vian catches declined, but Panama Peru, scallops flourished, harvests in­ The development of a major scallop began to report significant scallop ex­ creased, and shipments expanded to fishery in Peru made Latin America the largest exporter of scallops to the U.S. market in 1985. Latin American shipments totaled 5,500 metric tons (t) Table 1.-Latln American scallop species harvested. valued at $24 million, and scallops have Species harvested' Average become the fourth most important, size Country Scientific name English name Local Spanish name (em) Latin American fishery export to the Argentina Argopecten /ehue/chus Tehuelche Pecten tehuelche 7.5 United States. More than 10 species are Ch/amys felippone/ Felippone Felipone 7.4 harvested (Table I), though only two C. /ischkei Lischke's Patria2 7.3' Pecten patagonicus Patagonian Patagonico 8.0 contribute greatly to the exports, the Brazil NA Vieiras N.A Peruvian and Pacific calico scallops. Chile A. purpura/us Peruvian calico Ostion del norte 7.0 C. lischkei Lischke's Ostion de las canales/concha 7.0' Development of the fishery and ex­ P. patagon/cus Patagonian Patagonian/ostion de Magallanes 8.0 ports are based on events in two coun­ Panama A. circularis Pacific calico Peine volador/conchuela 6.0 Peru A. purpuratus Peruvian calico Concha de albanico/escalope 7.0 tries,Peru and Panama. Most observers believe that the rapid development of the 1Small quantities of several other species are also taken. 2Also vieira patria. Peruvian fishery was linked to the 'It is now known Why the average size of this species is different off Argentina than Chile.

72 Marine Fisheries Review 6,000 Table 2.-U.S. fishery Import Table 3.-U,S. scallop Imports from Latin values, by product, 1985, In mil­ America, J8nu8ry~une, 1985-86. lions of U.S. dollars. Jan...June Import values imports (t)

Latin Country 1985 1986 5,000 Product America World Panama 1.4 1,705.5 Shrimp $766.1 $1,154.0 Peru 2.365.6 1,189.2 Lobster 128.5 471.3 Chile 102.0 161.6 Tuna 76.7 425.3 Mexico 1.0 73.4 Cod Neg!. 419.1 Ecuador 8.9 18.7 4,000 Scallops 24.0 147.1 Costa Rica 3.2 6.0 Honduras 1.0 4.6 Turks and Caicos 3.4 ., Belize 1.3 L Bolivia 1.0 ­ o Argentina 31.7 0.9 ~ 3,000 Venezuela 1.9 0.7 0­ Brazil 0.1 .2 shellfish species, like scallops, are sub­ ~ Total' 2,516.8 3,166.3 Cf) ject to irregular recruitment patterns, often cyclical in nature. Climatic factors 'Totals may not agree due to rounding. 2,000 such as water temperatures can power­ fully affect annual recruitment. Scallop species are extremely fecund. One gravid female can produce any­ 1,000 where from 2-20 million eggs. If am­ Table 4.-U.S. scallop Imports, by region, 1980-85.

bient conditions are optimal, a small Imports (1,000 t) spawning stock can produce a large harvestable crop, sometines called a Region 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 o +---,----T--,-----,-----,------1 bloom. After a good set, intensive fish­ Lat. America 0.8 0.5 Neg!. 1.3 2.0 5.5 1980 198 I 1982 1983 1984 1985 N. America 6.9 8.7 6.8 6.3 3.9 5.4 ing effort, however, can shorten the Asia 0.1 0.4 0.5 3.6 3.4 5.1 Figure I.-U.S. scallop imports from duration of periods of high abundance Europe, W. 1.5 1.9 1.7 2.8 2.3 2.6 Oceania 0.2 0.5 0.4 1.6 0.7 0.5 Latin America, 1980-85. and lengthen the period between suc­ Europe, E. Neg!. cessful sets. Africa Neg!. Neg!. Neg!. Neg!. Middle East Observers are not in total agreement -- over the development of the Peruvian Total' 9.5 11.9 9.5 15.5 12.4 19.1 fishery. Most biologists believe that the 'Totals may not agree due to rounding. 1,300 t in 1983 (Fig. 1). Shipments ex­ scallop stocks were affected by the panded rapidly and reached 5,500 t in 1982-83 El Nino event. The warmer El 1985. The value of the 1985 shipments Nino water temperatures provided an were $24 million, the fourth most im­ ideal medium for the existing scallop portant edible fishery product exported stock and, at the same time, adversely and 5,100 t from Asian sources (Table to the United States by Latin American affected many predators and competi­ 4). The U.S. imported a record 19,100 countries. (Table 2). tors. Some biologists believe that there t of scallops worldwide in 1985, of that Latin American scallop shipments has always been a large scallop popula­ total nearly 30 percent were from Latin continued to increase during the first tion off Peru, but that not only did the American countries. The economic half of 1986. Latin American shipments El Nino improve environmental condi­ importance, however, was less as the totaled 3,200 t, an increase of 30 per­ tions, the warmer water caused the smaller Latin American species com­ cent from the 2,500 t exported during scallops to successfully set in shallow manded a lower price on the U.S. the same period of 1985 (Table 3). De­ water where they were more accessible market. clining Peruvian shipments were more to the fishermen. There may also be than replaced by the sudden increase in some migration of stocks, but this has Species shipments from Panama. Reports from not yet been demonstrated. A similar Latin American fishermen catch both countries, however, suggest that debate is now underway in Panama. small quantities of more than 10 differ­ shipments during the second half of ent species of scallops (Table I). The 1986 were declining. As a result, 1986 Regional Importance vast quantity of catches are composed year-end results from Latin America Latin American countries emerged of two species, the Peruvian calico may not exceed 1985 levels. for the first time in 1985 as the most im­ scallop taken in Peru and Chile, and the The sharp fluctuations in scallop ex­ portant source for U.S. scallop imports. Pacific calico scallop taken in Panama ports are not fully understood. Scallop U.S. imports from Latin America were and other Central American countries. catches, even in established fisheries, 5,500 t, slightly more than the 5,400 im­ These two species and the other Latin tend to fluctuate sharply. Sedentary ported from North American (Canada) American species are similar to the

49(1), 1987 73 10 Table 5.-U.S. scallop prices, by region, 1985. Table 6.-U.S. prices of scallops Imported from Latin America, 1983-86. 1985 7.5 Prices (US$/kg) oX= Quantity Value Price "­ Region (1,000 t) (US$ million) (US$/kg) Country 1983 1984 1985 1986' '"if) 5 » 2 g North America 5.4 58.7 10.87 Argentina 9.88 6.41 5.88 8.94 ~ ~ c Asia 5.1 44.4 8.70 Chile 8.30 7.47 6.47 7.23 " -'5 Oceania 05 4.3 8.60 Panama 9.57 5.11 5.89 & I 2.5 i:' Western Europe 2.6 15.5 5.96 Peru 7.13 6.84 4.24 7.02 ~ Latin America 5.5 24.0 4.36 ..., lJanuary to June. '" Total' 9.5 147.1 6.46 0 1983 1984 1985 '86 110tal5 may not agree due to rounding.

Figure 2.-o.S. import prices for Peruvian scallops, 1983-86.

Table 7.-U.S. scallop Imports 'rom Latin America by country, 1980-85.

Imports (I)

Country 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

Peru 4.5 4.4 Neg!. 928.1 1,319.4 5,154.2 calico scallop, A. gibbus, taken off Chile 12.2 86.1 382.5 156.2 Florida. The meats are substantially Argentina 2.4 192.5 285.3 136.9 Panama 26.1 3.9 1.4 41.0 smaller than those of the longer-lived Ecuador 5.5 8.9 cold water Atlantic sea scallop, Placo­ Brazil 785.0 433.7 1.5 4.0 7.9 Mexico 5.4 15.2 13.6 122.3 20.5 6.1 pecten magellanicus, taken off the Costa Rica 8.1 5.4 Honduras 2.9 northeastern U.S. coast or imported Venezuela 2.0 0.6 1.9 from Canada. Uruguay 1.5 Turks and Caicos 1.8

Prices Total 1 807.5 479.4 31.2 1,333.0 2,017.2 5,522.9

Latin American scallops generally lTotals may not agree due to rounding. sell for substantially less on the U.S. market than scallops imported from other countries. In 1985, for example Latin American scallops sold for only about $4.35/kg, while North American acquired product. Panamanian scallops scallop fishery since the pre-Columbian and Asian scallops were selling for during the first 6 months of 1986 sold period. Archaeologists have discovered $10.90 and $8.70 per kilogram respec­ for only about $5.90/kg. large deposits of shells dating back to tively (Table 5). The major reason for 600 A.D. Catches in recent years have this difference is reportedly the small Major Countries been small, averaging about 500 t per size of the Latin American scallops The Latin American scallop fisheries year. Fishermen began to report un­ which are similar to the Florida calico are dominated by Peru (Table 7). Peru­ usually large scallop catches after the El scallops and follow the same market pat­ vian shipments of 5,200 t accounted for Nino event which devasted coastal areas terns. Peruvian observers also believe 95 percent of the 5,500 t of Latin in 1982 and 1983. One report, for ex­ that intense competition among Peru­ American scallops shipped to the United ample, estimated a phenomenal 1983 vian exporters depressed prices. In States in 1985. Panama reported signifi­ catch of near!y 20,000 t. 1986, the falling availability of the Peru­ cant shipments to the United States in Biologists theorize that the warm vian scallops and the improving market early 1986. Brazil shipped sizeable water which appeared off the coast conditions in the United States has re­ quantities to the United States in 1980 speeded scallop growth while it retarded sulted in a sharp price increase for the and 1981, but current shipments are neg­ the growth of competitors and predators. Peruvian product. Prices for Peruvian ligible. Several other countries (Chile, Competitors such as mussels, clams, scallops averaged about $7.00/kg during Argentina, and Mexico) have shipped crabs, limpets, Chilean abalone, and sea the first 6 months of 1986 (Fig. 2, Table small quantities to the United States. urchins were all adversely affected by 6). The sharply increased production Shipments from other Latin American the unusually warm EI Nino water. Re­ from Panama, however, has not shared countries have been negligible. Recent productive activity was apparently the price increase achieved by Peruvian developments in individual Latin Amer­ fostered by the warmer water tempera­ exporters, perhaps because the sudden ican countries have been as follows. tures and caused a higher survival rate increase in the catch has not allowed among the resulting larvae. More lar­ Panamanian exporters to develop ade­ Peru vae survived because the warmer water quate market channels for their newly Peruvian fishermen have conducted a speeded their development rate, thus

74 Marine Fisheries Review Table 8.-U.S. scallop imports from Peru, by month allowing only small artisanal catches. Table g.-U.S. scallop imports from Panama, 1981·86. 1983-86. Most of the catch is marketed in the Imports (t) Imports (t) United States where only the adductor Month 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 Month 1983 1984 1985 1986 muscle (white meat) can be sold. Exporters are also seeking, European January 9.8 84.5 January 254.1 272.0 283.3' February 10.5 157.6 February 246.8 318.3 599.0 markets where the reproductive organs March 3.8 284.2 March 248.5 497.5 236.6 April 1.9 02 282.2 April 100.2 301.9 43.1 can be marketed along with the adduc­ May 405.7 May 76.5 344.7 20.7 tor muscle, substantially increasing the June 1.4 491.2 June 101.6 631.1 6.4 JUly 344.1 July 16.8' 764.8 13.7' potential value of the catch. Peruvian August N.A' 4 August 6.9 3.2 507.5 N.A. 1986 shipments will be substantially September N.A.' September 66.3 4.7 633.5' N.A. October 1.5 N.A. October 179.9 19.6 691.0 N.A. below 1985 shipments. The Ministry of November 1.6 1.4 8.3 N.A. November 257.2 103.9 125.8' N.A. December 0.8 29.8 N.A. December 418.0 143.5 66.1 N.A. Fisheries closed the scallop fishery from January to June, but the regulations Total 26.1 3.9 1.4 41.0 2,049.5' Total' 928.1 1319.4 5,154.2 N.A. were widely violated. Many fishermen 10ata not available, but imports reportedly continuing at 'Fishing closed 11 January, originally until 14 May, landed scallops, claiming they were high levels. but the closure was later extended. The closure was 'Through July. reportedly widely violated. cultured, which would exempt them 'Scallop season closed. from the closure. The fishermen were 'The fishery was opened 15 July but at sharply re­ duced levels. allowed to fish in July and August and 4Fishing was again closed August 31 5Fishing restricted on 9 September reported good catches, mostly 40/60 and 'Totals may not agree to rounding. 60/80 count scallops. The sizes of the fishing activity, began to deploy shrimp scallops caught in 1986 have been gen­ trawlers on the scallop beds. The Pana­ erally smaller than the scallops caught manian Government granted 13 licenses in 1986. The decline may be partially to shrimp trawlers. Catches surged to due to the intensive fishing effort, but record levels. reducing their vulnerability to predators larger populations of sea stars and saury Panamanian catch data is not avail­ and their chances of drifting away from as well as cooler water temperatures able, but most of the catch is exported the scallop banks where they could set. have also affected the scallop popula­ to the United States. U.S. import data A major scallop fishery soon devel­ tion. Unfished scallops populations have shows that imports are at record levels oped in the Paracas area near Pisco been found in deeper water. Peruvian with shipments in June 1986 setting a along Peru's Central Coast, The scallops scources reported the deaths of at least single month record of 490 tons (Table are harvested by artisanal divers from three divers in 1986, as the fishermen 9). Shipments for the first 6 months of small boats, The Instituto del Mar are diving in deeper water further from 1986 totaled 1,700 t valued at $10 (IMARPE) reports that over 1,000 small the coast. The Ministry closed the fish­ million, with some of the product be­ boats and 5,000 fishermen have entered ery again on 31 August 1986, for an in­ ing airshipped to the United States. The the fishery. Another 6,000 people are definite period. IMARPE has begun a commercial vessels are basd in Puerto employed on shore to process the catch. new project to repopulate grounds and Vacamonte and Rio Hato. Two plants The unusually large catch in 1984 could is concentrating on banks to the north have been opened at Vacamonte to pro­ not be handled by existing processing of Callao. cess scallops, plants, so much work was done in make­ Biologists are uncertain about the shift plants or in the homes of the fish­ Panama duration or reason for the scallops ap­ ermen, initially giving rise to quality A major development in Panamanian pearance off Panama. Some biologists control problems. Improved processing fisheries during late 1985 and 1986 has see a 5 to 7 year cycle in which large was reported for the record 1985 catches been a sudden surge in scallop catches. populations periodically thrive and then when shipments to the United States ex­ Scallop fishing has been conducted by decline. Others believe that a commer­ ceeded 5,000 t (Table 8). artisanal fishermen operating close to cially exploitable stock is permanently Some fishermen began to seed small the coast for several years. Significant there, but they only set in the more ac­ scallops in the shallow areas of Paracas catches were reported in the 1960's, but cessible shallow water when the envi­ Bay. One report estimates that in 1984 Panamanian scallop exporters were not ronmental conditions are right. Com­ there were 150 growers who had seeded able to meet U.S. sanitary requirements. mercial fishermen have noted scallops 400 hectares of the Bay. Two groups are Since then, catches have been very with considerable barnacle growth, reportedly planning to build a hatchery. small. Those fishermen began to report however, suggesting that they may have These culture efforts have met with unusually good scallop catches in Octo­ been up to 2 years old at the time of mixed success. One massive kill in Feb­ ber 1985. Catches were particularly harvest. The Director of the Panamanian ruary 1985 was particularly damaging good in the Pacific coast area between Direccion General de Recursos Mari­ to the industry. The Government is con­ Veracruz and Rio Hata, at depths from nos, Armando Martinez, believes that cerned about declining catches and since 3-20 m. In late 1985, some of the Pana­ temperature is the key factor determin­ March 1986 has closed the fishery, manian companies, noting the artisanal ing abundance.

49(1), 1987 75 Panama first launched a scallop fish­ hibits commercial fishing within 3 miles ments, the mainstays of the country's ery in the 1960's when 15 shrimp of the coast. fishing industry. trawlers were rigged for scallop fishing. In 1981, U.S. scallop fishermen were The fishermen, however, could not find brought in to conduct exploratory fish­ sustainable stocks on which to fish. Brazil ing for new grounds. The Brazilian fish­ Fishing has continued as a primarily ar­ Brazil is the only other Latin Ameri­ ery, however, has since dwindled. U.S. tisanal activity, currently providing can country to have conducted an im­ companies imported 785 t of scallops nearly 35,000 jobs. The current entry of portant scallop fishery. The commercial from Brazil in 1980, but this declined the commercial fishermen has caused a fishery was launched in 1972 and to only 435 t in 1981. Since 1982, U.S. major confrontation between the two Brazilian companies began to export in importers have not purchased more than groups. The artisanal fishermen, led by 1973. Two groups with Japanese back­ 10 t of scallops annually in Brazil. This Napoleon Velasquez who is President of ing were active in the preliminary stages drastic decline is unexplained. Local the Asociacion de Pescadores Arte­ of the fishery. Export shipments reached observers, however, believe that com­ sanales (APROPA) has asked the gov­ 450 tin 1974. The Brazilian scallop beds mercial stocks of scallops exist off ernment to restrict commercial fishing were located off the coast of Parana and Brazil and Caribbean countries, but will on coastal grounds where the artisanal Sao Paulo. Some Brazilian officials require more resource surveys to locate fishermen harvest scallops. The only believed that scallop exports could even­ exploitable commercial beds. (Source: current restriction is one which pro­ tually rival shrimp and lobster ship­ IFR-86/51. )

Australian Fishing, 1985 world's largest producer of rock lobster, briefly reviews the Australian market, exporting 1,000 t valued at A$28.2 mil­ fisheries, and trade. Interested U.S. The Australian fishing industry con­ lion ($19.9 million) in 1985. The United companies can obtain a copy of this tributed A$445 million (US$313 million) States is the major importer of this com­ report for $9.95 (personal check or to the nation's GNP in 1985, making it modity, although Australia is also begin­ money order) by ordering report num­ the country's seventh largest rural in­ ning to develop lobster export markets ber PB87-130258/AS from: National dustry. Australia's fishing industry is in Japan and Southeast Asia. Technical Information Service, U.S. small (relative to the size of its fishing The U.S. Embassy in Australia has Department of Commerce, Springfield, zone) and employs about 25,000 people prepared a 12-page report on Australia's VA 22161. Please enclose a handling fee in the harvest sector. Only about 10,000 fishing industry in 1985. This report of $3.00 per order. fishing vessels are in operation and most are less than 20 m long. The Australian Government provides little or no sub­ sidies or tariff protection to the fishing Ecuadorean Shrimp Culture industry, so it has had to remain efficient in order to survive. Although the coun­ The marine shrimp culture industry shrimp was exported in 1986 and pro­ try's fishery resources are generally has dramatically transformed much of ject those shipments to increase to over promising, Australia's traditional fish­ the coast of southern Ecuador. Over 27,000 t in 1987, or by more than 10 eries (shrimp, rock lobsters, scallops, 60,000 hectares of ponds have been built percent. abalone, bluefin tuna, and shark) are and both the ecology and the economy The Foreign Commercial Service at well developed with limited potential for of the coast have been significantly the U.S. Consulate General in Guaya­ future expansion. Growth of the fishing altered. After 2 years of diminishing quil has prepared a lO-page report re­ industry will be dependent on new fish­ harvests, shrimp farmers are poised for viewing the current status of Ecuador's ing grounds and species. Northern fish­ production increases and higher earn­ shrimp culture industry. The report ing grounds hold promise for under­ ings. Ecuadorean observers are predict­ covers the Ecuadorean Government exploited squid, skipjack and other ing sharp increases in Ecuadorean 1987 economic reforms, shrimp production tunas, and other pelagic fish resources. shrimp exports made possible by the and exports, pond construction and Shrimp and rock lobsters are Aus­ economic reforms instituted by the operations, economic considerations, tralia's most important fishery exports, Ecuadorean Government in August and hatcheries. The report also includes accounting for about 70 percent of the 1986. Significantly increased production statistical tables. U.S. companies can value of all fishery exports in 1985. will require more postlarvae to stock the obtain a copy of "Ecuadorean Shrimp Australia exported almost 6,000 metric ponds. A postlarvae shortage severely Aquaculture Production, 1985-87" for tons (t) of shrimp, valued at A$91.3 affected farmed shrimp production in $9.95 and a $3 handling fee (total million ($64.3 million), to major mar­ 1985, but postlarvae were in good sup­ $12.25, personal checks or money orders kets in Japan, the United States, and ply during 1986. Government officials only) by ordering report PB87-139333/ South Africa. Australia is also the estimate that 24,500 metrict tons (t) of GBA from NTIS, Springfield, VA 22161.

76 Marine Fisheries Review