The delays consisted of a 3 week plus tie up over pricing and weather, then another week of voluntary stand down over sub-legal sized shrimp concerns.
The voluntary stand down barely lasted a week as most Oregon Shrimp fishermen watched boats from California and Washington continue fishing in Oregon waters ending the proposed 45 day gentlemen's agreement.
We contacted the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and they advised that about 3 million pounds of shrimp have been caught on the books already but the number is pretty soft.
Current landings are producing both the 250/350 count and 350/500 count cooked and peeled finished product - however fishermen have increased their prices this year.
Pricing has increased approximately 50 to 75 cents per pound from last season but Pacific Shrimp still remains less expensive and a better buy than the Atlantic Cold Water counterpart.
Current pricing for 250/350 count Cooked and Peeled Pacific Shrimp are in the mid $5.00 range whereas the Atlantics are around the mid $6.00 range.
However, we just received a tip from an East coast supplier advising us that east coast prices for Atlantic Shrimp are still unsettled.
The quota for borealis has been cut back so prices could rise but Europe buyers are unsettled and are not stepping up with commitments at current pricing.
Tradex Foods has made arrangements for our new season SINBAD Platinum branded Shrimp products to be packed and new inventories of this popular and versatile product should be in our Seattle and Vancouver cold storages by the end of May.
