Some of these articles are in foreign languages and can be automatically translated on Google Chrome. 

Note: These articles are a round-up of news media in key seafood markets. The information is provided as part of our market intelligence service to Australian seafood exporters. The views expressed in the media articles are not those of the STAG and are in no way endorsed by us. 

Image: thebmj

🦠  Regional Covid-19 update

China has eased slightly its strict ‘dynamic zero’ policy, despite a new wave of cases. The British Medical Journal reports: ‘Quarantine for close contacts has been cut from seven days in a state facility to five days, and three days at home, and officials will also stop recording secondary contacts, so many people will avoid having to quarantine at all.’ Read more here.

Taiwan has also reduced quarantine periods and lifted vaccine mandates for some occupations. Read more from Channel News Asia here.

Korea is experiencing an upswing in Covid-19 cases, as reported on the Yonhap News Agency website here

Hong Kong’s “0+3” arrangement, implemented in September to end hotel quarantine, but still ban arrivals from entry to restaurants, pubs and some other venues for three days, remains in place. However there are growing calls from business for the city to end all restrictions on visitors. Read more on the South China Morning Post website here (subscription may be required).

Image: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

🦞 USA: Marine lobster MSC certification suspended

The National Fisherman reports the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification of Maine lobster will be suspended from 15 December after a US federal court ruling that the fishery is not fully compliant with the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. Read the article here.

Image: Takungpao.com

💻 China: Cross-border e-commerce lobster trade   

Takungpao.com takes a detailed look at the import and sale of Canadian lobster via Chinese e-commerce website JD.com.

According to a representative of the company, “we have compressed the time of cross-border transportation to 17 hours. That is to say, assuming that the lobster was caught from the Atlantic Ocean that morning, if it has just been delivered to the bonded area. If the order is placed by the nearby residents, it can be served on the table as soon as the same evening."

 Read more here (Chinese).

Image: Food Daily

🌊 China: Dawn of the 'Marine Food Era'

Detailed article from Food Daily looking at the history of seafood consumption in China and the future for processed and branded seafood products in the so-called ‘Marine Food Era’. Read the full piece here (Chinese)      

Image: The Japan News

🎌 Japan: Government aims to boost fish consumption 

As reported in the last STAG News Bites, Japan’s per capita seafood consumption has been in decline for some years. Now Yomiuri Shimbun reports Japan’s Fisheries Agency is hoping to reverse the trend. The government will designate the 3rd to the 7th of each month as ‘Fish Days’, working with industry partners to encourage more seafood consumption. Read more here.

The STAG is funded by partners:

www.seafoodtradeadvisory.com

The Seafood Trade Advisory Group (STAG) is jointly funded by the Australian government and the fishing industry. We receive funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).which is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Water and the Environment. 

 Any information provided in this STAG publication is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your individual circumstances and business objectives.