Fishing Industry Worries about Restrictions on Russia
2022-04-02
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1The world's seafood industry is preparing for higher prices, supply problems and possible job losses as restrictions make products from Russia less available.
2Experts say the continued restrictions meant to punish Russia, known as sanctions, will also affect the cost of fish in the U.S. and other countries.
3Russia is one of the world's top producers of the ocean fish called cod.
4It also supplies other seafood like crab and Alaska pollock.
5Glen Libby is an owner of Port Clyde Fresh Catch, a seafood market in the U.S. state of Maine.
6If a seafood company gets cod from Russia, he said, the situation is "quite a mess."
7The Associated Press said federal data shows that $50 million of Russian seafood products passed through Portland, Maine in 2021.
8Russia sent 12.7 million kilograms of cod to the United States during a two-year period ending in January 2022 AP reports.
9In addition, other nations that import a lot of fish, such as Japan, will see higher prices as the supply from Russia is reduced.
10Europe and Britain also depend on Russia for fish.
11Andrew Crook is the head of a trade group in Great Britain called the National Association of Fish Friers.
12He described the situation this way: "We are in real dire straits" because of rising fish and energy prices.
13He predicted about 30 percent of the fish and chips stores in Britain would go out of business this year.
14Fish and chips is a traditional British meal of fried fish and potatoes.
15He told British broadcaster ITV: "We're a massive part of U.K. culture and it would be a shame to see that go."
16In the U.S., one expert said people who like to eat fish will see higher prices and fewer choices.
17Kanae Tokunaga is an economics researcher in Maine.
18Tokunaga said even fish that do not come from Russia will be more costly "because seafood is a global commodity."
19The U.S. depends on cod from other countries because it is harder for Americans to catch that kind of fish than it used to be.
20In the early 1980s, fishermen in the northeastern U.S. caught about 45 million kilograms of cod each year.
21Now, restrictions meant to preserve the fish population limit the catch to 900,000 kilograms.
22Ed Markey is a U.S. senator from Massachusetts.
23He said seafood workers in his state are worried about losing their jobs.
24Walt Golet is an assistant professor of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine.
25He said the U.S may be able to bring in a little more fish from Canada and Norway.
26But a shortage of traditional species of fish may have one good effect, said Ben Mertens.
27He runs the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.
28He said it may be time for the fish business to start harvesting fish they used to leave in the water.
29If sanctions are "going to disrupt supply chains, it does present an opportunity for other species..." he said.
30I'm Dan Friedell
1The world's seafood industry is preparing for higher prices, supply problems and possible job losses as restrictions make products from Russia less available. 2Experts say the continued restrictions meant to punish Russia, known as sanctions, will also affect the cost of fish in the U.S. and other countries. 3Russia is one of the world's top producers of the ocean fish called cod. It also supplies other seafood like crab and Alaska pollock. 4Glen Libby is an owner of Port Clyde Fresh Catch, a seafood market in the U.S. state of Maine. If a seafood company gets cod from Russia, he said, the situation is "quite a mess." 5The Associated Press said federal data shows that $50 million of Russian seafood products passed through Portland, Maine in 2021. Russia sent 12.7 million kilograms of cod to the United States during a two-year period ending in January 2022 AP reports. 6In addition, other nations that import a lot of fish, such as Japan, will see higher prices as the supply from Russia is reduced. Europe and Britain also depend on Russia for fish. 7Andrew Crook is the head of a trade group in Great Britain called the National Association of Fish Friers. He described the situation this way: "We are in real dire straits" because of rising fish and energy prices. 8He predicted about 30 percent of the fish and chips stores in Britain would go out of business this year. Fish and chips is a traditional British meal of fried fish and potatoes. 9He told British broadcaster ITV: "We're a massive part of U.K. culture and it would be a shame to see that go." 10In the U.S., one expert said people who like to eat fish will see higher prices and fewer choices. 11Kanae Tokunaga is an economics researcher in Maine. Tokunaga said even fish that do not come from Russia will be more costly "because seafood is a global commodity." 12The U.S. depends on cod from other countries because it is harder for Americans to catch that kind of fish than it used to be. In the early 1980s, fishermen in the northeastern U.S. caught about 45 million kilograms of cod each year. Now, restrictions meant to preserve the fish population limit the catch to 900,000 kilograms. 13Ed Markey is a U.S. senator from Massachusetts. He said seafood workers in his state are worried about losing their jobs. 14Walt Golet is an assistant professor of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine. He said the U.S may be able to bring in a little more fish from Canada and Norway. 15But a shortage of traditional species of fish may have one good effect, said Ben Mertens. He runs the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. 16He said it may be time for the fish business to start harvesting fish they used to leave in the water. 17If sanctions are "going to disrupt supply chains, it does present an opportunity for other species..." he said. 18I'm Dan Friedell 19Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 20Are you seeing increased food costs where you live? What items are now more costly? Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 21Words in This Story 22a mess -n. a situation that is very complex and difficult to deal with 23dire straits -expression: a difficult position 24a shame - n. something that you would not want to do; something regrettable 25global - adj. involving or affecting the whole world 26commodity- n. something that is bought and sold regularly in large amounts that is an important product 27species- n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 28disrupt- v. to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way; to interfere with the normal progress or activity of (something) 29supply chain- n. the whole system through which products go from producer to user