Pacific salmon – the difference between pinks, silvers and reds

With a distinct colour variance ranging from dusty pink to bright apricot orange, salmon encompasses a wide variety of species and production methods. Commercially, the global salmon trade is dominated by wild Pacific and farmed Atlantic fish, both of which are supplied by Pittman Seafoods. (more…)

Our visit to Canada

Canadian lobster is one of the main items in Pittman Seafoods’ product range. It’s the product we launched with many years ago and it continues to be a flagship product for our company. Each year, at the start of the lobster season, our purchaser Jennifer Vermeiren pays a visit to our lobster suppliers, either on her own or accompanied by colleagues from the sales or quality departments.

This year, in May 2018, Jennifer embarked on a tour of the regions of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, the cradle of the Canadian lobster industry. (more…)

Shrimp or prawn, wild or farmed: what’s the difference?

With approximately eight million tonnes traded annually, there are very few seafoods that can match the global appeal or economic importance of shrimp. Providing a nutritious, low-calorie alternative to meat, shrimp are a good source of vitamins B12 and D, iodine, iron, selenium and zinc.

The popularity of shrimp is further underpinned by their flexibility; they are well suited and celebrated in most cuisines and there are countless product formats and ways of preparing them. (more…)

Our visit to Chile

For Pittman Seafoods, Chile is an important country for the supply of salmon, crab and mussels. For several years now, we have been the majority shareholder in Omega C-Foods, which specialises in sourcing, quality control and shipping. This means we also make regular visits to the country. In May 2018, Joke Vandepitte and Dieter Sanders (CEO’s of Pittman Seafoods) went to visit the twelfth region, in the south of the country. (more…)

Seafood’s essential role in feeding the world

The recent 2018 edition of Seafood Expo Global (SEG), the world’s biggest seafood trade industry exhibition that’s held annually in Brussels, Belgium at this time of year, gave a stark reminder of the importance of seafood as one of the most-traded food commodities, with the total export value alone amounting to more than US$ 150 billion. But beyond the commercial aspects and the deals that were struck at this huge international stakeholder gathering, SEG18 further illustrated the growing significance of fisheries and aquaculture as sources of food, nutrition, income and livelihood for many millions of people around the world. (more…)

MPAs and the potential benefits for seafood lovers

More often than not, when our oceans are discussed in the media it’s to highlight negative issues, such as pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, and over- or illegal-fishing. It’s an extensive and bleak list, yet while there are many challenges facing certain seas and coastal regions that should concern us as responsible citizens, there are also many positive actions taking place and optimistic results from which we can take some consolation as we head into 2018. (more…)

Pittman Seafoods – long-term supporter of the world’s biggest seafood expo

The seafood calendar features many important international events and stakeholder gatherings, as you might expect from such a richly diverse and innovative industry. In terms of scale, nothing can compete with the vast Seafood Expo Global (SEG), which is held annually in Brussels, Belgium. (more…)

New EU trade deal to boost Canadian lobster supply

Lobster is one of Canada’s most valuable seafood exports, valued at more than CAD 2.1 billion (€1.4 billion). Around three-quarters of the harvest is traditionally exported to the United States, while Asia has also become an increasingly important buyer of the crustacean in recent years. However, it’s Europe that now offers the most scope for overseas sales growth, thanks to Canada’s new free trade deal with the EU that eliminates tariffs on its lobster sales in the 28 member state markets. (more…)

Yellowfin sole roll demonstrates the value of versatility

Globally, there are hundreds of different types of flatfish, among them the universally popular halibut, turbot, sole and flounder, and many important fisheries are based upon these prized species. Historically, though, one of the most commercially plentiful and sustainable varieties of flatfish is the somewhat lesser-known Pacific dab (also known as yellowfin sole – Limanda aspera). (more…)

Where seafood supply growth will come from in 2018

With more than 90% of the world’s fish stocks either fully-exploited or being fished beyond capacity, it is frequently highlighted in seafood circles that the supply of products from wild-capture fisheries has reached a production plateau and the onus is now firmly on aquaculture to come up with the additional fish protein that’s required to sustainably feed the fast-growing global population. (more…)