Russian Fishery Agency Refutes CNN Reports About Russian Pollock's Positions In US Market

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2019) The CNN broadcaster's reports about very strong positions of Russian pollock in the US market, which are weakening positions of Alaska's fishermen, are not true, representative of the Russian Federal Fishery Agency (Rosrybolovstvo) in the United States Oleg Rykov told Sputnik on Sunday.

On Saturday, CNN reported that Russian pollock was cheaper than its US-caught equivalent, which undermines positions of Alaskan fishermen. Russian-caught pollock reportedly gained the share of about $200 million in the US market and is even served to US school children.

"Both the United States and Russia are catching this fish, freezing it and sending it to China. The Americans are sending 90 percent of their pollock for processing in China, we are also sending significant volumes [to China]. The fish is mixed there and it is impossible to determine origins of pollock," Rykov said.

He refuted the reports about harmful supplements that are allegedly added to pollock in China as well as those about the $200-million share of Russian pollock in the US market.

"This is the whole volume of pollock sales in the US market, including the US product. Within first 11 months of 2018 China sent to the United States the processed pollock products worth of $60 million. In other words, that is even not a half of this market," Rykov noted.

The official said that a small part of Russian pollock, coming to the US market, was being served in US schools.

According to Rykov, the difficulties faced by US producers of pollock are caused by the ongoing US-Chinese trade war and have nothing with Russia.

He also said that the CNN article on the issue may have been lobbied by US pollock producers' association.

"One can expect the US government to impose tariffs on Russian pollock ... If the border is closed for us, we will sell our goods to Europe, or China," Rykov said.

He added that direct deliveries of Russian pollock to the United States were very small with most products coming to the US market through China.