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As Christmas approaches and the year draws to a close, we are giving you the chance to review a turbulent year for the seafood business as we count down through the most read <b>IntraFish</b> exclusive stories of the year. We'll be counting down from 50 to the year's most read story in blocks of ten, with 50 through 41 available today. If you want to read the full story, the links are in the <b>No. 50: Ocean Beauty to close L.A. plant</b>. Ocean Beauty Seafoods closed its Los Angeles smoked fish manufacturing plant May 11. Between 80 and 100 employees will lose their jobs as a result of the closure, Ocean Beauty's Tom Sunderland said. Seattle-based Ocean Beauty operates newer facilities in Seattle and Monroe, Wash., and production will shift to these facilities. <b>No. 49: U.S. tilapia giants predict European expansion</b>. North America's two largest tilapia companies predict the European market for the fish will grow significantly over the next few years. <b>No.48: The fish Spain loves to hate</b>. The tit-for-tat exchange over pangasius rumbling through Europe is exemplified in Spain, still the European Union's lead importer despite vigorous opposition from corners of its seafood sector. <b>No. 47: Shrimp supplier sues club store, broker over breach of contract</b>. A U.S.-based shrimp supplier is suing its broker, the broker's company and a national club store, alleging the three conspired to cut it out of a big shrimp deal. <b>No.46: Too much shrimp, not enough marketing</b>. Can the shrimp industry market its way out of the current production glut? To sum up the shrimp industry in 2009 is easy: too much shrimp, not enough consumers. With companies hurting for buyers, and prices at their lowest point in at least a decade, what can be done to revive shrimp consumption in the United States, where the economic downturn continues to keep people out of restaurants -- and not ordering shrimp on those rare occasions when people do dine out? <b>No.45: Europe's smokers angry at salmon cost</b>. Salmon smokers across Europe are reeling in the face of overwhelming salmon prices that threaten to close margins and profitability. <b>No.44: Ocean Trawlers: Fraud ring impersonated retailer Wegmans</b>. Whitefish company Ocean Trawlers claims fraudsters who cost the company $7 million posed as the U.K. subsidiary of U.S. retailer Wegmans Food Markets Inc. <b>No.43: Dutch giant declared bankrupt</b>. Stricken Dutch flatfish giant Baarssen Fish International was declared bankrupt and company assets will be sold by administrators to repay debts. <b>No. 42: MSC names new top exec for Americas office</b>. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) named the new director of its Americas office in Seattle. <b>No. 41: American Fish & Seafood CEO out</b>. The top executive at U.S. seafood firm American Fish & Seafood has stepped down. <b>Click back tomorrow as the countdown continues with stories 40 to 31!</b>

Publisher: IntraFish