IN BRIEF - S. Korea, Russia reach agreement on fishing quota for 2014

SOUTH KOREA Monday, April 21, 2014 South Korea and Russia signed an agreement on the 2014 fishing quota for South Korea that is a drop from 2013's figure on a request from local companies, the fisheries ministry said Monday the 21st of April 2014. Source: Global Post

IN BRIEF - Neptune Responds to Enzymotec’s Continuous Attempts to Shift Focus from ITC Investigation CANADA Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Laval, Québec – Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. (“Neptune” or the “Corporation”) (NASDAQ.NEPT - TSX.NTB), announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) recently issued a Right of Appeal Notice in an inter partes reexamination of Neptune’s U.S. Patent No. 8,030,348 (“the ‘348 Patent”).   Despite the USPTO’s decision, the ‘348 Patent is still valid as Neptune has the right to appeal, which it intends to do. Enzymotec Ltd. (“Enzymotec”), in yet another clear attempt to shift focus from the on-going International Trade Commission (“ITC”) investigation of its infringement of other Neptune patents, issued a press release addressing the ‘348 Patent decision.  However, Enzymotec failed to highlight that the decision has no impact on the ITC investigation into infringement of Neptune’s other composition of matter patents, as well as related federal court actions initiated by Neptune against Enzymotec and its distributors.  Furthermore, the decision has no impact on Neptune’s license agreements with Rimfrost and Aker BioMarine. The ITC operates independently of the USPTO and, in any event, the ‘348 Patent is not included as part of the ITC’s investigation, which is focused on Neptune’s composition of matter patents numbered US 8,278,351 and US 8,383,675.  The suggestion that a rejection of a parent patent will lead to the same for continuation patents, which have different claims, is plainly untrue.  All of Neptune’s other patents remain valid and enforceable.  In addition, and despite all the re-examinations and reviews filed by our competitors, the USPTO continues to grant patents to Neptune. Neptune remains confident in its legal strategy and will continue to actively defend its intellectual property.  The Corporation will continue to pursue Enzymotec before the ITC, with the ITC hearing (trial) scheduled to commence on April 28, 2014.   A decision will be rendered by the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) within a few months afterwards.  Should the ITC rule in favour of Neptune and Acasti, then Enzymotec, would be banned from importing   IN BRIEF - Federal EPAaAgain delays rule to reduce massive fish kills at power plants UNITED STATES Monday, April 21, 2014 The federal government once again has delayed adopting a much-litigated regulation aimed at reducing massive fish kills at power plants, a proposal with implications for generating units in New Jersey and potentially affecting the reliability of the electric grid. Source: NJ Spotlight IN BRIEF - Mozambican Tuna company due to start operating in 2014 MOZAMBIQUE Monday, April 21, 2014 Mozambican company Empresa Moçambicana de Atum (EMATUM), set up by the government for tuna fishing, is due to start operating in 2014, the Fishing Minister, Victor Borges said in Sofala, cited by Mozambican newspaper O País. Source: Maca Hub IN BRIEF - Village preserves art of fish sauce VIET NAM Monday, April 21, 2014 Making fish sauce is a way of life for residents in this village near Da Nang, but can they make the traditional product successful in modern Viet Nam or around the world? Situated at the foot of the Hai Van Pass, 17km northwest of downtown Da Nang city, Nam O village boasts pristine beaches and a thriving fishing industry. The village of 5,000 has produced fish sauce since the 19th century, and the trade still earns villagers their livelihood. Source: Viet Nam News IN BRIEF - Cage culture nets a big haul of cobia INDIA Monday, April 21, 2014 A group of aqua farmers on Kakkamadan Island in Aanappuzha, a tributary of the Periyar in Ernakulam district, has had a rich haul of cobia fish using the newly-introduced cage culture method, developed under the aegis of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), established by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). Source: The Hindu IN BRIEF - Lawmaker warns of virus that affects crustaceans PHILIPPINES Monday, April 21, 2014 A lawmaker has called on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to investigate and eradicate a deadly virus that has infected shrimps and other crustaceans in fishponds in various parts of the country. Source: Manila Standard Today IN BRIEF - Asda axes salmon from 'problem' WRF UNITED KINGDOM Monday, April 21, 2014 Scotland's oldest independent salmon farm has been dropped as a supplier to one of Britain's largest supermarkets amid concern over its environmental impact. Source: The Sunday Times IN BRIEF - Think Tank Concerned about Shrimp Cuts CANADA Monday, April 21, 2014 As an all-party legislative committee prepares to begin a pressure campaign to convince Ottawa to change its mind on cuts to the inshore shrimp quotas, a Memorial University think tank is equally concerned about the impact such measures will have on smaller boats. The offshore sector, or the larger boats, will be hit with only a small cut in the quota. Source: VOCM IN BRIEF - Compensation battle rages four years after BP’s oil spill MALTA Monday, April 21, 2014 Four years after the Deepwater Horizon spill, oil is still washing up on the long sandy beaches of Grand Isle, Louisiana, and some islanders are fed up with hearing from BP that the crisis is over. Source: Times of Malta IN BRIEF - Total Icelandic fish catch in March decreases between years ICELAND Monday, April 21, 2014 Total catch of Icelandic vessels in March 2014 decreased by 14.9% at constant prices compared with March 2013. The total catch measured in tonnes decreased by 53.6% in March between years, mostly due to decrease in Capelin catches. Catch of bottom-dwelling species increased by 10%. Source: Statistics Iceland