Salmon and trout fry not undergoing import ban

Salmon fry. (Photo: Wikipedia/FIS)

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Thursday, August 21, 2014, 23:20 (GMT + 9)
The Russian government announced Wednesday that it will authorize the import of Atlantic salmon and trout fry from the European Union (EU), United States, Canada and other countries.
Other food products for which the import ban has been lifted are lactose-free milk and dairy products, potatoes, onions, peas and sweet hybrid corn and beans -- all these vegetables for planting --, food supplements and vitamin.
The decision is due to the lack of impact these products would have on the market, explained Vice Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin, decided to impose a ban on food imports, including fish, from these locations for a year in response to sanctions implemented against the country over events in Ukraine.
"Our actions are: in the first place, legal, secondly, well-founded, and they will benefit the economy," the Russian president stated when he announced the beginning of the trade embargo.
At that time, he also said they were considering "additional measures" to deal with the hypothetical implementation of new sanctions from Europe or United States.
Putin admitted that four years ago the country would have been unable to implement an embargo on Western food, since Russian producers were not prepared, EFE reported.
However, the Russian Government admitted that the ban on food imports from the EU will cost "hundreds of billions of rubles" in subsidies.
Moreover, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) decided to lift the ban on salmon imports from two Chilean firms: Salmon Andes SA and Acuinova Chile, a subsidiary of the Galician multinational firm Pescanova.
"Rosseljoznadzor received research materials and measures taken to indicate that the companies currently meet the health requirements of Russia," reported RiaNovosti.
The Russian authorities had banned the entry of Chilean salmon and trout after detecting E.coli bacteria in some of the imported cases.
This measure can economically benefit Acuinova, which has recently undergone a creditors meeting phase.
Related article:
- Control of attempts to dodge trade ban strengthened

Control of attempts to dodge trade ban strengthened

Russian Federal Fisheries Agency Rosrybolovstvo head Ilya Shestakov. (Photo: Stock File)

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Thursday, August 21, 2014, 02:50 (GMT + 9)
The import ban on food imposed by the Russian government earlier this month has led those affected countries to consider possible alternatives to offset the situation.
And the search of ways of dodging the sanctions In view of the suspicions through re-exporting products to other markets seems to be one of the options considered by some entrepreneurs.
In view of the suspicions that "some unscrupulous importers" may be attempting to re-export the fish to profit from the situation, Russian Federal Fisheries Agency Rosrybolovstvo head Ilya Shestakov warned Russian competent authorities such as the veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor and the Federal Customs Service (FCS) will monitor such cases and check the products’ certificates of origin.
The agency informed that fresh fish might be exported to Russia from the Faroe Islands, Turkey and Tunisia.
“The Faroe islands can export chilled salmon, though not in the volumes we imported from Norway,” Shestakov told Rossiya 24 TV channel. Furthermore, he said Turkey and Tunisia could supply other chilled fishes.
Besides, mullus barbatus ponticus and Black Sea turbot would be supplied to Russian shops from Crimea, Itar-Tass informed.
One of the most seriously affected countries following the Russian boycott is Norway. Large premium Norwegian salmon producers, such as Salmar, had been exporting up to 10 per cent of their fish to Russia. Norway Royal Salmon has also sold much of its production to the country, which along with France have been Norway’s largest individual national markets, News in English informed.
Thus, the Norwegian government has promised to help the country’s huge salmon industry find new buyers for its fish like Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
Funnelling Norwegian salmon through Iceland or the Færoe Islands, which are not members of the European Union and thus not subject to Russia’s boycott could be a way of dodging the sanctions. Besides, the biggest Norwegian salmon producers, Marine Harvest and Cermaq, which have major operations in Chile, could send fish to Russia.
However, for Trond Davidsen, of the fish-farming trade association FHL, this plan is “unrealistic."
"We’ve been living with strict controls from Russia for several years now. If salmon comes into Russia from Chile, the Færoes or the UK, it’s produced there,” he argued.
Meanwhile, foreign businesses located in Russia may also face issues after the Russian import ban. This is the case of the Swedish retailer IKEA, which will stop selling Norwegian salmon - among other products - at its Russian stores.
Related articles:
- Seafood marketing activities boosted after Russian import ban
- Russian ban on Norwegian seafood poses 'a challenging situation'
- Russia bans food imports to retaliate against sanctions

New fish vaccine to protect tilapia

The new vaccine developed by Merck protects tilapia from one of the dearest diseases affecting its farming. (Photo: Merck/FIS)

NETHERLANDS
Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 03:50 (GMT + 9)
 MSD Animal Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the US and Canada) launched a new fish vaccine as a promising measure to help protect tilapia and other fish against the biotype 1 strain of Streptococcus agalactiae.
This disease is the biotype specific to Thailand and other key tilapia-producing regions in Asia, including Malaysia.
“We are pleased to introduce a new fish vaccine to help producers protect their fish from one of the most costly diseases affecting the species,” said Norman Lim, Regional Technical Manager for aquaculture in Asia, MSD Animal Health.
“The vaccine is backed by MSD Animal Health’s ‘Strep Control: Your Tilapia Health’ program, which provides producers with the support they need to implement an effective vaccination and control program,” Lim added.
Animal health specialised firm conducted extensive sampling of farms in the world’s most important tilapia-producing regions and found that Streptococcus accounted for 70 per cent of all pathogens collected, making it the most prevalent disease affecting tilapia. Of the two Streptococcus strains that have been identified, S. agalactiae is the most economically damaging, causing widespread mortality and morbidity in larger fish.
In a laboratory test, fish experienced full onset of immunity one week after vaccination with this vaccine and protection was demonstrated to last for at least 12 weeks. In a large-scale field trial in an environment challenged by S. agalactiaebiotype 1, the fish vaccine increased survival by 17 per cent, increased biomass by 11.2 per cent, and improved feed conversion efficiency by nine per cent. Protection was demonstrated for the entire grow-out period.
The fish vaccine provides specific protection against the biotype 1 strain of S. agalactiae, the main cause of Streptococcosis in tilapia in Thailand. Fish vaccinated with the vaccine are safe for human consumption.
As part of the ‘Strep Control: Your Tilapia Health’ program, MSD Animal Health can help producers confirm the strain and biotype present on their farm, implement a surveillance and vaccination program, and train staff on appropriate control strategies.

Cluster farming helps improve tilapia production

Tilapia farming. (Photo: Stock File)

FIJI
Monday, August 18, 2014, 03:40 (GMT + 9)
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has been working with the European Union (EU) and the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and Forests (MFF) in assisting smallholder tilapia farmers to improve production by working together in cluster groups.

Experience in Africa and Asia shows that, by working in a cluster, farmers can improve economies of scale and increase their bargaining power for inputs, such as fish feed or hatchery seed supply.

Over a dozen farmers are part of two cluster groups that have been formed in the Western and Central Divisions of Fiji through the efforts of SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) division and the European Union-funded Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project, in consultation with relevant government departments and farmers.

These farmers were assisted through technical assessment of their farming methods and production output. Teams from SPC and MFF’s Farm Development Unit made recommendations to farmers about a range of improvements in their operations and equipment, covering aspects such as pond design, farm management practices, post-harvest handling of fish, and proper record keeping. By attending regular cluster meetings, farmers who previously did not know each other have been able to share knowledge, share vital equipment like harvest nets, and coordinate better to regularly supply fish to markets.

Since the formation of the clusters in 2013, SPC and MFF have been closely monitoring the production performance of the farmers involved, and so far the results have been positive.

'The production of tilapia by the participating farmers in the Central Division cluster in the 2013–2014 period has doubled, in comparison with the 2011–2012 period prior to the IACT project intervention. Production for the Western Division cluster is also expected to increase significantly,' said Jone Varawa, a member of the SPC aquaculture team working with the clusters.

He explained that, in a cluster model, some farmers may ultimately choose to specialise in one aspect of the fish custody chain, such as in hatchery production, fingerling nursery, or feed manufacture. Other farmers then 'cluster' around these nodes of aquaculture services and are able to concentrate their own efforts purely on fish grow-out.

Varawa, who is the Aquaculture Production Technician for the IACT project, presented a scientific paper about the success of the farm cluster strategy in improving tilapia production in Fiji at the World Aquaculture Conference in Adelaide, Australia last month.

"The farm cluster strategy helps commercial tilapia farmers in Fiji to take responsibility for their own aquaculture services and farm inputs, rather than relying heavily on government support which is better directed toward small-scale farms growing fish for food security. This is a welcome development for farmers who will be able to better respond to the market demand for fish and contribute towards improving food security in the country," he said.

He added that commercially-minded farmers can adopt the farm cluster strategy to build the industry to another level beyond what is possible through government support alone.

The IACT project is also assisting clusters of aquaculture producers in other Pacific countries, such as the cage culture tilapia farmers in Lake Sirinumu in Papua New Guinea, and the marine ornamental giant clam farmers in Palau. There are also plans to introduce this cluster strategy to seaweed farmers in Papua New Guinea, and to tilapia and prawn farmers in Vanuatu.

Grupo Recho - Congelados Illa de Salvora S.L.

Contact Name	ANA
Company Position	SALES
Address	PUERTO PESQUERO
Address Cont.	-
City	RIBEIRA
State	A CORUÑA
Postal (Zip) Code	15960
Country	SPAIN
Tel	+34 9 8183 5655
Mobile (Cell) Phone	+34 696 008 604
Fax	+34 9 8183 5655
Skype	ana-recho
Email	info@cisalvora.es
Website	http://www.gruporecho.es
ABOUT OUR COMPANY Grupo Recho is a group of companies placed in the North of Spain dedicated to fisheries with own fleet and distribution of fresh and frozen fish. We export frozen pelagic fish: atlantic mackerel (scomber scombrus), horse mackerel (trachurus trachurus), sardine (sardina pilchardus) and chub mackerel (scomber japonicus). Frozen Product: Atlantic Mackerel - scomber scombrus Horse mackerel - trachurus trachurus Chub mackerel - scomber japonicus Sardine - sardina pilchardus Certifications: HACCP

Hadhrami Fisheries Company

Contact Name	Ahmed Abdo
Company Position	CFO
Address	General street
Address Cont.	-
City	Al-Shiher
State	Hadhramout
Postal (Zip) Code	-
Country	YEMEN
Tel	+967 5337666
Mobile (Cell) Phone	+967 777004400
Fax	+967 5337555
Skype	-
Email	hadhramifish@gmail.com
Website	http://hadhramifish.com
ABOUT OUR COMPANY Hadhrami Fisheries Company Yemen’s ultimate leader in processing and exporting of seafood Hadhrami Fisheries Company is the ultimate leader in the seafood sector in Yemen as a reliable and quality supplier of a variety of fresh and frozen seafood products. The company has been associated with the fishing industry for more than two decades and has proved the extremely successful. As a result of the company’s management and its staff, Hadhrami Fisheries Company has developed to be the market leader for catching, processing and the marketing of fish and fishery products in Republic Of Yemen. Our modern processing and cold storage plant has industrial refrigeration and storage capacity, chill rooms and flack ice machines to allow Hadhrami Fisheries Company to cater to the current and expanding requirements of global market. We are exporting our products to 35 countries; primarily to the Far East, Africa and Europe markets. Hadhrami Fisheries Company purchase fish from the local fishermen through a network of procurement and landing centers along the coastline of Republic Of Yemen. The Company ensures only quality products are purchased and that the fish caught are only from the deep-sea trawlers fishing in the Yemeni waters. The Company’s own fishing operations are carried out by a fleet of 31 boats; consisting of four trawlers and twenty seven dhows. All of the fish that is procured and caught by Hadhrami Fisheries Company is processed at a plant that has been independently approved for export to European countries (EU no. 19) and it is certified by ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP compliant quality systems. This ensures that only the highest quality of food safety on all products that are processed at the plant. This is one of the prime objectives of Hadhrami Fisheries Company. Hadhrami Fisheries Company established a quality control department which is supported by employees who have are appropriately qualified and trained to uphold the highest and most stringent quality assurance on all of our products. The quality assurance team conducts a series of checks with our integrated quality control laboratories. This ensures that our products are always of the highest quality. We are continually reviewing and improving our internal processes and quality assurance procedures to ensure our customers are completely satisfied with our products. Fresh Product: Fresh Yellow fin tuna Fresh Fish Frozen Product: Yellow fin Tuna Cuttlefish Cat fish Grouper Indian Mackerel Trevally Croaker Ribbonfish Sailfish Mahi mahi Barracuda Black pomfret Bulls eye Chub mackerel Emperor Frigate Tuna Horse mackerel Jobfish Kawakawa Kingfish Lobster Octopus Queen fish Red snapper Sardine Sea bream Shark Skipjack Stripped bonito Yellow tail scad Brand Names: Hadhrami Fisheries Certifications: The plant is certified by ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP compliant quality systems and has plants approved for export to European countries

JPL Shellfish (Scotland) Ltd

Contact Name	John P Logue
Company Position	Managing Director, JPL Shellfish (Scotland) Ltd
Address	Unit one, Seafood Park, Scrabster Harbour
Address Cont.	Scrabster
City	Thurso
State	Caithness
Postal (Zip) Code	KW14 7UJ
Country	SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
Tel	+44 (0) 1847 895 026
Mobile (Cell) Phone	+44 (0) 7889 722 465
Fax	+44 (0) 1847 890 560
Skype	Buy Skype Credit now to make cheap calls internationally
Email	john.jpl@btinternet.com
Website	www.jplshellfish.co.uk
ABOUT OUR COMPANY Exporters/Wholesalers/Retailers/ JPL Shellfish (Scotland) ltd is a Scottish seafood exporter established in 1992. Scottish seafood has a World wide reputation for its unbeatable quality, harvested from the clean, cool waters from around our coasts. JPL Shellfish (Scotland) Ltd have over 21 years of experience in the live shellfish export business and we have many loyal customers across the World. We specialise in the export of live Scottish Brown crab, Blue lobster and Razor clams to the Far East and have the experience and ability to deliver premium quality live product arriving in top condition by air and sea, across the globe. We have well established air links with over 12 different countries and can offer a large range of delivery days and times to suit your needs. We are always looking for new customers to build up long term trading relationships with and welcome any further inquiries via our websites: English version: www.jplshellfish.co.uk  Chinese version: www.jplshellfish.com Fresh Product:LIVE SHELLFISH: Brown Crab (Cancer pagurus) Blue Lobster (Homarus gammarus) Winkles (Littorina Littorea) Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) Scallops- dived (Pecten maximus) Razor clams (Ensis Siliqua) Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) FRESH FISH: Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Smoked Haddock Cod (Gadus morhua) Monkfish (Lophius piscatorius) Hake (Merluccius merluccius) Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) John Dory (Zeus faber) Turbot (Psetta maxima) Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) Genuine Wild Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) Lemon Sole (Microstomus kitt) Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) Value Added Product: Smoked Haddock Smoked cod Smokes Whiting Salt Ling Certifications: HACCP APPROVED & EC APPROVED PREMISES- SF/041/FE

SMMI - Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Co., Ltd. - Headquarters

 

Sunderland Marine has become an established leader in the insurance of commercial fishing vessels, small passenger craft, tugs, barges and harbour service vessels as well as aquaculture risks by offering a comprehensive range of covers to protect Members interests.

Affirming our commitment to mutuality has allowed the Company to follow the ethos of providing exemplary service and protection, and first class security at an economic premium. Underwriting and claims staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year. 

Marine: Contact our marine hull underwriters for products and services, including cover for Hull & Machinery, Liability and associated risks.

Aquaculture: Contact our aquaculture department for products and services, including cover for stock, equipment and support craft.

Address:	Salvus House, Aykley Heads
City:	Durham
State:	England (DH1 5TS)
Telephone:	+44 1913 740 400
Fax:	+44 191 3740 484
Homepage:	Link to Homepage
Email:	mutual@smmi.co.uk

Maruha Nichiro Corporation

 

Maruha Nichiro Holdings, Inc. (Public, TYO:1334) is a Japan-based holding company principally engaged in the marine product business. The Company operates in four business segments.
The Marine Product segment encompasses the catching, farming, purchase, processing and the sale of fish.
The Food Product segment manufactures and sells canned foods, frozen foods, stock farm products and other processed foods.
The Storage and Distribution segment is engaged in the provision of frozen storage and distribution services for fish.
The Others segment is involved in the storage of feed, the marine transportation business, the leasing of real estate, the hotel business, the manufacture and sale of packaging machines, as well as the manufacture and sale of fur.

Address:	1-2 1-chome, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku
City:	Tokyo
State:	(100-8608)
Telephone:	+81 3 3216 0821
Fax:	+81 3 3216 0342
Homepage:	Link to Homepage
Email:	info@maruha-nichiro.co.jp

Ventisqueros - Productos del Mar Ventisqueros S.A

 

After an intense search in 1985, a group of Chilean pioneers found a wonderful place, of unimaginable beauty, surrounded by waters with the greatest purity and quality in the world.
A place where they could make their dream a reality; to cultivate salmon in the Patagonia of Chile.This dream is today Ventisqueros, a name that indicates the majestic origin of the water that gives life.
Today our company has consolidated in international markets with the highest standards of quality and continuous development.

Address:	Chinquihue km 14
City:	Puerto Montt
State:	Region X
Telephone:	+56 65 568 200
Fax:	+56 65 255 585
Homepage:	Link to Homepage
Email:	surrutia@ventisqueros.cl

Salmon sector welcomes trade ban changes

Salmon smolt. (Photo: Stock File)

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Friday, August 15, 2014, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
The Ministry of Agriculture of Russia together with Rosrybolovstvo federal fishery agency are devising proposals on the changes in the list of food from the European Union, the US, Canada, Australia and Norway, whose import has been banned due to the sanctions imposed on Moscow over the conflict with Ukrania.
The list of sanctions will likely be shrunk shortly. Along with smolt, Russia will restart imports of lactose-free milk, nutritional supplements, seeds and diabetes supplies, Barentsnova reported.
This decision was welcomed by two major farm fish producers in the country -- Russian Sea-Aquaculture and Russian salmon -- which depend on the smolts imported from Norway to perform their operations.
Before the ban was set, the two firms had voiced their plans to have their own smolt supplies.
"In this situation, to have our own facilities is a necessity, but the construction will take at least two years, and the planting season will end in August", says Russian Sea – Aquaculture CEO Dmitry Dangauer. "Besides, the smolt was ordered before the embargo."
The local salmon farming sector has been facing hardships after the ban.
"We have informed the Government of Russia about the urgent need to make the relevant decisions. Should it be postponed, from 2016 Russian consumers will be left without domestic salmon. Thus, the implementation of the program of import substitution for our companies in 2016 depends on today's decision", the Russian Fishery Union expressed in a statement.
Fishery Union representative Leonov Konstantin explained that the imports of Atlantic salmon smolt for breeding farms in the Murmansk region have been stopped on the border,
"Under transportation conditions smolt’s life cycle is limited. So we have less than 72 hours to carry out all customs procedures and transfer this planting material from the ship to fish ponds in the region," Leonov stated.
Meanwhile, Aquaculture Director at the Norwegian Seafood Federation Trond Davidsen told the newspaper Barents Observer that his organization had heard nothing about the possible lifting of the smolt embago.
According to the Fishery Union, in 2014 aquaculture in Russia will meet consumers needs of chilled salmon by 10 per cent. But in 4 or 5 years aquaculture farms in North-West Russia will reach the level of 70,000 tonnes of salmon annually, which is about one-third of the present consumption.
Related articles:
- Russia bans food imports to retaliate against sanctions
- Russian ban on Norwegian seafood poses 'a challenging situation'

Another extra anchovy quota thanks to agreement with Portugal

Anchovy catches. (Photo: Magrama)

PORTUGAL
Friday, August 15, 2014, 04:10 (GMT + 9)
After a new agreement with Portugal, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) has managed to get another extra anchovy quota to be caught in IXa zone of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES/CIEM), including the Spanish waters between Finisterre and the border with Portugal, as well as the fishing grounds of the Gulf of Cadiz.
This quota increase complements the one achieved in May and strengthens the framework of full cooperation with the neighbouring country in fisheries.
Thus, the purse seine fleet in the Gulf of Cadiz, which has 98.86 per cent availability of the Spanish quota for this species, may dispose of 6,530 tonnes for fishing in 2014, representing 530 additional tonnes to the ones it had.
The rest of the Spanish quota is available for the Galician purse seine fleet, which operates in the waters between Finisterre and the border with Portugal so that the quota available for this year will rise.
With this second agreement reached with Portugal it is expected the fleet activity can be developed smoothly this year, especially in the summer months when the activity is greater. Thus, it would be possible to avoid having to resort to precautionary closures of the fishery to a ship for exceeding its quota.
Furthermore, these additional tonnes may have a small relief for the purse seine fleet in the Gulf of Cadiz, which is affected by poor sardine biological status. These vessels individually assign themselves the anchovy quota for this year.

Related article:
- Agreement with Portugal favours horse mackerel quota increase

Hake depletion warned due to illegal fishing

Hake fishing. (Photo: Subpesca)

CHILE
Thursday, August 14, 2014, 03:20 (GMT + 9)
The director of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA), José Miguel Burgos, expressed a strong rejection to illegal hake fishing, a resource that is now overfished and for which within weeks there will be a reproductive ban coming into force.
"They're depleting the hake," warned the official, who also made it clear that the Government is strengthening controls and inspection throughout the entire production chain, especially in the inter-regional roads.
Burgos highlighted that during the morning on 12 August, SERNAPESCA's staff from the regions of Maule, Metropolitana and Valparaiso, surprised five transport operators trying to sell a total of 11,500 kilograms of hake without legal documentation.
This operation follows another one performed last Saturday in Concepcion, Bío Bío Region, where 2.5 tonnes of the resource were detected, reported SERNAPESCA.
Burgos explained that the seized specimens in these checks come from the creeks of the Maule Region, such as Pellines, Iloca and Constitución.
At present, this resource is declared as overexploited fishery so the authorized quotas for 2014 declined significantly.
"This is totally useless if people do not become aware of the fact and continue acting illegally on the resource," SERNAPESCA’s director sentenced.
And he added that as the catch is not declared, "in practice it is impossible to know the extent of the fishing effort operating on the hake." For this reason, he stressed that "these practices are not only illegal but they are depleting the resource."
Meanwhile, SERNAPESCA’s director of Valparaiso Region, Marcelo Arredondo, warned that catch volumes are a sign of "a hake extinction in five years" if the authorities do not control the fishing activity.

IN BRIEF - Can Murmansk cod feed the Russians?

RUSSIAN FEDERATION Thursday, August 14, 2014 As Russia imposes an import ban on fish products from Norway and other western countries, the Russian market looks towards alternative suppliers and domestic producers. As previously reported, the import ban could ultimately leave Russian shops without supplies and prices are likely to hike. Norway alone in 2013 exported a total of 295,000 tons of fish products to Russia, 81 percent of it salmon. Over July 2014 and previews months, an average of 134 trucks loaded with fresh Norwegian salmon and trout has crossed the Russian border. That trade has now come to a stop, and several Norwegian trucks fully loaded with fish products have already been rejected entry to Russia. Russian authorities consequently hectically look at ways how to vitalize supplies from domestic fish producers. Murmansk is a key part of that picture. The region has a powerful trawler fleet and a growing aquaculture industry. Despite years of crisis, the region also has a fish processing industry with substantial capacity. The nearby Barents Sea has some of the world’s richest marine resources and cod stocks have over the last years reached historical levels. Source: Barents Observer

IN BRIEF - Call for Fishcare Volunteers AUSTRALIA Thursday, August 14, 2014 If you are passionate about fishing, enjoy talking to people and looking to contribute to the future of our fish resources, PIRSA’s Fishcare Volunteer program wants you! Director, Operations at PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, Peter Dietman said the Fishcare Volunteers are looking for committed and passionate people to join the program, particularly those living in the Eyre Peninsula and Mid North regions. "This program of wonderful volunteers plays a critical and valuable role in raising the community’s education and awareness about sustainable fishing practices, and the importance of protecting our fish stocks," he said. Source: Government of South Australia

IN BRIEF - Maryport fish smoking plant faces closure over £4m losses

UNITED KINGDOM Thursday, August 14, 2014 A fish smoking company in Cumbria could close, with the loss of more than 60 jobs. Owners of Brookside Products Ltd said it had met with staff to begin a consultation process, which may result in the closure of the factory. Director Doug Aitchison said the plant had lost about GBP 4m over the last three years and it was not "sustainable". The plant in Maryport, which employs 64 people, smokes, prepares and packages salmon for the retail market. 'Continued struggle': The plant was started as a family business in 1987, before moving to the current site in 1995. Mr Aitchison said the 30-day consultation process could ultimately lead to the closure of the plant. He said: "We are very sorry that we are having to consider this...consumers rightly demand rigorous and ever increasing standards and this requires significant ongoing investment to maintain compliance. "We have invested almost GBP 400,000 over the last three years but the plant continues to struggle. Source: BBC

IN BRIEF - Call for Fishcare Volunteers AUSTRALIA Thursday, August 14, 2014 If you are passionate about fishing, enjoy talking to people and looking to contribute to the future of our fish resources, PIRSA’s Fishcare Volunteer program wants you! Director, Operations at PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, Peter Dietman said the Fishcare Volunteers are looking for committed and passionate people to join the program, particularly those living in the Eyre Peninsula and Mid North regions. "This program of wonderful volunteers plays a critical and valuable role in raising the community’s education and awareness about sustainable fishing practices, and the importance of protecting our fish stocks," he said. Source: Government of South Australia IN BRIEF - Can Murmansk cod feed the Russians? RUSSIAN FEDERATION Thursday, August 14, 2014 As Russia imposes an import ban on fish products from Norway and other western countries, the Russian market looks towards alternative suppliers and domestic producers. As previously reported, the import ban could ultimately leave Russian shops without supplies and prices are likely to hike. Norway alone in 2013 exported a total of 295,000 tons of fish products to Russia, 81 percent of it salmon. Over July 2014 and previews months, an average of 134 trucks loaded with fresh Norwegian salmon and trout has crossed the Russian border. That trade has now come to a stop, and several Norwegian trucks fully loaded with fish products have already been rejected entry to Russia. Russian authorities consequently hectically look at ways how to vitalize supplies from domestic fish producers. Murmansk is a key part of that picture. The region has a powerful trawler fleet and a growing aquaculture industry. Despite years of crisis, the region also has a fish processing industry with substantial capacity. The nearby Barents Sea has some of the world’s richest marine resources and cod stocks have over the last years reached historical levels. Source: Barents Observer IN BRIEF - Norway joins EU in sanctions against Russia RUSSIAN FEDERATION Thursday, August 14, 2014 MOSCOW - Norway, which is not part of the EU, decided to join sanctions that the European Union has imposed on Russia, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Monday 11 of August 2014. The ministry cited its Minister Berge Brende as saying that the country is imposing restrictions on Russia similar to the EU sanctions imposed on July 31 that year, under which state-owned banks are banned from taking long-and mid-term loans, arms exports are prohibited and supplies of equipment, technology and know-hows to the Russian oil sector are stopped. The ministry said it has always supported EU’s attitude towards the Russian violations of international regulations, and the sanctions come as an answer to the country destabilizing the situation in the Ukrainian east. Source: ITAR TASS IN BRIEF - Pacific tuna industry calls for 'drastic' action to avoid bigeye stock collapse AUSTRALIA Thursday, August 14, 2014 The Pacific tuna industry has joined environmental organisations and scientists calling for serious action to save bigeye tuna. More than 60 per cent of the world's tuna is caught in the Pacific, much of it by powerful distant water fishing nations from Asia, Europe and North America. Scientists meeting at the region's tuna management body, the Central and Western Pacific Fisheries Commission, have heard bigeye tuna stocks are down to just 16 per of the original population. Source: Radio Austalia IN BRIEF - FIACUI14 & LACQUA14 MEXICO Thursday, August 14, 2014 The Second Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, LACQUA 14 meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico is being organized in 2014 together with FIACUI. This event will show high quality conference and a updated producer program. Over 100 booths are expected at the FIACUI14 & LACQUA14 trade show. November 5-7, 2014. This event will bring together aquaculture farmers, entrepreneurs and experts of the entire Latin American region and the World. The main language of the conference is Spanish and Portuguese. Some session will be translated. The organizing team, headed by Panorama Acuicola and the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (LACC-WAS) expects more than 1000 professionals of the aquaculture sector to be present in the meeting in Guadalajara. The participants will be able to attend several key note lectures offered by well-known experts from around the world, as well as exchange research ideas and analyze business options of an important array of worldwide companies that will be present. In this opportunity LACC-WAS will participate in the event presenting the event LACQUA. The World Aquaculture Society (WAS) organizes several events worldwide. LACQUA ´14 will be the second event of its type in the Latin American and the Caribbean region. IN BRIEF - Conversion ratio interim stock dividend Nutreco 1 share for 99 NETHERLANDS Thursday, August 14, 2014 Nutreco announces that the conversion ratio of the interim stock dividend has been determined. This will amount to 1 new ordinary share for every 99 existing ordinary shares. Based on the average weighted price of 8, 11 and 12 August 2014 of EUR 29.7561, 1/99th share represents a value of EUR 0.3006, which is approximately equal to the gross dividend in cash of € 0.30 per ordinary share. Both the cash dividend and stock dividend will be made payable to shareholders on 18 August 2014. Nutreco: Conversion ratio interim stock dividend Nutreco 1 share for 99 IN BRIEF - Vietnam first tuna batch auctioned in Japan VIET NAM Wednesday, August 13, 2014 The first tuna batch of Binh Dinh fishermen with cut-the edge technology is auctioned today (8th August 2014). In the early April that year, Binh Dinh province started a model of cooperation in chain of oceanic tuna fishing, purchasing and exporting to Japan. Five pilot boats in Binh Dinh were provided with Japanese fishing tool sets which valued 200 million VND each along with 50 million VND for upgrading their freezing chambers. They also had the chance to learn tuna catching and handling techniques from Japanese. High quality tuna caught will be bought at premium price to export to Japan within 10 days from August the 12 2014. In the afternoon of 6th August 2014, the first 37 tunas caught with new technology at Truong Sa fishing-ground (Vietnam) were tested by Japanese experts. Nine tunas with the total weight of 44kg satisfied the standards will be exported to Japan via air in the day. On the morning of 8th August, these tunas are auctioned in Japan. Source: Vasep IN BRIEF - Massive shrimp farming investment for TCI UNITED STATES Wednesday, August 13, 2014 The Government has given the go-ahead to two shrimp farming operations to open in the Turks and Caicos Islands with a combined capital investment value of USD 125 million over a four year period. It is projected that the two operations will employ a minimum of 500 skilled and semi-skilled workers on a full-time, year-round basis and create more than 4,000 indirect jobs. The two operations are also expected to generate annual export earnings exceeding USD 200 million. Minister of Finance Washington Misick made this disclosure during the presentation of the budget before the House of Assembly in July 2014. He stated that the two investments will make the TCI the largest aquaculture producer by value in the Caribbean and the only all natural, organic producer according to the sponsors of Global Blue Technologies - one of the investors. "In keeping with our emphasis on the environment, the proposed projects will be sustainable, bio-secure, high intensity aquaculture complexes," Misick said. Source: Turks and Caicos Weekly News IN BRIEF - Foreign Minister Brende: ‘Regrettable Russian import ban’ NORWAY Wednesday, August 13, 2014 'Russia’s import ban is completely unreasonable. The fact that Russia is implementing these measures shows how important it is that we stand together with our allies and partners in responding to Russia’s destabilisation of Ukraine. I agree with the EU’s assessment that the trade restrictions are politically motivated,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. Russia announced today that it will ban imports of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy products from the EU countries, the US, Canada, Australia and Norway. ‘We are taking the news of the Russian trade restrictions seriously, but it is too early to say what the consequences will be for Norwegian companies. We are now examining the measures together with the EU and other affected parties, and we will jointly consider how we can best deal with the situation,’ said Mr Brende. Despite strong international pressure, not least since the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines passenger flight MH17, which resulted in the deaths of 298 people, Russia has so far made no attempt to help disarm the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. As of 1 August 2014, the EU introduced new and more stringent restrictive measures against Russia, in response to Russia’s continued illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of Ukraine. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

IN BRIEF - Pacific tuna industry calls for 'drastic' action to avoid bigeye stock collapse

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AUSTRALIA Thursday, August 14, 2014 The Pacific tuna industry has joined environmental organisations and scientists calling for serious action to save bigeye tuna. More than 60 per cent of the world's tuna is caught in the Pacific, much of it by powerful distant water fishing nations from Asia, Europe and North America. Scientists meeting at the region's tuna management body, the Central and Western Pacific Fisheries Commission, have heard bigeye tuna stocks are down to just 16 per of the original population. Source: Radio Austalia

Salmon size and weight drop cause raises controversy

krill. (Photo Credit: MAR-ECO/Oystein Paulsen/CC BY-SA 3.0)

UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, August 07, 2014, 03:00 (GMT + 9)
In response to concerns expressed in a British newspaper as to the future of salmon stocks, an important international organization addressed certain issues considered the most likely cause of the decrease in size and weight of the returning salmon to British waters.
According to an article published in The Telepgraph newspaper, overfishing sandeels and krill might be the cause for the salmon not to have sufficient food at sea but The Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO) does not agree on this conclusion.
“The only significant fishing for krill is conducted in the Southern Hemisphere (Antarctica) far away from the feeding grounds for the Atlantic salmon. Secondly, the fishing for sandeels (which are only found in the North Sea) is carefully monitored by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES),” explains Andrew Jackson, IFFO Technical Director, in a letter sent to the editor of the British newspaper.
Another issue he clarifies is the fact that the article suggests that sandeels are being caught for the production of fertilizers but Jackson stresses it is “totally erroneous,” since these species are intended for the production of marine ingredients for human and animal nutrition.
IFFO supports the research conducted by Professor Chris Todd of St Andrew’s University, concluding that the primary cause of the low weight of returning salmon to Scotland is due to the warming of the seas in the North Atlantic.
“My research, in collaboration with Marine Scotland Science, has focused not on mortality rates and population decline, but on the changes in size and quality of salmon returning to Scottish rivers over the past 50 years. This variation seems to stem from the effects of climate change on the ocean, and the anomalously high temperatures salmon find in the North Atlantic,” Todd points out.
This research has been developed with funding from the European Commission, the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST), the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards for Scotland (ASFB), and the Fishmongers Company.
The researcher explains that a returning salmon, known as a grilse, will have grown 100-fold in size from the rich feeding to be found at sea but between 80-90 per cent of grilse, and fewer still multi-winter fish, will not survive their journey due to the risks experienced.
Todd states that over millions of years salmon have survived ice ages and eras of global warming and that helping salmon populations recover naturally is clearly a better strategy than rearing them artificially. 

Concern over US tuna fleet losing access to Pacific fisheries

Tuna longlining. (Photo Credit: NOAA)

UNITED STATES
Friday, July 18, 2014, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
American treaty negotiations with the Pacific Island Nations came to an end on Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand, with a “No Deal” conclusion, leaving the US tuna Fleet without fishing access to the Pacific Ocean in 2015, warns AFT Holdings.

The investment and management group highlights that proposed closure in US territories in the Pacific currently under review by the Administration to check the status to "Protected Monument Marine Parks," without consultation with industry or science, has created an environment of increased pressure to secure fishing access within the remaining ocean.

AFT Holdings, Inc. is a shareholder of Ocean Global and Sea Global, the largest US tuna fleet, which operates 12 purse seine vessels navigating the Pacific. The vessels provide more than 100,000 tonnes of fish per year serving the US canned market.

Representatives of Ocean Global and Sea Global participated in the recent treaty negotiations, along with other tuna industry members, US State and National Marine Fisheries representatives, and noted their extreme disappointment in the outcome.

“The value offered for 2015 access represented a 38 per cent increase over 2014 with 100 per cent of the proposed increase coming from industry,” said J. Douglas Hines, chairman and general partner of AFT Holdings, Inc.
And he added: “With an unprecedented 57 per cent increase alone from the US fleet over 2014 levels, the value for access considering the price of tuna collapsed from 2013 to 2014 makes economics difficult to bare."

Hines also explained that although they expect to have an agreement in the next couple weeks, it will not be without extreme apprehension and real cost.

Hines further commented that there is a real concern by stakeholders representing US commercial interest that the federal government is not showing a commitment to the country’s distant water fisheries in the Pacific region. One feared consequence is that China and other nations will further expand their influence through fishing and other commercial interest in the region.

AFT Holdings and its stakeholders are now contacting US Government agencies and Congressional leadership—specifically Hawaiian Senators Schatz and Hirono—in an effort to update and search for bipartisan support that will ensure a future for the US fleet in the Pacific region.

“The loss of our country’s influence in the Pacific fisheries has a direct impact on thousands of Americans—from Samoa to Hawaii onto the Mainland in California and even Georgia—who rely on raw tuna material for jobs, as well as a consistent supply for the American consumer,” Hines said.

“Over the past 30 years, from oceans to shore, many have worked tirelessly to preserve the development and expansion of the US-Pacific interest by working closely with great Americans leaders such as the late Hawaiian Senator Daniel Inouye, and Alaska Senator Stevens. Over the years, through bipartisan efforts we were successful in maintaining this country’s presence in the Pacific. Now, to see our hard earned effort ceded to other nations is difficult to accept, which is why our industry remains committed to this fight,” he concluded.

Salmon price status at week 27

Fresh salmon. (Photo Credit: Tom Haga/Norwegian Seafood Council)

NORWAY
Friday, July 04, 2014, 21:40 (GMT + 9)
Fresh salmon export volumes for week 26 are down 163 tonnes compared to week 25 but up 3,836 tonnes compared to week 26, 2013, reports Fish Pool ASA.
The Fish Pool Index reports that in the last four weeks salmon prices -- Spot Market Prices (for fresh salmon between 3 kg and 6 kg, FCA Oslo) and export volumes were as follows:

Fish Pool Forward Prices
The forward price reflects the expectations of the Fish Pool's members for the next 24 months. The prices are assessed by contracts made as well as interests to buy or sell at Fish Pool and are indications for information purposes only.

July 2014 contracts were traded several times, and the last one was at NOK 36.75. The sales for August 2014 were also traded several times, and the last one was at NOK 36.75.
The contracts for the fourth quarter of 2014 were settled at NOK 42.50 and now they are now NOK 42.00 versus NOK 42.75.

The sales for the year 2015 were traded several times, the last one was at NOK 41.75, and now they are settled at NOK 41.00 versus NOK 41.75.

Hake maximum catch set

Hake fishing. (Photo: Produce)

PERU
Wednesday, June 25, 2014, 22:00 (GMT + 9)
The Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) set a maximum total allowable catch limit for hake (Merluccius gayi peruanus) for the period from 1 July, 2014 to 30 June, 2015 at 47,129 tonnes.
Fishing operations may take place in the maritime area from the northern tip of the country's maritime domain and 06°00' south latitude.
The holders of fishing permits being allocated a maximum catch limit per vessel to catch this species may carry out their activities until reaching the total limit.
Meanwhile, the participation of artisanal vessels will not be subject to the allocation of a catch limit, unless compliance with fisheries management measures enacted to protect the reproductive process and the fishing effort regulation, the Ministerial Resolution 214 -2014 sets.
PRODUCE will be in charge of setting management fisheries measures to protect hake spawning processes on the recommendation of the experts from Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE).
If a by-catch of hake having less than 28 cm is recorded of over 20 per cent of the total catch for three consecutive days or five alternate days over a period of seven days, PRODUCE may suspend fishing operations in the occurrence area for at least seven consecutive days. In case of recurrence, the duration of the closure will be doubled and if the situation continues, the definitive suspension will be implemented until IMARPE deems it appropriate to reopen the area.
During reproductive fishing ban periods, trawlers and artisanal boats will be banned.
Last April, PRODUCE authorized the catch of 5,000 tonnes of hake in the same area.