The EC values innovative project to boost European aquaculture

Aquaexel project has the main goal of turning aquaculture into a more competitive activity. (Photo: AQUAEXCEL Project/FIS)

EUROPEAN UNION
Monday, October 13, 2014, 01:30 (GMT + 9)

The European Commission (EC) approved the innovative character of an initiative in the field of aquaculture developed by centres of ten Member States, with the financial support of the European Union.

All the partners -- Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom -- pursue the aim of ensuring more effective and applicable research in the aquaculture sector.

The project, called Aquaexel, aims to bring together leading scientists from the EU and from other countries associated to develop joint projects that promote research excellence, and facilitate access to resource and centres of aquaculture research in Europe.

It is expected that the results of the research undertaken as part of this initiative will enable farmers to increase their competitiveness and boost the economy of coastal communities.

"The project will develop new research methods and instruments in a more cost effective and applicable way to the aquaculture industry," said Marc Vandeputte, Aquaexel project coordinator and researcher of fish genetics at the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA) in France.

Among the topics to be discussed, the EC highlights the initiatives to replace fishmeal and fish oil with other ingredients, such as hazelnut oil, insect meal and microalgae. Other issues are studies aimed at reducing the necessary inputs for farmed fish and eliminate pollution of the local environment, EFE agency reported.

Aquaculture helps reduce pressure on fisheries resources and, therefore, prevent overfishing certain species.

It is estimated that 50 per cent of the fish consumed in the world today is produced in fish farms. However, more action could be taken to increase the effectiveness of the European aquaculture, which is a sector employing about 80,000 people.

According to the European Commissioner for Research, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, "it’s been a long time since the EU has considered that research in the field of aquaculture is essential."

"Not only for economic development in coastal regions and remote areas, but also to improve quality, without compromising animal welfare and the environment," she continued.

On 1 January this year, the EU launched a new European funding programme for research and innovation called Horizon 2020. Over seven years EUR 80 million will be invested in research and innovation to support community economic competitiveness and expand the frontiers of human knowledge.

Russia and Norway agree on cod quotas drop

Cod catch. (Photo Credit: The Norwegian Seafood Council)

NORWAY 
Friday, October 10, 2014, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

A new fisheries agreement for the Barents Sea for 2015 has been signed between Norway and Russia through which cod quotas will be reduced in accordance with scientific recommendations.

Joint Norwegian-Russian Fishery Commission has agreed on a total allowable catch (TAC) for cod next year at 894,000 tonnes, which is 99,000 tonnes less than in 2014, Nord24informed. This capture limit has been advised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES).

Both countries also agreed that the TAC for haddock will remain the same as in 2014 – at 178,500 tonnes while the TAC for capelin will increase considerably, from 65,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes.

“This is a good result. We were able to reach compromise solutions that will allow us to both preserve the environment and marine resources, but also ensure that fishermen have favorable conditions for their business,” the head of the Russian delegation stated.

Before reaching the agreement, both countries conducted a fishery survey with the support of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and the Russian Polar Institute for Fisheries and Oceanographic Research (Pinro).

“We have a very well-functioning system for exchange of fishery data between the countries," Elena Eriksen, from the MRI, told BarentsObserver at a press conference.

Norway and Russia have conducted joint fishery research expeditions in the Barents Sea since 1965, and the data are vital for setting catch quotas by the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fishery Commission.

The MRI informed that on the latest joint expedition it was found out that stocks of cod in the Barents Sea are the second-highest ever observed. However, the situation for herring and capelin appears negative and far below expectations. The most serious situation is for the polar cod, which is about to enter a critical stage.

Data timelines show a trend with warmer Arctic waters and migration of fish. Over the last years, Atlantic cod has moved north while the Arctic cod is either moving out of the Barents Sea or experiencing a major stock decrease.

This year, however, the researchers were unable to conduct research in the northernmost part of the Barents Sea because of large volumes of ice.

These fisheries are controlled by inspections at sea through mandatory reporting at catch control points when entering and leaving the EEZs to land fish, and by VMS satellite tracking for some fleets.

Multiannual fisheries management plan proposed for the Baltic Sea

Cod vessel. (Photo Credit: Odin Hjellestad/Copyright: FIS)

EUROPEAN UNION
Monday, October 06, 2014, 23:20 (GMT + 9)

In order to increase predictability for fishermen and to ensure high, stable and sustainable catches, the European Commission has today, for the first time under the new Common Fisheries Policy, proposed a multiannual fisheries management plan for the Baltic Sea that applies to cod, herring and sprat stocks. It is the first real mixed fisheries management plan and replaces the management plan in place for the two Baltic cod stocks.

The Commission's proposal follows scientific advice from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF) and from International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES).

The plan will ensure the sustainable exploitation of these Baltic Sea stocks so that the fishing industry can enjoy stable fisheries with higher yields.

• For fishermen, it means clearer and simpler rules. The plan leaves room for manoeuver for Member States and stakeholders to decide about how to best implement the plan in their sea-basin.  It also empowers local stakeholders when it comes to developing technical measures and taking ownership of fisheries management.

• Since it applies to several fisheries, the plan ensures that the fisheries management is based on the most up to date scientific information on interactions within and between the stocks and with other aspects of the ecosystem and environment.

• Rather than short-term planning, this multiannual plan takes a long term approach to the management of fish stocks, taking into account the specificities of different fisheries. This approach is crucial to the objective of exploiting fish stocks at a sustainable level.

Commissioner Damanaki said: "This plan for the Baltic Sea is what we sought to achieve when we reformed the Common Fisheries Policy. It gives power to regional actors, and instead of having year-on-year planning, this long term plans will help ensure the sustainability of our stocks in the Baltic and provide a reliable source of income from fishing for fishermen. The implementation of the reformed fisheries policy is now in full swing and I now look forward to seeing the other sea basins' plans."

This management plan is the first such proposal under the new Common Fisheries Policy and after an inter-institutional deadlock has been resolved between the European Parliament and the Council in April this year. It will now be further discussed with the European Parliament and Council.

The plan incorporates the new elements of the CFP ranging from the implementation of the landing obligation to regional cooperation amongst Member States.

An obligation to land all catches of cod, herring, sprat and plaice coming from the cod, herring and sprat fishery in the Baltic Sea is included except in circumstances where there is evidence of high survival rates.

Member States together with Advisory Councils will now contribute significantly more to the fisheries management process. The plan establishes regional cooperation for the adoption of technical measures, provisions for the landing obligation and specific conservation measures for the by-catches in the fisheries for the stocks concerned

Seafood labelling bill vetoed in California

Governor of California, Jerry Brown. (Photo Credit: State of California Department of Justice)

UNITED STATES 
Thursday, October 02, 2014, 01:50 (GMT + 9)

The Governor of California, Jerry Brown, vetoed a bill intended to criminalize the selling of mislabeled seafood.

The decision to stop Senate Bill 1138 represents a loss to lawmakers who pursued several high-profile efforts this year to give Californians more information about what they eat and drink, The Sacramento Bee informed.

Despite stressing the assets this bill intended to achieve, Governor Brown explained its drawbacks.

“Much of what the bill seeks to accomplish is good,” Brown wrote in his veto message for Senate Bill 1138. “Requiring seafood producers and wholesalers to identify whether fish and shellfish are wild caught or farm raised, domestic or imported – these are reasonable and helpful facts for purchases to know.”

“Requiring more precise, species-specific labeling of seafood, however, is not as easily achieved,” he added.

According to the Governor, this legislation – intended to combat widespread fraud in California’s seafood supply chain -- would “create uncertainties and complexities” by requiring businesses to identify fish by its “common name.”

“Let’s continue to work to give California consumers information that will help them make wise decisions,” Brown wrote in his veto message.

However, the Governor praised the bill’s proponents for helping policymakers to better understand the health and sustainability impacts of seafood consumption.

Senate Bill 1138, sponsored by Senator Alex Padilla, had been passed to addresses the growing problem of seafood mislabeling and its effects on public health, consumer choice, and sustainable fishing practices after noticing that California’s law did not provide clear guidance regarding accurate labeling of seafood and that the lack of standards had led to high rates of mislabeling throughout the state.

This bill had received the support of Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation, who carried out a survey and revealed that half the tested seafood sold in California is routinely mislabeled.

Sealord makes 150 workers redundant

Sealord's processing plant. (Photo Credit: Sealord)

NEW ZEALAND 
Thursday, October 02, 2014, 03:10 (GMT + 9)

A higher number of jobs than previously thought are under threat from Sealord's decision to downsize its Nelson processing plant and supporting offices but the firm claims the process workers will likely all get new jobs quickly.

The number of jobs affected by this proposed restructure has risen to 150, but the company says this makes up just a small part of its workforce, The Nelson Mail informed.

Company spokeswoman Alison Sykora stressed the 97 job cuts originally announced affected permanent staff, while the 53 contractors that will be affected had been employed on a casual basis, 3News informed.

Furthermore, Sealord fishing general manager Doug Paulin remarked that Advanced Personnel Services (APS) could also offer work to the wetfish factory staff directly employed by Sealord.

However, Service and Food Workers assistant national secretary Neville Donaldson pointed out that “the group had failed to mention about 50 workers supplied to Sealord by APS, some of whom had worked there for years.”

Besides, the union leader said he would be seeking answers to a range of questions that Sealord hadn't addressed.

However, the firm’s sources explained that Sealord Group is in stable financial shape.

“We continue to invest in processing in Nelson, and we are optimistic about the growth of our fresh fish business. However, we do have to continue to improve and adapt to manage the ongoing challenges of rising costs, globally flat white fish pricing and a high exchange rate,” expressed the firm in its report.

On the other hand, Donaldson voiced concerns about Sealord's processing in China, and uncertainty as to whether “it meant more processing aboard foreign boats, albeit New Zealand-flagged".

Referring to this issue, Paulin explained that none of what is produced in China - mainly frozen hoki portions for Europe and North America - could be economically processed in Nelson.

And the manager added that Sealord was an investor in the Westfleet factory but had no management role, and all its 50 jobs had been filled from that area before the Sealord announcement was made.

According to the Group, the wetfish factory -- one of three factories within the Sealord Nelson land based operations -- is not economically viable, and improvements must be made to ensure Sealord’s ability to grow and invest in its operations in the future.

“We have worked to propose a solution that, while very difficult for those impacted, means that we could continue to run a smaller Wetfish operation focused on higher value products. Other land based factories and our sea-going factories and fishing crews are not impacted,” the firm highlighted in its report.

Sealord is New Zealand's second-largest fishing company and is jointly owned by Maori tribal interests through Aotearoa Fisheries and Japan's Nippon Suisan Kaisha.

The firm ensures it has managed to overcome the losses experienced in 2013 due to the exit from Argentina and that this year, a dividend will be paid to its shareholders.

A NZD 44.3 million (USD 34.4 million) loss has been reported by Sealord in the 12 months to 30 September, 2013, as revenue fell 6.1 per cent in that year.

Rock lobster fishery trials digital record keeping system

Rock lobster catch. (Photo: Stock File)

AUSTRALIA 
Thursday, October 02, 2014, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

Digital technology could make paper records a thing of the past in South Australia’s Southern Zone Rock Lobster fishery.

With the 2014-15 season opening today, the fishery has been trialling a tablet-based digital record keeping system called Deckhand, which records catch details while boats are still out on the water, and the information can be uploaded directly to PIRSA and other databases.

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell said the system streamlined administrative functions, and delivered benefits for fishers and fishery management.

"The South Eastern Professional Fishermen’s Association and PIRSA are conducting the trial with about half the commercial fishing fleet using a combination of the tablet-based application and the old paper-based recording," he said.

"If the voluntary trial is successful, we hope to see the catch recording process made completely digital for all fishers in the commercial Southern Zone Rock Lobster fishery."

Minister Bignell said the technology development was initiated and funded by industry, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and PIRSA.

South Eastern Professional Fishermen’s Association executive officer Justin Phillips said the trial is a move towards a paperless industry, and consolidates e-Scales technology, which has been operating in the fishery for seven years.

"If successful, there is no reason why this technology could not be used across the broader industry to achieve a paperless reporting system in the near future," Phillips said.

The Southern Zone Rock Lobster season continues up to 31 May, 2015.

Legal review of agreement with EU would end in two months

Minister Francisco Rivadeneira said substantial changes are no expected in the final version of the text. (Photo: Ministerio de Comercio Exterior)

ECUADOR 
Thursday, October 02, 2014, 01:20 (GMT + 9)

The final text of the trade agreement signed in July 2014 by Ecuador and the European Union (EU) will be ready later this year, head of the Ministry of Foreign Trade Francisco Rivadeneira informed.

At present, only the draft agreed in Brussels two months ago was released. "They are non-final versions, which have to go through the legal scrutiny and the translation process," explained the minister, according to the newspaper El Telégrafo.

Anyway, he said the government expects there are no substantial changes from the legal perspective.

The minister also pointed out that once the final document is ready, it will be sent to the National Assembly for it to be approved.

The bilateral agreement was signed on 17 July after almost four years’ negotiations between the two parties.

For the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the agreement is balanced and will maximize opportunities. It will also reduce costs, comply with the Ecuadorian development pattern and help protect sensitive sectors.

The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa considers the bilateral agreement is "a necessary evil" for the country because if not agreed, Ecuador would lose tariff preferences granted by the European bloc, reported Prensa Latina.

Failure to settle the deal will mean that tuna -- among many other products -- could lose competitiveness.

"The possibility of losing the tariff preferences these Ecuadorian products boast in the European bloc was an element of pressure that was present all the time on the negotiating table," admitted Correa.

For its part, the EC stressed that the agreement will allow Ecuador to benefit from continued access to the EU for its main export products, particularly fishery products which will enjoy duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market.

It also said that this agreement will help secure jobs in the fish processing industry in Europe and will benefit European consumers.

In 2013, Ecuador exported fisheries and aquaculture products to the EU for more than EUR 1 billion.

Until the trade agreement takes effect, the EC has proposed the creation of a legal instrument that would allow Ecuador to continue having the tariff benefits of the GSP Plus, which is due for the country later this year. This measure requires the approval of the Council and the European Parliament. 

Roberto Betancourt, head of the national negotiating team, believes the legal review of the texts agreed between the parties would conclude in November, the newspaper El Universo reported.

Most of tuna catch comes from healthy stocks, but bluefin continues overfished

Bluefin tuna catch. (Photo Credit: Organizacion de Productores Pesqueros de Almadraba)

WORLDWIDE
Monday, September 22, 2014, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released the latest version of their Status of the Stocks Ratings, which compiles the scientific records of the different major tuna stocks done by each of the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) into one document.

Since the last version released in April 2014, notable updates were made in the following sections: 

•     IATTC stock status and management;
•     IOTC management;
•     WCPFC stock status;
•     Pacific-wide stock status.

The most significant changes were in ratings for Pacific bigeye stocks (EPO and WCPO). The abundance rating for those bigeye stocks changed from a green rating (stock is healthy) to orange (the stocks are overfished with regards to MSY levels).

There are 23 stocks of the major commercial tuna species worldwide – 6 albacore, 4 bigeye, 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack and 4 yellowfin stocks. The Status of the Stocks summarizes the results of the most recent scientific assessments of these stocks, as well as the current management measures adopted by the RFMOs.

In addition, this report ranks the status and management of the 23 stocks using a consistent methodology in terms of three factors: Abundance, Exploitation/Management (fishing mortality) and Environmental Impact (bycatch).

In 2012, the catch of major commercial tunas was 4.6 million tonnes. Fifty-six percent of it was skipjack tuna, followed by yellowfin (28 per cent), bigeye (10 per cent) and albacore (6 per cent). Bluefin tuna accounts for only 1 per cent of the global catch.

Globally, 52 per cent of the stocks are at a healthy level of abundance, 39 per cent are overfished and 9 per cent are at an intermediate level. In terms of exploitation, 43.5 per cent of the stocks are experiencing a low fishing mortality rate, 17.4 per cent are experiencing overfishing, and 39.1 per cent have a high fishing mortality that is being managed adequately.

When viewed from the point of view of total catch, 86 per cent of the catch comes from healthy stocks. This is due to the fact that skipjack stocks contribute more than one half of the global catch of tunas, and they are all in a healthy situation. In contrast, most bluefin stocks and 2 out of 6 albacore stocks are overfished, but combined they make a relatively small fraction of the total catch.

ISSF produces two reports annually that seek to provide clarity about where we stand – and how much more needs to be done – to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks: the Status of the Stocks provides a comprehensive analysis of tuna stocks by species, and the ISSF Analysis of Tuna Fisheries against MSC Performance Indicatorsprovides a snapshot of the health of tuna fisheries by region.

Together, these tools help to define the continuous improvement achieved, as well as the areas and issues that require more attention.

Excepcional Cangrejo Salvaje de Río

La suculenta carne de la pinza roja es a la vez firme y delicada con un toque ligeramente dulce, una inspiración para los platos más deliciosos.

  (ESPAÑA,)

Con sede en Sevilla, España, Alfocan es el líder europeo en la producción y distribución de cangrejos de río, y la única empresa en el mundo dedicada exclusivamente a lo que es su pasión: cangrejos de agua dulce, salvajes capturado de manera sostenible.

Desde su creación, la compañía se ha esforzado por restablecer el cangrejo de río como el fino manjar para sibaritas del mundo. Esta visión estimula a Alfocan para descubrir nuevos horizontes y nuevos orígenes.

Con más de 25 años de experiencia en cangrejos de río, Alfocan garantiza un proceso de preparación moderno y confiable que proporciona los más altos estándares de calidad de los alimentos en todo momento, respetando la naturaleza que nos alimenta. Alfocan fue la primera empresa española de cangrejos de río en ser reconocida por la calidad y el compromiso medioambiental.

Alfocan se abastece de sus cangrejos de río sostenibles de España, Ecuador y China.

Con toda la diversidad de cangrejos de río en todo el mundo, Cherax quadricarinatus es una de las especies más notables.

Es ampliamente conocido como el cangrejo de pinza roja, debido a los parches rojos llamativos en las imponentes pinzas del macho. Aparte de este detalle extravagante, la pinza roja es una belleza natural, con una cáscara lisa y brillante con tonos de azul profundo a verde oscuro, ya veces con un brillo púrpura magnífico.

Cuando se cocina, la pinza roja se torna dorado-marrón jengibre, una característica que apreciada por los conocedores de productos de mar de primera clase.

Los cangrejos de río son capturados en la naturaleza de manera sostenible mediante la métodos tradicionales en su hábitat natural, los lagos, pantanos y campos de arroz del sur de la Península Ibérica.

La nobleza es algo que las pinzas rojas comparten con los otros miembros de la familia de los cangrejos de río. Sin embargo, este extraordinario cangrejos de río es especialmente apreciado por su tamaño y su notable cola. Esto es por qué es también conocido como langosta de agua dulce.

La suculenta carne de la pinza roja es a la vez firme y delicada con un toque ligeramente dulce, una inspiración para los platos más deliciosos.

Al igual que con muchos cangrejos de río, Cherax quadricarinatusis es un aventurero y ha recorrido un largo camino desde su hogar original en Australia. Los cangrejos de río de pinza roja de Alfocan son capturado en los lagos de Ecuador, justo donde los hemisferios norte y sur se encuentran.

Tras una segunda selección, los cangrejos de río vivos proceden a la línea de lavado.

Lejos de su continente natal - donde son principalmente cultivados - la garra roja ecuatoriana es salvaje y capturado de manera sostenible en espectaculares paisajes naturales.

Al igual que con todos los productos de Alfocan, el know-how y el compromiso de la compañía garantiza la más estricta seguridad alimentaria y la máxima calidad gastronómica de su cangrejo de río. Todo el proceso productivo sigue reglas estrictas, y los equipos de la empresa realizan controles periódicos de calidad tanto en materias primas y como de los productos terminados.

Los cangrejos de río vivos llegan directamente de los lagos en los que se capturan. En muy poco tiempo, son cuidadosamente clasificados y lavados. Luego se cocinan con todos los cuidados necesarios para preservar su maravilloso sabor y consistencia.

Los cangrejos de río cocinados con diferentes salsas.

Después de la cocción, se enfrían inmediatamente antes de ser preparados y congelados, lo que garantiza la frescura y calidad que satisface las necesidades de los consumidores más exigentes - y sin ningún tipo de aditivos o conservantes.

De todas las maneras de preparar deliciosos cangrejos, Alfocan ha seleccionado una receta tradicional para el primero de sus productos de pinza roja. No sólo es nueva, es un estreno mundial: cangrejo de río de pinza roja en salsa de eneldo.

El uso de la receta tradicional escandinava con eneldo fresco, combina este plato nórdico con el exclusivo sabor de la pinza roja para crear este producto premium.

Todo el proceso productivo sigue reglas estrictas, y los equipos de la empresa realizan controles periódicos de calidad tanto en materias primas y como de los productos terminados.

Alfocan posee certificación ISO 14001 desde 1999 y decidió, además, en obtener la primera certificación de pesca sostenible para los cangrejos de rió de España capturados en la naturaleza con Naturland.

Acerca Alfocan S.A.

Alfocan, fundada en Sevilla en 1987, es hoy un líder europeo especializado en el procesamiento y comercialización de las especies de cangrejos de río Procambarus clarkii. Este pesquerías de crustáceos de agua dulce utiliza métodos de captura tradicional en el sur de la península Ibérica, la mayor área de captura y producción mundial, después de China y los EE.UU.. Su producción de Big Island exceden las 1.500 toneladas anuales de productos y está equipado con la tecnología moderna.
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Alfocan vende el 20% de su producción en el mercado interno y exporta a Francia, Bélgica, Holanda, Alemania, Austria, Finlandia, Suiza, Polonia, Lituania, Bulgaria, Rusia y Estados Unidos. Los productos están dirigidos tanto a los grandes minoristas como hoteles, restaurantes, catering, servicio a domicilio y al por mayor.

Alfocan estará presente en Seafood Expo Southern Europe  del 22 al 24 septiembre 2014 en la Fira de Barcelona - Gran Via.

Fuente: Alfocan S.A.

Saithe fishery gets MSC certification

MSC-certified saithe fishery. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)

ICELAND 
Monday, September 15, 2014, 22:40 (GMT + 9)

Iceland’s saithe fishery has been MSC certified as sustainable and well-managed following an extensive 18 month assessment. The fishery, which lands around 50,000 tonnes of saithe each year, scored highly across all of the six fishing gears including bottom trawls, handlines and Danish seine nets.

The fishery client, Iceland Sustainable Fisheries (ISF) was established in 2012 following the Icelandic group certification of the cod and haddock fisheries. ISF was founded to share the cod and haddock certificate and it now has 34 members. ISF holds and shares certificates for cod, haddock and for two herring fisheries. This saithe certificate is the first fishery that ISF has taken all the way through the assessment through to certification.

The fishery certification included three conditions, including an agreement to put in place further conservation and management measures for vulnerable marine habitats. Over the next four years, this will ensure that delicate structures such as hydrothermal vents and large sponges receive a formal protection in the fishery management.

Gunnlaugur Eiríksson, Managing Director at Iceland Sustainable Fisheries said: "Iceland Sustainable Fisheries is very pleased to have the Icelandic saithe fishery MSC certified. The certification is another milestone in our journey to get all the main fisheries in Iceland certified as sustainable. As well a confirmation of our commitment to be leading in providing sustainable sourced fish into the markets.

"ISF has been growing rapidly and now members are 34, from the biggest seafood companies in Iceland to small producers. That shows that the seafood industry in Iceland is fully behind what ISF stands for and recognizes the importance of sustainable and well managed fisheries."

Gisli Gislason, MSC Country Manager, Iceland, congratulated the ISF group on their success: "I would like to congratulate ISF for their commitment and the constant growth in members which consist of both, fishing, processing and export companies. The majority of the Icelandic seafood industry is now engaged in the MSC programme and ISF are an important stakeholder in the MSC."

Icelandic saithe is primarily processed for export as frozen fillets but some is also exported salted, dried and fresh to markets in Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Nigeria

Fisheries Minister defends himself of accusations

Minister Esau has been accused of 'favoritism' to Paragon Investment in exchange for his trip to World Cup. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)

NAMIBIA 
Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 01:10 (GMT + 9)

In statements to the press, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Bernard Esau claimed he was being sued by three fishing firms in an attempt to politically harm him.

These three companies -- Namsov Fishing Enterprises, Emeritus Fishing Limited and Atlantic Harvesters of Namibia Limited – took the minister and the Government to Court for the cuts to their horse mackerel quotas. And Esau threatened to withhold their fishing quotas in response to their accusations of favoritism and conflict of interest in issuing fishing quotas, New Era informed.

In this regard, according to The Namibian newspaper, Minister Esau had expanded fishing quotas to Paragon Investment Holdings in June and travelled as part of a delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Hage Geingob to watch the final of the World Cup in Brazil in July on a chartered government jet allegedly supported by that firm’s owner.

In his defense, the minister explained the initial allocation of quotas to all mid-water trawlers in the horse-mackerel industry was carried out “on a pro-rata bases.”

“The second allocation in June/July to all right holders and non-right holders was done based on my request to add value to our horse-mackerel,” he remarked.

“The issue of horse-mackerel is that it has a different value in the sea, when landed as well as when processed in our land-based factories. We want the landing process here and then the canning to be done here. We don’t want to export our fish in its raw form, we want processing, packing and canning to be done in the country to add value,” the minister added.

Esau further explained that a number of firms had already exhausted their allocated quotas but that if they made any new investment or added value and can prove that they have, he “would have treated them as such.”

However, an editorial published in The Namibian claimed: “IF Fisheries minister Bernard Esau and a few of his officials are not dishonest then they had better given good reason as to why they are withholding public information about how they've been dishing out state resources to individuals and their businesses.”

This editorial concluded that “the minister’s lack of transparency,” suggests that something 'fishy' is afoot. And it added that Esau's decisions “have only caused harm to the masses while favouring family, friends, political and business cronies as well as himself and his officials.”

Related articles:

- Minister of fisheries accused of stirring 'conflict of interests'

- Three fishing firms take Govt to Court

New research facility will help secure sea trout future

IFI new sea trout research facility. (Photo: IFI/FIS)

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 03:20 (GMT + 9)

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has officially opened a new laboratory at its research facility on its National Index Sea Trout Catchment (River Erriff) at Aasleagh Lodge, Leenane, Co. Galway.

IFI will continue to invest resources in the Erriff research station, as the outputs from research conducted here will be vital for the future conservation and management of sea trout. This marks IFI’s continued commitment to and interest in this important species.

International sea trout expert Dr Graeme Harris, who gave the keynote address at the launch, congratulated IFI on its renewed focus on sea trout and emphasised the importance of world class science on this iconic species.

While research and data collection, on both salmon and sea trout, has taken place at the Erriff research facilities for over 30 years, a significant new research programme was initiated at the Erriff in 2014. This new study, which saw the release of sea trout fitted with acoustic tags to sea, aims to investigate migration, distribution, habitat usage and survival of sea trout and salmon smolts in the marine environment on the west coast of Ireland.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of IFI, noted: “IFI is committed to applied scientific research that is designed to answer important conservation and management questions. We have prioritised research on sea trout and are fortunate to have these excellent facilities at this location. We rely on excellent data and scientific analysis which informs future management decisions.”

The Erriff fishery is located at the head of Killary harbour near the village of Leenane in Connemara, Co. Galway. The fishery was purchased by the Irish State from Lord Brabourne in 1982 and has since operated as a salmon and sea trout angling and research fishery. The river has a large lake in its headwaters, Tawnyard Lough, and a downstream fish trap has operated at the lake exit since 1983. This facility allows assessment of sea trout stocks on an annual basis.  

Organised gangs get huge profits from illegal shellfish trade

Razor clams. (Photo: Stock File)

UNITED KINGDOM 
Monday, September 15, 2014, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

Scotland Police warn that illegal fishing of shellfish is profiting eastern European offenders, who make up to GBP 65,000 (USD 105,434) a day.

According to police reports, divers working for organised crime gangs are electrifying the seabed off the coast of Argyll and selling the illegally harvested razor clams on the black market in Asia, The Scotsman reported.

A detective responsible for Argyll, Bute and West Dunbartonshire explained that the practice was difficult to stop as unlicensed boats destroyed evidence of electro-fishing, which has been illegal since 1998, over the side of the boat when police approached, Daily Mail informed.

The police had evidence that these offenders have a generator on the boat and deploy electrodes and probes on to the seabed and run them along the seabed, between 10 and 15 metres deep. The electricity stuns the razor clams and divers walk behind the boat scooping the clams up.

'Many of the divers are known to be of eastern European origin and there is concern that they are being exploited and their personal safety is in danger - because of the proximity of electricity in water. There is a major concern that we will be faced with fatalities in the waters off Argyll and Bute,' Police Scotland remarked.

It has been estimated that illegally active fishing boats are taking between 500-600 kg of razor clams a day, while a comparable fishing boat on a legitimate fishing trip might recover between one and two kilos a day.

As a measure to stop this illegal and dangerous practice for divers and consumers, a multi-agency operation run from Oban, involving Police Scotland, Marine Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council and the Health and Safety Executive, has been launched to clamp down on electro-fishing for razor clams off the coast, Herald Scotlandreported.

Besides, last month new measures were introduced to tackle the illegal fishing method, including new licensing means vessels inspections by Marine Scotland officers to ensure equipment capable of electro-fishing is not installed.

At the launch of the measures, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Electro-fishing for razor clams remains illegal and may endanger those working in the industry as well as stocks of razor clams and the wider environment.”

“We need strong scientific evidence on the impact of electrofishing on the wider marine environment before we will consider supporting any bid to relax European laws that prohibit it," Lochhead concluded.

Shellfish farmed in unclassified areas are deemed unfit for human consumption and cannot enter the food chain. Consumers who eat illegally harvested products may suffer nausea, blindness and in severe cases respiratory paralysis or death.

Cod cut would increase discards, Shetland fishermen warn

Cod catch. (Photo: Stock File)

UNITED KINGDOM 
Monday, September 15, 2014, 00:20 (GMT + 9)

Fishermen in Shetland are urging the EU and Norway to abandon a controversial cod management plan and increase North Sea quotas to help reduce dumping of healthy fish at sea.

Well in advance of talks to set the total allowable catch (TAC) of cod for 2015, the sector is highlighting analysis of advice from ICES scientists, which suggests increasing the quota by a third would dramatically reduce the need for discards without hampering continuing stock recovery.

Under the existing cod management plan, the TAC for North Sea cod next year could be cut by 20 per cent, leading to a substantial increase in the amount of fish thrown over the side.

Simon Collins, executive officer of Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA), said: “It’s very simple. If you cut quotas when stocks are increasing, you increase the amount of perfectly healthy, high-quality fish thrown back into the sea.

“Yet the European Union has introduced a discard ban which is due to be phased in from next year onwards.

“On the one hand they want to eliminate discards, but on the other they want to cut quotas which would have the direct effect of increasing discards.

“And it’s not the fishermen who are making these points, but scientists whom EU officials have asked to provide them with advice.

“They need to listen to that advice and act on it, otherwise they are going to have two completely contradictory sets of plans which will crush fishermen caught in the middle – and leave themselves looking alarmingly incompetent.”

In response to a request from the SFA, Dr Ian Napier of the NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway has analysed ICES advice, which presents 11 options with catches ranging from zero to 58,500 tonnes.

He observes that ICES assumes substantial discards of cod already. Were those discards to be added to the 2014 quota, fishermen would be able to land 33 per cent more cod next year.

Dr Napier states in his report: “The extra quota this would create would probably go a considerable way toward eliminating the discarding of North Sea cod by Scottish whitefish vessels as a result of quota limitations.”

Algae may replace fish oil in salmon feed

Nofima scientist Katerina Kousoulaki. (Photo: Jon-Are Berg-Jacobsen/Copyright: Nofima)

NORWAY 
Friday, September 12, 2014, 23:40 (GMT + 9)

Fish oil is an ideal source of omega-3 in salmon feed, but the capacity to produce farmed salmon using fish oil as the main source of omega-3 in feed is limited, if the farmed salmon itself is to remain a rich source of omega-3.

This means that the salmon feed industry needs access to large volumes of new ingredients that contain omega-3. Experiments at Nofima have shown that a type of algae known as “heterotrophic algae” can fully replace fish oil in feed used for small salmon.

“We need further sources of omega-3, and heterotrophic algae are one of very few real possibilities at the moment. The algae meal that we have tested contains nutrients that salmon need. We have managed to release and preserve the important nutrients through the process of manufacturing the feed, and this is a necessary condition for the use of this ingredient,” says scientist Katerina Kousoulaki.

Kousoulaki works at the food research institute Nofima and, together with colleagues and the Feed Technology Centre in Bergen, has tested algae meal from heterotrophic algae in the feed of farmed salmon.

Algae that grow in the dark

Heterotrophic algae are single-celled algae that grow using oxygen and a source of carbon (such as plant by-products). Biomass from heterotrophic algae can be produced in a stable manner, in sterile conditions and in large quantities. Current technology allows heterotrophic algae to be produced far more efficiently than phototrophic algae, which grow using light and CO₂.

SINTEF has shown that heterotrophic algae such as the one tested by Nofima can be produced at a density of 160-180 gram dry weight per litre of culture, while phototrophic algae can be produced at up to 1-4 gram dry weight per litre. This means that much less space is needed. Furthermore, the productivity for heterotrophic algae is approximately 10 gram/l when grown in large reactors, while it is 0.06 gram/l for phototrophic algae.

Nofima has been commissioned by Alltech, one of the largest companies in the world in the field of animal health and nutrition, to test one of its algae meals. The alga in this meal is a member of the Schizochytrium family, and is extremely rich in omega-3. More than a quarter of the fat in algae is the healthy marine omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which is up to three times more than in fish oil. The alga meal is now being produced commercially by Alltech in the US. The algae have not been subject to gene modification.

As good as fish oil

Nofima has tested how the algae meal affects salmon health, performance, and nutrition.

The normal content of fish oil in commercial feed is around 11 per cent. The meal was added to salmon feed at levels of 0 (control), 1 per cent, 6 per cent and 15 per cent of the feed. The amount of fish oil in the feed was correspondingly reduced, from 15 per cent to 0 per cent. Hence the feed with 15 per cent algae meal contained no fish oil. The alga-based feed was given to small salmon weighing approximately 200 grams in ponds for 12 weeks. All fish had more than tripled their weight at the end of this period, irrespective of the feed they had received.

The salmon increased their intake of food when it contained algae, which suggests that the algae does not inhibit appetite.

The amount of the long-chained marine omega-3 fatty acids in the fillets was higher in salmon that had received the algae meal than it was in salmon that had been given fish oil as their only source of these fatty acids. The digestibility of protein was equal in all feeds, and the digestibility of fat was highest for the feed with 1 per cent algae meal.

Micromatrix analysis shows the activities of thousands of genes at the same time, and is considered to be a reliable measurement method for effects on health. These analyses showed that the feeds did not have any negative effects on health.


Complete replacement for fish oil in salmon smolt feed

Researchers conclude that this algae meal is an excellent source of omega-3 for small salmon, and that it can replace fish oil, based on current levels in feed.

Nofima is now continuing at the Feed Technology Centre in Bergen with optimising the algae meal in feed and improving the way in which it is processed. The algae meal is also to be tested in trials as a possible whole-life feed for salmon.

Nofima signed a collaboration agreement with Alltech in 2012, covering work with alternative sources of feed. The collaboration is particularly focussed onto the use of microalgae in fish feed, and the work presented here is one result of the collaboration. 

Whaling can harm the seafood business, reports warns

Several NGOs strengthen efforts to put an end to commercial whaling. (Photo Credit: International Whaling Commission)

ICELAND
Thursday, September 11, 2014, 02:10 (GMT + 9)
Several organisations opposing whaling expect that a recent study, revealing that this activity can harm Icelandic seafood product sales, warns the sector about the importance to review its links to the commercial capture of these mammals.
These entities report that despite a ban on the commercial hunting of whales set in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), since 2003 Iceland has exported thousands of tonnes of whale products, almost exclusively to Japan, in defiance of a ban on international trade in whale products imposed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The country’s fin whale exports – estimated to reach USD 50 million at present – are being targeted by several organisations that are exercising pressure to put an end to whaling practices for both minkes and endangered fin whales.
Several NGO environmental entities – including Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Humane Society International (HSI), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), OceanCare, Pro Wildlife, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) – have indicated that to date, more than 100 fin and 22 minke whales have been killed this year, bringing the number of whales killed by Iceland to more than 1,000 since 2003.
In an effort to put an end to this practice, the above mentioned organizations commissioned a poll that has revealed that there is public opposition in Germany and the UK to Iceland’s resumption of commercial whaling, with nine out of ten people in both countries stating they disagree with Iceland’s decision to resume whaling.
Furthermore, survey participants were also queried as to their concerns related to seafood purchases from Icelandic fishing companies linked to whaling and more than four out of five people responded that they would be unlikely to purchase seafood products from these companies.
The results of the poll are being released prior to the 2014 annual meeting of the IWC to be held in Portorož, Slovenia, from 11 to 18 September.
“We urge IWC member countries to denounce Iceland's cruel whaling industry, and to use all diplomatic tools at their disposal to ensure that Iceland abides by both the commercial whaling moratorium and the CITES ban on trade in whale products. As the poll results clearly show, the public will support efforts to bring an end to Iceland's undermining of international conservation measures for whales,” pointed out AWI executive director Susan Millward.
As a further move, on the eve of the IWC meeting a report called Slayed in Iceland: The commercial hunting and international trade in endangered fin whales has been jointly released by this entity, the EIA and WDC, strongly urging the IWC, governments and businesses dealing with Icelandic companies linked to whaling to take action to compel Iceland to cease commercial whaling and trade.
In addition, it exposes the sheer scale of the hunt and overseas trade, as well as the financial and logistical links between the whalers and some of Iceland’s largest companies.
This report also includes recommended actions for governments and corporations to take to ensure that they are not supporting the firm Hvalur on its whaling activities.
“Efforts by HB Grandi to distance itself from fin whaling activities are revealed as mere smoke and mirrors –our report demonstrates that the company remains hand-in-glove with the fin whalers, sentenced WDC Chief Executive Officer Chris Butler-Stroud.
“Given that a recent poll suggests massive public opposition to the notion of purchasing seafood linked with whaling, we hope that our report, combined with falling profits, persuades HB Grandi and companies purchasing from it to urgently re-examine their position,” he concluded.

Hake fishery shows MSC's economic and environmental benefits

South African hake. (Photo Credit Credit: Rob Leslie/Deon Durholtz)

SOUTH AFRICA
Wednesday, September 10, 2014, 01:40 (GMT + 9)
A decade after having obtained Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), South African hake fishery has shown evidence that sustainability can provide long-term economic gains.
Some of the long-lasting benefits that MSC certification of this fishery is the fact that 12,000 jobs have not been lost within the fishing industry and the expansion of export markets worth USD 187 million.
“The fishing industry is certainly aware of the market benefits that have resulted from MSC certification. We are also very proud of the environmental improvements we’ve made. Being able to demonstrate our work through MSC certification means that we can ultimately pass the market rewards throughout the entire trawling family," secretary of the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) Roy Bross commented.
This certification has contributed to closer cooperation between scientists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industry in pursuit of responsible ecosystem-based management of fisheries.
A recent study by some of the leading marine scientists in South Africa, published in The Journal of Fish Biology, found that the conditions attached to MSC certification have led to increased ecosystem research and mitigation -- including addressing challenges facing this sector: the effect of trawling on bottom habitats, seabird bycatch, finfish by-catch and aspects of stock assessment.
The improved fishing practices as a result of MSC certification have led to major environmental improvements such as a 90 per cent decline in seabird mortalities, the preservation of natural refuges for hake and better cooperation between government managers, scientists and the fishing industry.
And opportunities for diversification to non-traditional markets such as the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Australia, where buyer commitments to sustainable sourcing have often been the driver, have been created.
As to the significant environmental improvements, the introduction of bird-scaring lines has resulted in a 90 per cent reduction in seabird mortalities, and up to a 99 per cent reduction in accidental albatross deaths in South Africa’s hake trawl fishery.
Furthermore, a condition on the certification led to the discovery that each year around 10,000 seabirds were being killed accidentally and BirdLife South Africa recommended the use of bird-scaring lines to address this problem, and in collaboration with the fishing industry, and with support from the government, conducted scientific research into the effectiveness of this measure.
“We’ve worked closely with the certified fishery to demonstrate that avoiding seabird by-catch is good for the environment and good for business. MSC certification has certainly been instrumental in the successes we’ve seen,” Bronwyn Maree, who leads the Albatross Task Force of BirdLife South Africa points out.
As one of the improvements required to maintain MSC certification, SADSTIA initiated research that used the best available data to chart the trawling grounds, including historically intensively trawled areas. This information has been used to "ring fence" the trawl grounds to prevent damage to lightly trawled areas and to preserve natural refuges for hake.
In addition, pioneering research is also being conducted in the Atlantic Ocean, 100 nautical miles off the west coast of South Africa, where the trawl industry have agreed to stop fishing in certain areas for a period of at least 4 years to monitor ecosystem recovery in areas of closure.
The Benthic Trawl Experiment is a joint initiative between the fishing industry, the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), the University of Cape Town (UCT), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). It further highlights the collaborative approach being taken by the fishing industry to improve their environmental impacts and meet certification conditions.
“The MSC’s vision is for the world’s oceans to be teeming with life – today, tomorrow, and for generations to come, “ concluded Martin Purves, MSC Southern African Programme Manager.

EU fleet returns to Moroccan fishing grounds

Tuna high-seas fishing vessels. (Photo: JRTurner)

EUROPEAN UNION
Monday, September 08, 2014, 22:00 (GMT + 9)
The European Commission (EC) welcomes the announcement that European fishing boats are now able to start operating in Moroccan waters following the issuing of fishing licences by the Moroccan authorities.

The announcement was made during the first Joint Committee meeting of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) held in Rabat on 4-5 September.

The four-year protocol to the FPA came into force on 15 July 2014, after which the EU received and submitted to Morocco 63 licence applications from five EU Member States: Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Beyond the issuing of licences, the Joint Committee discussed technical issues and sectoral support. In particular, it sought to agree on the programming of the sectoral support and to define the indicators for monitoring its implementation. These indicators will assess the socio-economic impacts of the sectoral support, including on a geographical basis.

The current Protocol to the EU-Morocco FPA was signed on 18 November 2013 and endorsed by the Council and the European Parliament. It entered into force on 15 July 2014 following the completion of the internal ratification procedures by Morocco.

The total cost of the new Protocol to the EU will be EUR 30 million a year, of which EUR 16 million compensates Morocco for access to the resource and EUR 14 million is directed towards supporting the fisheries sector in the country. In addition, the ship owners' own contribution is estimated at EUR 10 million giving a total financial envelope for Morocco of an estimated EUR 40 million, whilst the new Protocol also provides for increased job opportunities for Moroccan seamen.

Detailed and regular reporting obligations for Morocco will serve to demonstrate the economic and social impact of the sectoral support on the local populations. This reporting mechanism will include details on how each sectoral support project serves the best interests of all of the local population on a geographical basis.

Higher cod prices offset export volume drop

Cod salting. (Photo Credit: Per Eide Studio, NSEC)

NORWAY
Monday, September 08, 2014, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
The value of exports of Norwegian codfish in August was NOK 824 million (USD 132.2 million), an increase of NOK 67 million (USD 10.7 million) , or 9 per cent, compared to last August. According to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council, this was accompanied by a decrease in the exported volume of 4 per cent.

 “An increase in the global demand for raw materials for the production of fillets and clipfish has contributed to pushing the price for cod upwards,” explains Ove Johansen, Branch Manager for Codfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

The value of exports of frozen fish from Norway in August was NOK 322 million, an increase of NOK 62 million compared to last August. The price for whole frozen cod was 21 per cent higher on average in August compared to the same month last year. The greatest growth was in exports to China, but Great Britain, Poland and Portugal have imported more whole frozen cod this year to date than during the same period last year.

The volume of exports of frozen fillets in August totalled NOK 43.2 million, up 12 per cent compared to last August. Exports to Great Britain, which is the largest market for frozen fillets, were down 3 per cent in August.

The value of exports of Norwegian clipfish in August was NOK 298 million. This is an increase of NOK 25 million compared to last August. Exports in August totalled 8,403 tonnes, down 349 tonnes compared to last August.

The value of exports of clipfish made from Atlantic cod was NOK 128 million, down NOK 17 million from last year. The value of exports of Norwegian clipfish made from saithe in August was NOK 130 million. This is an increase of NOK 31 million compared to last August.

The largest single market for clipfish in August was Brazil. Exports of clipfish to Brazil totalled NOK 96 million, up NOK 28 million from last August.

The value of exports of salted fish, both whole and fillet, in August totalled NOK 22 million, an increase of 25 per cent compared to last August. Measured in volume, exports totalled 690 tonnes, down 50 per cent. Measured in Norwegian crowns, the price increased by 49 per cent. Measured in euros, the price increased by 46 per cent. Portugal is the biggest market for salted fish and bought 67 per cent of all Norwegian salted fish in August.

The value of exports of Norwegian stockfish in August was NOK 47 million. This is a decrease of 13 per cent compared to last August. The exported volume dropped from 547 to 504 tonnes, a decrease of 8 per cent.

The value of exports of of Norwegian cod stockfish from Lofoten in August was NOK 31.2 million, down 21 per cent from last August. Measured in volumes, exports of Norwegian cod stockfish from Lofoten were down 16 per cent, to a total of 318 tonnes.

The value of exports of dried fish in August was NOK 19.6 million, down 27 per cent from last August. The average price in August increased by 0.5 per cent per kilo. Nigeria imported NOK 88.5 million of dried fish, a decrease of 1 per cent.  

The value of exports of fresh codfish products from fishing in August was NOK 128 million, down 3 per cent from last August.

Measured in volume, total exports of fresh whole cod in August totalled 1,090 tonnes, down 10 per cent from last August. Measured in Norwegian crowns, the price increased in August by 13 per cent, or NOK 2.88. Measured in euros, the increase was 8.6 per cent compared to last August.

The value of exports of fresh fillet products totalled NOK 24 million in August, a decrease of NOK 8 million. The price increased by an average of 23 per cent.
(1 NOK= USD 0.1604)