SAGARPA encourages better use of Pacific tuna

SAGARPA sets measures to better use tuna in Mexican Pacific waters. (Photo: Sagarpa)

MEXICO
Monday, June 15, 2015, 21:40 (GMT + 9)
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) has published a new standard for the purpose of inducing the optimal use of tuna species caught with pole-and-line vessels in waters under federal jurisdiction.
In preparing this regulation several studies by the National Fisheries Institute (INAPESCA) were taken into account through the catch system catalogue of the major commercial fisheries and the National Fisheries Chart.
In the Pacific Ocean tuna fishing takes place mostly in the eastern zone, and basically with purse seine and pole-and-line.
National vessels engaged in the capture of three main species: yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). To a lesser extent bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and black skipjack (Euthynnus lineatus) were also caught.
Now, the Government's objective is to set the terms and conditions for tuna fishing with pole-and-line Mexican flagged ships.
The implementation of the new regulations is mandatory permit and concession holders to conduct fishing for tuna with pole-and-line vessels, that is to say, those that are larger and with a maximum length of 28 metres, equipped with a capture conservation system, stationary engine and with carrying capacity of between 50 and 200 tonnes.
These vessels operate in waters under federal jurisdiction of Mexico and in the marine waters of the area regulated by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
Staff of the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA) and the Secretariat of Marine Affairs (SEMAR) will monitor compliance with the new standard are necessary, in cooperation with the federal, state and municipal public administration agencies.
According to IATTC statistics, between 1 January and 3 May, 2015 the Mexican fleet operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) caught 57,072 tonnes of tuna, of which 52, 905 tonnes were yellowfin tuna and 3,092 tonnes were skipjack tuna.
Their catches were second only to those of the Ecuadorian fleet, which is ranked first with a total of 114,651 tonnes.

Australis Seafoods seeks to increase its capital by USD 40 million

Australis Seafoods salmon for export. (Photo: Australis Seafoods)

CHILE
Monday, June 15, 2015, 22:10 (GMT + 9)
At an extraordinary meeting Australis Seafoods shareholders will consider the decision not to place the remaining 58.75 million shares of the first issue, agreed under the capital increase approved at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on 2 December 2013.
As reported by the company to the Superintendency of Securities and Insurance (SVS), through an essential fact, will also consider "the approval of a capital increase of the Company for a sum amounting to USD 40 million, or that amount that is freely agreed the board, by issuing new registered, ordinary shares, without preferences, each of equal value, to be issued and placed in the form, conditions and opportunities approved by the shareholders’ meeting."
The extraordinary meeting is scheduled for 3 July.

Scottish fishermen outraged by new management measures for MPAs

Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong. (Photo Credit: DEFRA/SFF/FIS)

UNITED KINGDOM
Friday, June 12, 2015, 22:10 (GMT + 9)
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has expressed disbelief and anger at the new management measures for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scottish waters announced by the Scottish Government.

The SFF maintains that the measures announced yesterday go far beyond the proportionate and evidential approach that was promised for the management arrangements of the MPA network

“We have over a long period worked with Marine Scotland and the statutory nature advisers SNH and JNCC to agree on a proportional, scientifically-based protection for features and habitats in Scottish waters, whilst avoiding at the same time gratuitous damage to the sustainable harvesting activities of our fishing fleet", said Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the SFF.

And he added: “A great deal of time and money was spent in genuine participation in the consultancy process and we honestly thought that we had in sight a set of compromises on management in the proposed MPAs that would, with a bit of expected give and take, meet the aim and allow us to demonstrate an example of what the Scottish Fisheries Minister has seen fit in the past to call ‘co-management’. Unfortunately, the input of the fishing industry was not properly considered in the consultation. Our fishermen put their trust in the consultation process and these outcomes may well have implications for future stakeholder engagement."

Armstrong stressed that while proper protection of Scotland’s marine environment is vital, "the outcome is a piece of overt political posturing".

"There are real features to protect, but there is also, in the affected areas, a real inshore fishing industry, sustainably supplying the seafood that Scotland is justifiably proud of," he claimed.

“We now find that the phrase 'ambitious protection plans' as used in the Scottish Government official announcement is in reality a synonym for gross over-reach. The areas declared off limits to fishing go far beyond identified features.  The people to suffer, for no practical reason, will be the inshore fishermen who have done so much to contribute to their communities and to Scotland’s wellbeing,” he concluded.

Honduran shrimp farmers worry about likely Mexican block

Shrimp farm. (Photo: CODEFFAGOLF)

HONDURAS
Friday, June 12, 2015, 01:30 (GMT + 9)
The National Aquaculture Association of Honduras (ANDAH) assesses the position to be adopted after learning that the Mexican aquaculture sector intends to request the Government of Mexico to close the borders to shrimp imports from Central America and from India.
While there are no prohibitions on international trade agreements, Mexican farmers fear that shrimp from these regions may pose the risk of diseases affecting the sector.
"They [Central American and Indian producers] have a disease that we do not know if it is SMS or another. We should not import shrimp as they do not accept or do not say what disease is the one they are facing. We must close borders from a phytosanitary point of view and from Central America," stressed Aldo Villaseñor Camacho, president of the Association of Aquaculturists in Ahome, Sinaloa, reported Línea Directa.
To Honduras, this restriction is worrying, since per year it exports about 15 million pounds of frozen shrimp to the Mexican market, El Heraldo newspaper reported.
According to Victor Wilson, president of Andah, so far shrimp production in Honduran farms has not been affected by early mortality syndrome (EMS), which has caused heavy losses in Mexico, mainly in the states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Nayarit.
He recalled that last year, the Honduran government and entrepreneurs from the shrimp industry took steps to prevent the entry of EMS from Mexico. That decision led to the imposition of a 30 per cent tariff on imports of frozen shrimp, which were eventually suspended in compliance with the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Central America and Mexico.
Wilson ensured that the levels of mortality registered in the Honduran shrimp industry in the first harvest cycle of the 2015 are due to the lack of rain and high salinity of the Gulf of Fonseca waters (62 particles per 1000 have been detected, when the normal is 30).
Andah president admitted that the domestic industry faces issues related to vibriosis as a result of the weather conditions in the southern region of the country, but he stressed that it is one of the most common diseases in the shrimp industry.
In addition, he emphasized that the industry has taken all appropriate steps to avoid the presence of EMS in Honduran farms.
Andah expects there will be a reduction of between 5 per cent and 10 per cent on the fixed production targets and for the first cycle a harvest has been planned of between 1,500 and 1,900 pounds per hectare.
The shrimp industry of Honduras expects to export 70 million pounds of shrimp this year, which would represent USD 250 million in revenue.

Vigo receives more fresh fish landings in first four months

Fish auction in the port in Vigo. (Photo: WFE)

SPAIN
Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 22:40 (GMT + 9)

Last April 17,190 tonnes of fresh fish entered the ports of Spain, 24.8 per cent less than in the same month last year (22,858 tonnes), Puertos del Estado reported.
Taking into account the first four months of 2015, fresh fish landings amounted to 66, 873 tonnes, that is to say, 7.2 per cent less than in the same period last year, when 72,076 tonnes were unloaded, according to the report issued by the agency under Ministry of Development.
The port of Vigo concentrated the largest landings of April: it received 5,627 tonnes, 2.2 per cent less than during the same month in 2014 (5,752 tonnes).
However, the landings in this important Spanish port grew 5.2 per cent year on year in the first four months of this year: 19,942 tonnes were landed compared to 18,953 tonnes in the same period of 2014.
In second place was the port of A Coruña, with 14,688 tonnes that were landed between January and April, 12.4 per cent less than in the same period in 2014 (16,785 tonnes); and then Pasajes, with 9,546 tonnes.
The port of Motril was the one registering the largest increase in landings, which was 83.4 per cent: it had received 266 tonnes in the first four months of 2014 and in the same period of 2015 landings reached 488 tonnes.
The ports of Barcelona were located further back, with 1,168 tonnes, 74.8 per cent more than in the period from January to April 2014; Cartagena followed with 5 tonnes, representing 66.6 per cent more than in the same period last year; and Bay of Algeciras, with 221 tonnes, 20.7 per cent more than in the first four months of 2014.
According to the latest report, the largest decrease occurred in the port of Almería: it received only 717 tonnes of fresh fish in the first four-month period of 2015, 48.6 per cent less than in the same period of 2014, when landings totalled 1,397 tonnes.
Another port where there was a significant decrease in fresh fish landings was that of Las Palmas: 107 tonnes were landed compared to 190 tonnes in the period from January to April 2014, that is to say, 43.6 per cent less.

In the port of Bahia de Cadiz the fall in fresh fish landings was 34.9 per cent: this terminal received 2,982 tonnes while in the same period last year 4,582 tonnes had been unloaded.

Lobster business partnership announced

Lobster business partnership announced

NEW ZEALAND
Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 23:10 (GMT + 9)

Port Nicholson Fisheries and Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd have decided to partner to form the largest Maori-owned lobster processing business in New Zealand.

From 1 April 2016 Aotearoa Fisheries’ lobster division will join together with Port Nicholson Fisheries to process and export their live lobster to the world. The new partnership will process 650 tonnes of lobster quota.

This represents approximately 44 per cent of the North Island and Chathams TACC and 23 per cent of New Zealand’s total live lobster exports.

“The coming together of Aotearoa Fisheries and Port Nicholson fisheries is a significant milestone for Maori business and the New Zealand seafood industry,” Port Nicholson Fisheries Chairman Dion Tuuta says.

“The partnership brings together like-minded Maori lobster businesses with a common shareholder base, aligned values and a shared vision for the future,” Tuuta adds.

The collaboration has been four years in the making and is the result of discussions which followed the 2011 Koura Inc project. This project – originally sponsored by the Maori Economic Development Taskforce – advocated for Maori lobster owners to work together throughout the lobster value chain.

Aotearoa Fisheries Chairman Whaimutu Dewes said the partnership demonstrated the power of collaboration among Iwi.

“The value creation of the partnership and further potential value of wider consolidations are significant. This partnership will increase our collective scale and national coverage. It leads to a more active position in the international market place, provides greater efficiencies and provides a more secure base for progress,” Dewes points out.

Aotearoa Fisheries CEO, Carl Carrington and AFL Inshore GM, Steve Tarrant will take up Director positions on the Board of Port Nicholson Fisheries General Partner.

High Court formalises 297 layoffs in Pescanova’s subsidiary

Novanam facilities. (Photo: Pescanova)

NAMIBIA
Friday, June 05, 2015, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

The High Court of Namibia has decided to definitively validate the dismissal of 297 employees of the company Novanam, a subsidiary of the Galician multinational firm Pescanova.

The dismissed employees, who had been suspended by the company in July 2012, accused of stealing goods, tried to appeal the measure, but were unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for the Namibian Government, Jan Scholtz, sharply criticized the decision taken by Judge Peter Shivute.

According to what local newspaper New Era reported, Scholtz pointed out in a statement that most of the dismissed workers are women, so he expressed "fear" about his future and that of his school age children, who "are being punished" by this action.

In addition, he said that some workers are paying their home loans and "there is a high possibility they will lose their houses" as they can be without their only source of income.

Scholtz claimed that despite several attempts to make Novanam review the issue in order to discover the "intellectual authors" of the massive theft and ensure a "fair" process, the authorities never provided information.

Given this situation, she requested the mediation of the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, Erkki Ngimtina, for him to intervene in the labour dispute.

Scholtz stressed that the layoffs only serve to worsen the high levels of poverty and contribute to unemployment.

Sources consulted by the Spanish newspaper Faro de Vigo pointed out that David M. Pokolo, responsible for Human Resources of Novanam, "is still the head" of the firm Pacific Fish Distributors and that would give him half stake in Pescanova’s subsidiary.

During the investigation it was found that the executive was the figurehead who Pescanova had to control Novonam irregularly.

Iniciativa Global del Salmón lanza informe de sostenibilidad

Salmones de piscifactoría. (Foto: GSI)

PORTUGAL
Friday, June 05, 2015, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
Con el fin de conmemorar el Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente, la organización Iniciativa Global del Salmón (GSI) lanzó un informe online de sostenibilidad, interactivo, que establece un nuevo estándar de información transparente para el sector de la alimentación mundial.
El documento pone de manifiesto el compromiso de los miembros de GSI para la mejora continua de la sostenibilidad de sus operaciones.
Este informe muestra los principales datos medioambientales y sociales en las 14 empresas que conforman la GSI. Y según la organización, "es la primera vez que un sector global de la alimentación mundial informa colectivamente sobre los indicadores de desempeño de sostenibilidad de una manera tan transparente".
En opinión de Piers Hart, responsable global de acuicultura del Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza (WWF), "el lanzamiento del informe de sostenibilidad de GSI demuestra el liderazgo de grupos en la creación de una mayor transparencia en el sector de la acuicultura".
"Es un logro notable que hayan desarrollado esta plataforma de notificación colectiva, y alentamos enérgicamente a otros sectores de producción y plataformas a seguir su ejemplo", agregó Hart en el marco de la Cumbre Mundial de los Océanos 2015, que se celebra en Lisboa, Portugal.
El informe de sostenibilidad online incluye datos sobre:

• Indicadores ambientales y sociales clave para cada miembro GSI;
• Progreso hacia el objetivo de GSI de lograr la certificación del Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) en todas las instalaciones para 2020;
• La eficiencia del salmón de piscifactoría como una fuente sostenible y saludable de proteínas.

El documento proporciona información sobre las siguientes áreas: fuga de peces, mortalidad de peces, uso de antibióticos, niveles de piojos de mar, tratamientos de piojos de mar, interacciones con la fauna, uso de ingredientes marinos en la alimentación, cumplimiento, salud y seguridad laboral, e interacciones con la comunidad local.
"Hoy, en la Cumbre Mundial del Océano, los líderes mundiales debaten sobre el papel potencial que la acuicultura puede desempeñar para mejorar el crecimiento económico del mundo", dijo Jon Hindar, copresidente de GSI y consejero delegado de Cermaq.
"A través del lanzamiento del informe de sostenibilidad, somos capaces de mostrar cómo el salmón de piscifactoría representa una solución viable para las oportunidades económicas, equilibrado con operaciones sostenibles y rendimiento ambiental mejorado", agregó.
Por su parte, Ricardo García, copresidente de GSI y consejero delegado de Camanchaca, recalcó que este informe "establece una base para el desempeño de la industria y genera un punto de referencia" para continuar progresando en una forma "que pueda ser revisada con transparencia por las comunidades y las partes interesadas".

Cargill's Central American feed mills get BAP certification

Cargill de Honduras facility. (Photo Credit: Cargill Central America)

HONDURAS
Friday, June 05, 2015, 23:20 (GMT + 9)
Two of the Cargill’s feed mills, Cargill de Honduras S. de R. L. and Cargill de Nicaragua S.A., recently earned Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification.

The two feed mills are the first feed mills in Central America as well as Cargill’s first feed mills to attain BAP certification. The only other BAP-certified feed mills in Central and South America are located in Chile.

Companies sourcing from BAP-certified hatcheries, farms and processing plants can now source feed from one of the two Cargill feed mills and qualify to offer four-star BAP product. Four-star status is the highest such designation in the BAP programme.

“With BAP certification, Cargill is not only consolidating its leading position in Central America but also, and most importantly, creating the capability to offer BAP feed for shrimp from its plant in Honduras and Nicaragua and BAP feed for tilapia from its plant in Honduras. By including these feeds in their portfolio, they are supporting customers to comply with world-class quality requirements so they can also satisfy their demanding customers that they ship to domestic, regionally and overseas,” said Cargill in a statement.

The Honduras feed mill is located in Bufalo, Villanueva, while the Nicaragua feed mill is located in Masaya, Carretera a Masaya.

Overfishing threatens 7.5 per cent of marine fish in the EU

Overfishing is still a threat to many European fishery species. (Photo: Oceana)

EUROPEAN UNION
Thursday, June 04, 2015, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
A report issued by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Commission (EC) warns that 7.5 per cent of the fish that inhabit the seas of the European Union (EU) are in danger of extinction due to overfishing.
The document, in whose drafting also the NGO Oceana participated, emphasizes that despite improvements in EU fisheries management, 58 of the 59 species identified as endangered are in that situation as a result of fishing, bycatch and impacts of this activity on their habitat.
The most threatened group is formed by chondrichthyans or cartilaginous fish such as sharks and rays: this group includes 15 resources assessed as critically endangered and other 15 species out of the 22 deemed as endangered.
The Maltese ray and the angel shark, both critically endangered and threatened primarily due to incidental bottom trawling catches, are among those resources, EFE agency reported.
Some commercial depth species are also threatened: grenadier, redfish, dusky grouper and grouper haddock, Atlantic halibut and turbot.
Oceana believes this situation shows "the absolute necessity of establishing fishing opportunities based on scientific criteria," so that the stocks can reach healthy levels and fishing regulations provided by the EU executive can be met.
The executive director of the organization in Europe, Lasse Gustavsson, argues that strict compliance with the Community rules "is the only way to ensure healthy stocks and long-term survival of marine fish."
The reassessment of the European Red List of Marine Fish by UICN recognizes 59 species threatened with extinction (7.5 per cent), out of the total of 1,220 that inhabit European seas. And it warns that this percentage could rise to 27 per cent, "as some [species] have not been assessed due to lack of data."
Ricardo Aguilar, research director of Oceana in Europe, considers that that list "provides a solid base to offer priority in the EU to the adoption of immediate measures intended to reduce catches of endangered species, ensuring that catch levels are based on the scientific information available and to better gather biological and fishery information on species for which data are lacking."

First reference guide published to promote tilapia farming

Farmed tilapia. (Photo: Stock File)

MEXICO
Thursday, June 04, 2015, 01:40 (GMT + 9)
The National Fisheries Institute (INAPESCA) has developed the first Technical Reference Guide for tilapia farming in Quintana Roo, which will soon be available to fish farmers.
Through this instrument, INAPESCA wants tilapia producers to count on technical and scientific information to help improve their production and achieve greater quality and market competitiveness.
The data will be updated continuously in order to provide current and relevant information on tilapia farming, technological advances for the sector and productivity improvements.
INAPESCA, an entity under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), aims for this guide to provide producers technical, health, and regulatory information on the procedures to be implemented for optimal results in the growing resource.
The paper covers aspects of the species biology, quality and water management, as well as various safety feeding and technical considerations for tilapia farming.
In addition, it also provides information regarding the facilities which an aquaculture farm must have and displays the type, size, shape and depth that ponds must have to host organisms in culture.
Other sections of the Guide include:

• Description of the infrastructure required for operation (lot size and water distribution canals, dikes and liquid outlet);
• Details on feeding management and techniques in aquaculture farming systems: it outlines the strategies, time and environmental factors that influence on tilapia feeding; and it suggests monitoring controls and design formats for recording feed inspection and control;
• Guidance on the necessary actions to avoid the presence of disease; specifications to recognize a sick fish and general preventive measures to be implemented in order to maintain high hygiene status in all farm facilities for the resource cultivation, development and reproduction.

The document was prepared by specialists of INAPESCA Regional Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Research in Puerto Morelos, who had the collaboration of: the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA), the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture Government of Quintana Roo, the Technological Institute of Chetumal, the Tilapia Product System of Quintana Roo, the State Committee of Aquaculture and Fisheries Health and Safety of Quintana Roo, Comprehensive Technical Assistance and Training SCP and Industry El Madrigal.
Tilapia is farmed in 21 states of the country, among which are Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Colima, Veracruz and Tabasco.

Anchovy, Engraulis anchoita. (Photo: INIDEP)

Maximum anchovy catch limit set

ARGENTINA
Tuesday, June 02, 2015, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

The Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) has decided to set the total allowable catch of the anchovy (Engraulis anchovy) stock in Buenos Aires by 120,000 tonnes, and the Patagonian stock (south of latitude 41°), at 100,000 tonnes, as it was recommended by the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP).

The scientists explain that while the Buenos Aires stock is considered below its potential maximum catch, based on the population size trend, the recruitments in recent years and the particularities evidenced in the 2014 fishing season, a precautionary approach must be implemented and the fisheries deemed exploited below their potential must gradually be developed.

Meanwhile, for the Patagonian stock, given the unavailability of performing recent direct estimates of population abundance and composition or catch structure per age, INIDEP scientists estimate the recommended capture, favouring the precautionary approach, the ecological importance of the resource in the region and to prevent the fishing activity affects younger specimens.

On the other hand, through Resolution 7/15, the Council defined operational characteristics similar to those already adopted by the Joint Technical Commission for the Maritime Front (CTMFM) for the shared area with Uruguay.

The new rule states that the authorized fishing gear are the seine and the mid-water trawl nets.

Further, CFP prohibits overnight fishing, as a period in which the pelagic resource amounts to water layers near the surface and gets disperse to feed.

The Argentine government created the Commission for Analysis and Monitoring of the Pelagic Species Fisheries, which will consist of a representative of the Enforcement Authority, one of INIDEP, a representative for the province of Buenos Aires and one for Chubut.

In addition, delegates from each of the entrepreneurship chambers related to the vessels authorized to catch pelagic species and having an effective participation in these fisheries.

"The Commission will be an advisory body and will meet at least twice a year. It will submit the minutes of its meetings with the addressed issues and their conclusions to the Council," detailed the resolution.

According to statistics from the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Nation, between 1 January and 28 May 28, 2015, a total of 1,771.9 tonnes of anchovy was caught while in the first five months of this year a total of 27.9 tonnes of the pelagic resource was landed.

Latvian canned fish banned by Russia but authorized by China

Sprats in oil. (Photo Credit: SpecialAdviser/CC BY-SA 3.0)

LATVIA
Tuesday, June 02, 2015, 19:00 (GMT + 9)

Latvian canned fish import has been banned by Russian authorities whereas 11 fish processing companies from this EU country have been authorized by the Republic of China to begin exports of fishery products to this Asian market.

Media sources consulted by FIS.com reported that the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) took the decision to prohibit these imports after reportedly finding public health shortcomings in Estonian and Latvian fish processing plants.

Nevertheless, in the Estonian Association of Fisheries’ viewpoint, the real reason for the ban that has been imposed by Russia is that Estonian products have become very popular in Russia.

For her part, Rosselkhoznadzor spokesperson Yulia Trofimova clarified that tinned and preserved fish was not included in the list of products affected by the trade restrictions imposed by Russia on several Western markets until August 2015, the Baltic Business News reported.

The commercial ban implemented by Russia as retaliation includes fresh, frozen and refrigerated fish produced in Estonia and Latvia but not tinned food.

Latvian authorities informed that China’s decision was taken following Agriculture Minister Janis Duklavs' visit in Shanghai.

As it has been reported, State Food and Veterinary Service Director Maris Balodis previously indicated that every company that wants to export its products to China must be included in China's relevant register of entities.

Scotland welcomes phased approach to discard ban

Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead. (Photo Credit: European Commission - Fisheries and Maritime Affairs)

UNITED KINGDOM
Monday, June 01, 2015, 23:10 (GMT + 9)

Regulations due to come into force in January 2016 could ultimately prevent over 25,000 tonnes of dead fish being thrown back into the sea every year, which is equivalent to 22 per cent of the Scottish catch, according to Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead.

The secretary emphasized that fish discards are a problem in nations across Europe and even though Scotland has made more progress than most, Scottish discards are still enough to fill over 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

These figures come as the regional groups are set to recommend a phased approach to the discard ban in both the North Sea and the North West Waters, which Secretary Lochhead welcomed as a sensible and measured position.

Speaking at the Fishing Expo in Aberdeen, Lochhead outlined how joint regional plans for the new regime are progressing and pointed out:

"No-one wants to see dead fish being thrown back into the sea - least of all our fishermen. It's also a waste of food that goes against the grain of what the public want. With just over seven months to go until the discard ban covers some of our most popular fish including cod, haddock and monkfish, the industry is entering its biggest period of change in a generation."

Lochhead also stressed that: "Our fleet has already made good progress to reduce the level of discarded fish in Scotland. However, we need to do more to end the waste caused by dead fish being thrown back into the sea. The fact that in one year alone enough fish to fill 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools were thrown from our vessels is a stark illustration of that."

"We are working hard in Europe on behalf of fishermen to ensure the ban is implemented in a pragmatic, proportionate and phased way. If managed sensibly the landing obligation will be good for Scotland and help the conservation of fish stocks that offer up dependable and sustainable catches for fishermen," he highlighted.

The secretary welcomed the fact that the regional groups are set to recommend a phased approach in both the North Sea and the North West Waters.

"It shows the benefits of the discard planning process being spearheaded by Member States working in their regions in close consultation with industry and others through the advisory councils. I'm particularly pleased that Scotland has a place at the regional table in the North Sea and the North West Waters. It is exactly why I fought so vigorously for regional decision-making, so that these crucial reforms could be shaped and delivered at regional level in ways which are tailored to different local circumstances and which make sense to local fishermen," the secretary said.

And he added: "However, I don’t underestimate the challenges that the discard ban brings, particularly with the complexities of a fleet covering around 30 different species. It is important that, as well as fishermen adapting, fisheries managers also adapt. We need 21st century tools for 21st century challenges. New management tools and thinking are required, for example around stock distribution and mixed fishery plans."

"Of course, the fishing industry is very important to Scotland’s economy: the value of fish landings is currently at a record high contributing GBP 513 million to the economy in 2014. This has been reflected in the landings posted into the key North East ports of Fraserburgh and Peterhead in 2014, which provisional figures show are up 35 per cent by weight on 2013 and valued at over GBP 200 million. The industry has an important role to play in our economy and I will continue to support the fleet," he concluded.

Albacora firmará primer convenio colectivo para trabajadores extracomunitarios

Tripulantes de un buque pesquero del Grupo Albacora. (Foto: Albacora)

ESPAÑA
Tuesday, June 02, 2015, 01:50 (GMT + 9)

La compañía Albacora suscribirá este martes el primer convenio colectivo de España para trabajadores extracomunitarios que estén enrolados en sus embarcaciones. De esta forma, la mayor firma de armadores atuneros de Europa será protagonista de un hito para la flota pesquera nacional.

Según informó el diario La Opinión, la empresa atunera firmará este histórico acuerdo con el sindicato UGT y la Federación Internacional del Transporte (ITF).

Se espera que las condiciones que se establezcan mejoren inclusive a las fijadas por la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT).

En la actualidad, Albacora es propietaria de 17 embarcaciones.

Según la inspectora de la ITF para Galicia y Asturias, Luz Baz, "que lo haga una empresa de tanto prestigio como esta es un paso muy importante".

"Ahora esperamos que otras grandes empresas, como pueden ser Calvo o Pescanova por citar dos de Galicia, se sumen a la iniciativa", añadió.

La firma de este convenio es el fruto de negociaciones que Albarcora estuvo celebrando durante los últimos meses, y que surgieron como consecuencia de un problema con un marinero.

"Aquello se resolvió perfectamente y tras conversar con el departamento jurídico de la empresa decidimos desarrollar esto", explicó Baz.

Gracias a este acuerdo, la tripulación tendrá "derecho a asistencia y representación sindical".

Además, el pacto incluirá unos mínimos de períodos de embarque, derechos antes y después de embarcar, condiciones para la finalización del contrato y una tabla salarial fijada de antemano.

Baz detalló que otro de los objetivos es ayudar a la tripulación extracomunitaria a diferenciar a los armadores serios como Albacora de los que no lo son.

Los buques congeladores la empresa operan en los océanos Índico, Pacífico y Atlántico, y se dedican principalmente a la captura, almacenaje, distribución y comercialización de especies comerciales como el atún aleta amarilla (Thunnus albacares) y el bonito o listado (Katsunomis pelamis).

New management measures for razor clam

Razor clam. (Photo Credit: Hans Hillewaert/CC BY-SA 4.0)

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, announced the introduction of national management measures for razor clams.

He also announced the introduction of an outtake limit for fishing razor clams in the North Irish Sea of 700 kg per vessel per week to take effect from Monday 1 June 2015.

Speaking about the new measures at the third National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) meeting, Coveney said: “At the second NIFF meeting in April, I stated that I would take steps to secure the sustainability of the razor clam fishery, and the new interim measures for the North Irish Sea are a first step in that process."

"I am also conscious that certainty about safe, high quality Irish seafood is important for consumers and for the marketplace. Accordingly, I have decided to introduce national measures to ensure Ireland can demonstrate its commitment to safe seafood.”

The new national measures include: 

• Obligations to weigh and report all razor clam landings;
• A requirement to ensure fishing takes place only in shellfish production areas which have been classified for razor clams;
• A requirement to fish in only one class of shellfish production area, from a seafood safety perspective, per day; and
• An obligation for vessels in Irish waters to carry GPS tracking equipment from 20 July.

The protection of Natura 2000 sites also featured on the agenda at the meeting, and the Minister welcomed support from the NIFF to facilitate stakeholder engagement in preparing mitigation plans for sites with features at risk from certain fishing activities.

“There are features in a number of Natura 2000 sites which are particularly sensitive to certain fishing activities, and we must ensure that the integrity of these Special Areas of Conservation is protected. Protecting the ecosystems of marine conservation sites preserves the quality of our marine environment and is another step towards harnessing our ocean wealth in a sustainable way,” said the Minister.

The NIFF has been set up to encourage inshore fishing communities to discuss their fishing issues and generate commonly-supported initiatives.

Lobster conservation measures and proposals to manage recreational pot fishing were among the other inshore policy issues discussed by the NIFF members at the recent meeting.

Customs employees end strike

Chilean salmon for export. (Photo: AquaChile)

CHILE

The indefinite strike kept by workers of the National Customs Service finally ended and the customs service of the Santiago International Airport resumed its activities.

The conflict between the workers grouped in the National Association of Customs Officers (ANFACH) and the Government lasted nine days, with the balance of huge losses in the importing and exporting sector.

According to estimates by the Association of Salmon Industry AG (SalmonChile), losses for the national salmon industry reached about USD 30 million.

The agreement that ended the strike was reached after a meeting of representatives of the Customs Service with Deputy Finance Secretary Alejandro Micco.

Marcelo Reyes, leader of the ANFACH, described the agreement as "historic". He said they managed to obtain a plant increase of 50 per cent so that all the hired staff who had a precarious position have now become part of that plant, Aqua reported.

The parties agreed to gradually increase the Customs plant from 1,665 to 2,300 workers by 2018.

While SalmonChile recognized the legitimacy of the Customs officials’ claims, it regretted that the conflict has caused the loss of salmon and "affected the image, credibility, trust and customers, which is ultimately very difficult to recover, eventually generating a loss of competitiveness of Chile as a global supplier."

According to SalmonChile vice president, Carlos Vial, as the conflict worsened, maneuverability was lost, "meaning that the fish can not be harvested and causing a serious health risk that can affect the credibility of our business" .

For his part, Industrial Development Society (SOFOFA) President Hermann von Mühlenbrock said: "The aim of boosting the Customs Service is very laudable. However, what concerns us are the serious consequences this type of measures generate in the country and its companies, since they strongly deteriorate our image abroad."

First Wireless Monitoring System for UK Scallop Dredges

Dredgemaster is a wireless monitoring system for scallop dredges.

  UNITED KINGDOM

Notus Electronics Ltd., long time dealer in the UK, installed the Dredgemaster on the FV Vikingborg from Mallaig on the west coast of Scotland. Much of the information below resulted from the invaluable feedback from the Captain, Billy Symmonds recorded after a 3 day fishing trip. The Dredgemaster is a  wireless monitoring system for scallop dredges.  Small robust sensors are installed on the dredge. Vital dredge angle and distance information are transmitted to the vessel. 

There was a hydrophone mounted in the hull of the ship that wirelessly sent/received signals to a sensor on the dredge. A numeric display in the wheelhouse showed the pitch, wire length and scope (wire length to depth ratio). Pitch being the forward/backward angle of the dredge.

The FV Vikingborg.

After some experimenting, it quickly became evident that there is a major relationship between scope (wire length: depth) and scallop/stone catch composition. The Vikingborg normally operates down to 30Fa with wire lengths depending on water depth and swell. The only word for the seabed is "brutal:" rocks, volcanic outcrops and boulders.

Notus' Dredgemaster.

A positive angle indicates the dredge is lifting upward and a negative angle indicates the dredge is downward. With a particular scope (wire length: depth), the pitch angle increases and the towing bar lifts off the seabed. At this point, much more stones are caught.

As the scope increases, the pitch angle goes into the "sweet spot" (the angle where it catches the best), apparently catching less stones and leaving the scallops to be triggered up by the sword blades. There is a sweet spot angle for each gear configuration that appears to have a narrow pitch angle window. Increasing the scope further results in the gear angle leaving the sweet spot with a reduced scallop catch.

The Dredgemaster monitors the wire length to within 0.5 m. With the depth changing so much, wire length and speed is critical for maintaining proper dredge pitch.

About Notus

Notus Electronics Ltd. is a developer and manufacturer of advanced net monitoring solutions for the commercial fishing industry. Established since 1992, the company has brought a number of sophisticated wireless monitoring systems to the market. The overall driving force behind development and marketing has been reliable products that remain affordable for all size vessels.

Source:Notus Electronics Ltd

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City:	Fraserburgh,
State/ZIP:	Scotland (AB4 9TB)
Country:	United Kingdom
Phone:	+44 1346 512 944
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E-Mail:	notus@btconnect.com
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Haikui Seafood achieves slight growth under more difficult market conditions

Haikui Seafood canned tuna. (Photo Credit: Haikui Seafood)

CHINA
Friday, May 29, 2015, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

Haikui Seafood achieved an increase in revenue by 4.5 per cent to EUR 31.6 million in the first quarter 2015 from the same period last year despite a more challenging business environment.

The firm’s sources informed that although the operating environment particularly for export-oriented seafood processors in China put further pressure on their results, Haikui maintained “a still attractive double-digit EBIT margin and continues to maintain a strong financial position.”

Besides, revenue from the company’s two product segment improved.

In the case of frozen products, its revenue grew by 0.6 per cent to EUR 24.8 million (Q1 2014: EUR 24.6 million) and in the canned products segment it went up by 21.8 per cent to EUR 6.8 million (Q1 2014: EUR 5.6 million).

Nevertheless, higher sales cost influenced by higher raw material and direct labour costs per unit of production resulted in a decrease of gross profit by 23.4 per cent to EUR 5 million compared to EUR 6.5 million in the same quarter last year.

Another decrease was seen in the gross profit margin, which went down to 15.7 per cent from the first quarter last year when it had been 21.4 per cent.

This decline affected the EBIT, which also fell by 36.1 per cent to EUR 3.3 million from EUR 5.1 million in the analysed period last year, translating into an EBIT margin of 10.4 per cent (Q1 2014: 17.0 per cent).

However, Haikui Seafood considers that despite the challenging market environment and the keen industry competition, its financial position remains “comfortable” with a year-on-year increase in equity of 13.9 per cent to EUR 212.4 million as of 31 March, 2015.

As to the outlook for the full-year 2015, the Chinese processor’s management forecast the on-going competitive environment amidst a weak global economy, the stringent quality expectations of end products of Chinese seafood exporters by the local authorities, the tight supply of certain raw materials and rising direct labour costs are to persist well into the year and will continue to impact the business development of Chinese seafood processing companies.

However, to better position the company to deal with the adverse market challenges and to cater to its future expansion goals, Haikui Seafood decided to build a highly efficient seafood processing plant with modern and faster equipment in Dongshan, whose completion is targeted for mid 2016.

Environmentally-friendly salmon and crustacean by-product use developed

Salmon leather wallets. (Photo: Tidal Vision)

UNITED STATES
Friday, May 29, 2015, 04:00 (GMT + 9)

A a Juneau-based business is finding new uses for Alaska Sea seafood waste by implementing environmentally sensitive processes to make products like salmon leather wallets and chitin T-shirts.

Tidal Vision founders, Kasberg and Zach Wilkinson, who are in charge of the project stated that Alaska produces billions of pounds of seafood each year and that only a small fraction of it is actually consumed. They also explained that millions of pounds of waste are used to produce pet food and fish oil but if a secondary use can't be found, it is simply ground up and dumped out in the ocean, Co.Exist reported.

The developers of the project make the leather using a non-toxic vegetable-based "aquatic tanning" process, which involves cutting the leather into sheets and then sewing the material into wallets that are now available through its Kickstarter campaign.

Kasberg describes the leather as smooth but slippery.

“If you drop a liquid on to it, it will flow away,” he states.

For his part, Tidal Vision CEO Craig Kasberg pointed out: "There's all this biomass that's just being dumped next to our homes by these processing plants.We thought there must be so many possibilities with this."

The firm has plans to develop a second product, which is derived from chitin, a substance found in crab and shrimp shells. The process implies refining chitin to make chitosan fiber, which is then dyed and woven into T-shirts.

Referring to this material, Kasberg says the clothing is hard-wearing and doesn't absorb odor, which means it is possible to wear clothes made with this material for days without washing.

The process for developing chitosan was borrowed from Chris Griggs, a scientist at the US Army Corps of Engineers's Engineer Research and Development Center. The Army uses chitosan bandages for certain battle wounds because it is highly absorbent.

"By developing new technologies to up-cycle these byproducts, we can add value to sustainable fisheries in the area," Kasberg concluded.