Investigan posible enfermedad de alto riesgo para la industria salmonera

Centro de cultivo de salmón. (Foto: Corfo)

CHILE
Thursday, November 06, 2014, 23:10 (GMT + 9)

El Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura (Sernapesca) informó que ha activado el Programa Sanitario General Ante Sospecha de Enfermedades de Alto Riesgo (EAR) Lista 1 y de Etiología Desconocida.

Esto se debe a la presencia de signología inespecífica en centros de cultivo de salmónidos ubicados en la Agrupación de Concesiones (ACS) 25-A, en la Región de Aysén.

La semana pasada, Sernapesca confirmó la presencia del virus de la anemia infecciosa del salmón (ISA) en el centro de cultivo Ballena 4, perteneciente a la compañía Salmones Cupquelan S.A., ubicado en el sur de la Región de Aysén.

También comunicó que inspectores del Servicio habían concurrido a la zona para evaluar la situación sanitaria de los centros de cultivo de la ACS 25 A y verificar el procedimiento de cosecha iniciado por la empresa afectada.

La información fue dada por la subdirectora nacional de Acuicultura, Alicia Gallardo, quien indicó que, a la fecha, todos los análisis realizados han resultado negativos para EAR Lista 1.

Las muestras fueron obtenidas a partir de tres muestreos independientes y analizadas por laboratorios de la red diagnóstica y por el laboratorio de referencia nacional para enfermedades exóticas.

No obstante lo anterior, se mantendrá la investigación para determinar la causa de la signología, conforme a los procedimientos que Sernapesca tiene establecidos para el seguimiento de casos.

Asimismo, Sernapesca adelantó que todos los antecedentes que se recaben serán informados oportunamente a través de su sitio web.

Mitsubishi offers USD 1.4 billion for Cermaq

Rebekka Glasser Herlofsen, Cermap board chairperson. (Photo Credit: Cermaq/FIS)

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

The Board of Directors of Cermaq  ASA has entered into a Tender Offer Agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation whereby the latter, through its wholly-owned subsidiary MC Ocean Holdings Limited, will launch a voluntary cash offer to acquire the entire issued share capital of the former for NOK 96 (USD 15) per share in cash.

The offer values the total share capital of Cermaq at approximately NOK 8,880 million (USD 1.4 billion) on a fully diluted basis.

The Board of Directors of Cermaq has unanimously decided to recommend that its shareholders accept the offer. The recommendation will be made public through the Oslo Stock Exchange as an appendix to the offer document.

The offer price represents a 14.3 per cent premium to Cermaq's closing share price on 19 September 2014 and an 18.3 per cent premium to the three-month volume weighted average stock price on 19 September 2014, the last trading day prior to the announcement of Mitsubishi Corporation's offer.

"The Offer recognizes the financial and strategic value of Cermaq and delivers an attractive offer premium to the shareholders. In addition, Mitsubishi Corporation represents a strategic and industrial fit by strengthening Cermaq's presence and reach in the important Asian markets. Together Cermaq and Mitsubishi Corporation will become the world's second largest salmon farming company, set for further sustainable growth," says Rebekka Glasser Herlofsen, Chair of the Board of Directors of Cermaq.

"Mitsubishi Corporation is an internationally leading and highly respected diversified business group with a strong financial basis, offering considerable synergies within the seafood sector, and sharing many of the important values of Cermaq, including corporate social responsibility, commitment to sustainability and a long term perspective. Therefore, in our view, Mitsubishi Corporation is an attractive industrial owner of the Company, both for employees, customers and local communities in the regions where the company operates", she adds.

The complete details of the offer, including all terms and conditions, is included in an offer document expected to be distributed to Cermaq shareholders during week 39, following approval by the Oslo Stock Exchange.

The consummation of the offer is subject to satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including, without limitation, a minimum acceptance of at least 90 per cent or such lower percentage (not being less than 50 per cent) of the outstanding Cermaq shares as the offeror determines, regulatory approval by the competition authorities in Canada, Japan, France and Poland being obtained and no occurrence of a force majeure event causing material adverse effect.

The offer is not subject to any financing condition, and Mitsubishi Corporation has completed a satisfactory due diligence review of legal, financial and operational matters. Mitsubishi Corporation expects to close the transaction during November 2014.

Mitsubishi Corporation will build on Cermaq's current organization and employees, and Cermaq's headquarter will remain in Norway.

The Board of Directors of Cermaq has emphasized that the offer will be subject to potential competition in the market. The acceptance period will be four weeks (compared to a statutory minimum of two weeks), and the Board has reserved the right to assess alternative offers that are received in the acceptance period.

The Board will be entitled to withdraw its recommendation of the offer in the event that a superior competing offer is announced that is not matched by Mitsubishi Corporation within three business days from notice of the competing offer. Any such amendment or withdrawal of the recommendation will permit Mitsubishi Corporation to withdraw from the offer.

The majority owner of Cermaq, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries will issue a separate announcement.

Fondsfinans AS is acting as financial advisor to Cermaq. Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS is acting as legal advisors to Cermaq.

Financial help and quota flexibility to countervail Russian ban

EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki. (Photo Credit: European Commission)

EUROPEAN UNION
Tuesday, September 09, 2014, 22:50 (GMT + 9)
In the light of Russia’s trade ban on certain fisheries products which hit the European fisheries sector this summer, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki has reassured the Council and the European Parliament that the European Commission stands ready to support the European fisheries sector.

In a letter addressed to Italian Minister Maurizio Martina and the Chair of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, Alain Cadec, Commissioner Damanaki outlined that the EU can provide financial support to the sector as well as the possibility of shifting unused fishing quotas to 2015.

In her letter, Commissioner Damanaki called upon the EU governments concerned by the ban to make use “as quickly as possible” of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which can provide financial help to producer organisations who are unable to sell their products to Russia. This aid enables them to store the unsold products until new markets have been found. She underlined that no approval by the European Commission is necessary to unlock these storage funds.

Commissioner Damanaki also pointed to flexibility rules which allow Member States to carry over up to 10 per cent of their fishing quotas to the following year. She underlined that, given the current circumstances, she has instructed her services to examine the possibility go beyond the 10 per cent quota flexibility. The Commissioner said that she could take a positive stance on this option, under the condition that scientific examination confirms that such a proposal would not undermine long term sustainability.

Following Russia’s announcement on 7 August to ban imports of certain fisheries products from the EU the European Commission is working closely with Member States authorities to gather evidence on the impact of the Russian trade measures in the fisheries sector and to outline the available support to the sectors affected by the ban. The fisheries products affected by the ban are live, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine and smoked fish, molluscs and crustaceans. The main Member States exporting these products to Russia in 2013 were Denmark, Latvia, UK, Ireland, Estonia, Spain and France.

In 2013, the total export value of the banned EU fisheries products was close to EUR 144 million, which represents 2 per cent of total value of the EU's fish and aquaculture annual product.

Russia is the EU's 6th export market for fisheries products. In 2013, EU exports of fisheries products to Russia represented 5 per cent, or EUR 199 million, of total EU fisheries exports. In 2013, fisheries products represented 0.2 per cent of the EU’s overall exports to Russia. 

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)

Luz verde a la flota española para retomar pesca en aguas marroquíes

Buque atunero. (Foto: Anfaco)

ESPAÑA
Monday, September 08, 2014, 22:40 (GMT + 9)
Los representantes de la Unión Europea (UE) y Marruecos que conforman la Comisión Mixta lograron resolver todas las cuestiones prácticas que estaban pendientes desde la firma del pacto pesquero bilateral, y que impedían que el país africano expidiera las licencias de pesca.
Tras el resultado alcanzado en la reunión celebrada el jueves y viernes pasado en Rabat, se prevé que en los próximos días las embarcaciones españolas que solicitaron y pagaron sus licencias a fines de julio pasado puedan acceder al caladero marroquí.
En tanto, aquellos buques que no las pagaron, podrán hacerlo y empezar a pescar a principios de octubre próximo.
Este protocolo de pesca permitirá la actividad de un centenar de buques españoles en el caladero marroquí, a cambio de una contraprestación financiera de EUR 40 millones anuales por parte de la UE.
En el encuentro, las partes también acordaron formalizar aspectos relativos a las modalidades de ejecución de apoyo sectorial y a la verificación del impacto socioeconómico que tendrá sobre la población marroquí.
Además, la Comisión Mixta precisó las condiciones para el embarque de marineros marroquíes a bordo de los barcos comunitarios, teniendo en consideración las características de las categorías de pesca artesanal y atunera.
Asimismo, dejó en claro que habrá una flexibilización de las condiciones de descarga obligatoria de capturas en puertos de Marruecos, "lo que permitirá una mejor operatividad de la flota, sin que dejen de cumplirse los objetivos contemplados en el acuerdo", informó el Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (Magrama).
Estas condiciones afectarán las modalidades de mayor interés para la flota de España:

• Barcos de cerco de pequeños pelágicos;
• Buques arrastreros;
• Embarcaciones palangreras demersales;
• Atuneros cañeros.

Por otra parte, la UE y Marruecos fijaron los términos de referencia y las directrices para la convocatoria y desarrollo del Comité Científico conjunto, que deberá realizar su primera reunión antes del 15 de junio de 2015.
La Comisión Mixta también definió un protocolo que garantice el uso correcto de los EUR 14 millones destinados a medidas de apoyo sectorial y fijó varios indicadores de resultado y de impacto para cada acción o proyecto, incluyendo su distribución geográfica.
Por su parte, la Confederación Española de Pesca (Cepesca) manifestó su satisfacción por el anuncio del regreso de las embarcaciones españolas a las aguas del país africano.
En Rabat estuvieron Pedro Maza, vicepresidente de Cepesca y presidente de la Federación Andaluza de Asociaciones Pesqueras; Tomás Pacheco, presidente de la Asociación Barbateña de Empresarios de la Pesca (Abempe); y Javier Garat, secretario general de la Confederación.
"Es una buena noticia que se hayan cerrado las negociaciones y se hayan aclarado todas las dudas que teníamos, sobre todo para las categorías 1 y 2 (cerco de Barbate y palangre de fondo de Algeciras, Barbate y Conil)", destacó Garat.
"Con relación a la categoría 4 (arrastre demersal gallego y canario), es una pena que los marroquíes no hayan permitido algún porcentaje de capturas accesorias de cefalópodo y marisco, lo cual nos puede generar algunos problemas innecesarios y poner en riesgo la rentabilidad de las empresas", añadió el dirigente.
Por otro lado, Maza hizo hincapié en que el pacto es muy importante para España, y en particular para Andalucía "puesto que 45 buques de pesca andaluces podrán ir a pescar a las aguas marroquíes, aliviando la situación de la flota del golfo de Cádiz, y generando riqueza y empleo en puertos altamente dependientes de la pesca".
Cepesca detalló qué embarcaciones y recursos pesqueros se podrán pescar de acuerdo con cada licencia:

• Categoría 1: 20 buques españoles de cerco artesanal, sobre todo de Barbate, para capturar especies como el boquerón, la sardina y otros pequeños pelágicos;
• Categoría 2: palangre de fondo artesanal, fundamentalmente de Algeciras, Conil y Barbate, se incrementan en cinco unidades, pasando a 35 licencias (25 para España) de las que sólo cuatro podrán faenar en el sur, hasta el paralelo 33º 25'N. Esta modalidad está autorizada a capturar especies como el pez sable, espáridos y otras especies demersales. Los barcos tendrán que parar entre el 15 de marzo y el 15 de mayo;
• Categoría 4: cinco licencias para arrastreros de hasta 600 GT en profundidades superiores a 200 metros, con malla de 70 milímetros y 11 para palangreros de fondo hasta 150 GT a partir de las 12 millas. Estas embarcaciones están autorizadas a pescar pez sable, merluza negra y palometa. Los barcos de esta categoría tendrán que pagar EUR 60 por GT al

Scottish Sea Farms receives approval for expansion

Scottish Sea Farms salmon. (Photo Credit: Scottish Sea Farms)

UNITED KINGDOM
Monday, September 08, 2014, 01:50 (GMT + 9)
Scottish Sea Farms has been granted approval for the expansion of the site at Eday, north of Orkney. This will result in over GBP 1 million (EUR 1.25 million) in new investment and a significant increase production of the quality product farmed in Orkney waters.

This expansion will see the existing site increased from six cages to 12, which will more than double the site’s consent from 800 tonnes to 1900 tonnes, making it the largest Scottish Sea Farms site in Orkney.

Eday is located in the northern isles of Orkney, 15 miles from mainland Orkney and is one of Scottish Sea Farms’ most remote locations for farming salmon.

Local Area Manager, Richard Darbyshire of Scottish Sea Farms, said: “This is good news for both Scottish Sea Farms and the local community. Importantly, we have created some brand new jobs in a remote location. We want to continue to build relationships locally and will bring skilled employment with training packages for local people. This increased consent will allow us also to meet the increasing demand we have globally for Scottish Sea Farms Orkney salmon. Our Heart of the Community Trust is also there to support community initiatives that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Scottish Sea Farms’ Orkney region currently produces approx 5000 tonnes of quality salmon per annum for some of the UK’s top restaurants and retailers, as well as for key export markets globally.

Destinan EUR 8,1 millones en ayudas para desguace de barcos merluceros

Embarcación usada para la pesca de merluza. (Foto: Magrama)

ESPAÑA
Monday, September 08, 2014, 03:20 (GMT + 9)
El Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (Magrama) convocó a ayudas para el desguace de embarcaciones pesqueras destinadas a la paralización definitiva de su actividad, por el ajuste del esfuerzo pesquero de la merluza del norte.
Según la nueva normativa publicada en el Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), la autoridad elaboró un plan de ajuste para facilitar la consecución de los objetivos fijados en el plan de recuperación de las poblaciones de merluza norte que se encuentra en aguas del Atlántico Norte, correspondientes a la Unión Europea (UE).
Las ayudas también cubrirán las medidas socioeconómicas de acompañamiento, para compensar a los pescadores de los barcos paralizados de manera definitiva.
De acuerdo con el Magrama, se prevé un presupuesto para la convocatoria de EUR 8.182.000. De ese total, EUR 7,3 millones se destinarán a concretar las paralizaciones definitivas de las unidades pesqueras y EUR 882.000 para las medidas socioeconómicas de acompañamiento, destinadas a los tripulantes de los barcos que vayan a desguazarse.
El Ministerio indicó que el importe máximo de la prima por embarcación se establece por tonelaje, en un baremo que parte de un mínimo de EUR 2.100 a un máximo de más de EUR 900.000.
Con respecto a las ayudas de compensación para los tripulantes, la Administración fijó una cantidad de EUR 10.500 por beneficiario.
Estas cantidades serán cofinanciadas por el Magrama y el Fondo Europeo de la Pesca.
Se pretende que estas ayudas contribuyan de manera significativa con la consecución del equilibrio entre la capacidad de pesca de la flota comunitaria y las posibilidades de capturas existentes en la zona, con el objetivo de garantizar la gestión pesquera sostenible.
Noticia relacionada:
- La UE aprueba aumento de cuota de merluza del norte

Salmon price status at week 36

Norwegian salmon. (Photo Copyright: FIS)

NORWAY


Fresh salmon export volumes for week 35 are down 439 tonnes compared to the previous week and 116 tonnes compared to week 35, 2013, reports Fish Pool ASA.
The Fish Pool Index reports that in the last four weeks salmon prices -- Spot Market Prices (for fresh salmon between 3 kg and 6 kg, FCA Oslo) and export volumes were as follows:

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

The contracts for September 2014 were traded at NOK 35.00. For the sales in Q4-14, the seller is currently at NOK 41.00; and the last trade was performed at NOK 39.85.
The sales for Q1-15 were traded at 44.50 NDAQ and those for the quarters Q1Q2-15 were at 44.00 NDAQ.
For the contracts for 2015, the seller is at 42.00 NDAQ, and for those of Y2015+Q1Q216, the buyer is at 40.50 NDAQ.

Commission issues fleet capacity guidelines to support sustainable fishing in Europe

EUROPEAN UNION
Thursday, September 04, 2014

The European Commission has strengthened its commitment to sustainable fishing by issuing a new set of guidelines to help Member States strike the balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities. The guidelines recommend to Member States a set of standardised indicators (biological, economic and vessel-use indicators) to determine if the size of their fishing fleets are in line with the amount of fishing opportunities allocated to them.
Commissioner Damanaki said on this occasion: "Too many powerful boats chasing too few fish inevitably leads to overfishing and ever dwindling stocks. Balance is the key to sustainable stocks and today's guidelines show our commitment to helping Member States keep their fleets' capacity in line with the amount of fish they can catch."
Source: European Commission

AquaChile aumentó sus ventas en primer semestre

Salmón para exportación. (Foto: AquaChile)

CHILE
Wednesday, September 03, 2014, 23:40 (GMT + 9)
AquaChile S.A. obtuvo ventas consolidadas por USD 397,5 millones durante los primeros seis meses de este año, monto que representa un incremento del 16% con respecto al mismo período de 2013 (USD 344,5 millones).
La empresa atribuyó este crecimiento principalmente al aumento del valor de las ventas de salmón del Atlántico y trucha, que registraron incrementos interanuales de USD 31 millones y USD 9 millones, respectivamente.
En términos de volumen, las cosechas de salmón y trucha en este semestre alcanzaron las 53.000 toneladas, y las cosechas de tilapia totalizaron 10.000 toneladas.
AquaChile indicó que dada la situación actual de menor crecimiento en la oferta, los precios se mantuvieron en un buen nivel, tendencia que espera continúe durante los próximos meses.
De acuerdo con lo informado por la salmonera a la Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros (SVS), en el primer semestre de 2014 obtuvo utilidades por USD 6,1 millones, resultado que refleja los mejores precios de exportación y una reducción en los costos de producción.
Todas las especies que exporta la empresa registraron aumentos de precio: trucha (52%), salmón del Pacífico (40%) y salmón del Atlántico (22%).
En los primeros seis meses de este año, el EBITDA de la firma previo a los ajustes de revalorización a fair value de la biomasa, alcanzó los USD 54,2 millones. Ese resultado está en línea con las mejoras registradas en sus índices productivos a partir del tercer trimestre de 2013.
AquaChile acumula un EBITDA de USD 72 millones en los últimos 12 meses.
Las ventas consolidadas de la empresa durante el segundo trimestre de 2014 totalizaron USD 171,7 millones, un 11% menos que en igual período de 2013.
En el segundo trimestre también se observó una disminución en las ventas físicas de salmón del Atlántico (39%), salmón del Pacífico (74%) y tilapia (26%); con la excepción de la trucha, que aumentó un 7% en comparación con igual lapso del año anterior.
En este periodo AquaChile registró una pérdida de USD 5,0 millones, inferior a la que había informado para el mismo trimestre de 2013, que fue de USD 27,9 millones.
La compañía también informó que su deuda financiera neta era de USD 243 millones al 30 de junio de 2014, lo que implica una disminución de USD 33,5 millones con respecto al cierre del cuarto trimestre de 2013.
Para el tercer trimestre de este año la empresa proyecta un aumento del 5% en las cosechas totales, con respecto a igual período del año anterior.

Para los salmónidos prevé un aumento del 12% en el volumen cosechado y para la tilapia, una disminución del 19%.

El plan de cosechas para el tercer trimestre de 2014 proyecta 23.541 toneladas WFE de salmón y trucha, y 5.249 toneladas WFE de tilapia.
AquaChile espera que los precios internacionales de exportación de salmón y trucha se mantengan o continúen su trayectoria al alza. Explica que la industria chilena ha moderado la siembra de peces y la industria noruega está en sus límites de producción, y que se espera que la oferta de salmón en el corto y mediano plazo crezca a un ritmo más en línea con el ritmo de crecimiento de la demanda.

Bolivia dirige su mirada a la industria piscícola

BOLIVIA
Tuesday, September 02, 2014

El Gobierno gestiona USD 40 millones para impulsar la industria piscícola en los departamentos de Pando, Beni y Cochabamba, según el ministro de la Presidencia, Juan Ramón Quintana.

“Es la primera vez que vamos a invertir semejante cantidad de recursos en un proyecto productivo; el primer componente es la producción de alevines, se tendrá un laboratorio gigantesco de producción de alevines”, anunció.
El segundo componente está referido a la industria de alimento balanceado, que demanda una inversión aproximada de USD 10 millones.
El tercer componente tiene que ver con la puesta en funcionamiento de un frigorífico y la industrialización del producto, con envase al vacío para la comercialización.
Además, Quintana señaló que el despegue de la industria piscícola impulsará un proyecto avícola y otro porcino para la producción de alimento balanceado para pescado.
Fuente: Los Tiempos

Seafood mislabeling poses mercury exposure risk

Mercury content in Chilean sea bass is related to the fish geographic origin. (Photo: Sushi Fornitori/FIS)

UNITED STATES
Thursday, August 21, 2014, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
New measurements from fish purchased at retail seafood counters in 10 different states show the extent to which mislabeling can expose consumers to unexpectedly high levels of mercury, a harmful pollutant.
Fishery stock "substitutions"—which falsely present a fish of the same species, but from a different geographic origin—are the most dangerous mislabeling offenses, according to new research by University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa scientists.
“Accurate labeling of seafood is essential to allow consumers to choose sustainable fisheries,” said UH Mānoa biologist Peter B. Marko, lead author of the new study published in the scientific journal PLOS One. “But consumers also rely on labels to protect themselves from unhealthy mercury exposure. Seafood mislabeling distorts the true abundance of fish in the sea, defrauds consumers, and can cause unwanted exposure to harmful pollutants such as mercury.”
The study included two kinds of fish: those labeled as Marine Stewardship Council- (MSC-) certified Chilean sea bass, and those labeled simply as Chilean sea bass (uncertified). The MSC-certified version is supposed to be sourced from the Southern Ocean waters of South Georgia, near Antarctica, far away from man-made sources of pollution. MSC-certified fish is often favored by consumers seeking sustainably harvested seafood but is also potentially attractive given its consistently low levels of mercury.
In a previous study, the scientists had determined that fully 20 per cent of fish purchased as Chilean sea bass were not genetically identifiable as such. Further, of those Chilean sea bass positively identified using DNA techniques, 15 per cent had genetic markers that indicated that they were not sourced from the South Georgia fishery.
In the new study, the scientists used the same fish samples to collect detailed mercury measurements. When they compared the mercury in verified, MSC-certified sea bass with the mercury levels of verified, non-certified sea bass, they found no significant difference in the levels. That’s not the story you would have expected based on what is known about geographic patterns of mercury accumulation in Chilean sea bass.
“What’s happening is that the species are being substituted,” Marko explained. “The ones that are substituted for MSC-certified Chilean sea bass tend to have very low mercury, whereas those substituted for uncertified fish tend to have very high mercury. These substitutions skew the pool of fish used for MSC comparison purposes, making certified and uncertified fish appear to be much more different than they actually are.”
But there’s another confounding factor. Even within the verified, MSC-certified Chilean sea bass samples, certain fish had very high mercury levels—up to 2 or 3 times higher than expected, and sometimes even greater than import limits to some countries.
Marko and his team again turned to genetics to learn more about these fishes’ true nature. “It turns out that the fish with unexpectedly high mercury originated from some fishery other than the certified fishery in South Georgia,” Marko explained. “Most of these fish had mitochondrial DNA that indicated they were from Chile. Thus, fishery stock substitutions are also contributing to the pattern by making MSC-certified fish appear to have more mercury than they really should have.”
The study found that on average MSC-certified fish is a healthier option than uncertified fish, with respect to mercury contamination, but that fishery-stock substitutions can result in a larger proportional increase in mercury.
“We recommend that consumer advocates take a closer look at the variation in mercury contamination depending on the geographic source of the fishery stock when they consider future seafood consumption guidelines,” Marko concluded.

Norway Royal Salmon experiences revenue drop in Q2

NRS share price development until 20 August. (Photo: NRS)

NORWAY
Thursday, August 21, 2014, 04:20 (GMT + 9)
Norway Royal Salmon (NRS) obtained a 12 per cent fall year on year in operating revenues in the second quarter of 2014, amounting to NOK 595.7 million (USD 96.7 million) compared to the same period last year, when NOK 675.6 million (USD 109.6 million) had been obtained.
The firm reported a decrease in operational EBIT of NOK 45 million (USD 7.3 million) for the quarter, changing from NOK 71.5 million (USD 11.6 million) in 2013 to NOK 26.5 million (USD 4.3 million) this year.
Both drops were attributable to lower sales prices and lower volumes as well as the increased provision for doubtful receivables related to customers in Russia and Ukraine.
Harvests were reported to be a total of 5,382 tonnes gutted weight in the quarter, a decrease of 21 per cent from the corresponding quarter last year. As a result of accelerated harvesting and extraordinary mortality at two sites, the estimated harvested volume has been reduced by 1,400 tonnes from previous estimates.
At the end of the reporting period, total assets amounted to NOK 1,978 million (USD 321 million), representing an increase of NOK 145 million (USD 23.5 million) from the prior quarter end. The change in total assets is attributable to the increase in the Group’s receivables and in fixed assets.
The Group’s operating activities generated a positive cash flow of NOK 48.6 million (USD 7.8 million) during the quarter, which represents a decrease of NOK 86.3 million (USD 14 million) compared with the corresponding prior-year quarter.
NRS expects a 'turbulent' salmon market in the shrot term and hopes Norwegian exporters will work hard to re-allocate the volume exported to Russia to other markets and regions, such as Europe, America and Asia to avoid further market challenges and pressure on prices.
Thr firm says that for this year it forecasts the salmon worldwide offer will grow between 5 per cent and 9 per cent but in the long term, this growth could be lower, which implies more positive perspectives for the industry.

Seafood exports grow in value in the first five months

Container terminal. (Photo: Stock File)

CHILE
Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 21:50 (GMT + 9)
Fishery and aquaculture product exports from Chile during the first five months of 2014 amounted to USD 2,697.7 million, 24.2 per cent more than in the same period of 2013, when this figure was USD 2,172.1 million.
However, the volume of exports between January and May of 2014 dropped by 6.3 per cent, from 607,270 tonnes – in 2013 -- to 568,820 tonnes this year, the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SUBPESCA) reported.
Frozen products were those having higher participation in export volumes, as they constituted 51.3 per cent of the total.
They were followed by the products associated with the production industry, chilled fresh products and dried algae, according to the latest SUBPESCA Fisheries and Aquaculture Report.
According to statistics from SUBPESCA, the main export was Atlantic salmon, which accounted for 47.9 per cent (USD 1,292 million) in revenues from sales abroad.
Further back Pacific salmon (14 per cent of total) and rainbow trout (15.4 per cent) were located.
Chilean products were destined for 92 countries, of which the nine major ones concentrated 78.2 per cent of total exports. Among them those that stood out were United States, Japan, Brazil, China and Russia.
With respect to the capture sector, the accumulated value of fish exports (247,500 tonnes) between January and May 2014 amounted to USD 525.2 million.
In the first five months 107,505 tonnes of fishmeal were sold abroad for USD 159.9 million, while a year earlier 122,710 tonnes worth USD 227.4 million had been exported.
The most important destinations of fishmeal were China, Korea, Spain, Japan and Italy.
Out of the total exported fishmeal, 66.9 per cent had prime quality, 21.7 per cent was super prime and 10.2 per cent was standard.
Sales of frozen seafood products abroad totalled USD 191.6 million, which represented a decrease of 12.3 per cent compared to the same period of 2013. These products went mainly to Nigeria, United States and Korea, which accounted for 18.9 per cent, 15.4 per cent and 9.1 per cent, respectively.
As for canned products, the sales performed in the first five months of 2014 totalled USD 32.8 million, 18.2 per cent higher than a year earlier (USD 27.8 million).
The Aquaculture sector exports accounted for 80.5 per cent of the total value of sales abroad and 56.5 per cent of total exports in the first five months of this year, with USD 2,172 million and about 321,000 tonnes.
The current estimate shows an increase of 35.4 per cent compared to what was recorded last year.

Norway and Brazil develop aquaculture cooperation

Brazil and Norway strengthen mutual aquaculture cooperation. (Photo: BNCC)

BRAZIL
Thursday, August 21, 2014, 01:40 (GMT + 9)
The governments of Brazil and Norway continue to work on identifying areas for bilateral technical cooperation in order to develop joint actions towards the development of aquaculture in both nations.
The important fishing fair Nor-Fhishing, held this week in Trondheim, Norway, has provided a framework to develop this process.
The meeting was attended by consort Queen Sonja Haraldsen; the head of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministry (MPA) from Brazil, Eduardo Lopes; and Secretary of MPA Aquaculture Planning and Management, Maria Fernanda Nince.
The collaboration between the two countries foresees actions as to search areas, training and management of continental and marine aquaculture space.
The agreement also includes issues relating to technology transfer in aquaculture segments such as production and infrastructure, health and biosecurity, supply chain, bearing capacity, caged fish escape and fish feed.
Another objective of this bilateral cooperation is to develop an international legislation for the aquaculture sector.
In Norway, Lopes also met with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Elisabeth Aspaker; and the Brazilian ambassador to that country, Flávio Macieira, among other officials.
Nince was planning to perform a technical visit to a fish farming centre located on the island Hitra, along with representatives of the aquaculture industry from over 20 countries, such as Vietnam and Angola.
For some time, Brazil has been developing different cooperation ways with other countries for the exchange of knowledge and to incorporate new technology in the aquaculture sector.
The MPA stressed that as part of Government’s efforts to increase the quality and safety of fish produced in the country, Brazil signed cooperation agreements with Israel and Portugal last year.

WCPFC must urgently address bigeye tuna mortality

Bigeye tuna specimens. (Photo: Stock File)

MARSHALL ISLANDS
Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 23:40 (GMT + 9)
Newly released stock assessment that shows bigeye tuna is being overfished underlines why the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) must take decisive action at its December annual meeting to reduce further reductions in bigeye mortality.

“PNA said that measures adopted last year by the WCPFC to protect bigeye were inadequate, and the results of the detailed stock assessment support this conclusion,” said Dr. Transform Aqorau, CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), a bloc of eight nations that control waters where over 50 per cent of the world’s supply of skipjack tuna is caught. “Last year’s annual meeting did not do enough to stop overfishing of bigeye tuna and we had always known that it would not be enough.”

Scientists based at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) delivered a comprehensive stock assessment for bigeye, yellowfin, skipjack and albacore tuna during the WCPFC’s annual Scientific Committee meeting held earlier this month in Majuro. These reports show that stocks of bigeye have dropped below the WCPFC “limit reference point” of 20 per cent to just 16 per cent of the original biomass now present. For the first time, scientists stated clearly that bigeye is being overfished.

Yellowfin tuna stocks were pegged by scientists to be below 40 per cent of their original unfished population, while skipjack stocks were the healthiest at slightly over 50 per cent. Albacore is also a concern, with scientists reporting that “there is a notable risk of recent fishing effort levels reducing the adult biomass of south Pacific albacore below the Limit Reference Point (of 20 per cent) within the coming years.”

Aqorau cautions that conservation measures need to be stepped up by the WCPFC for all tuna species.

Aqorau said the WCPFC members, which include all the major fishing nations as well as Pacific island countries, have known for several years that bigeye was in danger of being overfished.

“Now the scientific evidence is on the table,” Aqorau. The eight-member PNA, he said, will be working with other countries to gain consensus on measures needed to significantly reduce bigeye catches that will be taken up by the WCPFC at its annual meeting in Auckland, New Zealand later this year.

“It is clear that fishing of bigeye tuna needs to be cut by about 40 per cent to return to sustainable levels,” Aqorau said.
But there is heavy pressure on western Pacific tuna stocks from record-setting catches over the past several years. A record 2.65 million tons of tuna was hauled from the western Pacific in 2012 valued at USD 7 billion, and last year’s catch was only marginally smaller.

“PNA has been a leader in enforcing conservation measures to ensure the tuna fishery remains sustainable in the long-term,” said Aqorau. “Since 2009, PNA has enforced moratoriums on the use of fish aggregation devices (FADs), closed two high seas pockets to fishing as a condition of in-zone licenses, and required 100 per cent observer coverage of all purse seiners and in-port transshipment of tuna by purse seiners.” These have all been essential elements for successful in-zone management of tuna resources.

"But these in-zone measures must be complemented with similarly clear requirements for fishing on the high seas, with a particular focus on reducing catches by longline fishing boats that target bigeye and yellowfin tunas for global sashimi markets," Aqorau said.

“FAD closures in PNA waters are protecting juvenile bigeye, but we have yet to see compatible measures by high seas longline fleets targeting mature bigeye,” Aqorau pointed out.
“Currently, PNA is shouldering the burden for bigeye conservation, but PNA waters are mainly a skipjack fishery,” he stressed. Tuna congregate under FADs, which are essentially platforms used to attract fish. Many FADs are outfitted with sophisticated sonar that tells fishing vessels the size of tuna schools under the FAD. Bigeye catches drop dramatically during the PNA FAD ban from July through October.

PNA currently bans use of FADs for tuna fishing four months of the year, but is prepared to increase this to six. “But we want to see the commitment from distant water fishing nations to address bigeye catch on the high seas and some consideration for PNA for losses PNA domestic vessels that fish only in-zone will sustain if the FAD ban is expanded,” Aqorau stressed.

Not only do distant water fishing nations need to take action to reduce catches on the high seas, they need to begin providing operational catch data required by their membership in the WCPFC. Aqorau praised the United States for complying with this requirement by changing its domestic legislation, and said four Asian nations that have yet to comply must do so.
“PNA is providing the Commission with all catch data from fishing within our waters. The Asian fishing nations need to do the same for their catches on the high seas. The lack of data leaves gaps in the stock assessments and undermines the sustainability of the fishery for everyone because we are forced to make decisions based on incomplete information,” he concluded.

Related articles:
-Data gaps affect pacific tuna assessment
- Greenpeace demands urgent recovery plan for bigeye tuna
 

Alaska salmon fishermen to receive USD 7.8m relief funds

Commercial fishermen from Alaska will soon receive NOAA's announced aids. (Image: NOAA/FIS)

UNITED STATES
Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 22:30 (GMT + 9)
NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region is announcing the approval of the first grant application in the amount of USD 7.8 million to assist fishermen affected by the 2012 commercial fisheries failure due to the fishery resource disaster for the Yukon chinook fishery, Kuskokwim chinook fishery, and the Cook Inlet salmon fishery.

This award covers direct payments to commercial fishermen and breaks out as USD 3.2 million for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region and USD 4.6 million for the Cook Inlet Region.

"From the moment we learned that Alaska would receive fishery disaster relief funds, our first priority has been to get those dollars directly into the hands of fishermen who were impacted by the fisheries failure," said Alaska Regional Administrator Jim Balsiger. "Approval of the grant application for direct assistance means that will happen very soon."

Impacted fishermen will be receiving their application for these disaster relief funds in the mail.

For the remaining funds (about USD 13 million), the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is developing a second grant proposal based on spend plans provided by representative groups identified by the State of Alaska and the Congressional Delegation. NOAA Fisheries expects to award this second grant in the coming months.

Red tide hits the Galician canning industry

Mussel rafts. (Photo: CSIC)

SPAIN
Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 02:00 (GMT + 9)
The presence of the lipophilic toxin in the Galician estuaries has caused the closure of almost all Galician mussel polygons and the stoppage of the local canning industry production.
The red tide at this time blocks the capture in 90 per cent of the rafts. Only two polygons located in Betanzos and four in Redondela are open, Atlantico reported.
"It's pretty much all stopped at the 67 plants in Galicia because here we focus on the product from here," Juan Manuel Vieites, general secretary of the National Association of Manufacturers of Canned Fish and Shellfish (ANFACO), explained.
Canners entrepreneurs expect the red tide does not last too long because its mussel best quality conditions are recorded between January and October, when the sector produces the most to market throughout the rest of the year, added the official.
Vieites states the canning firms no longer have mussel stock and alternatives are sought only in the foreign market because "the vast majority" focuses on the Galician product.
Meanwhile, the Technological Institute of Control of the Marine Environment of Galicia (INTECMAR) reported that the closures of the platforms have a weeks or months’ time scale
The latest sample of Galician waters indicates that the situation has improved a lot, and the north wind and good weather are helping to clean the areas. However, INTECMAR director, Covadonga Salgado, emphasizes that "we must be cautious."
The agency under the Secretariat of Marine Affairs reported that there are six polygons in which mussel capture is allowed and that "can supply the markets and the product can be safely consumed if sold through legal channels."
However, according to Francisco Alcalde, Chairman of the Regulatory Council of Galician Mussel, "the sector is demoralized."
"There are zones outside the estuaries where no kilo has been sold throughout the year, and 2013 was a bad year," he said.
Meanwhile, the Secretariat of Marine Affairs completed the application submission deadline for the mussel fishermen can receive aid for losses caused by the red tide last year.
The company received a total of 582 requests, the newspaper La Voz de Galicia reported.
The mussel is the second most important resource for the canning industry, after tuna.
Related article:
- Galicia closes a third of mussel polygons due to red tide

Sergipe becomes pioneer in regulating shrimp breeder’s job

Small-scale shrimp producers. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)

BRAZIL
Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
After eight years’ effort, Sergipe has become the first state in the northeastern Brazil to regulate the shrimp breeder’s activity.
"From this regularization, we are counting on the support of the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (SEBRAE) to help us improve our productivity and care of the environment," Alexsandro Monteiro dos Santos, president of Sergipe Association of Shrimp Breeders, pointed out.
The leader referred to this development as "a historic achievement." He explained that he will provide access to credit in public banks to improve the structure of the sector and enable farmers to have pension benefits.
According to the State Administration of Environment (ADEMA), smallholders comprise about 10,000 families providing 95 per cent of crustacean production in Segirpe -- the fourth largest producer state in the country -- with about 600 tonnes per year, Globo reported.
Family production is developed in 13 municipalities in Sergipe, in areas having less than 10 hectares where about 10 specimens are produced per square metre.
The large scale production manages to breed up to 100 crustaceans in the same space.
Wanderlê Correia, ADEMA president, said several aspects will be assessed to try to make an inventory of rural properties -- such as the Environmental Preservation Area (EPA) -- and the legal reserves in the state.
"This is a win-win conquest. Producers, who can improve production, benefit and the environment is favoured, as it preserves and ensures business continuity," Correia added, according to ASN.

Three new salmon farms approved

Marlborough Sounds, where the three new salmon farms will be installed. (Photo: marlboroughtravel.co.nz)

NEW ZEALAND
Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 01:00 (GMT + 9)
Three new salmon farms have been approved in the Marlborough Sounds by Conservation Minister Nick Smith, putting an end to a legal struggle that started three years ago.
The authorisation of these ventures arises after the approval of Plan Change 24 by the minister. The settlement took place at the Marlborough District Council, where Mayor Alistair Sowman and representatives from NZ King Salmon were also present.
“These three new salmon farms at Waitata and Richmond in Pelorus Sound and Ngamahau in Tory Chanel are hugely important to Nelson and Marlborough’s aquaculture industry and wider economy. They will enable NZ King Salmon to grow its products from the current 6000 tonnes per year to 9000 tonnes per year in 2015 and 13,000 tonnes per year by 2033. These new farms will grow our GDP by NZD 120 million (USD 101.8 million) per year, our exports by NZD 50 million (USD 42.4 million) and employment by 150 new jobs,” Minister Smith pointed out.
The Minister’s approval of Plan Change 24 is the final stage of the legal process following the application in 2011 by NZ King Salmon for a plan change to make salmon farming a discretionary activity in eight locations. The proposed plan change was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority Board of Inquiry that received 1272 submission of which 722 opposed, 358 supported and 118 indicated mixed positions.
The Minister also approved Plan Change 26, a technical change to the Marlborough Sounds Coastal Plan arising from the Government’s aquaculture reforms.
Smith explained he is considering options for a more collaborative approach to Marlborough Sounds coastal planning in the future and that salmon is a superb product to sit aside the region’s world class wine and mussels.
“I am confident that with goodwill and balance we can grow Nelson and Marlborough’s salmon industry while also protecting the conservation and recreation values of the Sounds,” Smith concluded.
Related articles:
- King Salmon develops further expansion plans
- Aquaculture industry welcomes supreme court decision