Experts in Preserve the Best of the Sea

Ubago ensures the highest possible level of quality.

  SPAIN

For more than 40 years, Ubago Group Mare (UGM) has been offering an extensive range of processed products from the best raw materials while combining tradition with the most advanced technology.

UGM is the result of a process of constant adaptation by a small family company engaged in the traditional preparation of fish preserves. 

Based on many years of experience and constant innovation as a driving force for change, the company has steadily expanded its geographic horizons and activities to become what is now one of the most important Spanish business groups in the preparation and distribution of seafood products.

Ubago has over 40 years of experience and pioneers in the preparation and commercialisation of fish and shellfish specialities.

UGM continues to bring traditional mackerel, bullet tuna and shellfish from the Mediterranean coast to the consumer, as well as a whole host of other speciality products. Years ago, UGM was a pioneer in the production of Smoked Salmon and other specialities, such as Harvestfish, Cod and Diced Salmon with cheese.

Ubago is an important player in the glass jar tuna market.

UGM has built up an extensive infrastructure network, with plants in Spain, Morocco, Cape Verde and Russia. Its facilities, based on technology, automated processes and food safety, represent a benchmark in Spain and Europe.

The company supervises and controls all its raw materials from source, thus guaranteeing a supply of its speciality products. By following market demand and adapting cutting-edge production techniques (R&D+i), UGM is also able to offer a wide range of salted products: Salted cod, Salted tuna, pre-prepared dishes, etc.

UGM guarantee commitment with the consumer translates into a strict internal Quality Assurance policy that is equally applied at all levels to all departments and employees, as well as the company's suppliers.

UGM is certified under ISO 14001:2004, IFS and BRC standards, therefore guaranteeing a complete lack of risk to the consumer in each unit the company brings to the market. 

UGM was a pioneer in the production of Smoked Salmon and other specialities, such as Harvestfish, Cod and Diced Salmon with cheese.

UGM's Quality Department, which supervises and manages the correction of procedures according to approved standards at each and every one of its plants, regardless of their geographic location, is currently made up of qualified professionals in the fields of biology, ocean science, food technology, etc.

Ubago supervises and controls the raw materials at source with a service guarantee on all its products.

About Ubago Group Mare

The current Ubago Group Mare is a 4th generation family-run company in which the management team are also shareholders. Its roots go back to the 1920s, giving it already more than 90 years of uninterrupted activity in the transformation of marine products, in accumulating experience and improvements that are constantly being adapted to consumer demands.

UGM were pioneers in implementing continuous flow production, which increased competitiveness and guaranteed the absence of risks, with a significant reduction in handling time of the fish and decided in the 1980s to tackle new challenges in the perishable goods market with – smoked salmon – whereby taking advantage of the synergies of industrial experience and an extensive commercial network, it soon became the undisputed leader in this new category.

UGM will be present at Seafood Expo Southern Europe scheduled for 22-24 September 2014 at the Fira de Barcelona – Gran Via.

Source: Ubago Group Mare

Related News

Smoked product factory upgrades its facilities with state support

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Information of the company:

Address:	Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía C/ Charles Darwin, 3
City:	alaga
State/ZIP:	Málaga (29590)
Country:	Spain
Phone:	+34 956 64 31 94
Fax:	+34 956 64 30 60
E-Mail:	info@ubagogroup.com

Europêche airs trust on new EU Fisheries Commissioner

Europêche president, Javier Garat. (Photo Credit: Europeche)

EUROPEAN UNION
Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 01:10 (GMT + 9)

President of Europêche -- Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the EU -- Javier Garat trusts that the recently appointed EU Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella should successfully balance the particular interests that lay within each fisheries department. 

“According to the oath taken by each Commissioner before the Court of Justice of the European Union, the duty of a Commissioner is to be completely independent in carrying out their responsibilities, not to take instructions from any government, body, office or entity and to refrain from any action incompatible with their duties or the performance of their tasks,” pointed out Garat in a letter addressed to Jean-Claude Juncker, President-elect of the European Commission.

In the letter Garat also described Commissioner Damanaki's time in office as being characterized by “an unhealthy obsession with media-oriented policies rather than proposals.”

Besides, the former commissioner’s work is outlined as showing an “overzealous fixation with imposing one-size-fits-all bans,” which were justified as necessary “to close legislative loopholes more efficiently and were less financially burdensome than identifying and tackling specific fisheries.”

Among these bans, the letter mentions shark fin ban on board vessels and the ban on deep sea fishing. The latter is considered to have failed to reflect scientific advice and is actually inconsistent with international best practice and the standards that the EU itself has promoted through the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and international bodies such as the FAO and the UN.

In third place, the letter mentions the Commissioner's ban to end all driftnet fishing, which has been deemed to eradicate small-scale traditional drift netters, many of whom have achieved MSC certification for being entirely sustainable.

Furthermore, Garat depicts it as “shocking” that the former Fisheries Commissioner “openly advise against consuming fish caught by entirely legal operations in the EU,” and against eating species that are actually experiencing a recovery and dismiss entirely the farmed species that can be consumed all year round.

The representative of fishing enterprises accused Damanaki of having a “close relationship with the Green lobby that was not only reflected in her policy making but has allegedly led her to take up a job post-Commission with an environmental NGO.”

Finally, Garat voiced the organisation’s trust that the new Commissioner will act in a responsible and independent manner, engaging with all relevant stakeholders and supporting policies based on science and facts and not on “emotive, sensationalist, media-fuelled initiatives which most unfairly devastated the entire European fishing sector.”

Related articles:

- Fisheries sector places discussion expectations on new Fisheries Commissioner
- Europêche complains about Damanaki's inaction on Russian import ban

Northeast first canned tuna and sardine factory opened

Canned tuna. (Photo: StockFile)

BRAZIL 
Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 02:00 (GMT + 9)

Starting this week, the state of Ceará has the first factory of canned tuna and sardines in the northeast region of Brazil.

With an investment of more than BRL 20 million (USD 8.5 million), this venture is the result of the association of the enterprises R&B Aquicultura and Crusoe Foods do Brasil, belonging to Jealsa.

The factory, set up in the province of São Gonçalo do Amarante, has the capacity to produce about 10 million cans of fish every month, which will be marketed under the brand Robinson Crusoe.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA), Eduardo Lopes; and Jesus Alonso, president of the Spanish group Jealsa.

According to Lopes, the factory will allow fishermen to have more motivation to produce and invest in the fisheries sector.

"Everyone knows that this factory will be able to absorb a lot of the fish caught and that will be a safe harbor for the productive sector," the minister said.

Furthermore, he stressed that the new plant provides a good opportunity to renew the fleet, increase productivity and reduce waste.

And he announced that the new 'Harvest Plan' -- which will be launched in 2015 -- provides better credit lines for the modernization of the fishing fleet.

Ceará canned product factory will generate 400 direct jobs, of which 90 per cent will be held by women, as they are considered skilled at handling and cutting fish.

It will also provide jobs in other areas, taking into account the necessary inputs such as tomato sauce, soy oil, cans and packaging. The inputs will be purchased in Ceará and in other northeastern states.

Fabiano Lima, fishing engineer and partner in this initiative, stressed that "technology is being transferred from Europe to Brazil" while Max Mapuranga, partner from Ceará of the Spanish group, stated the project "will rescue the fishing activity and the seafood industry from Ceará."

For its part, the Federal Superintendent of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Ceará, Emanuel Simões, hoped that this plant will encourage fishermen and vessel owners to sell its porduction in the state.

Related article:

- USD 10 million to build canning plant in Ceará

Organised gangs get huge profits from illegal shellfish trade

Razor clams. (Photo: Stock File)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cod cut would increase discards, Shetland fishermen warn

Cod catch. (Photo: Stock File)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Apoyo de Asipes para potenciar acuerdos de producción limpia

Planta procesadora de salmón. (Foto: SalmonChile)

CHILE 
Monday, September 15, 2014, 01:30 (GMT + 9)

El Consejo Nacional de Producción Limpia (CPL) presentó la Estrategia y Política de Producción Limpia a nivel nacional. En el marco de esta iniciativa, suman 92 los acuerdos suscriptos desde el año 2000 hasta la fecha, con más de 6.500 compañías adheridas y representantes de 37 sectores productivos, entre los que se encuentra la Asociación de Industriales Pesqueros (Asipes).

El Consejo también presentó una propuesta de agenda de producción limpia para el periodo 2014-2018, para la Región del Bío Bío. El objetivo principal es ayudar al desarrollo sostenible de la economía, incorporando la producción limpia en los procesos productivos.

Además, se busca mejorar la productividad, competitividad y sustentabilidad, y generar un valor compartido entre las firmas pesqueras y la comunidad.

"En el gremio pesquero existe una gran satisfacción, pues nos encontramos desarrollando procesos que van un paso adelante respecto de otras empresas y que están acordes a lo que plantea el CPL", dijo Macarena Cepeda, encargada de Medio Ambiente de Asipes.

En la actualidad, "Asipes cuenta con la certificación del Acuerdo de Producción Limpia (APL) de congelados firmado en 2005 y busca obtener el sello del CPL para el acuerdo de conservas de pescado firmado en 2013", añadió.

Según Cepeda, "si esta certificación fuera reconocida a nivel internacional sería un factor importante de diferenciación frente a otras empresas que no implementen prácticas de producción limpia".

Durante los próximos cuatro años, el Consejo prevé firmar en la zona un convenio anual identificando el APL de Turismo Sustentable (Pinto y Quillón), el APL de Caleta Sustentable (Penco, Coronel, Lota y San Vicente), el APL de la industria alimentaria, específicamente en el sector cecinas y Ferias Libres, y por último, el APL Leña.

Con respecto al APL de Caletas Sustentables, Cepeda opina que será muy positivo para la actividad artesanal, ya que le permitirá mejorar la infraestructura de sus caletas y sus servicios básicos.

Asipes informó que más de 2500 trabajadores de la industria pesquera fueron capacitados en producción limpia y acciones concretas en materias de higiene y seguridad laboral.

De acuerdo con los datos recabados, esa capacitación permitió reducir un 18% la tasa de accidentabilidad. 

Algae may replace fish oil in salmon feed

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

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

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

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

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

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

Algae that grow in the dark

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

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

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

As good as fish oil

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

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

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

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

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


Complete replacement for fish oil in salmon smolt feed

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

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

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

Medio millar de 'bateeiros' pide ayudas por marea roja de 2013

Cosecha de mejillones de cultivo en Galicia. (Foto: Xunta de Galicia)

ESPAÑA
Thursday, September 11, 2014, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
La Consejería del Medio Rural y del Mar de la Xunta de Galicia recibió alrededor de 500 solicitudes de ayudas de parte de los bateeiros gallegos para paliar las pérdidas del sector mejillonero debido a la aparición de marea roja en 2013.
El Gobierno gallego evalúa ampliar la partida presupuestaria para los apoyos (EUR 1,5 millones) si fuera necesario, dijo Rosa Quintana, consejera del Mar.
Además, trabaja para mejorar el reglamento comunitario que ampara estas ayudas y lograr que los requisitos para acceder a ellas sean menos exigentes que hasta la fecha.
La funcionaria destacó que la Consejería desarrolló diferentes medidas para paliar estas pérdidas económicas sectoriales. Y anunció que se emitirán siete resoluciones que ayudarán a ampliar la cantidad de cuerdas en 100 unidades por batea en 22 polígonos.
Esta iniciativa dotará al sector de una capacidad extra de asimilación del producto ante la evidente imposibilidad de volcarla al mercado.
Además, y en función del episodio tóxico, se tramitan nuevas ampliaciones a pedido de los bateeiros.
Asimismo, la Administración autónoma realiza gestiones con Agroseguro para mejorar las pólizas que dan cobertura al sector en este tipo de incidentes; y potencia el trabajo del Instituto Tecnológico de Control del Medio Marino de Galicia (Intecmar).
Esta entidad emplea un sistema de control muy exhaustivo, que lo convierte en uno de los mejores a nivel mundial, subrayó la Xunta
Con respecto a la reciente alerta sanitaria declarada por Francia, la consejera sostuvo que Galicia defendió en todo momento la trazabilidad del mejillón local y destacó que "es el mejor del mundo".

Comienza a zarpar la flota española con rumbo al caladero marroquí

Flota pesquera. (Foto: Allison Miller/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

ESPAÑA
Thursday, September 11, 2014, 00:50 (GMT + 9)
Ya están partiendo de Barbate con rumbo a Tánger, Marruecos, las primeras embarcaciones palangreras andaluzas que pescarán boquerón y pez sable en aguas marroquíes.
Tras tres años de parón por problemas políticos y económicos entre Marruecos, la Unión Europea (UE) y España, la flota pesquera de Andalucía puede retornar ahora al caladero del país africano.
"Llevamos tres años sin trabajar allí y desde luego la primera semana será de prueba, a ver cómo están las cosas, porque sí es verdad que en esos bancos hemos pescado mucho y la pesca es normalmente de mayor tamaño y calidad que en el estrecho, pero al principio será una aventura", dijo Domingo Pacheco, el patrón y armador de los palangreros Chipiona I y Sirena I.
"Es cierto que en teoría, tras tres años sin pescar, el banco debería estar mejor que nunca pero es que nos dicen que justo ahora no se está viendo pesca allí y la flota marroquí también es más grande, con más de 100 barcos", agregó el patrón de la Cofradía de Barbate, Alfonso Reyes, informó el diario El País.
En el marco de este protocolo pesquero, están autorizadas a pescar 126 embarcaciones de la UE, entre las cuales hay 99 españolas y específicamente, 45 de Andalucía.
Varias embarcaciones de la flota arrastrera gallega taambién zarparon esta semana, después de haber permanecido un mes a la espera de recibir el permiso final de las autoridades de Marruecos
Cuatro barcos de Marín y uno de Cangas trabajarán hasta fin de año, como mínimo, en el caladero africano capturando merluza negra.
El portavoz de CIG-Mar, Xabier Aboi, no se muestra muy optimista sobre la rentabilidad del caladero para los barcos marinenses, ya que "la merluza negra no es lo más rentable y no poder pescar cefalópodo les perjudica", informó el diario Faro de Vigo.
El actual convenio estará vigente durante cuatro años y supone el aporte de EUR 40 millones anuales por parte de la UE.
Este nuevo acuerdo permitirá capturar en el caladero marroquí unas 80.000 toneladas al año de seis tipos de pesca.

Pescadores vascos evalúan abandonar campaña del bonito y capturar anchoa

Flota del Cantábrico. (Foto: Stock File)

ESPAÑA
Wednesday, September 10, 2014, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
La flota vasca está evaluando abandonar la campaña del bonito, cuyos resultados hasta ahora han sido malos, y abocarse a pesca de anchoa.
Así lo anunció la secretaria de la Federación de Cofradías de Pescadores de Gipuzkoa, Miren Garmendia, después de que el Gobierno central resolvió reabrir la pesca de anchoa en el Cantábrico con una cuota de 2.000 toneladas.
Hace unos días, las cofradías de Cantabria, Bizkaia y Gipuzkoa manifestaron su oposición a la decisión del Ejecutivo, por considerar que esta reapertura podría impactar en la campaña de la primavera de 2015.
Por ello, solicitaron la destitución del titular de la Secretaría de Pesca, Andrés Hermida, a quien acusan de haber "cedido a las presiones" de Galicia, informó la agencia EFE.
Garmendia sostiene que "si la pesquería está abierta, lo está para todos", por lo que las embarcaciones del País Vasco consideran "dejar el bonito para ir a la anchoa".
La "mala campaña" de pesca que están experimentando los pescadores vascos los lleva a evaluar si tiene sentido afrontar los gastos que supone desplazarse hasta Irlanda "para buscar un bonito que está complicado de pescar, teniendo aquí 2.000 toneladas de anchoa y pudiendo pescarla a dos horas de distancia", explicó.
"Con lo cual, si toda la flota [vasca] va a la anchoa, que tiene el mismo derecho que los barcos gallegos, pensamos que las 2.000 toneladas se pueden agotar fácilmente", añadió Garmendia.
En su opinión, la decisión de reabrir la campaña de anchoa "lo que se hace es romper claramente, de una forma unilateral, las reglas de juego establecidas en beneficio de una flota determinada".
Para las futuras campañas de anchoa, Garmendia reclama un nuevo modelo que establezca las cuotas siguiendo el año natural, en vez del actual, que fija el total admisible de capturas (TAC) entre el 1 julio de un año y el 30 de junio del siguiente.
Por otro lado, el sector pesquero de cerco gallego aseguró que no desea entrar en una "guerra de la anchoa" y afirmó que apuesta por el diálogo y el buen entendimiento entre el sector de las distintas comunidades y la Administración, informó La Opinión.
Por su parte, el vocal de la mayoritaria Asociación de Cerco de Galicia (Acerga), Andrés García, recordó que durante la reunión de la comisión sectorial del cerco del Consejo Gallego de Pesca se rechazó por unanimidad el cierre de la pesquería en la zona VIIIc -de Fisterra al golfo de Vizcaya "por tratarse de una medida sobre la que una organización de productores carece de competencia, ya que versa sobre la gestión de un recurso y no sobre su comercialización".
En defensa de la decisión adoptada por la Secretaría General de Pesca, Hermida aseguró que la reapertura de la pesquería garantiza cuota suficiente para 2015 en el Cantábrico y censuró la actitud "poco solidaria" de los pescadores cántabros y vascos.

Precisó que si se pescan las 2.000 toneladas autorizadas ahora, con las 2.000 ya capturadas se cubriría un 25% de la cuota hasta julio.

"Creo que con una reserva del 75% para 2015 es más que suficiente", señaló. Y si bien dijo que todos los cerqueros del Cantábrico podrían extraer este cupo, admitió que sería más lógico que lo desembarquen los gallegos porque el pescado apareció en sus costas.
 

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

¿Vuelve la polémica 'guerra del calamar' con la Argentina?

Calamar Illex. (Foto: Stock File)

ISLAS MALVINAS
Friday, September 05, 2014, 23:50 (GMT + 9)
El Departamento de Pesca de las Falklands dio a conocer este año que la pesca de calamar generó la captura anual más grande desde que se iniciaron los registros, lo que representa un gran impulso para la economía de las islas.

Según un artículo publicado en el diario británico The Telegraph, esta captura récord, valuada en más de GBP 45 millones (USD 73,9 millones), es probable que represente un golpe para las autoridades argentinas, quienes al parecer iniciaron una "guerra del calamar" contra las Malvinas hace dos años

El artículo señala que, en ese momento, se les dijo a los pescadores argentinos que faenan en el Atlántico sur que centraran sus capturas en el calamar Illex antes de que llegara a las aguas que rodean el territorio británico.

Además, algunos países del mercado de libre comercio Mercosur (Brasil, Uruguay y Chile) fueron persuadidos por las autoridades argentinas para que rechacen cualquier buque con bandera de las Malvinas.

Pero estas medidas adoptadas por el país sudamericano parecen no haber afectado el rendimiento de la pesquería de calamar Illex. Este cefalópodo comienza su primer año de vida en las afueras del Río de la Plata (frontera entre Argentina y Uruguay) en septiembre, y se desplaza hacia el sur a medida que crece.

"A pesar de la preocupación inicial de que las condiciones de frío afectarían negativamente a la pesca, las capturas del Illex han superado las 270.000 toneladas, la cifra más alta desde que la pesquería se inició en 1987", dijo Colin Roberts, gobernador de las Falklands.

El Reino Unido gobierna las Malvinas, ubicadas a 290 millas (460 kilómetros) al este de la costa argentina, desde hace más de 180 años, pero la Argentina también reclama soberanía del archipiélago. La exploración petrolera marítima en el área ha estimulado nuevas oleadas de nacionalismo en ambos lados.
 Noticia relacionada:

- Registran capturas récord de calamar

Exalmar invoices extra 94pc in the first half term

One of the fishing vessels of the fleet belonging to Exalmar. (Photo: Exalmar)

PERU
Friday, September 05, 2014, 01:00 (GMT + 9)
The fishing company Exalmar intends to offer further thrust to the development of products for direct human consumption (DHC) after starting its plant Tambo de Mora, in Ica.
The company obtained the license to operate three new boats to fish horse mackerel and mackerel, and a quota of 739 cubic meters of tuna.
According to Raúl Briceño, the fishing firm administration and finance manager, with higher production volumes it may develop new product lines.
"So far we have caught 7,800 tonnes of horse mackerel and mackerel, almost double the effective capture of all 2013. And, considering all of the species, 5,522 tonnes," the executive pointed out.
In its report on the financial statement, Exalmar informs that production in the plant in Paita totalled 5,522 tonnes up to June, that is to say, 41 per cent more than in the same period last year.
This rise was driven by increased production of frozen giant squid (33 per cent) and frozen dolphin fish (30 per cent) and scallops (379 tonnes).
Through 30 June, the company had reached 82.9 per cent of total production in 2013.
Exalmar managers intend to extend the certification obtained to directly sell to the international supermarket chain Tesco, in Asia, and leverage its networks to enter other countries.
Exalmar sales generated USD 122.3 million in revenue in the first half, up 94 per cent over the first half of 2013 (USD 62.9 million). This growth partly reflects higher fishing quotas for the second term of the year (November 2013 to January 2014), which were sold throughout this year.
DHC products generated USD 15.4 million in the first half of 2014, equivalent to 13 per cent of turnover of Exalmar while sales of fishmeal accounted for 67 per cent and those of fish oil the remaining 20 per cent.
The product business for indirect human consumption (IHC) had a 97 per cent increase attributed to higher initial inventories for the largest quota of the second season of 2013 (2,304 tonnes compared to 810 tonnes in 2012) and therefore, increased production; higher sales of fishmeal (with lower average prices but offset by the higher volume) and higher sales of fish oil (with similar prices but offset by higher volume price).
DHC business had a 75 per cent increase over the same period last year, driven by increased production and frozen product sales (+ 106 per cent) and a 79 per cent reduction in the sale of fresh fish (horse mackerel and mackerel) after the start of operations of the plant of Tambo de Mora.
Related article:
- Two fishing firms sanctioned for discarding juvenile anchovy

Scientific study on horse mackerel encouraged

Horse mackerel onboard a fishing vessel. (Photo: NOAA)

PERU
Thursday, September 04, 2014, 23:30 (GMT + 9)
The National Fisheries Society (SNP) aims to promote the scientific research on horse mackerel based on the information provided by industrial vessels.
To this end, the SNP has organized the V Workshop on Horse Mackerel Status Diagnostics between 3 and 5 September gathering qualified scientists engaged in this pelagic resource research.
SNP president, Elena Conterno, stated that from the conclusions of the workshop, a report supporting the country’s statements will be presented to the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation in the South Pacific (RFMOs-PS).
The main objective is to show that the Peruvian horse mackerel population is different from that living in Chilean waters so they need different treatment.
Conterno stressed that the Peruvian Government has made significant progress in this regard and hoped that the strength of the reports presented will help you in the next RFMO-PS scientific meeting when the amount to be captured will be analysed, "taking into consideration two horse mackerel stocks and not just one."
The Regional Organization is the international body which grants fishing quotas to each country for certain species at sea, including horse mackerel and soon the squid or giant squid.
SNP president ensured the vessels belonging to the associated companies have abundant and updated information obtained during their fishing activities on oceanography, acoustics, geostatistics, species size and catch.
"This valuable gathered data will be analyzed and made available to universities and research centres in the world requiring it so that they can use it to achieve a better understanding of our resources and a more sustainable management," she pointed out.
To that end, the SNP has invested more than USD 60,000 in specialized software for organizing the data collected by fishing vessels and obtaining applied scientific information.
Conterno stated "this is a demonstration of how the public and private sectors can work together with the academic and scientific community to benefit the resource sustainability."
But she also stressed that effective control of fishing effort and landings is needed to prevent illegal fishing and catching smaller fish than the legal size.
"Otherwise, this will become a chronic announced depredation," she said.
On the other hand and despite the fact that the latest official report of the National Multisector Committee in charge of the Study of El Niño Event (ENFEN) predicts the presence of a weather phenomenon having from weak to mild extent, several specialized agencies warn of its impact on the fishing industry towards the last quarter of 2014.
Besides anchovy, El Niño event also harms squid or giant squid, dolphin fish, prawn, horse mackerel and mackerel.
Related article:
- El Niño could affect the sector more than expected

Empresas chinas interesadas en invertir en la industria pesquera

Néstor Miguel Bustamante, subsecretario de Pesca y Acuicultura. (Photo Credit: MinAgri-Argentina)

ARGENTINA
Thursday, September 04, 2014, 01:50 (GMT + 9)
Autoridades y empresarios chinos manifestaron a una delegación argentina que viajó a Shangai su interés en invertir en infraestructura portuaria y en radicar nuevas empresas en la Argentina, para tener acceso al caladero nacional.
En el marco de las gestiones de cooperación entre China y Argentina, impulsadas a través del Subcomité de Pesca China-Argentina, funcionarios argentinos se reunieron con directivos de la empresa Shanghai Fisheries General Corporation.
En el encuentro, en el que participó el titular de la Subsecretaría de Pesca y Acuicultura de la Nación, Néstor Miguel Bustamante, el presidente de la empresa china, Shaohua Pu, y otros ejecutivos manifestaron su intención de incorporar nuevos buques pesqueros en su filial en la Argentina.
Cabe recordar que Shanghai Fisheries General Corporation adquirió el año pasado la empresa nacional Altamare S.A. (ex Pereira). Esta compañía cuenta con tres buques tangoneros para la captura de langostino y una embarcación potera para la pesca de calamar, además de una planta de procesamiento de productos pesqueros en Puerto Madryn.
La corporación china también pretende expandir sus operaciones de captura, procesamiento y comercialización a otras especies del mar argentino, además del calamar y el langostino.
Por otro lado, autoridades del grupo China National Fisheries Corporation (CNFC) se entrevistaron con Bustamante, a quien le presentaron sus proyectos de expansión de sus inversiones en la Argentina, que concretarían en 2015.
Deng Rongcheng, gerente general de la CNFC, destacó la capacidad operativa de la empresa presente en más de 40 países, con una flota que supera las 80 embarcaciones y que les permite capturar más de 200.000 toneladas anuales de recursos pesqueros.
"Argentina significa un gran futuro para nuestra empresa, y tenemos el objetivo de seguir creciendo allí", aseveró Rongcheng.
Los funcionarios argentinos se reunieron además con el director general del Departamento de Pesca del Ministerio de Agricultura de China, Zhao Xingwu, con quien abordaron cuestiones de agenda de ambas entidades.
Xingwu le agradeció a Bustamante por "la seriedad del trabajo realizado mancomunadamente", que ha permitido acercar a los dos países y proyectar nuevas inversiones en el sector pesquero.
Noticia relacionada:
- China promete mayores inversiones pesqueras en Argentina

Warnings over low western and central Pacific tuna stocks

Pacific tuna. (Photo Credit: NOAA)

AUSTRALIA
Thursday, September 04, 2014, 04:10 (GMT + 9)
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) executive director warns tuna stocks are at a dangerous level and worsening but he claims the situation was ‘not yet unrecoverable.’
"The Pacific bluefin is I would have thought at the biggest risk, it's at about 3 per cent of its original spawning biomass, so the amount of adult fish in the water that can spawn ... it's at a pretty dangerous level," stated WCPFC director Glenn Hurry to the agency AFP.
Hurry details that other species that were also depleted were bigeye tuna – which was below the critical level of about 20 per cent of its original spawning biomass -- skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna – which was below 40 per cent of its original biomass.
Given this situation, Hurry welcomes Japan's plans to propose a 50 per cent cut on catches of young bluefin tuna in the western and central Pacific in a historic shift aimed at safeguarding the at-risk species.
Nevertheless, he considers more tough decisions needed to be made and admits it would be harder for small countries dependant on the fishing industry to pull back on their hauls.
With too many boats catching too few fish, Pacific island nations in June said they were ratcheting up the fees they charge tuna fishing boats to enter their waters by a hefty 33 per cent. It was then argued that this decision had been taken after considering that the foreign fishing vessels do not do enough to conserve the fishing resources.
The eight countries involved are from the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), which control waters covering more than half the world's skipjack tuna, the most commonly canned variety.
From 1 January 2015, the PNA will raise the fishing day fee for so-called "distant water" fleets from as far afield as Europe, China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, from USD 6 000 to USD 8 000.
Related articles:
- Govt plans to limit Pacific bluefin tuna catch
- PNA nations to increase fees for tuna fishing
- More fishing vessels may harm tuna stock status, a report warns

Pescadores gallegos reclaman más cuota de anchoa

Pesca de anchoa. (Foto: Galizacig)

ESPAÑA
Thursday, September 04, 2014, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
A raíz del cierre de la pesquería de anchoa en aguas del Cantábrico, la Asociación do Cerco de Galicia (Acerga) reclama a la Secretaría de Pesca del Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (Magrama) disponer de más cuota del recurso pelágico para el segundo semestre de este año.
Acerga pide al ministerio que trate de lograr un consenso con Opes Cantábrico -que agrupa a las organizaciones de pesca artesanal de País Vasco, Cantabria y Galicia, a través de la Organización de Productores Artesanales de Galicia (Opaga)- para habilitar más cuota de anchoa.
Los pescadores también pretenden que España no ceda el 10% de la cuota de anchoa 2014-2015 a la flota de Francia.
Acerga, que agrupa a 124 de los 156 barcos de la flota en Galicia, reitera a la autoridad que no fueron consultados por Opaga sobre la conveniencia de limitar las capturas de anchoa en el segundo semestre de este año al 10% de la cuota disponible para extraer entre el 1 de junio de 2014 y el 1 de julio de 2015.
Desde la Asociación estiman que el representante de Opaga -Benito González- "actúa con voz propia al no consultar al sector la posibilidad de los acuerdos antes de aceptarlos", informó el diario Faro de Vigo.
Acerga también manifestó su disconformidad con el hecho de que "desde Opes Cantábrico se reclame el cierre de la pesquería para el segundo semestre pretendiendo dejar sin pescar a la flota gallega y asturiana y en cambio generosamente se pretenda ceder el 10% de la cuota a Francia".
Esta pesquería "no es exclusiva del golfo de Vizcaya, sino que es de todo el Cantábrico Noroeste", por lo que su gestión debe ser "equitativa", recalcó.
Desde el sector advierten que en los próximos meses en el mercado no se verá anchoa atlántica ni cantábrica, informó Diario Vasco.
El Magrama resolvió cerrar la pesquería de anchoa en la zona sur de Galicia -de Fisterra a la desembocadura del Miño- porque la flota había sobrepasado en un 500% su tope de capturas de apenas 75 toneladas, frente a las 6.000 asignadas a la flota del golfo de Cádiz, con la que comparte la explotación de la zona pesquera IXa-.
El ministerio también decidió cerrar la pesquería de anchoa en la zona del norte, es decir, la zona VIIIc, de Fisterra al golfo de Vizcaya.
Noticia relacionada:
- Cierre de pesquería de anchoa sorprende a pescadores gallegos

SP claims license definitive grant for tuna traps

Tuna catch at a trap. (Photo: faocopemed.org)

PORTUGAL
Wednesday, September 03, 2014, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
The Socialist Party (SP) proposed Portugal should be definitively granted the rights to exploit two tuna traps installed in Portuguese waters, which at present are managed by Spain and Italy.
The coordinator of the Socialist parliamentary group of the Committee on Agriculture and Marine Affairs, told the agency Lusa that the SP will present a draft resolution "for the government to assert the negotiation process" with the European Commission in late 2014, and the two corresponding licenses are obtained.
The Portuguese fishermen exploit three structures to capture bluefin tuna along the coast of the Algarve, but it only has rights to one of them. The other two are operated through the "non-use" by Italy and Spain. Both countries have licensing rights "under the so-called historical regime," Freitas explained.
According to the legislator, there is a business prerogative that "temporarily allows" Portugal to use more than two traps because these nations do not exploit all of them directly.
"Neither Italy nor Spain have used these licenses for five years. They have allocation but they do not used it," he stressed.
The deputy also requires the "extinction of the historical regime."
The MP clarified that the two traps "are just for catching and not for fattening," and that it is essential for Portugal to be able to perform the fattening process, allowing them to also "be for aquaculture".
"As the bluefin tuna is one of the most regulated, supervised and controlled species in the world, we want to consolidate these licenses, maintaining the same quota of 235 tonnes that have been allocated to Portugal,” he added.
Freitas argues that the final allocation of the three traps must be "a priority of the Portuguese government" when the European Union’s fishing quotas are negotiated in Brussels.

Scottish trust supports fisheries conservation projects

Scottish fleet fishing vessels. (Photo Credit: SSF)

UNITED KINGDOM
Wednesday, September 03, 2014, 02:50 (GMT + 9)
The Scottish Fishermen’s Trust (SFT) has awarded grants in excess of GBP 100,000 (USD 166,000) so far this year for a diverse range of fisheries science and conservation projects.

Many of these projects support initiatives that have come directly from Scottish fishermen looking to increase their understanding of Scotland's fish stocks and promote their conservation, including the use of more selective fishing gears.

Awards made so far in 2014 include:

• The Scottish Association of Fish Producers Organisations initiative to collect, collate and communicate discards information;
• A new approach to estimating mackerel biomass being developed by the University of Aberdeen;
• Gear selectivity trials initiated by Jimmy Buchan, skipper of Amity II;
• Supporting the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s contribution towards analysing the data collected in the North Sea Stock Survey; and
• A lobster v-notching scheme run by the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation.

SFT was established by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) in 2000 with the aim of providing public benefit by promoting the protection and conservation of the marine environment. It also promotes and encourages the health, safety and training of fishermen. Since its establishment it has awarded grants of more than GBP 700,000 (USD 1.16 million) in support of such projects.

"We are delighted at the large number of worthwhile projects we are supporting this year and are impressed by the dynamism and enthusiasm of our fishermen in instigating these initiatives," said James Brown, SFT chairman.
"Knowledge is all-empowering and these projects will make a significant contribution in helping improve our understanding of the marine environment and the fisheries they support," he added.

Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the SFF, added: "The diversity of projects being supported by the Trust this year is most impressive. It underlines the importance our fishermen attach to ensuring healthy marine ecosystems and the sustainable harvesting of a much valued food resource."

NGO threatens to take legal action over farm escape report

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney considers the work on the salmon escape is not finished. (Photo: Simon Coveney)

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Wednesday, September 03, 2014, 01:00 (GMT + 9)
West Cork-based environmental group has threatened to sue the Information Commissioner in an attempt to obtain a report on salmon escape that took place last February.
Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) announced it will take High Court action if the fish farm does not release a report on the escape of 230,000 salmon specimens after the storm that contributed for a cage break to get loose from its mooring and upend itself into another cage at Gerahies in Bantry Bay, West Cork Times informed.
On the other hand, the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney refused to release the report on escape on the grounds that the work is not completed and that “the public interest would not be served by the disclosure of the report.”
FIE Director Tony Lowes stressed that the recently released 2013 Annual Report of the Commission, which has recently been published, showed that there had been no improvement in the long delays the group has experienced with its appeals.
“74 per cent of the cases were not addressed within the legislative period of four months with more than 33 per cent of the cases still awaiting a decision for more than a year. In his report, even the new IC called these ‘unacceptable delays’,” Lowes pointed out.
Lowes explained the matter was especially urgent as a previous report of a 2010 disaster in Clew Bay released to the group had shown that the Department was at fault for not requiring the necessary inspections of the equipment.
“We believe the Bantry Bay report will show that in spite of the 2010 recommendations, nothing has been done to ensure that these installations are inspected to ensure their viability. That is the reason the Minister is refusing to release the report,” Lowes stated.
“These cages have been restocked in spite of the minister’s claim that the accident report has not been completed. Given the increasing severity and frequency of storm events due to climate change, it is vital that we see this report before the storms recur,” he concluded.
Related article:
- Green group lodges complaint against govt for cover-up