MARKET

Argentina - Offer - Frozen - 60 M.T. - Ship.(+-) immediate - SALMO SALAR - HON - 4 KILOS UP - PREMIUM - Origin (Merchandise): Chile - Saturday, August 16, 2014

Poland - Offer - Frozen - 50 M.T. - Ship.(+-) Prompt. - Salmo Salar Bellies,Tails & Pieces - Origin (Merchandise): Poland - Thursday, August 14, 2014

Poland - Offer - Frozen - 150 M.T. - Ship.(+-) Prompt. - Salmon Salar Scrape meat & Mince - Origin (Merchandise): Poland - Thursday, August 14, 2014

Poland - Offer - Frozen - 72 M.T. - Ship.(+-) Prompt. - Salmon Salar B&P, Backbones & Scrape meat - Origin (Merchandise): Poland - Thursday, August 14, 2014

Thailand - Offer - Frozen - 168 M.T. - Ship.(+-) 30 - sell Cuttlefish ,catfish,Crab ,tilapia - Origin (Merchandise): Thailand - Thursday, August 14, 2014

Canada - Offer - Frozen - 168 M.T. - Ship.(+-) 30 - sell Pink Chum Salmon ,Snow Alaskan King Crab - Origin (Merchandise): Canada - Thursday, August 14, 2014

Marine Stewardship Council - MSC Worldwide

 

 

 

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent non-profit organization with an ecolabel and fishery certification programme. Fisheries that are assessed and meet the standard can use the MSC blue ecolabel. The MSC mission is to 'reward sustainable fishing practises’. When fish is bought that has the blue MSC ecolabel, it should indicate that this fishery operates in an environmentally responsible way and does not contribute to the global environmental problem of overfishing.

 

The MSC environmental standard for sustainable fisheries was developed over two years through a consultative process. The three principles of the MSC standard consider:

• The condition of the fish stock(s) of the fishery
• The impact of the fishery on the marine ecosystem
• The fishery management system

The MSC standard is consistent with the ‘Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Wild Capture Fisheries’ adopted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 2005. Any fishery that wishes to become MSC certified and use the ecolabel is assessed against the MSC standard by a third party, independent certification body that has been independently accredited to perform MSC assessments by Accreditation Services International (ASI). Chain of custody certification along the supply chain from boat to point of sale ensures that seafood sold bearing the ecolabel originated from an MSC certified fishery.

Address:	Marine House, 1 Snow Hill
City:	London
State:	(EC1A 2DH)
Telephone:	+44 (0)20 7246 8900
Fax:	+44 (0)20 7246 8901
Homepage:	Link to Homepage
Email:	info@msc.org

Icicle Seafoods Inc. -Headquarter-

 

This seafood-processing company catches, processes, and distributes fresh, canned, and frozen fish products including pacific cod, herring, sablefish, pollock, halibut, salmon (wild & Farmed), crab, and trout. Its customers include retail, wholesale and foodservice operations worldwide. It maintains floating seafood processing plants, shore plants, and other facilities in Alaska, Oregon, Washington State and Chile. The company is owned by private investment firm Paine & Partners.

Address:	4019 21st Ave W
City:	Seattle
State:	Washington (98199-1299)
Telephone:	+1 206 282 0988
Fax:	+1 206 282 7222
Homepage:	Link to Homepage
Email:	sales@icicleseafoods.com

Maruha Nichiro Corporation

 

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

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

IN BRIEF - Opportunities for boosting seafood exports to Australia

AUSTRALIA
Friday, August 15, 2014

More and more Australian seafood importers consider Vietnam as a seafood supplier of high quality and sustainability.

Vietnam is now one of the three major seafood suppliers for the Australia, after New Zealand and China. In recent years, Vietnam seafood, especially pangasius, is increasingly favored in the country. This is owing to efforts from government agencies such as the Embassy of Vietnam in Australia, Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), and Australian seafood importers represented by the Seafood Importers Association of Australia.
Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition -VIETFISH held by VASEP in Ho Chi Minh City is an important occasion for seafood importers around the world to understand more and more on fish production and processing capacity as well as seafood products of Vietnam. In the framework of VIETFISH 2014 (6 - 8 August 2014), a field trip was organized from 3rd to 10th August 2014 by Vietnam Trade Office in Australia collaborating with VASEP. Sydney Fish Market (SFM) Board of Management and Seafood Importers Association of Australia (SIAA) took the field trip and observed aquacultural activities in some provinces such as An Giang, Can Tho, Nha Trang.
Source: VASEP

The River Allen’s native white-clawed crayfish population, one of the few remaining in Dorset, has remained free from disease until now

Crayfish plague has been found on Dorset’s River Allen following an investigation by the Environment Agency and Dorset Wildlife Trust.
Until recently the river Allen’s native white-clawed crayfish population, one of the few remaining in Dorset, has managed to remain free from disease but dead and distressed crayfish were recently spotted in the river in July.
Samples were sent to the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science for disease analysis and they have now confirmed that the crayfish are infected with crayfish plague.
“The crayfish plague is carried by non-native American signal crayfish, which are not susceptible to it and are present in many of our Dorset Rivers.
It is transferred to new waters either through the movement of the signal crayfish or by water and/or damp equipment that has come from waters that contain signal crayfish. It is not clear yet how the disease reached the River Allen,” said Andy Martin for the Environment Agency.
American Signal Crayfish look similar to small lobsters, they are red-brown in appearance with large, smooth claws. They are far larger than the endangered native white-clawed crayfish.
They carry a fungal disease called crayfish plague, which can kill native crayfish. They are active during the summer and hibernate in winter, usually in burrows in riverbanks.
They out-compete our native white-clawed crayfish for food. They also cause damage to riverbanks by deep burrowing, impact on river fly populations and can reduce fish stocks by eating large amounts of fish eggs.
The Environment Agency is working closely with the Dorset Wildlife Trust and local landowners to monitor the situation and determine the extent of the outbreak.
Dorset Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer, Amanda Broom, said: “It is very sad that white clawed crayfish have been infected with the crayfish plague on the River Allen, as this was one of just three populations remaining in Dorset.
However, by remaining vigilant and observing biosecurity procedures such as cleaning and drying equipment and shoes that have been near the river, hopefully we can limit the amount of crayfish being affected by this disease.
“Whilst we can’t be sure of the fate of the surviving crayfish, the work we are doing on the River Allen with the Environment Agency, such as providing cover for crayfish to hide in, will provide any surviving white clawed crayfish a good habitat to thrive in.
“We are urging river users to ensure that any equipment they use in the River Allen is clean and dry before entering the river, when moving between locations and at the end of the day.
"This will hopefully limit the rate of spread of the disease through the river and reduce the risk of it being spread to other rivers that still have white-clawed crayfish populations,” added Andy Martin.

Nova Austral acquired by Ewos

Feed bags for fish belonging to Ewos. (Photo: Ewos)

CHILE
Friday, August 15, 2014, 23:00 (GMT + 9)
The salmon firm Nova Austral, which forms part of the PescaChile subsidiary of the Galician multinational firm Pescanova, is owned by the Norwegian firm Ewos.
The sale was settled with the payment of EUR 7.4 million, having been authorized by the insolvency administrator and creditor banks -- BCI, Banco do Brasil and DNB.
Several sources related to the operation that were consulted by the Galician newspaper La Voz de Galicia said the Norwegian firm presented an offer for Nova Austral worth EUR 134.6 million, equivalent to the value of assets. The accrued liabilities amounting to around EUR 128 million, was deducted from that amount.
The plant is expected to produce about 15,000 tonnes of salmon annually.
Later, the sale of the firm Acuinova, another subsidiary of PescaChile engaged in salmon farming, is expected. This sale would have to take place before the end of September.
In May last year, Chilean assets failed to compute in Pescanova’s balance, just a month after the multinational firm filed for creditors’ meeting.
In recent months, the multinational was trying to prevent the Chilean receivers from selling their most prized subsidiary.
Currently, PescaChile owes EUR 89 million with major creditors: Banco de Credito e Inversiones (BCI), DNB, Itaú, Banco do Brasil and HSBC.
Nova Austral has about 28 concessions for salmon farming, all in the region of Magallanes. This aspect is considered very important because it is "isolated" from the rest of the Chilean salmon industry and also this area has special incentives.

Salmon sector welcomes trade ban changes

Salmon smolt. (Photo: Stock File)

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

Another extra anchovy quota thanks to agreement with Portugal

Anchovy catches. (Photo: Magrama)

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

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

Bluefin tuna illegal fishing in Gibraltar reported to EC

Bluefin tuna. (Photo: FishBase)

SPAIN
Thursday, August 14, 2014, 22:00 (GMT + 9)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), through the General Secretariat of Fisheries, complained to the European Commission (EC) about illegal fishing of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) performed by a recreational craft from Gibraltar at a mile south of Punta Carnero, on the western boundary of the Bay of Algeciras.
This activity was detected last weekend by personnel of the Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil. Gibraltar does not have a legislation regulating recreational fishing or a bluefin tuna catch quota and so the Spanish Government considers that this fact represents a serious breach of international fishing regulations and of the European Union (EU).
The bluefin tuna fishery is the most controlled one in the world and it is regulated by the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
In Spain, recreational and sport fishing is assigned a reservation quota that allowed the capture of this species with this mode from 15 June to 9 July, when a precautionary closure of the fishery was established.
Tuna fishing was finally closed on 24 July, following confirmation of the complete consumption of the allocated quota.
"That quota is used only in the event of accidental death of the bluefin tuna because Spanish law requires the release of the specimen if it is caught," said the MAGRAMA.
The Ministry notes that in in 2006 the ICCAT adopted the Bluefin Tuna Recovery Plan, whose launch helped to recover the resource and its biomass. Therefore, it is confident that the appropriate measures to prevent and punish such actions in the future are taken.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation sent a complaint verbal note to the British Embassy in Madrid. In it, it protests about the fact that the two ships of the Gibraltar police and a patrol of the Royal Navy prevented the Rio Cedena patrol from exercising its jurisdiction over a Gibraltarian vessel fishing illegally for bluefin tuna in the Bay of Algeciras.
For the Spanish government, the British troops that hampered the Guardia Civil’s monitoring activity helped to protect the development of illegal fishing.
"The Government of Spain has no doubt about the limits of its territory and, therefore, the Spanish ships will continue performing their duties in Spanish waters," ensured MAGRAMA.

Maine proposes new rules for scallop season

Maine scallop. (Photo Credit: Dept. of Marine Resources State of Maine)

UNITED STATES
Thursday, August 14, 2014, 02:40 (GMT + 9)
To balance the success of efforts that are rebuilding Maine’s scallop fishery with industry’s desire for reliable income, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has put forward a proposal for the 2014-2015 season that emphasizes emergency rulemaking.

Despite the proposal from the Maine DMR to continue the resource rebuilding efforts of recent years by reducing the number of days draggers and divers can fish by 22 days in zones 1 and 2, and 18 days in zone 3, the Scallop Advisory Council voted during its 30 June meeting to keep the number of days the same as last season.

The Department has chosen to move forward with the SAC recommendation after a series of listening sessions with industry.
“This proposal by DMR reflects the firm commitment by Commissioner Keliher and the Department of Marine Resources not only to the health of the resource, but also to the economic wellbeing of Maine’s hard-working scallop harvesters,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “This is a balancing act. The Department must act swiftly with targeted closures if they detect any impacts to the rebuilding plan, while at the same time continuing to allow for sustainable harvest in other areas.”

“We are putting forth a recommendation that considers industry interest and input,” said DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher. “However this decision runs counter to the advice of our science staff. So we anticipate having to cut days from the season with area closures enacted through emergency rulemaking as we detect depletion of the resource beyond what can be regenerated in a season.”

The number of harvesters between 2008 and 2013 tripled, jumping from 131 to 421, which has increased pressure on the fishery in recent years. “As latent licenses become active in this fishery it places more pressure not just on the resource but also on the resource managers to ensure that industry does not over-harvest areas and jeopardize the future of a fishery on the rebound,” said Commissioner Keliher.

In 2005 an all-time low of just over 33,000 pounds of scallop meats (276,000 pounds of whole scallops including the shell and viscera) were landed from Maine waters. In 2009, 20 per cent of Maine waters were closed to scallop fishing to begin restoring the fishery.

After three years of the rebuilding, the closed areas were reopened in 2012 for fishing as limited access areas and Maine harvesters landed over 280,000 pounds of scallop meats (2.4 million pounds of whole scallops). Also in 2012, three scallop zones were established along the coast to ensure a targeted management approach. Limited access areas, in which harvesting is allowed one day per week and closed when a percentage of the available resource is removed, were also implemented. Rotational closures, an approach similar to crop rotations in agriculture, were also made part of the management regimen.

In 2013 the management efforts continued to pay off with an increase over 2012 in scallop landings of 138,136 meat pounds (without the shell), from 286,411 to 424,547. The growth in landings resulted in more than USD 2 million in additional landed value, which climbed from USD 3,191,147 to USD 5,194,553.

The 2014-2015 proposal calls for a 70-day season in Zones 1 and 2 and a 15 gallon daily limit with separate calendars for divers and draggers as well as one day per week in the Zone 1 Limited Access Areas starting in January. For Zone 3, a 50-day season and 10 gallon daily limit is proposed with separate calendars for divers and draggers and one day per week in the Whiting & Dennys Bays Limited Access Area starting at the beginning of December.

DMR will hold public hearings scheduled for 2-4 September in Brunswick, at the University of Maine-Machias, and in Ellsworth to review all public comment and present a final proposal for the season to the DMR Advisory Council during its fall meeting.

The DMR Advisory Council will review the proposal and provide input to the Commissioner who will then set the season through rulemaking.

Two giant seafood firms plan to join efforts

A trawler from Sealord's fleet. (Photo Credit: Sealord)

NEW ZEALAND
Thursday, August 14, 2014, 01:00 (GMT + 9)
Discussions are being carried out by two New Zealand's giant seafood companies in their effort to join forces.
Sealord and Sandford have revealed their intention to work together and “create a one fleet-type approach” in order to increase efficiencies.
"Why do we need three boats to go and catch a certain species of fish when we can just have two boats there and have some sort of cooperative arrangement? "What about processing facilities? Why do we need to have two factories, one on one side of the road, the other one on the other side?" asked Sanford inshore fisheries manager Shane Walsh at the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society's annual conference in reference to a recent meeting he had attended at Sealord, The Nelson Mail reported.
Walsh pointed out that competitors might work together to improve supply chain efficiencies and create value.
For his part, Sealord fishing general manager Doug Paulin endorsed Walsh's comments and added that both companies had excess fishing capacity, and consolidating their fleets would be "a huge opportunity to save costs in a pretty tough industry at the moment".
According to Paulin, while fishing was "as good as it's ever been", the industry was faced with an unfavourable exchange rate and commodity pricing of fish that was "not really going up", with margins being squeezed.
Walsh explained that they need to differentiate themselves and that they could do so by increasing efficiency by working with competitors, and by moving from sustainability to promoting the provenance of the product.
He also stressed that collaborations with science providers such as the Cawthron Institute, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (Niwa) and Plant & Food Research were taking the industry forward through innovations such as a new trawling method unveiled last year.
And he added the Ministry for Primary Industries and NZ Trade and Enterprise were very supportive in ensuring market access.
Paulin told The Nelson Mail that Sealord and Sanford had been in talks for about six months and it is expected there would be another six months of discussions before changes leading into the 2015-16 fishing year.

Albacore value grows in Galicia

Albacore, Thunnus alalunga. (Photo: Stock File)

SPAIN
Friday, August 15, 2014, 22:10 (GMT + 9)
The Secretariat of Rural and Marine Affairs of Xunta de Galicia reported that between January and 13 August, 2014 the value of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) landings in Galicia was EUR 7.8 million, representing an increase of 5 per cent over 2013.
This value corresponds to landings of more than 2,200 tonnes of albacore, 9 per cent more than in the same period last year.
This year only in Burela around 1,300 tonnes of the resource were unloaded for more than EUR 4.6 million.
According to the head of the Rural and Marine Affairs, Rosa Quintana, albacore represents one of the most important seasonal catches for the fleet of Burela and for a large part of the Galician one.
Along with the Secretary General of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), Andres Hermida; and the Secretary General of marine Affairs, Juan Maneiro, Quintana visited the fish market in Burela to attend the auction, which took place at the same time as albacore survey.
The minister highlighted the advertising campaign Faino Bonito, which aims to promote the consumption of fresh albacore. As part of this campaign, single-use plastic tags that are put in each albacore specimen were distributed at Galician landing ports.
In 2013 the Galician government used over 200,000 seals, and this year it is expected to use more than 300,000 units.
These tags make it possible to secure the identification and artisanal origin of the caught albacore reaching the outlets.
Furthermore, Quintana and Maneiro also visited the facilities of Pescados Ruben in Foz to become aware of its operation. This company is engaged in processing and packaging frozen fish, and caters to large seafood commercial areas and central markets.
Last month, a team of researchers from the CEU San Pablo University reported on the existence of fraud due to the substitution of albacore with species having lower commercial value.
With the help of an immunoenzymatic technique known as ELISA, scientists determined that under the albacore label what is being sold is yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda).
This alternative method to the DNA testing is more effective for authentication of fishery resources due to its specificity, simplicity and sensitivity.

IN BRIEF - Can Murmansk cod feed the Russians?

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

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

Fishing stoppage in Cape Verde is ‘unavoidable'

Cape Verde. The current fisheries agreement of the EU with the African country expires at the end of this month. (Map: Gringer)

SPAIN
Monday, August 11, 2014, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
The Fisheries General Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) deems 'the suspension of fishing activity in Cape Verde fishery in late August 2014 is unavoidable.
Therefore, the Spanish government raises the possibility that the surface longline fishing industry in Galicia seeks other alternatives such as the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) and Cape Verde resumed contacts to complete the new fisheries agreement wording. The new agreement will replace the current one, which has been in force since 2011 and expires on 31 August this year, and which allows a total of 66 EU vessels to carry out fishing activities .
According to the Secretariat, "due to the subsequent need for ratification by the EU Council, the fishing activity interruption seems unavoidable from August 31."
MAGRAMA noted that to date, the parties have held three rounds of negotiations, the latest one took place in April.
In addition, the Ministry said that when the new agreement was considered practically settled, "at the last moment, Cape Verde demanded an increase in the financial contribution that the EU did not accept."
"It will have little impact on the Spanish longline fleet in the Atlantic, which does not often start their activity in this area prior the month of November," added MAGRAMA.
It explained that although the impact of this agreement is not "negligible" it is not so important on total catches because longline vessels fishing in the Atlantic obtain most of their catches in international waters.
"We'll keep on the lookout to see if in two or three months the agreement is renewed and on what conditions; some ships will look for fishing grounds in the North Atlantic and others, if the delay is too long, will seek solutions in the south or where they can," added sources from the harmed sector by the stoppage of the activity.
For these fishermen, the alternative to start fishing the Indian is not "appropriate" for a portion of the Atlantic fleet, reports La Opinión.
On the other hand, longliner organization manager of A Guarda (Orpagu) of Pontevedra, Juana María Parada, said that the renewal should not be carried out "under any conditions".
Orpagu has 14 longline vessels operating in Cape Verde, but only two also fish in inland waters, in addition to the international waters of the North Atlantic.
The Secretariat of Marine Affairs of Galicia, meanwhile, pointed out the fishing grounds of Cape Verde is "very important" and hoped that a "satisfactory agreement" is reached.

About Greenpeace

Canada’s tuna huggers have gone high-tech.

New Greenpeace App for Choosing Better Canned Tuna

  (CANADA, 8/12/2014)

Greenpeace Canada has released an app for shoppers wanting to buy canned tuna which is ocean-friendly. The Sustainable Canned Tuna Guide allows consumers to search and get quick eco-advice on over 100 canned tuna products available in Canada.

For four years Greenpeace has been urging major canned tuna brands in Canada to switch to 100 per cent sustainable and equitable tuna, As a result, Greenpeace regularly receives questions from the public about which tuna they should buy and if their brand of choice is a responsible option.

Sustainable Canned Tuna Guide app will make it easier for tuna consumers to determine which products are ocean-friendly while in the canned seafood aisle of their supermarket.

This app answers those questions for tuna lovers and seeks to encourage companies that have yet to offer more sustainable tuna to do so.

The app has a photo catalogue, search function, and an easy to understand rating system allowing for quick recommendations while in the seafood aisle.

The app is the first guide to focus on particular tuna products.

Three simple icons are used to illustrate the fishing method, tuna type and green promise for each product listed.

By clicking on the icons, consumers can quickly discover what is really going on behind the label.

Additionally, the app allows consumers to send a message to Canada’s biggest tuna brand asking them to move towards 100 per cent sustainable tuna sourcing.

The rating system indicates whether a product is a better option (green), a work in progress (orange) or a bad option (red). The photo catalogue helps the shopper to recognize their go-to brand.

The app is free, available in English and French, and is downloadable for both iPhone and Android is coming very soon.
To download the app, (Android coming soon) click here.

Well-known brands are taking steps to offer their customers ocean-friendly tuna options.

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.

Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver in 1971, when a small boat of volunteers and journalists sailed into Amchitka, an area north of Alaska where the US Government was conducting underground nuclear tests. This tradition of 'bearing witness' in a non-violent manner continues, and its ships are an important part of all its campaign work.

Greenpeace today operates in more than 40 countries with headquarters in Amsterdam. It has more than 90,000 supporters in Canada and 2.9 millions members worldwide, and represent them at virtually every international environmental conference.

 

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Address:	33 Cecil Street
City:	Ontario
State/ZIP:	(M5T 1N1)
Country:	Canada
Phone:	+1 416 597 8408
Fax:	+1 416 597 8422
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China Fishery Group achieved profit increase in Q3

China Fishery Group trawler. (Photo Credit: CFO)

SINGAPORE
Tuesday, August 12, 2014, 03:30 (GMT + 9)
China Fishery Group Limited reported revenue amounting to USD 155 million and a net profit of USD 19.6 million for the April-June quarter, figures that account for year-on-year increases of 1.7 per cent and 26.6 per cent, respectively.
And for the nine months that ended in June this year, the firm reported an inter-annual increase in gross profit of 30.9 per cent.
“We have been transforming the Group so that it is strongly positioned to meet the increasing demand for fishmeal and fish oil from the growing aquaculture and animal farming sectors,” pointed out Ng Joo Siang, Group Managing Director.
And he added: “We are pleased with our performance for the quarter which reflects our commitment to this strategy. Looking ahead to the next quarter, the Group will maintain its focus on consolidating the enlarged Peruvian Fishmeal Operations, realising maximum value from the synergies and efficiencies generated and focusing on cash conversion and net debt reduction.”
The Group highlighted the revenue from the Peruvian Fishmeal Operations in Peru, accounting for 67.6 per cent of the total, represented an increase by 2.9 times from USD 83.3 million to USD 324.6 million, and reflected increased contribution from the enlarged Peruvian Fishmeal Operations incorporating Copeinca AS.
Furthermore, the revenue from the Contract Supply Business accounted for 27.1 per cent of total revenue, a decrease by 59.5 per cent from USD 320.8 million to USD 130.1 million, due primarily to the termination and non-renewal of the Long Term Supply Agreements.
Besides, the revenue from the CF Fleet operations accounted for 5.3 per cent of total revenue, an increase by 33 per cent, from USD 19.1 million to USD 25.4 million, mainly as a result of higher catch and sales volume recorded from the fishing operations in Namibia.
Despite a 57 per cent increase in overall sales volume, cost of sales and vessel operating costs increased by only 6 per cent, changing from USD 296.2 million to USD 313.8 million, which was mainly attributable to the increase in productivity and broader economies of scale achieved in the enlarged Peruvian Fishmeal Operations.
The firm revealed a gross profit increased by 30.9 per cent, changing from USD 127 million to USD 166.2 million, and a gross profit margin that improved from 30 per cent to 34.6 per cent.
The EBITDA increased by 16.7 per cent, changing from USD 182.9 million to USD 213.4 million, while EBITDA margin increased slightly from 43.2 per cent to 44.5 per cent.
China Fishery also stressed that, all in all, the net profit decreased by 24.7 per cent, changing from USD 70.2 million to USD 52.9 million, due primarily to higher finance costs and income tax expenses in Peru.
As to the fourth quarter this year, despite the Group’s lower catch volume in Peru largely due to El Niño effect, the Group is confident that the higher average selling prices of fishmeal and fish oil will be able to partially compensate for the reduction in sales volume.

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

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

Tuna vessels. (Photo: La Moncloa) The European fleet will resume fishing in Morocco in September

SPAIN
Wednesday, August 06, 2014, 03:40 (GMT + 9)
Community fishing vessels may resume fishing in Moroccan waters in September, after the European Union (EU) and Morocco have met to celebrate the joint fisheries commission.
Sources close to the bilateral negotiations pointed out the meeting is scheduled for 10 September, in Rabat, and stated that "in all probability" the fleet will return to Moroccan waters that month, EFE agency reports.
During the latest visit of King Philip VI of Spain to the African country, Morocco's King Mohammed VI told him that he had finally signed the fisheries agreement that had been ratified since February 2014 by the parliaments of both parties.
At that time it was interpreted that the return of the community vessels to Moroccan waters was imminent. Morocco, however, clarified that due to the complexity of the process and to the coincidence of the holiday period in the country, the return of the boats could not be completed in August, but a month later.
This delay does not affect the purse seine fleet of Barbate so much as tuna vessels (mostly from the Canary Islands), as well as large pelagic vessels and longliners.
Under the fisheries agreement, about 126 EU vessels are authorized to fish in Moroccan waters. Out of these, one hundred boats are Spanish, mostly artisanal ones and with more than 700 crew members, especially from the Canary Islands and Andalusia.
Morocco is to receive a financial compensation of about EUR 40 million per year in exchange for higher catch quotas for the EU fleet and the extension of the fishing area.
Although some ship owners had begun to pay for the fishing licenses, the Moroccan government warned that this stoppage month will not be considered or that in some way or other, the amount paid "will be discounted," the newspaper El Pais reported.
According to the president of the fishermen’s association of Barbate (Cádiz), Alfonso Reyes, the purse seine sector does not have plans to pay for the licenses to fish in Moroccan waters until the pending issues of the covenant are solved.

IN BRIEF - Rough weather deters tuna poachers, but fishermen say harvest quality remains good

AUSTRALIA
Wednesday, August 06, 2014

The Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association says rough weather has held up harvesting of the fish in 2014, but it has also deterred poachers.

Association chief executive Brian Jeffriess says the fleet is about two-thirds of the way through harvest.
He says fishermen have lost four to five days out of 35, with bad weather keeping the boats docked.
But Mr Jeffriess says fish quality is high, and there hasn't been an issue this year with poachers.
"I think the weather's too rough for poachers, so there's some upsides to the bad weather as well. The poachers just can't get out there.
"The farms are further and further out, particularly one of them is 40 kilometres out through very rough seas and weather, and you just don't poach in that environment."
Source: ABC

IN BRIEF - Irish Sea mystery as fish stocks continue to decline

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Restrictions on cod and salmon fishing aimed to rejuvenate declining stocks in the Irish Sea and inland waterways.

However, after years of tight fishing quotas from Brussels and strict angling controls, there has been no population boost in the two species.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), which monitors numbers for the government, said global warming may hold the key to their decline.
It said this might also be affecting the eel population.
AFBI's research vessel, The Corystes, sets sail on the Irish Sea more than 200 days a year and uses the latest technology and research skills to monitor all types of marine life and its environment.
Its statistics are used by the European Commission to set fish quotas.
Source: BBC

IN BRIEF - Bass fish increasingly switching sex as hormone-disrupting chemicals pollute waterways

UNITED KINGDOM
Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Male fish are becoming part female at unusually high rates in three Pennsylvania rivers, sparking concerns the water is tainted with chemicals.
Male smallmouth bass and white sucker fish carrying eggs in their testes were found in the Delaware, Ohio and Susquehanna rivers, according to research from the US Geological Survey.
Researchers have linked the increasing number of intersex fish, or fish with two genders, to a 'complex mix of chemicals' flowing into waterways from nearby farms.

Source: Daily Mail

IN BRIEF - 82 MILLION STRONG - Salmon harvest tops 82 million fish

UNITED STATES
Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Commercial harvests of wild Alaska salmon reached some 82,335,000 fish through July 29 2014, including nearly 30 million fish from Prince William Sound.
The statewide preliminary count compiled by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, included 39,966,000 sockeye, 34,244,000 humpies, 6,702,000 chum, 1,032,000 silver and 392,000 Chinook salmon. That was an overall boost of more than 10 million salmon in one week.
The Copper River drift district's catch reached 2,099,000 fish, including 2,039,000 reds, 43,000 chum, 10,000 king, 6,000 pink and 1,000 silver salmon.
Prices for the famed Copper River reds continued to hold at USD 77.94 for one whole fish or $19.99 a pound for fillets at the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle. Online prices of frozen Copper River king fillets at FishEx in Anchorage were USD 33.71 a pound, while Copper River red fillets were USD 29.95 a pound.
Costco warehouse stores in Anchorage meanwhile offered customers fresh wild sockeye fillets from other Alaska fisheries for $9.95 a pound, while Fred Meyer stores advertised fresh wild Alaska sockeye salmon fillets for USD 11.99 a pound.
Source: The Cordova Times