IN BRIEF - Responsible Seafood Sourcing Roundtable Launched in Japan
JAPAN
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Seven leading Japanese seafood distribution companies have joined forces to create the first "Japan Responsible Seafood Sourcing Roundtable."
The launch, announced in early October 2025, aims to collaboratively tackle the complex challenges of the global supply chain that cannot be solved by individual companies alone.
The main goal is to establish a framework for joint action to address critical issues, focusing on three key areas:
Ensuring due diligence in human rights and labor.
Implementing environmental due diligence in the value chain.
Establishing transparent traceability of products.
The activities of this group, composed of seven companies, will begin in October 2025. The effort will focus on action and information sharing to develop a Common Guide by 2026. The promoters will also invite more companies and stakeholders to join, with the goal of expanding the impact of responsible seafood distribution from Japan to the global market.
Nissui reported that its subsidiary, Nissui Logistics, began partially resuming inbound and outbound shipping operations on October 9, which had been disrupted by a system failure.
The incident remains active and is linked to unauthorized access detected at IDC Frontier, a third-party data center provider utilized by the company. Furthermore, Nissui confirmed that the compromised server contained neither personal information nor client data managed by the group.
The company is currently coordinating with involved parties to restore normal logistical operations, though it has not yet provided an official date for the full restoration of services.
The event keeps attention focused on the digital continuity of logistical and cold storage supply chains across the Japanese food industry.
Per capita seafood consumption in Russia reached 28 kg per person annually in 2025, marking a 7% year-on-year increase, according to preliminary operational data provided by Rosstat. This milestone meets the dietary intake recommended by the Russian Ministry of Health.
The increase reflects strategic coordination among government bodies, commercial enterprises, and trade associations aimed at shifting consumer purchasing habits. Driven by culinary promotion, seafood has gained notable prominence in major public events, including the annual Moscow on the Wave culinary week, the Russian Fish festival held in St. Petersburg, the dedicated industry showcase at the national Russia exhibition, and the upcoming Fishing Kamchatka festival.
In parallel, authorities are advancing tripartite agreements between regional governments, research institutions, processing facilities, and retail chains to build and position locally sourced brands.
Local media in Peru are reporting that surveys by the Peruvian marine Research Institute (IMARPE) are indicating unfavorable conditions for the second anchovy fishing season.
Diario de Chimbote reported a meeting between Peru’s ministry of production (PRODUCE), the National Fisheries Society (SNP), and IMARPE indicated a second fishing season is unlikely to take place. According to the publication, preliminary results indicate a high presence of juvenile anchovies and high sea temperatures will make it difficult to fish for anchovy.
The official report has not been released byIMARPE, but the institute began its study on 15 September
Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
22 African countries seek to strengthen food security, sustainable production and economic growth.
At the Dakar summit (October 7–8), COMHAFAT, RAFAQUA and RAFISMER urged greater investment in aquaculture, research, infrastructure and regional cooperation to offset declining catches, meet rising seafood demand, create jobs and reduce import dependence.
Importers face fines of Shs200 million or seven years in prison.
Uganda plans stricter fishing regulations, including controls on nets, boats and fish sizes, plus closures of illegal landing sites. Minister Robert Migadde Ndugwa cited the seizure of 35,000 banned nets worth Shs950 million.
Vessel seized off Sabah with four tonnes of seafood
Malaysian authorities detained 65 Filipino crew members on September 27, 18 nautical miles off Mantanani Island. The vessel carried 4 tonnes of seafood worth RM350,000.
The crew faces alleged fisheries and immigration violations. Families seek government assistance.
New commitments against illegal fishing, with key negotiations pending.
India ratified Phase 1 of the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement on July 20, 2026, targeting IUU fishing and overfished stocks.In Phase 2, it seeks a 25-year transition and special protections for small-scale fishers, balancing sustainability and livelihoods.
Proposed improvements focus on marine biodiversity, monitoring, traceability and more efficient assessments.
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has opened a 60-day public consultation, until December 8, 2026, proposing stronger protection for endangered species, improved independent monitoring, greater seafood traceability and simpler certification procedures.
The revised MSC Fisheries Standard v4 is expected in September 2027.
The public consultation begins on Thursday, 8 October and will remain open for feedback until Tuesday, 8 December. All stakeholders can review the proposed revisions and provide feedback through an online survey.
A new global fisheries project has launched across six countries, combining market incentives and governance reforms to improve seafood sustainability
A new five-year initiative to improve fisheries sustainability across northwest Africa and Latin America has officially launched, bringing governments, seafood businesses and development partners together across six countries.
The Global Marine Commodities 2 (GMC2) Project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility, with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
An estimated 300 tonnes of salmon have died at two Multiexport Patagonia sites following a harmful algae bloom in Chile’s southern Magallanes region, according to fisheries and aquaculture regulator Sernapesca.
Preliminary losses total approximately 200 tonnes at Taraba 7 and 100 tonnes at Taraba 8. Both sites activated mass-mortality contingency plans on October 8.Sernapesca had been monitoring elevated algae concentrations at four Multiexport sites since mid-September. The regulator identified the species involved as Leptocylindrus minimus, with concentrations exceeding reference thresholds for harmful effects.
Source: Salmonbusiness | Read the full article here