Marlborough Sounds – Five crew members were dramatically rescued from rocks at French Pass in the Marlborough Sounds last night after their fishing vessel ran aground, prompting a challenging, 12-hour operation by Coastguard volunteers.

Source: Coastguard Nelson

Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted around 11:30 pm Tuesday. Coastguard Nelson reported that one person was thrown overboard, but all five crew managed to reach the safety of the rocks, though they were "very cold."

The rescue vessel, Sealord Rescue, arrived around 2:30 am. Its crew had to contend with French Pass’ notoriously strong currents to maneuver close enough for a safe retrieval. Coastguard Nelson skipper Steve King praised the team's "certainly put to the test" vessel handling skills during the intense operation.

The skipper and engineer, along with a Coastguard volunteer, were placed back on the fishing vessel to prepare it for towing. Sealord Rescue then successfully towed the disabled boat to Croisilles Harbour for damage assessment by divers.

The coordinated team effort, which concluded just before 1 pm Wednesday, was widely praised. A special thank you also went to the staff of Nelson's Styx Restaurant for delivering hot bacon and egg butties to the returning, weary crew.

The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has secured management rights for approximately 20,413 hectares of forest land, previously used for illegal fish farming, to implement President Prabowo Subianto's priority food security program.

The revitalization targets areas across four regencies in the North Coast (Pantura) of West Java: Bekasi, Karawang, Subang, and Indramayu.

Key Program Details:

• Focus: Transforming unproductive land into high-value, sustainable, and environmentally friendly aquaculture zones.

• Species: The initiative will prioritize tilapia cultivation, chosen for its suitability to the Pantura environment.

India has emerged as a key driver in Asia's shift from wild-caught to farmed fish, recording a massive 167% expansion in inland aquaculture production, according to a regional study by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).

Production jumped from 1.5 million tonnes in 2014 to nearly 4 million tonnes in 2023. This growth is crucial as marine capture fisheries are stagnating across Asia, contributing to the region's 70% share of global fish production. Aquaculture's share of fisheries employment in India has also risen significantly to around 40%.

The Hidden Cost: Fish Loss and Waste (FLW)

Despite this surge, the study, presented at an FAO/BOBP-IGO workshop, raised alarms over high Fish Loss and Waste (FLW).

• Marine fish losses have climbed to over 10% (up from 2.78%).

• Dry fish losses are critically high at 37%.

These losses are driven by inadequate cold-chain capacity, poor handling, and unhygienic landing sites. The report warns that this translates to reduced food security, a major drain on vital nutrients for low-income households, and financial setbacks for small-scale fishers.

Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairman D.V. Swamy noted that while India’s $7.5 billion export industry maintains stringent quality control, the domestic supply chain faces serious vulnerabilities and food safety risks.

Beijing - China's interest in Norwegian seafood products is booming, as confirmed by Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, during a recent promotional event in Beijing

The Minister met with about 20 journalists from China's most influential media outlets at a Hema Fresh grocery store, a gathering that, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council, reached tens of millions of Chinese consumers.

Record Export Figures

The Chinese market is crucial for the Norwegian fishing industry. "We have exported seafood for more than 10 billion NOK so far this year," Minister Sivertsen Næss highlighted.

• Salmon: This has been the main driver of growth. Figures from October indicate that the export volume has more than doubled, and its value has increased by 67% year-to-date.

• Other Products: Demand for other seafood, such as mackerel and shrimp, is also on the rise.

Innovation with Live Streaming

In a strategic move to capitalize on the digital consumption trend, Sivertsen Næss made history by becoming the first Norwegian Fisheries Minister to participate in a seafood live stream in China.

She was present during the launch of Lerøy Aurora's own live streaming channel, a platform that has established itself as a key engine for growth in salmon sales among Chinese consumers.

Royal Greenland, Greenland’s largest and most influential company, officially welcomed Toke Binzer as its new Chief Executive Officer on December 1st.

Binzer assumes leadership with a profound understanding of Greenlandic society and the company's crucial role in the nation's economy. "If things go well for Royal Greenland, they go well for Greenland—and vice versa," Binzer stated, acknowledging the "huge responsibility" to secure a significant part of the country's economic future. He looks forward to undertaking this task with employees in Greenland and globally.

A familiar figure in Greenland's business community, Binzer also brings valuable international leadership experience from his time at companies like IBM and TDC.

Royal Greenland's Chairman of the Board, Niels Thomsen, praised this dual background: “Toke has worked at the intersection of strategy, operations and people... experience that will be valuable in Royal Greenland’s continued development." Thomsen emphasized that Binzer’s combination of international experience and local insight makes him uniquely suited to lead the company as both a global market leader and a key contributor to Greenlandic society.

Binzer plans to visit Royal Greenland's global locations in the coming months to meet employees and gain firsthand operational insights.

An Oslo Stock Exchange announcement said the board has decided to initiate work on a rights issue as the chosen financing method, with planned completion in the early part of 2026.

The issue is planned to raise gross proceeds in the range of NOK 150 to 300 million. The company’s main shareholder, Gigante Havbruk, has confirmed that it will participate with up to NOK 150 million (around £11m).

The net proceeds will be used to support the next phase of the company’s growth, including necessary and strategic improvements to the facility.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here

The impact of sea lice from Norwegian salmon farms on migrating wild salmon smolts is the same this year as it was in 2024, according to a new assessment by a government-appointed steering group.

The group comprises one representative from each three institutes: the Veterinary Institute (VI), the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA).Its assessment influences the “traffic light” colours allocated by the state to each of the 13 salmonid production areas on Norway’s west coast, from PO1 in the south to PO13 in the far north.

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

Vietnam’s total aquatic production in the third-quarter of 2025 reached over 2.7 million tonnes, up 3.3% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first nine months of 2025, the country’s total aquatic production exceeded 7.2 million tonnes, an increase of 3.2% compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the country’s General Statistics Office.The Q3 pangasius harvest amounted to 469,300 tonnes – up 4.8% year-on-year, with the total output in the first nine months exceeding 1.3 million tonnes – up 4.6%. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the increase was driven by higher processing and export demand for value-added pangasius products, as well as rising selling prices in the quarter, ensuring profitability for farmers.

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here