IN BRIEF - Amendment to the law on the management of large bluefin tuna has been enacted
JAPAN
Thursday, June 20, 2024
It will provide material for negotiations on quota increases.
A bill amending the Fisheries Law and the Fisheries Distribution Optimization Law aimed at strengthening resource management through individual management of large Pacific bluefin tuna (over 30 kg) was passed by a majority vote at the House of Councilors plenary session of the 213th regular Diet session held on the morning of the 19th. The Fisheries Law requires reporting of the number of large bluefin tuna caught in addition to the catch volume and requires records such as the name of the vessel used and the weight of each individual. The Distribution Optimization Law requires distributors to transmit recorded information at the time of capture. It will be promulgated within 30 days and take effect no more than two months after its promulgation.
An illustration of the new reporting requirements for large Pacific bluefin tuna
Following the failure to report catches that occurred in Oma, Aomori, the government has been rushing to put in place a system that allows for individual comparisons of large Pacific bluefin tuna and significantly strengthens penalties. In case of failure to comply with the reporting obligation, the previous penalty was up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 300,000 yen (US$1,898) and will be increased to a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to 500,000 yen. (U$D 3,164), only for large Pacific bluefin tuna
Source: The Suisan Keizai (translated from original in japanese)
The Ecuadorian shrimp market in China has once again signaled weakness. In week 15, prices continued their downward trend, with particularly intense pressure on larger sizes, in a context marked by sluggish demand in the Asian giant and a solid supply from Ecuador. This is according to a report by Lewis Hu, which focuses on a phenomenon that transcends the week's trading situation: the difficulty the Chinese market is having in absorbing, at firm prices, the high volume of shrimp that continues to arrive from the world's leading exporter.
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, organized by Diversified, announced its largest edition ever, with over 52,950 net square meters of exhibition space, a figure that continues to grow. The trade show, which will take place from April 21 to 23 at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona, ??expects to host more than 2,300 exhibiting companies from 86 countries and 65 national and regional pavilions, bringing together seafood professionals from across the global supply chain.
This year's edition features new national and regional pavilions, including Bulgaria, Mexico, Oman, Uruguay, and Venezuela, joining returning countries such as Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Norway, the Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam, and others.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
The algae which has been creating problems for salmon farms in the south of Norway appears to be finally on the way out – but not before it has caused a lot of damage.
The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research said that the concentration of the Pseudochattonella algae has decreased significantly in all areas.
It is thought that high winds over the Easter weekend, including those from storm Dave which swept across Scotland and out towards Norway, are the main reason why the algae appears to be dispersing.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Chile’s fisheries authority, Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura (Sernapesca), held a coordination meeting with salmon producers and aquaculture service providers on April 8 to address an ongoing harmful algal bloom (HAB) in southern Chile.
The bloom, caused by the microalgae Heterosigma akashiwo, has been present since March and is affecting 11 farming sites located in Salmonid Concession Groups (ACS) 1 and 2 in the Reloncaví Sound. All affected sites have activated their preventive HAB action plans.
Under an existing aquaculture pre-alert, Sernapesca has authorised fish transfers to other farming locations, emergency harvests, and extended holding periods at storage centres. The meeting reiterated procedures for operators to submit requests for these measures to the regulator in the coming weeks.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
MOSCOW — Russia may catch between 30,000 and 40,000 tons of saury by the end of 2026, according to Ilya Shestakov, head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries.
Shestakov said current saury migration into Russian waters remains limited, with only “several dozen thousand tons” observed so far. “The species enters gradually, so catches will depend on how much arrives,” he explained, noting there is no fixed total allowable catch.
The official also highlighted a shortage of specialized fishing vessels, as the industry had largely abandoned saury fishing in recent years. To address this, authorities plan a major meeting with fishermen in 2026 to explore expanding the fleet and restoring lost expertise.
Historically, Russia harvested 60,000 to 120,000 tons annually during periods between 1985–1994, 2001–2008, and 2011–2014. However, catches fell sharply to just 615 tons in 2021, and no saury were caught in 2022 after the species migrated away from Russian coastal waters.
Exports of Vietnamese tuna to Spain are accelerating, with 2025 shipments projected to rise 13% year-on-year, extending momentum into early 2026.
Data from Vietnamese Customs show export turnover reached nearly US$3 million in January–February 2026, marking a sharp 101% increase compared to the same period in 2025, and well above 2024 levels.
According to Ms.Nguyen Ha, a market expert at VASEP, the rebound reflects strong European demand for tuna raw materials and processed products, positioning Spain once again as a key destination for Vietnam exports.
Despite the recent surge, the market has shown volatility. In 2024, export values remained relatively stable, while 2025 saw sharp spikes in September, November, and December, alongside notable declines in other months. This resulted in a 5% drop in early 2025 compared to 2024, before the current recovery trend took hold.
The Consumers and Users Organization (OCU) has reviewed the quality of canned mussels on the market and, after analyzing 24 different brands, concludes that all yield good or very good results, although the best are those containing Galician bivalves.
This high rating given by the OCU is based on nutritional value, food safety, and flavor. It is precisely in this last aspect that "cans made with Galician mussels, of the species Mytilus galloprovincialis, cultivated on rafts in the Galician estuaries, stand out, compared to cans containing Chilean mussels," or chorito, which corresponds to the variety Mytilus chilensis.
The mussels also passed the test in terms of nutrition, receiving a good or very good rating. They may find "a slight excess of salt" in some brands, which the OCU (Spanish Consumers' Organization) attributes to the pickling process.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Pure Salmon France has secured a major milestone in its plans to develop a large-scale land-based salmon farm in Verdon-sur-Mer, following a positive opinion from the public inquiry commission on environmental and construction permitting.
The decision marks a significant step forward for the €275 million project, validating several years of technical and environmental studies and allowing the company to move into the next phase of approvals. Construction is targeted for the second half of 2026, with first production expected by 2030.The proposed facility will use recirculating aquaculture system technology to produce up to 10,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon annually.
Avinor, the state-owned operator of Oslo Airport – a key export hub for the country’s seafood industry – has proposed moving the cargo area as part of plans to ensure the airport keeps pace with growing demand.
Norway depends on a strong and well-functioning shipping system for seafood and other critical goods. Seafood is the country’s second largest export (after fossil fuels), and Oslo Airport is a key hub in the global transport chain.The establishment of freight on the west side will also free up space and capacity that can be used for further development of passenger traffic and new routes.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The leading food tech event will bring together industry leaders to explore the sector’s future amid inflation, trade tensions, and energy and climate challenges Global experts from Nestlé, Unilever, Danone, and Ferrero, among many others, will share their insights from May 27 to 28 at the Food 4 Future World Summit.
Food production has become a strategic asset in a global context shaped by trade tensions, climate crises, and increasing competition for resources. In this scenario, F4F – Expo FoodTech 2026 and Pick&Pack for Food Industry, the major technology event for the food and beverage sector.
The Food 4 Future World Summit will bring together senior executives such as Jorge Escudero, CEO of Nueva Pescanova; Cristóbal Valdés, CEO of Deoleo, the world’s largest olive oil company; Susana Entero, CEO of Kellanova, owner of brands such as Corn Flakes, Special K,and Pringles; and Jordi Llach, CEO of Nestlé Iberia.
JAPAN
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The Ecuadorian shrimp market in China has once again signaled weakness. In week 15, prices continued their downward trend, with particularly intense pressure on larger sizes, in a context marked by sluggish demand in the Asian giant and a solid supply from Ecuador. This is according to a report by Lewis Hu, which focuses on a phenomenon that transcends the week's trading situation: the difficulty the Chinese market is having in absorbing, at firm prices, the high volume of shrimp that continues to arrive from the world's leading exporter.
SPAIN
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global
NORWAY
The algae which has been creating problems for salmon farms in the south of Norway appears to be finally on the way out – but not before it has caused a lot of damage.
CHILE.png)
The bloom, caused by the microalgae Heterosigma akashiwo, has been present since March and is affecting 11 farming sites located in Salmonid Concession Groups (ACS) 1 and 2 in the Reloncaví Sound. All affected sites have activated their preventive HAB action plans.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION FIS seafood Media.png)
Shestakov said current saury migration into Russian waters remains limited, with only “several dozen thousand tons” observed so far. “The species enters gradually, so catches will depend on how much arrives,” he explained, noting there is no fixed total allowable catch.
VIET NAM%20FIS%20seafood%20Media(4).png)
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This high rating given by the OCU is based on nutritional value, food safety, and flavor. It is precisely in this last aspect that "cans made with Galician mussels, of the species Mytilus galloprovincialis, cultivated on rafts in the Galician estuaries, stand out, compared to cans containing Chilean mussels," or chorito, which corresponds to the variety Mytilus chilensis.
FRANCE
Pure Salmon France has secured a major milestone in its plans to develop a large-scale land-based salmon farm in Verdon-sur-Mer, following a positive opinion from the public inquiry commission on environmental and construction permitting.
Avinor, the state-owned operator of Oslo Airport – a key export hub for the country’s seafood industry – has proposed moving the cargo area as part of plans to ensure the airport keeps pace with growing demand..png)
The leading food tech event will bring together industry leaders to explore the sector’s future amid inflation, trade tensions, and energy and climate challenges Global experts from Nestlé, Unilever, Danone, and Ferrero, among many others, will share their insights from May 27 to 28 at the Food 4 Future World Summit.
