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 2026 shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has begun earlier than usual, driven by strong market signals after high shrimp prices in 2025 and limited supply. Farmers and businesses in Can Tho, Ca Mau, and Vinh Long have accelerated pond stocking to seize opportunities.
By early 2026, many areas had reached a high percentage of their planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly, according to VASEP.
In coastal western provinces, the early onset of salinity has facilitated water intake and pond preparation, but also increased pressure on farming schedules. The sector still faces challenges, including unseasonal rains, falling raw shrimp prices compared to late 2025, and rising costs for feed and seed.
Meanwhile, diseases such as EHP microsporidia are spreading, affecting productivity. Authorities recommend using high-quality broodstock, improving pond management, and applying biosecurity measures to reduce risks and enhance efficiency.
Between April 6 and 12, 2026, authorities from the Primorsky Interregional Office of Rosselkhoznadzor inspected nearly 2 tons of unmarked salted caviar carried in both checked and hand luggage at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (Yelizovo).
The inspections are part of an ongoing experiment launched on November 1, 2022, aimed at regulating the air transport of caviar lacking manufacturer labels. During the latest reporting period, no violations were recorded regarding the legal limit of 10 kg per passenger.
However, since the start of the program, officials have documented 270 violations, involving a total of 2.7 tons of unmarked caviar.
Overall, authorities estimate that more than 600.3 tons of such caviar have been inspected in Kamchatka Krai. According to the Service, the volume of caviar exported under the guise of personal consumption has decreased by threefold since the experiment began.
Between November 10 and 11, 2026, Puerto Varas will be the meeting point for researchers, producers, authorities, and representatives of civil society at the International Conference on Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS2026).
The event, organized by the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research – Applied Research, INCAR², brings together researchers, industry professionals, regulatory authorities, and representatives of civil society to create a space for interdisciplinary exchange to present and discuss the latest advances in piscirickettsiosis, including new technologies, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic strategies, and their environmental and socioeconomic impact.
The European Commission is urged to assess, and if necessary, revise its multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea, as well as to adopt a new approach to risk management.
With 15 votes in favor, six against, and six abstentions, the Fisheries Committee approved a report prepared by Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA) urging the European Commission to assess and, if necessary, revise its multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea, as well as to adopt a new approach to risk management. MEPs are calling for the Commission to "use all available legal instruments to prevent further decline in Baltic Sea fish stocks."
In this regard, they request an evaluation of the evolution of quota allocation among the different fleet segments in order to understand a possible causal relationship between pressure on resources and quota allocation by Member States.
Source: Industriss Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Planet Tracker has released a major update to its open-access Seafood Database, giving investors and lenders a faster way to identify, quantify and prioritise seafood-related sustainability risks within their portfolios.
The database now covers 300 seafood-exposed companies spanning the global value chain, including fishing, aquaculture, feed production, processing, branding and distribution. It connects company-level sourcing data with independently derived environmental metrics, highlighting exposure to overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive practices and broader ocean health risks.
Pareto cuts salmon price forecast on stronger supply growth.
Pareto Securities has lowered its full-year 2026 Atlantic salmon price estimate to NOK 80/kg (€7.20), down from NOK 82/kg (€7.38), citing stronger-than-expected supply growth and continued downside risk to the broader sell-side consensus of around NOK 85/kg (€7.65).
Global salmon supply increased by more than 12% in the first quarter of 2026, while FCA Oslo prices declined by only 3%. The relatively modest price movement was attributed in part to resilient demand in Asian markets.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Supermarket chain Asda has launched a new premium product in the UK, showcasing sustainable Scottish mussels.
The retailer’s new offering product uses mussels which are rope-grown in the Shetland Islands and around the Scottish mainland and have been certified to Marine Stewardship Council Standard since 2012.
It was created, Asda says, in response to the findings of consumer research conducted by Scottish Shellfish that revealed the barriers preventing shoppers buying more seafood and the potential levers to them purchasing more.
Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Vietnam’s tilapia export sector is showing strong momentum in early 2026, signaling expanding global demand and shifting market dynamics.
During the first two months of 2026, exports reached US$23 million, marking a sharp 242% increase compared to the same period last year, according to VASEP. The surge reflects not only sustained demand from traditional buyers but also rapid growth in emerging markets.
Brazil remains the leading destination, accounting for 54% of total exports, while the United States follows with 17%. This distribution highlights a notable shift in market structure, with new regions playing a larger role in driving growth.
Industry analysts point to these trends as evidence of untapped potential for Vietnamese tilapia, suggesting that continued diversification could further strengthen the sector’s global position throughout 2026.
Russia’s fisheries sector reported strong results, with total catches surpassing 1.5 million tons, according to the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo). As of April 13, total aquatic bioresources reached 1,596 thousand tons.
Far Eastern Basin:
The largest share came from the Far Eastern basin with 1,354.4 thousand tons. Key species included pollock (1,025.2 thousand tons), Pacific herring (201.3 thousand tons), cod (42.9 thousand tons), and flounder (17 thousand tons)—an increase of 3.7 thousand tons vs. 2025.
Northern Basin:
Catches totaled 99 thousand tons, led by cod (53 thousand tons) and haddock (23.6 thousand tons), up 4.3 thousand tons year-on-year.
Western Basin:
Production reached 31.8 thousand tons, an increase of 1.7 thousand tons. Sprats (26.1 thousand tons) rose by 6 thousand tons, while Baltic herring accounted for 5.3 thousand tons.
Azov-Black Sea Basin:
Total catch stood at 14 thousand tons, dominated by anchovy (12.2 thousand tons).
Opromar and chef Lucía Freitas have sparked debate on fish consumption in school cafeterias at the Salón Gourmets. With the implementation of Royal Decree 315/2025, which mandates 1 to 3 weekly servings of fish and limits fried foods, the sector highlights an uneven starting point.
A study by Opromar and the Fundación Española de la Nutrición covering 2,738 schools shows that 96.6% meet the required frequency, but only 26% reach the recommended level of oily fish. Regional differences are stark: Aragón (74.4%), Castilla-La Mancha (59.1%), and the northwest (71.1%) versus Valencian Community (6.2%), Catalonia (2.7%), and Murcia (0%).
Common species include hake (91.7%) and cod (46.9%), while tuna appears as a main dish in just 6.8% of menus. Only 57% of schools provide full nutritional information.
Freitas showcased practical recipes—mackerel pie, anchovy salad, and monkfish with leeks—stressing that “children like fish when it’s well prepared.” Meanwhile, Opromar is rolling out Super Peixiño 2026 in 10 schools in Madrid, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the European Union.
JAPAN
VIET NAM
By early 2026, many areas had reached a high percentage of their planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly, according to 
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
CHILE
Between November 10 and 11, 2026, Puerto Varas will be the meeting point for researchers, producers, authorities, and representatives of civil society at the International Conference on Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS2026).
EUROPEAN UNION.png)
With 15 votes in favor, six against, and six abstentions, the Fisheries Committee approved a report prepared by Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA) urging the European Commission to assess and, if necessary, revise its multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea, as well as to adopt a new approach to risk management. MEPs are calling for the Commission to "use all available legal instruments to prevent further decline in Baltic Sea fish stocks."
WORLDWIDE
NORWAY
Pareto
UNITED KINGDOM
Supermarket chain .png)
During the first two months of 2026, exports reached US$23 million, marking a sharp 242% increase compared to the same period last year, according to VASEP. The surge reflects not only sustained demand from traditional buyers but also rapid growth in emerging markets..png)
SPAIN
