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 National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) has announced the start of the fishing ban periods for all shrimp species in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
This measure, based on technical criteria from the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS), aims to ensure the reproduction and sustainability of the resource.
The restricted zones include:
From the border with the United States, in Tamaulipas, to the Coatzacoalcos River, in Veracruz.
The coastal strip of Campeche and Tabasco (specifically for the seven-barbed shrimp).
The area of the Contoy fishing grounds, in Quintana Roo.
Furthermore, a permanent ban is maintained in the marine strip from 0 to 20 nautical miles from Isla Aguada, Campeche, to the border with Belice, covering lagoons and coasts of the Yucatán Peninsula. Authorities warn that failure to comply with these regulations will result in sanctions established by current law.
Spain has established itself as the leading producer of farmed fish in the European Union (EU), contributing 25% of the total volume.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) analyzed at the Aquaculture Business Conference, the Spanish sector recorded an annual growth of 1.4%, contrasting with the 4% decline experienced across the rest of the community bloc.
Aurora de Blas (pictured), Director General of Fisheries Management and Aquaculture, highlighted that "one out of every four tons" produced in the EU originates from Spanish facilities. According to the industry association Apromar, national production reaches 268,000 tons annually, standing out not only for its volume but also for its species diversity.
With more than 5,000 establishments, the sector is key to territorial cohesion and the maintenance of rural communities. Looking ahead, the Government is promoting the EsAcui 2021-2030 strategy, focused on regulatory simplification, the effective use of funds, and the reinforcement of animal welfare as competitive pillars for the close of the 2024 fiscal year and beyond.
The company strengthens its aquaculture expansion in Latin America with a focus on innovation.
Ace Aquatec Chile SpA announced the appointment of Gonzalo Eduardo Boehmwald Trigo as General Manager for Latin America (LATAM), with the goal of strengthening its management team and consolidating its growth in the region's aquaculture markets.
In this role, Boehmwald will lead the company's regional expansion, deepen relationships with strategic clients, and head the commercial execution of Ace Aquatec's equipment and service offerings in Latin America.
It calls on the Commission to take legal or trade action against them
Although the European Commission has a legal tool to adopt trade measures against third countries that unilaterally allocate fishing quotas, ignoring scientific recommendations, it has not yet applied it.
This happens year after year with Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, which independently agree on quotas for mackerel or blue whiting, even disregarding the scientific recommendations that the 27 member states usually follow.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Vigo, Spain-based Nueva Pescanova announced a EUR 283 million (USD 331 million) capital increase, which it said will reduce its leverage to aid growth.
The company said its principle shareholder, ABANCA, will subscribe to EUR 279 million (USD 326 million) of the capital increase. The increase also includes the option for minority shareholders to participate through cash contributions
The additional funding comes in the wake of Nueva Pescanova returning to profitability in FY 2025. The company posted a profit of EUR 1.1 million (USD 1.3 million) for the year as the recovery plan it implemented in 2023 began to bear fruit.
Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
The Nor-Fishing Foundation, organiser of the Aqua Nor trade fair, has entered a long-term partnership with Arctic Securities to develop the event’s professional programme, according to a statement released Monday.
The agreement runs through 2031 and follows an earlier collaboration during last year’s exhibition, where a joint finance-focused seminar attracted more than 300 participants and generated waiting lists.Under the new arrangement, the parties plan to expand the seminar into a dedicated platform aimed at investors, policymakers and industry executives, with a focus on capital markets, global trends and long-term growth opportunities in aquaculture.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Aquabyte has launched a new camera solution for aquaculture that combines feeding, health monitoring, biomass calculation, and automatic lice counting in one unit.
"With Hydra 360, which is the name of our new camera solution, we are taking a serious step into AI-assisted feeding," Aquabyte's chief commercial officer, Thomas Fekete Rønningen, said at the HavExpo 2026 trade show on the outskirts on Bergen.
Combined with the feeding product that the company launched at Aqua Nor 2025, Aquabyte believes its all-in-one Hydra 360 will be able to replace all types of cameras used in aquaculture – including the feeding camera - and cover all data collection needs in today's and tomorrow's aquaculture.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The Tuvalu Fisheries Authority (TFA) has officially secured a Grant Funding Contract with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
This agreement marks the beginning of the Tuvalu Fisheries Support Programme Phase 3 (TFSP3), a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering the nation's economic and food security.
The contract allocates a total budget of NZ$10.9 million (approximately US$6.6 million) over a five-year period. To ensure the program's success, MFAT will also provide two long-term technical advisers to work alongside local teams.
Key Objectives of TFSP3
Sustainable Management: Optimizing oceanic fisheries revenue while protecting marine resources.
Institutional Strengthening: Enhancing financial management, human resources, and governance for the Board of Directors.
Asset Maintenance: Restoring operational readiness for the fisheries vessel Manaui II.
Local Growth: Supporting community fishing and marketing initiatives.
TFA Managing Director Sam Finikaso expressed deep gratitude for New Zealand’s decade-long partnership, emphasizing that this phase is critical for the long-term resilience of Tuvalu’s fisheries sector.
The Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) begins a new chapter under the leadership of Luis Parot Donoso, who returns as Executive Director following his previous tenure between 2018 and 2022.
Parot, a Fisheries Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Class of 1973) and holder of an MBA, possesses an extensive professional background in the Valparaíso Region, where he held prominent leadership roles in the municipalities of Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Villa Alemana, and Zapallar.
After serving on the institution's Board of Directors between 2013 and 2014, he takes on this challenge with a focus on aquaculture, fisheries, and climate change. Despite a complex financial outlook, Parot emphasizes the urgent need to improve the quality and relevance of research in Chile. To achieve this, he aims for close collaboration with the Undersecretariat of Fisheries, seeking to strengthen the technical advisory services the agency provides to the State of Chile while fostering a work environment built on unity and scientific excellence.
ABANCA and the Foundation Cluster for the Conservation of Seafood Products (FUNPROMAR) have renewed their strategic alliance to promote the dissemination of the sea-industry sector.
The agreement was signed in Vigo by Roberto Alonso, legal representative of the Foundation, and Lino Comesaña, Institutional Business Director of ABANCA in Galicia, Northern Spain, and Portugal.
Key Points of the Agreement:
Colloquium Cycle:3 public sessions will be organized in the city of Vigo.
Themes: Industrial history, sustainability, innovation, and socio-economic value.
Objective: To bridge the gap between the business world and the public, highlighting the sector's role in food supply and employment.
This collaboration reaffirms the commitment of both entities to the competitiveness of the business framework in Galicia. Through this partnership, they aim to position financing as a key lever for economic progress and social well-being, strengthening the image of an industry essential to the region's development.
Fuel Rises, Fishing Suffocates Peru
Peruvian artisanal fishing currently faces a pressure that seriously compromises its economic viability: the sharp increase in the price of diesel, an essential input for operation. Added to this is a...
JAPAN
MEXICO.png)
The National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca) has announced the start of the fishing ban periods for all shrimp species in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
SPAIN.png)
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) analyzed at the Aquaculture Business Conference, the Spanish sector recorded an annual growth of 1.4%, contrasting with the 4% decline experienced across the rest of the community bloc.
CHILE.png)
The company strengthens its aquaculture expansion in Latin America with a focus on innovation.
EUROPEAN UNION
It calls on the Commission to take legal or trade action against them
Vigo, Spain-based
NORWAY
The .png)
"With Hydra 360, which is the name of our new camera solution, we are taking a serious step into AI-assisted feeding," Aquabyte's chief commercial officer, Thomas Fekete Rønningen, said at the HavExpo 2026 trade show on the outskirts on Bergen. 
TUVALU
This agreement marks the beginning of the Tuvalu Fisheries Support Programme Phase 3 (TFSP3), a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering the nation's economic and food security..png)
Parot, a Fisheries Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Class of 1973) and holder of an MBA, possesses an extensive professional background in the Valparaíso Region, where he held prominent leadership roles in the municipalities of Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Villa Alemana, and Zapallar..png)
The agreement was signed in Vigo by Roberto Alonso, legal representative of the Foundation, and Lino Comesaña, Institutional Business Director of ABANCA in Galicia, Northern Spain, and Portugal.
