IN BRIEF - Proposed fish plant closures put 80 jobs at risk
UNITED KINGDOM
Friday, July 12, 2024
Salmon processing facilities in Lewis could be shut down with the loss of about 80 jobs.
Owner BakkafrostScotland said closing its sites at Marybank and Arnish, near Stornoway, would be a temporary but extended measure.
The company said the move had been proposed because the majority of its fish were harvested in the first part of the year and there would be minimal activity for the facilities for the next 18 months.
Western Isles SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said Bakkafrost was one of the biggest employers in the area and losing so many jobs would be "devastating".
Faroese-owned Bakkafrost Scotland said:“Our board has been forced to consider extremely difficult scenarios in order to futureproof the business and secure our remaining staff across Scotland.
"One of the scenarios proposed is that we close the Arnish Harvest Station and the Marybank Processing Facility for an extended period.
“We intend to start a period of collective consultation with those potentially affected and hope to complete this over the coming weeks.”
The Governor of Tierra del Fuego, Gustavo Melella, and the Argentine-Canadian firm Wanchese Cooke—a subsidiary of Cooke Canada—have signed a letter of intent. The agreement aims to establish an initial framework for dialogue, technical and institutional exchange, and the assessment of aquaculture development opportunities within the Argentine province.
This initiative aligns with Tierra del Fuego’s public policy of promoting sustainable, innovative aquaculture that generates added value, in accordance with the provincial Aquaculture Development Plan and current regulations.
Through this agreement, both parties express their commitment to advancing a preliminary work agenda.
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced that it will launch an evacuation plan for the 11,000 seafarers currently stranded in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. This initiative will be carried out in coordination with the governments of the United States, Iran, and Oman, as well as other coastal nations in the region and maritime industry companies, within the framework of the memorandum of understanding recently signed by US and Iranian authorities.
The United Nations body stated that it has all the necessary security guarantees to begin the operation and has verified that conditions for safe navigation are assured.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
AKVA group said a contract to design and deliver a smolt facility for Icelandic land-based salmon farmer Laxey has come into effect following the completion of financing for the project.
The contract was originally announced on 21 April but was conditional on Laxey securing the funding required for the development.
That condition was lifted on Tuesday after Laxey announced it had completed a €47 million equity raise and secured syndicated financing to support the next phase of its expansion in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
The project relates to the design and delivery of a new smolt facility that forms part of Laxey’s wider land-based salmon farming development in the Westman Islands.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Philippines-based regenerative seaweed supply chain platform Coast 4C recently secured a EUR 2.1 million (USD 2.5 million) seed round investment to scale its digital platform for smallholder seaweed farmers, enabling them to increase productivity and give global processors access to consistent supply.
The investment came from U.K.-based global aquaculture investment firm Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund (BRF), which is a EUR 92 million (USD 104.6 million) fund intended for investments in sustainable aquaculture.
Author: Haley Jones / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
The company begins a new business phase after one of the most significant insolvency proceedings in the Spanish tuna industry.
The company emerging from the restructuring of the tuna group Atunlo will keep its headquarters in Vigo, ensuring the continuity of business operations that, in recent years, have weathered one of the most complex insolvency processes seen in Spain's seafood processing industry.
This news represents a major boost for the economic ecosystem linked to the Galician tuna sector, as it guarantees the continued presence in Vigo of an operator historically tied to the international marketing of tuna.
The Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) has issued a public statement expressing concern regarding the bill that would allow industrial trawling in Chile.
Twenty-seven of the world's leading squid-buying companies, gathered in the Buyers' Sectoral Roundtable, issued an alert regarding Bill No. 18.173-21. This bill, currently under discussion in the Chilean Congress, proposes reintroducing industrial trawling in specific areas of the country, thereby reversing the provisions of the "Jibia Law" (Jumbo Squid Law).
Companies endorsing the statement include Wofco, Santa Monica Seafood, Quirch Foods, Grupo Profand, Panapesca USA, and Congalsa, among others.
Kenya, Seychelles, Gabon, Tanzania and South Africa advance country-led actions to strengthen fisheries transparency with tuna leading broader momentum toward full electronic monitoring.
At the Our Ocean Conference hosted in Kenya, the governments of Kenya, Seychelles, Gabon, Tanzania and South Africa unveiled a set of country-led commitments to advance electronic monitoring—the use of onboard video cameras, GPS and sensors to monitor and verify fishing activities—to strengthen transparency across their fisheries. These announcements reflect growing African leadership in modernizing fisheries management and improving accountability at sea.
The move of Aquaculture UK from Aviemore to Glasgow attracted a record attendance, organiser Diversified UK has announced.
The biennial trade show, which ran from June 16-17 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) on the Clyde, saw a 22% increase in visitors since the last Aquaculture UK in Aviemore, with the number of international attendees surging by 33%.
Also making his debut was Scotland’s new agriculture, marine, and the islands minister Jim Fairlie, who cut the ribbon at the SEC and reaffirmed the Scottish government’s commitment to working with the sector.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Nekkar has exercised an option to acquire the 40.43 percent stake in FiiZK held by Bevest, increasing its ownership in the aquaculture technology company to approximately 86 percent.
The transaction also gives Nekkar control of around 90 percent of FiiZK’s outstanding voting shares.
The exercise price for the stake was NOK 55.1 million (€5 million), based on NOK 0.10 per FiiZK share. Settlement took place on 22 June through the transfer of 3,649,079 treasury shares in Nekkar, valued at the company’s 30-day volume-weighted average share price of NOK 15.09.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
UNITED KINGDOM(5).png)
ARGENTINA
The Governor of Tierra del Fuego, Gustavo Melella, and the Argentine-Canadian firm Wanchese Cooke—a subsidiary of
WORLDWIDE
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced that it will launch an evacuation plan for the 11,000 seafarers currently stranded in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. This initiative will be carried out in coordination with the governments of the United States, Iran, and Oman, as well as other coastal nations in the region and maritime industry companies, within the framework of the memorandum of understanding recently signed by US and Iranian authorities.
NORWAY
AKVA group
PHILIPPINES
Philippines-based regenerative seaweed supply chain platform Coast 4C recently secured a EUR 2.1 million (USD 2.5 million) seed round investment to scale its digital platform for smallholder seaweed farmers, enabling them to increase productivity and give global processors access to consistent supply.
ICELAND.png)
Announcing its 2025 results, the company saw its EBITDA rise by €12.5m (£10.7m) to €73.9m (£63m).
SPAIN.png)
The company begins a new business phase after one of the most significant insolvency proceedings in the Spanish tuna industry.
CHILE.png)
Twenty-seven of the world's leading squid-buying companies, gathered in the Buyers' Sectoral Roundtable, issued an alert regarding Bill No. 18.173-21. This bill, currently under discussion in the Chilean Congress, proposes reintroducing industrial trawling in specific areas of the country, thereby reversing the provisions of the "Jibia Law" (Jumbo Squid Law).
KENYA.png)
At the Our Ocean Conference hosted in Kenya, the governments of Kenya, Seychelles, Gabon, Tanzania and South Africa unveiled a set of country-led commitments to advance electronic monitoring—the use of onboard video cameras, GPS and sensors to monitor and verify fishing activities—to strengthen transparency across their fisheries. These announcements reflect growing African leadership in modernizing fisheries management and improving accountability at sea.
The move of 
Nekkar
