IN BRIEF - Three automatic bonito fishing machines can handle the same amount of work as two people
JAPAN
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
The Fisheries Research and Education Agency Development and Investigation Center has published a preliminary report on the results of a 2023 survey project that examined the operational performance of electric automatic fishing machines on deep-sea skipjack pole-and-line fishing boats.
The problem of lines getting tangled with the next machine, which was an issue when multiple machines were operated simultaneously, was resolved, and the time required for restarting the machine was also shortened. As a result, the skipjack catch ratio was about twice that of a human fisherman for a total of three fishing machines.
Verification of the simultaneous operation of three fishing machines began in fiscal year 2010. The machines are installed closer together to 1.2 meters in anticipation of actual operation. As a result, it is expected that the line of the adjacent machine will frequently become entangled with the rod, so the length of the line (main line) from the tip of the rod to the lure, which was 1.5 meters, was reduced to 0.6 meters, half the installation interval. [....]
Source: The Suisan Keizai (translated from original in Japanese)
MOMBASA – In a historic milestone, the first Our Ocean conference in Africa concluded in Mombasa with 320 commitments from over 100 governments and businesses, valued at $6.4 billion to protect oceans and the blue economy.
Among the key announcements, Canada will allocate $682 million to small craft harbors, and the World Bank will invest $1 billion over two years for resilient blue economies. French Polynesia will expand protection in Tainui Atea by 27,000 square kilometers.
As host, Kenya led with 42 commitments worth $1 billion, including $200 million for electronic monitoring on industrial fishing vessels. This measure aims to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which costs Africa between $11 billion and $13 billion annually.
The forum brought together 5,000 delegates and highlighted the role of youth in a continent where 70% of the population is under 35 and views the sea as a source of employment and food security. The World Resources Institute (WRI) confirmed that 78% of historical commitments in the region are complete or in progress, marking a definitive shift toward financing and solutions led by Africa itself.
China is continuing to be a major buyer of salmon – and seafood in general - from around the world. The latest data from the Norwegian Seafood Council shows that the huge increase in salmon purchasing which took off late last year shows no sign of letting up, although the pace of increase has slowed down.
The Council says the strong growth shows that the Chinese salmon market still has underlying strengths.
However, it is the lowest growth year-on-year since March 2025, when the market grew by “only” 25%. It is also the lowest monthly import figure since September last year.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
The Norwegian Seafood Councilis using Norway’s FIFA World Cup campaign to promote Norwegian seafood, highlighting that more than 500kg of fish and shellfish has been shipped to the national team’s training base in the United States.
National team chef Aron Espeland has relocated from Brasserie France in Oslo to Norway’s hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he is responsible for catering for more than 60 players and staff during the tournament.The Seafood Council used the announcement to highlight seafood’s nutritional credentials, including its protein content, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D levels.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
The price is now the lowest since the beginning of September last year. But never before has more salmon been exported in one week in the first half of the year than during last week.
According to sector statistics provider Akvafakta, the market-influencing spot price of Norwegian salmon decreased in week 24 by NOK 2.12 per kilo, down to NOK 66.25 (£5.28) per kilo.
That price is NOK 11.76 (£0.94) below the same week last year.
The average spot price so far is NOK 81.11/kg compared to NOK 84.11/kg at the same time a year ago.
Author: Pål Mugaas Jensen / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The European Union and Norway have reached an agreement on the shrimp quota in the North Sea and Skagerrak for the next season, which will begin on July 1 and last for one year, until June 30, 2027. The total quota will be 4,612 tons for the entire period, representing a 15% increase over the current quota and in line with the quota recommendation issued by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Of the total, Norway will be allocated 2,888 tons, while the EU fleet will have 1,724 tons.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
The 16th edition of AquaVision, the world's leading aquaculture business conference, organized by Skretting and its parent company Nutreco, brought together more than 400 global aquaculture leaders, suppliers, and decision-makers from 40 countries in Stavanger, Norway.
The agenda was organized around two main themes: the global geopolitical landscape and its implications for aquaculture, and the innovations that are defining the future of the industry.
In his opening remarks, Nutreco CEO Bastiaan van Tilburg called for strengthening collaboration and the free flow of knowledge and innovation as a condition for the growth of the global food system
One of Scotland’s leading salmon producers has won a prestigious honour at an international awards ceremony.
Bakkafrost Scotland scooped the Sustainability Award at the Aquaculture Awards, part of Aquaculture UK, the sector’s flagship event. The awards were presented at a gala dinner at the Hilton Glasgow, attended by more than 700 guests. There were nearly 100 nominations, celebrating the best of the international aquaculture community.
Bakkafrost Scotland was shortlisted across several categories, reflecting the company’s continued investment in people, innovation, sustainability, and community partnerships.
Scottish salmon exports to India are set to benefit from the implementation of the UK-India free trade agreement next month, with tariffs on the product scheduled to be removed from 15 July.
The trade deal will eliminate the current 33% tariff on Scottish salmon entering India, a market that industry representatives believe could offer significant growth opportunities for exporters.
India is the world’s third-largest fish market, with domestic fish consumption reaching nearly 12 million tonnes in 2021, according to industry figures. While the majority of seafood consumed in the country is locally sourced, imports are concentrated in the premium segment, particularly in major cities including Delhi and Mumbai.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) introduced a bill in the Senate to prohibit the use of American taxpayer funds to finance foreign seafood farms. The initiative seeks to protect domestic shrimp producers and processors from unfair international competition.
The legislation, named the "Save Our Shrimpers Act," would explicitly ban federal funds from being allocated to international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, for activities related to the farming, processing, or exporting of foreign shrimp. This bill is the companion to proposal HR.2071, authored by Representative Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas), which passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming majority last month.
Although current federal law requires the Department of the Treasury to vote against assistance that harms domestic producers, enforcement has been lax. In fact, the United States voted against a foreign shrimp aquaculture project for the first time in history only recently, in April 2025.
The proposal is backed by key industry organizations, including the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) and Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United, Inc.
Eurostat data confirms that aquaculture in the EU continues to stagnate, while global production, on the contrary, continues its steady upward trajectory.
In 2024, EU aquaculture produced approximately one million tons of aquatic organisms—corresponding to a quarter of total EU fisheries and aquaculture production—worth €4.6 billion, representing just over two-fifths of the total value of EU fisheries and aquaculture production. Four EU countries were responsible for approximately two-thirds (64.6%) of aquaculture production: Spain produced just under a quarter (24.3%) of the total, followed by France (17.9%), Greece (12.6%), and Italy (9.7%).
Source: iPac.aquacultura | Read the full article here
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The Fisheries Research and Education Agency Development and Investigation Center has published a preliminary report on the results of a 2023 survey project that examined the operational performance of electric automatic fishing machines on deep-sea skipjack pole-and-line fishing boats. (1).png){kind=small}
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CHINA
China is continuing to be a major buyer of salmon – and seafood in general - from around the world. The latest data from the Norwegian Seafood Council shows that the huge increase in salmon purchasing which took off late last year shows no sign of letting up, although the pace of increase has slowed down.
NORWAY
The 
The price is now the lowest since the beginning of September last year. But never before has more salmon been exported in one week in the first half of the year than during last week.
EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union and Norway have reached an agreement on the shrimp quota in the North Sea and Skagerrak for the next season, which will begin on July 1 and last for one year, until June 30, 2027. The total quota will be 4,612 tons for the entire period, representing a 15% increase over the current quota and in line with the quota recommendation issued by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Of the total, Norway will be allocated 2,888 tons, while the EU fleet will have 1,724 tons.
The 16th edition of 
UNITED KINGDOM
One of Scotland’s leading salmon producers has won a prestigious honour at an international awards ceremony.
The trade deal will eliminate the current 33% tariff on Scottish salmon entering India, a market that industry representatives believe could offer significant growth opportunities for exporters.
UNITED STATES
Eurostat data confirms that aquaculture in the EU continues to stagnate, while global production, on the contrary, continues its steady upward trajectory.
