IN BRIEF - Hungarian presidency to work towards a competitive european aquaculture sector
HUNGARY
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
The environmental and economic sustainability of freshwater aquaculture and the promotion of innovative and sustainable solutions were in the focus of the informal meeting of EU Directors-General and attachés for fisheries in Balatonfüred, Hungary.
The Hungarian presidency chose the improvement of the competitiveness of European aquaculture as the theme of the informal meeting held in Balatonfüred between 8 and 10 July, with the aim of developing an integrated and holistic approach to the development of both marine and freshwater aquaculture farms together with the Member States.
Fruitful debates took place both in plenary and in session meetings, offering a good basis for the continuation of the Presidency’s work to enhance the global role of European aquaculture.
The EU’s catches from marine fisheries are no longer sufficient to meet the growing demand for fisheries products, which is why it is vital to increase the competitiveness of the aquaculture sector.
Hungary is also aiming to bring about a shift in mindset that puts freshwater fish consumption in perspective alongside marine fish consumption. These efforts are in line with the recent Aquaculture 2030 Strategy of the Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, which shows that the Commission is also clearly committed to strengthening the role of the sector.
The domestically produced longline processor Marlin, built at the USC Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg, has set sail for its home port of Murmansk. It will undergo fishing trials in the Barents Sea before loading gear to begin commercial operations.
Constructed under the state investment quota program ("keel quotas") for the company Globus—founded by a collective farm partnership in the Arkhangelsk region—the vessel will target cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), halibut, and wolffish across the Barents, Norwegian, and North Seas. Longlining provides an environmentally friendly harvesting method that preserves seabed habitats.
The Marlin can catch up to 25 tons of fish per day, featuring a freezer hold capacity of 600 tons of finished products. Equipped with an automated, full-cycle factory for deep processing, freezing, and storage, the vessel has already successfully completed all factory, mooring, and sea trials.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) fisheries panels adopted a resolution on Thursday urging the Japanese government to continue negotiations for an expanded Pacific bluefin tuna catch quota.
The LDP's Fisheries Division and Research Commission on Fishery Policies acted after recent international talks failed to reach an agreement on Japan's proposal, primarily due to opposition from Mexico.
Arata Takebe, chairman of the commission, delivered the resolution to Fisheries Minister Norikazu Suzuki, emphasizing the need to coordinate with the Fisheries Agency and the Foreign Ministry to secure a deal.
Minister Suzuki pledged to move with urgency to resolve the stalemate. He noted that the ministry is evaluating sending a state minister and senior officials to Mexico to analyze why the nation reversed its stance and determine how to advance future negotiations.
Santander will serve as the European capital of the blue economy next year, acting as the host city for European Maritime Day (EMD)—the European Union's premier annual event dedicated to maritime affairs and sustainable blue growth. The event is scheduled for May 20 and 21, as confirmed by the Government of Cantabria, which is already actively collaborating with the Commission on the event's organization. Annette Westberg, a representative from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), visited Cantabria to inspect the proposed venues firsthand, meet with the relevant institutions, and gain a deeper understanding of the proposal put forward by the Cantabrian government.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
The Norwegian company tops the Ocean Benchmark 2026, while the Spanish group ranks among the top five companies across all analyzed areas.
Mowi and Nueva Pescanova have established themselves as the top performers in sustainability among major international fishing and aquaculture companies. The Ocean Benchmark 2026, produced by the World Benchmarking Alliance, positions the Norwegian multinational as the global leader and highlights the Spanish group's consistent performance in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas.
The study examined 22 of the world's most influential seafood companies.
Freight and haulage operator Northwards, which has bases in Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeen, Inverness, Scrabster and Central Scotland, is investing £640,000 in additional insulated trailers to meet growing demand for salmon exports from Shetland.
The company will take delivery of eight trailers this year, followed by a rolling replacement programme of four trailers annually.
The new insulated trailers are particularly efficient for use on the Shetland–Aberdeen ferry service, where deck space is limited.
The Insuliner design was first pioneered by Northwards to enable temperature-controlled fish to be transported from Shetland.
On the return journey, the trailers can accommodate a range of other freight items that can be side-loaded, rather than being restricted to the rear doors of conventional refrigerated trailers.
Argentina enacted legislation to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by officially signing onto the United Nations-backed Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA).
The PSMA is an agreement administered through the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization that was developed 10 years ago. According to a release by the Pew Charitable Trusts, it's the only legally binding international treaty designed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by denying vessels that have been caught from entering ports. There are over 100 signed participants in the PSMA, including major fishing fleets from the E.U. and China. Participants are subject to strengthened inspections and data sharing.
Author: Haley Jones / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
Following poor results from this year's salmon fishing season—which ended with 108 catches, an 18% decrease from the previous year—the Department of Rural Affairs and Agricultural Policy of the Principality of Asturias announced a few days ago that it would evaluate these figures, alongside all scientific indicators, "to adopt the decisions deemed technically most appropriate for preserving the species."
This Tuesday, the Department of Rural Affairs announced that it will propose a temporary ban on salmon fishing in 2027 to the Council for Aquatic Ecosystems and Inland Fishing, with the aim of fostering the species' recovery.
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
Shell-volution is advancing Scotland’s aquaculture sector through targeted research and innovation designed to strengthen mussel farming and the long-term resilience of the shellfish industry.
The project has appointed internationally recognised mussel aquaculture researcher Dr Brad Skelton, Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, as Independent Scientific Advisor for a one-year pilot.
Dr Skelton will provide independent scientific advice, constructive challenge and an international perspective to help ensure Shell-volution’s research, innovation and knowledge exchange activities deliver practical benefits for Shetland’s mussel sector and support the long-term growth of Scotland’s shellfish industry.
Aquaculture UK provided a showcase for some of the best and most innovative products in the fish farming space.
Aquaculture UK is the UK’s leading trade exhibition and conference for the aquaculture and fish-farming sector — a free-to-attend, industry trade show that brings together suppliers, farm managers, researchers and other professionals to see new products, hear technical and commercial conference sessions, and network.
This year, the show took place at its new venue - the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow.The biennial event, which ran from June 16-17, saw a 22% increase in visitors since the last Aquaculture UK in Aviemore, with international attendees surging by 33%.
Author: Janice Johnston / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Six salmon-producing communities in northeastern Japan have adopted a common identity as corporate investment begins to lift national output.
Iwate, a prefecture on Japan’s northeastern Pacific coast, is attempting to turn six separate salmon-producing communities into a recognisable regional industry, according to a press release from the prefectural government this week.
The prefecture’s long Sanriku coastline includes the municipalities of Kuji, Miyako, Yamada, Otsuchi, Kamaishi and Rikuzentakata.Each has developed its own farmed-salmon products and local branding.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
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Santander will serve as the European capital of the blue economy next year, acting as the host city for European Maritime Day (EMD)—the European Union's premier annual event dedicated to maritime affairs and sustainable blue growth. The event is scheduled for May 20 and 21, as confirmed by the Government of Cantabria, which is already actively collaborating with the Commission on the event's organization. Annette Westberg, a representative from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), visited Cantabria to inspect the proposed venues firsthand, meet with the relevant institutions, and gain a deeper understanding of the proposal put forward by the Cantabrian government.
WORLDWIDE.png)
The Norwegian company tops the Ocean Benchmark 2026, while the Spanish group ranks among the top five companies across all analyzed areas.
UNITED KINGDOM.png)
The company will take delivery of eight trailers this year, followed by a rolling replacement programme of four trailers annually.
ARGENTINA.png)
Argentina enacted legislation to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by officially signing onto the United Nations-backed Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA).
Following poor results from this year's salmon fishing season—which ended with 108 catches, an 18% decrease from the previous year—the Department of Rural Affairs and Agricultural Policy of the Principality of Asturias announced a few days ago that it would evaluate these figures, alongside all scientific indicators, "to adopt the decisions deemed technically most appropriate for preserving the species."
Shell-volution is advancing Scotland’s aquaculture sector through targeted research and innovation designed to strengthen mussel farming and the long-term resilience of the shellfish industry..png)
Aquaculture UK 
Six salmon-producing communities in northeastern Japan have adopted a common identity as corporate investment begins to lift national output.
