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.
Companies from around the world, expert voices in panels and seminars, and recognition of local innovation will be part of the thirteenth edition of the fair.
More than 20,000 square meters of exhibition space, the participation of more than 550 exhibiting companies, and an International Congress that will bring together more than 40 speakers to address the main challenges of the aquaculture industry in Chile and the world will shape Aquasur 2026, which will be held in the Los Lagos Region between March 24 and 26.
The goal that FISA events set for this edition was to consolidate the fair as "the largest aquaculture industry event in the Southern Hemisphere," while also positioning the Los Lagos Region as a national development hub.
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
IceFish exhibitor and packaging giant Samhentir Kassagerð ehf has announced that its operations have been certified under the international BRCGS standard for import and wholesale companies for packaging, including food packaging.
The company received an A rating, the highest possible result for the BRCGS Storage and Distribution standard.
The certification confirms that Samhentir's processes meet strict requirements for quality, safety and traceability. Customers can therefore be confident that they will always receive consistent and safe quality from certified, world-class suppliers.
Pollock nuggets, raw octopus and a range of salmon-based products are among the shortlisted finalists for the Seafood Excellence Awards. The list includes the US arm of smoked salmon specialist St. James Smokehouse.
The winners will be announced on Sunday 15 March at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, the largest seafood trade event in North America.The 12 finalists in the Excellence Awards were selected out of a list of market-ready products that are launching or have been introduced in the past 18 months to the North American market.
Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Growth in volume and value for Norwegian salmon exports.
Norway exported 97,463 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 9.4 billion ($940 million) in February, marking growth in both value and volume compared with the same month last year.
Poland, China and France were the largest markets for Norwegian salmon during the month.
China recorded the strongest growth in value. Exports to the country increased by NOK 570 million, or 107 percent, compared with February last year.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
The Regional Ministry of the Sea and the Fundación Nueva Pescanova will turn Galicia into the international hub for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture with the IV Global Sustainable Seafood Galicia Forum, to be held in Vigo on April 28.
The Regional Minister of the Sea, Marta Villaverde, signed the collaboration agreement with the foundation’s president to support the event, which will once again position the region as a global showcase for the quality and excellence of Galician seafood products.
The forum will bring together professionals involved in the blue transformation, from responsible fisheries and aquaculture to scientific and business innovation. Its third edition gathered more than 300 professionals from 30 countries, reinforcing its international reach.
The Galician Government is allocating €75,625 to the initiative, co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The event aligns with the Galicia Blue Economy Strategy, which mobilizes €144 million to strengthen the sector’s social, environmental, and economic sustainability and to consolidate Galicia’s position as a European leader in marine protection and long-term economic development.
In an unprecedented ceremony in SalmonChile's 40-year history, the association's leadership changed hands, with Arturo Clément handing over the presidency to Patricio Melero, a former member of parliament and former minister with extensive experience in the sector, after having served for 20 years on the Aquaculture Commission.
The event, which brought together more than 200 attendees at the Empormontt City-Port Liaison Center, included the participation of regional and municipal authorities, union representatives, artisanal fishing leaders, leaders from other associations, and prominent businesspeople from the production sector.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
With the 2020-2026 protocol expiring, European purse seiners are now excluded from the quota in the Seychelles EEZ, while Brussels and Victoria are racing against time to negotiate a renewal under pressure from social, environmental, and transparency concerns.
Seychelles wants to rebalance a historic agreement that, since the late 1980s, has guaranteed European access to Indian Ocean tuna. With the protocol expiring on February 23, 2026, fishing activity under this framework is suspended, and negotiations are stalled over a single figure: the archipelago is demanding an improved economic return commensurate with the real value of the resource; the EU is offering a much smaller increase.
Registration is now open for the fifth Global Shrimp Forum, taking place in Utrecht from 1 to 3 September 2026 and featuring its most extensive, revamped programme to date.
The 2026 Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) is set to combine the successful elements of the previous four conferences with significant structural updates designed to enhance the experience for delegates, speakers and sponsors. Key changes include a redesigned exhibition zone and the relocation of plenary sessions to larger facilities.
Returning by popular demand to deliver the opening plenary will be Jan Lambregts, head of RaboResearch global economics & markets at Rabobank, whose insights on the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape drew glowing reviews from attendees last year
Source: The Fish Site | Read the full article here
Waitrose is to suspend sales of mackerel products due to concerns about overfishing.
The supermarket said it would stop sourcing fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29 April, as well as tinned mackerel once their current stocks have been sold.
Marine groups have recommended a cut in the amount of North East Atlantic mackerel being caught to prevent a collapse in population numbers.
Waitrose said it was the first UK supermarket to suspend mackerel sales, adding it would only start selling the fish again once it met their "high sourcing standards".
Author: Emer Moreau / BBC | Read the full article here
In its quarterly report, Norwegian producer Hofseth announces a major change
The Hofseth Group will implement a gradual transition in production from trout, which accounted for around half of the fish harvested in Q4, to salmon.
This follows a strategic review of the fish farming business, according to the company's fourth quarter report.
The decision means that the hatchery in Tafjord will switch to producing only salmon smolt in 2026 and that trout will gradually be phased out of the group's production mix.
Author: Ulrik Tallhaug Sydnes / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
China’s Squid Price Index Plunge by Up to 36% China
Zhoushan Squid Price Index confirms generalized declines across the four main distant-water fishing zones as of February 13, 2026, amid increased supply and international demand adjustments
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More than 20,000 square meters of exhibition space, the participation of more than 550 exhibiting companies, and an International Congress that will bring together more than 40 speakers to address the main challenges of the aquaculture industry in Chile and the world will shape 
ICELAND
IceFish exhibitor and packaging giant 
UNITED STATES
Pollock nuggets, raw octopus and a range of salmon-based products are among the shortlisted finalists for the Seafood Excellence Awards. The list includes the US arm of smoked salmon specialist St. James Smokehouse.
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Growth in volume and value for Norwegian salmon exports.
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The Regional Minister of the Sea, Marta Villaverde, signed the collaboration agreement with the foundation’s president to support the event, which will once again position the region as a global showcase for the quality and excellence of Galician seafood products.
In an unprecedented ceremony in 
SEYCHELLES
With the 2020-2026 protocol expiring, European purse seiners are now excluded from the quota in the Seychelles EEZ, while Brussels and Victoria are racing against time to negotiate a renewal under pressure from social, environmental, and transparency concerns.
NETHERLANDS
Registration is now open for the fifth 
UNITED KINGDOM
Waitrose
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The 
