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.
IceFish exhibitor, Saeplast has recently launched an updated website with new site features including geolocation integration, custom quote and comparison forms, colour-swatch renderings, advanced faceted filters for easier product discovery and WooCommerce integration.
The site has also expanded sections across ‘Industries, Products and Services’, with deeper insights into Saeplast’s team, sustainability initiatives and manufacturing process. A new Resource Hub brings together case studies, insights, white papers, downloads, FAQs, news updates and events, designed to help its customers make informed decisions with confidence.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport has seen seafood volumes soar, with one million kilograms of Scottish salmon exported through the airport since the start of the year.
The milestone follows the launch of Prestwick’s Scotland to China seafood export service last year and investment in new equipment, dedicated cool chain personnel, and temperature-controlled facilities for time-sensitive exports. The airport’s seafood export operation includes high-volume metal detectors, temperature exposure and tracking systems, and 87 tonnes of chiller capacity, Air Cargo News reported.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Rosselkhoznadzor, the Primorsky Interregional Office overseeing Primorsky Krai and Sakhalin Oblast, announced a major surge in trade. From May 4 to May 11, 2026, authorities successfully cleared 627 shipments of fish and seafood products for export, totaling 42,700 tons.
To facilitate international trade, officials issued 211 veterinary certificates (form 5i) for Far Eastern aquatic products, with 12 certificates processed on Sakhalin. Additionally, 434 health certificates were granted for exported aquatic resources, including 33 in the Sakhalin Region. The primary destinations for these goods were China, receiving 289 certificates, and the Republic of Korea, which took 145.
Furthermore, 143 certificates were authorized for import transportation.
To guarantee safety compliance, inspectors collected 182 samples from controlled products. This testing included 39 samples on government orders, 2 for monitoring, 3 on suspicion of violations, 10 under enhanced control, and 128 samples requested by product owners.
With over 20 years of experience in food packaging development and innovation, Austral Pack is a Chilean company with certified and validated solutions for the most demanding markets, establishing itself as a strategic partner for its clients. Founded by Chilean engineers Luis Mayorga and Saúl Soto, who possess extensive national and international experience in the field, the company has become a specialist in automated solutions for food processing and packaging. “Our development has been sustained by a multidisciplinary team and close collaboration with our clients, who trust us to improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of their processes.”
Among its main advantages are the reduction of up to 75% in the use of plastic per container
Galician mussel producers, represented by Opmega (Organization of Mussel Producers of Galicia), are making a significant commitment to demonstrating the sustainability of their activity, with the aim of achieving greater market recognition.
At the scientific level, the OPP (Organization of Producers of Galicia) already has the results of the first scientific study that comprehensively quantifies the ecosystem services of mussel farming on rafts. The report, prepared by the Marine Research Institute of the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), places the carbon footprint of Galician mussels well below that of other sources of animal protein, documents the filtration and nutrient retention capacity that the rafts provide to the estuaries, and values ??the mussel shell as a usable resource in sectors such as agriculture and construction.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Tersan Shipyard has announced the successful delivery of NB1124, a next-generation fishing vessel commissioned by Aurora Fisheries, part of the Solander Group.
Soon to be named Takapo, the vessel represents a significant milestone in the partnership between the Turkish shipbuilder and the New Zealand seafood company, introducing advanced energy efficiency and regeneration technologies to deep-sea fishing operations in New Zealand waters.
Built at Tersan Shipyard Takapo has been designed for both pelagic and demersal trawling.
Accumulated mortality for Norwegian farmed salmon during the seawater phase reached 3.4% in the first quarter of 2026, slightly above the 3.3% recorded in the same period last year, according to new figures published by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
Total losses during the quarter were around 12.9 million fish. Of these, 10.9 million were reported as mortalities, 0.6 million as discarded fish and 1.4 million under the category “other”.
The figures are based on monthly reports submitted by salmon farmers to Norwegian authorities covering live and dead fish counts.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
The Minister of the Sea, Marta Villaverde, visited the facilities of Opmega, Galicia's leading mussel sector organization, in Boiro.
Accompanied by President Ricardo Herbón, she learned about advancements in sustainability and innovation, such as the CSIC study presented at Seafood Expo Global Barcelona. This report certifies that the carbon footprint of Galician mussels is minimal and highlights their ecological value to the estuaries.
The entity is moving toward MSC international certification to bolster competitiveness against imports. Commercially, the success of their fresh, microwave-ready mussel trays stands out for optimizing shelf life. Despite challenges like biotoxin closures in late 2025, Opmega remains a European benchmark with 579 platforms (bateas) and 312 members across the estuaries of Muros and Noia, Arousa, Pontevedra, Vigo, and Portugal.
Opmega has been recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since 1986 as Spain's first transnational mussel producers' organization.
Due to the increase in the national quota, since May 2nd, trawlers, purse seiners, and inshore fishing vessels have been able to land and sell the bluefin tuna that they previously had to discard if caught in their gear. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) states on its website that of the 121 Spanish ports authorized to land this tuna, nine are in Galicia. Although the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food refers to ICCAT for "the complete updated list," its proposal for managing the fishery only includes the port of Vigo among the 39 authorized ports in Spain.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Riofrío (Granada) was the location chosen by Aquaculture of Spain to celebrate an experience centered around one of the world's most exclusive gastronomic products: organic caviar. The event—which combined sustainability and gastronomy to showcase the inland aquaculture model that has made this Andalusian enclave an international benchmark in the organic production of this species—demonstrated that, thanks to its commitment to sturgeon farming in the 1990s, Riofrío now produces sturgeon and caviar in a sustainable, regulated, and transparent manner.
It is precisely thanks to this commitment to aquaculture that it is currently possible to continue enjoying such an exclusive product as caviar under strict standards of quality, animal welfare, and sustainability.
Source: ipac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
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ICELAND.png)
The site has also expanded sections across ‘Industries, Products and Services’, with deeper insights into Saeplast’s team, sustainability initiatives and manufacturing process. A new Resource Hub brings together case studies, insights, white papers, downloads, FAQs, news updates and events, designed to help its customers make informed decisions with confidence.
UNITED KINGDOM
Glasgow Prestwick Airport has seen seafood volumes soar, with one million kilograms of Scottish salmon exported through the airport since the start of the year.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
CHILE
With over 20 years of experience in food packaging development and innovation, Austral Pack is a Chilean company with certified and validated solutions for the most demanding markets, establishing itself as a strategic partner for its clients. Founded by Chilean engineers Luis Mayorga and Saúl Soto, who possess extensive national and international experience in the field, the company has become a specialist in automated solutions for food processing and packaging. “Our development has been sustained by a multidisciplinary team and close collaboration with our clients, who trust us to improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of their processes.”
SPAIN
Galician mussel producers, represented by 
TURKEY
Tersan Shipyard
NORWAY
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Accompanied by President Ricardo Herbón, she learned about advancements in sustainability and innovation, such as the CSIC study presented at Seafood Expo Global Barcelona. This report certifies that the carbon footprint of Galician mussels is minimal and highlights their ecological value to the estuaries.
Due to the increase in the national quota, since May 2nd, trawlers, purse seiners, and inshore fishing vessels have been able to land and sell the bluefin tuna that they previously had to discard if caught in their gear. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) states on its website that of the 121 Spanish ports authorized to land this tuna, nine are in Galicia. Although the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food refers to ICCAT for "the complete updated list," its proposal for managing the fishery only includes the port of Vigo among the 39 authorized ports in Spain..png)
Riofrío
