IN BRIEF - Opens the Brazilian market for products from aquaculture
NORWAY
Friday, September 13, 2024
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Brazilian authorities agree on the conditions for the export of aquaculture products to Brazil. Already from 15 September, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will be able to issue health certificates for products from aquaculture to Brazil.
The health certificate covers all species and products from aquaculture, from fillets to whole, gutted fish, all forms of preservation, including smoked products. Aquaculture facilities that have suspected or proven ILA or PD will not be able to export to Brazil.
"The Norwegian Food Safety Authority works with market access for Norwegian seafood and agricultural products abroad. A number of countries that Norway exports to have requirements for food and input product safety, animal health, animal welfare, fish health, fish welfare and plant health, and Brazil is among these. Through negotiations, which have been ongoing since 2021, we have now reached an agreement on a certificate for products from aquaculture, and that is pleasing for the Norwegian seafood industry",says Ingunn Midttun Godal, managing director of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
Brazil is the sixth most populous country in the world with over 200 million inhabitants. The country is betting on increased seafood consumption, and is one of the most important markets for farmed salmon from Chile.
KUALA LUMPUR — The Ministry of Finance of Malaysia, led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, confirmed that preliminary investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission have found no criminal offenses of internal corruption or embezzlement regarding the investment by the pension fund KWAP in Indonesian aquaculture technology firm eFishery.
The Ministry of Finance, headed by Anwar Ibrahim
In an official written reply submitted to Parliament following an inquiry by Member of Parliament Kalasaran from the Bersatu party, the ministry clarified that KWAP's actual investment totaled 163.4 million ringgit (RM) (approximately US$ 37.2 million), representing 2.51% of the tech firm's equity.
The ministry stated that the transaction strictly complied with standard due diligence protocols and independent international audits prior to approval. However, eFishery was subsequently found to have engaged in deliberate accounting fraud and financial misrepresentation, impacting other top-tier global institutional investors as well. Currently, KWAP is collaborating with law enforcement agencies and international investors to establish accountability and recover the invested capital.
TOKYO — Japanese seafood company Umios Corporation announced the acquisition of an additional 10.31% stake in Sanford Limited, one of New Zealand’s leading seafood companies, for NZ$ 71.99 million (US$ 42.5 million).
Following this transaction, scheduled for completion on November 2, the Japanese group's equity holding will rise from 5.22% to 15.53%.
Sanford, based in Auckland, operates in both wild capture fisheries and aquaculture, with key activities focused on hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae), scampi (Metanephrops challengeri), King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and greenshell mussel (Perna canaliculus).
The investment will enable Umios to secure stronger access to marine fisheries resources managed under New Zealand’s Quota Management System (QMS) and expand commercial distribution into the United States, Europe, and China.
The move reinforces the company's international expansion strategy, coming just two days after its agreement to acquire Canada-based High Liner Foods.
Aclass-action lawsuit filed by a shopper in the U.S. state of Illinois claims that bags of frozen shrimp sold by retail giant Walmart contain fewer shrimp than advertised.
The suit alleges that Walmart is counting the weight of the ice glaze utilized to prevent freezer burn on shrimp in its weight for the product, so when the bag is thawed out and drained, the product contains fewer shrimp than claimed. According to the lawsuit, the bags contain roughly 11 percent fewer shrimp than advertised.
Baptist claims the company is liable in misleading customers and violating Illinois state consumer protection laws.
Author: Nathan Strout / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
Four companies from the region are participating in the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2026, in a context marked by the growth of regional exports to that market.
Four companies from the Los Lagos Region are participating in the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo (CFSE) 2026, one of the leading international trade fairs for the fishing and aquaculture industry, which will take place between October 28 and 30 in Qingdao, China.
Pure Nature Foods, Salmones de Chile, Pacific Star, and Pesquera Catalunya will be part of the Chilean pavilion coordinated by ProChile, where they will seek to strengthen their presence in the Asian market, generate new business contacts, and open new business opportunities.
The annual report from APROMAR confirms 3% growth in production during 2025, positioning Spain as the leading aquaculture producer in the European Union by volume, accounting for 24.4% of the EU total. The sector is focusing on species with higher commercial value, though it notes challenges such as administrative hurdles, rising costs, and a lack of generational turnover.
Spanish aquaculture continues its growth trajectory, consolidating its strategic position within European food production. In 2025, the sector reached a production volume of 274,111 tonnes—an increase of 3.02% over the previous year—while the value at first sale hit a record high of 883.5 million euros. These are among the key findings from the annual report *Aquaculture in Spain 2026*
Spanish-flagged fishing vessels operating in various fishing grounds around the world—outside of EU waters—are set to receive an initial round of public aid in the coming days. The funding is intended to offset the additional fuel costs incurred between March 22 and April 30, a period during which diesel prices spiked due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has proactively allocated 1.67 million euros to 52 fishing companies that own the 81 vessels in question.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries, the average price of diesel at Spanish maritime fueling stations reached 1.310 euros per liter this Monday, the 26th—a record high.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Five-year investment targets innovation, sustainability and new markets.
Canada renewed the Atlantic Fisheries Fund with over C$300 million for 2026–2031.Ottawa will contribute 60% and four Atlantic provinces 40%, supporting fisheries, aquaculture, infrastructure, research and export diversification, particularly toward Asia and Europe.
East Nusa Tenggara explores cooperation with Jiangxi Province.
NTT Deputy Governor Johni Asadoma met a Chinese delegation led by Tu Anbo to promote investment in fisheries, seaweed, salt and tourism. A preliminary agreement was signed in Belu, aiming to boost processing, jobs, exports and regional development.
High Liner Foods of Canada, one of North America’s leading seafood businesses, is being sold to the Umios Corporation of Japan in a deal worth CAN $1.25 billion (£668m).
Umios is a world leader in the global seafood and marine protein market and a longstanding supplier to High Liner Foods.The acquisition advances the Japanese group’s strategy to build a more integrated global seafood and protein business, with High Liner Foods central to its North American expansion.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
NORWAY
The health certificate covers all species and products from aquaculture, from fillets to whole, gutted fish, all forms of preservation, including smoked products. Aquaculture facilities that have suspected or proven ILA or PD will not be able to export to Brazil.
MALAYSIA.jpg)
NEW ZEALAND.png)
Following this transaction, scheduled for completion on November 2, the Japanese group's equity holding will rise from 5.22% to 15.53%.
UNITED STATES
Aclass-action lawsuit filed by a shopper in the U.S. state of Illinois claims that bags of frozen shrimp sold by retail giant 
CHINA
Four companies from the region are participating in the 
SPAIN
The annual report from 
Spanish-flagged fishing vessels operating in various fishing grounds around the world—outside of EU waters—are set to receive an initial round of public aid in the coming days. The funding is intended to offset the additional fuel costs incurred between March 22 and April 30, a period during which diesel prices spiked due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has proactively allocated 1.67 million euros to 52 fishing companies that own the 81 vessels in question.
AUSTRALIA.png)
CANADA
Five-year investment targets innovation, sustainability and new markets.
INDONESIA
East Nusa Tenggara explores cooperation with Jiangxi Province.
JAPAN
