IN BRIEF - Russian fishermen set record for catching Iwashi sardines
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
The catch exceeded 563.5 thousand tons (48.4 thousand tons more than in the same period last year). An absolute record for the entire post-Soviet period was set.
"Thanks to the renewal of the fishing fleet, the efficiency of the fishery has increased. If in Soviet times about 200 vessels were engaged in the extraction of Iwashi sardine, now there are about 50. In addition, the quality of the product has improved - fresh catches are processed directly on board," said the head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries Ilya Shestakov.
The Iwashi sardine fishery continues, and the final results will be announced in 2025.
With the latest development, reduction fisheries producing fishmeal and fish oil for aquaculture feed and engaged in the Improvement Program are now included within ASC’s sustainability ladder for marine ingredients.
The ASC Feed Standard sets requirements for responsible sourcing of marine ingredients used in aquaculture.
Salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms has won planning permission for a proposed 6,000-tonne site off the east coast on Mainland, Shetland.
Shetland Island Council gave the go-ahead for the Fish Holm site yesterday.
Approval of SSF’s application had been delayed by an objection from Scottish Government agency NatureScot, which expressed concern that developing the farm would have a significant effect on three bird species: the great northern diver (non-breeding), red-throated diver (breeding), and Slavonian grebe (non-breeding).
Author: Gareth Moore / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Seafood industry investment firm Highwood Harbor has acquired Eastern Fish Company for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition adds to Highwood Harbor’s growing portfolio of seafood companies, which includes Eddie M’s, Nova Seafood, and JBR Maine LLC. Those companies have also acquired other companies in recent years, including Eddie M’s acquisition of American Fish and Seafood in 2023 and its acquisition of Morey’s Seafood International’s distribution business in 2022.
Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A.-based Eastern Fish was founded in 1974 and imports and markets a range of seafood products – including shrimp, scallops, crab, salmon, and more to retailers, foodservice operators, and distributors.
Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
Raúl Gil, executive vice president of the Italian firm, highlights that this operation allows his company to benefit from the experience of more than 350 experts in underwater prospecting and preparation, three specialized vessels, and essential equipment, such as unmanned underwater robots.
The Italian firm Prysmian has completed the acquisition of ACSM, a Vigo-based company specializing in solutions for submarine cable installation, route planning, and seabed preparation, for €169 million. The Galician firm was responsible for locating and inspecting the wreck of the Villa de Pitanxo, which sank off Newfoundland in February 2022.
Source: EFE / Faro de Vigo | Read the full article here
A new technical document from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), prepared jointly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warns of food fraud in fisheries and aquaculture products, which it defines as “a global and widespread phenomenon” with implications ranging from consumer finances and health to ocean sustainability, as well as the loss of profitability for companies that, while operating legally, have to compete with fraudulent practices.
Source: iPac.aquacultura | Read the full article here
ALDI Ireland has been named Irish Supermarket of the Year by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the world’s most recognised ecolabel for sustainable seafood, in the first year this award has been presented by the MSC in Ireland.
The prestigious win is in recognition of the supermarket’s sustainability credentials as it leads the way for the most own-brand products sold with the blue MSC ecolabel. The variety across the sector is expanding every year, according to the recently released MSC UK & Ireland Market Report 2025.
The Norwegian land-based fish farmer Gigante Salmon last night raised NOK 360 million (around £27m) in new shares, the Oslo Stock Market reports.
The amount is higher than the NOK 322.5 million (£24m) it said earlier in the day that it planned to raise.
Gigante Salmon said the funds raised will be used for the next phase of the land-based aquaculture company’s growth, including necessary and strategic improvements to the facility on Rødøy.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
IFFO – The Marine Ingredients Organisation will hold its 2026 Members’ Meeting in Madrid from 27 to 29 April, marking the second consecutive year the event takes place in the Spanish capital.
The three-day meeting is expected to bring together participants from across the global marine ingredients value chain to discuss market developments, sustainability frameworks, innovation, and supply dynamics.
According to IFFO, the programme will include presentations from 18 speakers covering fisheries, market outlooks, regulation, and technological developments, alongside two side events organised in partnership with Global Seafood Alliance and MarinTrust.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
The Ministry of Production reported that the consumption of seafood products in Peru has steadily increased over the last decade, rising from 13.2 kilos per person in 2012 to 17.1 kilos in 2024, representing an increase of nearly 4 kilos per capita. This progress is mainly attributed to the implementation of the National Program "Let's Eat Fish," aimed at promoting healthy eating and access to seafood at affordable prices.
In this context, and as part of Fish Consumption Week, the "My Fish Market: Nutrition for Families" fair was held in the Central Plaza of Manchay, in the district of Pachacámac, with the goal of promoting the consumption of highly nutritious seafood products, both wild and farmed.
The Port of Vigo is hosting the 7th Workshop of the FAO's Blue Ports Initiative until next Thursday, the 12th. This is the second workshop to be held in person in Vigo, with the participation of nearly fifty representatives from more than 25 fishing ports in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The event has the technical and financial support of the General Secretariat for Fisheries, State Ports, the Galician Ministry of the Sea, and the Vigo Port Authority.
The goal is to define the infrastructure requirements for sustainable fishing ports. To achieve this, national and international specialists in port management, development, and infrastructure will participate in training sessions and exchanges of experiences, combining classroom activities with technical visits to fishing ports in Galicia
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
WORLDWIDE
Fisheries participating in the 
UNITED KINGDOM
Shetland Island Council gave the go-ahead for the Fish Holm site yesterday.
UNITED STATES.png)
The acquisition adds to Highwood Harbor’s growing portfolio of seafood companies, which includes Eddie M’s, Nova Seafood, and JBR Maine LLC. Those companies have also acquired other companies in recent years, including Eddie M’s acquisition of American Fish and Seafood in 2023 and its acquisition of Morey’s Seafood International’s distribution business in 2022.
SPAIN
Raúl Gil, executive vice president of the Italian firm, highlights that this operation allows his company to benefit from the experience of more than 350 experts in underwater prospecting and preparation, three specialized vessels, and essential equipment, such as unmanned underwater robots..png)
A new technical document from the 
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
ALDI 
NORWAY
The Norwegian land-based fish farmer .png)
The three-day meeting is expected to bring together participants from across the global marine ingredients value chain to discuss market developments, sustainability frameworks, innovation, and supply dynamics.
PERU
The Ministry of Production reported that the consumption of seafood products in Peru has steadily increased over the last decade, rising from 13.2 kilos per person in 2012 to 17.1 kilos in 2024, representing an increase of nearly 4 kilos per capita. This progress is mainly attributed to the implementation of the National Program "Let's Eat Fish," aimed at promoting healthy eating and access to seafood at affordable prices..png)
The Port of Vigo is hosting the 7th Workshop of the FAO's Blue Ports Initiative until next Thursday, the 12th. This is the second workshop to be held in person in Vigo, with the participation of nearly fifty representatives from more than 25 fishing ports in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The event has the technical and financial support of the General Secretariat for Fisheries, State Ports, the Galician Ministry of the Sea, and the Vigo Port Authority.
