IN BRIEF - 'Living with Food' — An Event Exploring the Future of Food in Japan
JAPAN
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Showcasing Sustainable Seafood: Protecting Health and Ocean Resources for Generations to Come
Maruha Nichiro Corporation (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Ikemi Masaru) will participate in the "Living with Food" event, a platform for exploring the future of food in Japan. Organized by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. and Discover Japan Co., Ltd., the event will take place over ten days, from January 10th (Friday) to 19th (Sunday), 2025, at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
As part of its medium-term management plan, “MNV 2024: Creating the Future of the Ocean and Life,” Maruha Nichiro has identified "creating health value and providing food that supports sustainability" as a key priority. At the event, the company will highlight two significant initiatives:
Promoting Health through Canned Blue Fish Products:
Maruha Nichiro will showcase the benefits of its canned blue fish products, emphasizing their potential to address contemporary health challenges. These nutrient-rich offerings are designed to support well-being while appealing to modern dietary needs.
Advancing Sustainable Seafood Practices:
The company will also present its efforts in promoting certified sustainable seafood—products that prioritize both environmental and social responsibility. These initiatives align with global sustainability goals, ensuring the long-term health of ocean ecosystems while meeting consumer demand.
The production of giant squid is showing signs of decline in Peru, raising concerns about global supply as prices for Argentinian squid continue to climb in China.
Recent market data indicates that weekly catches of giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) in Peru have fallen by about 10% compared with the previous week. Despite the drop, overall supply remains relatively high. As one of the world’s largest producers of giant squid, changes in Peru’s catch volumes can quickly influence supply in major importing markets, particularly China.
At the same time, prices for Argentinian squid (Illex argentinus) at Shidao Port, Shandong, China, are steadily increasing. Squid measuring 21–25 cm are currently selling for about 16.5–17 RMB/kg (approximately 2.40–2.47 USD/kg), while larger specimens of 26–30 cm are trading at 20.5–21.5 RMB/kg (around 2.98–3.13 USD/kg).
Market participants attribute the rise largely to renewed purchasing activity after the Lunar New Year holiday, when processing plants resumed operations and supplies for immediate delivery remained limited.
China sources squid from several regions, including Peru, Argentina, and parts of the Indo-Pacific. In the short term, prices are expected to remain volatile, depending on fishing activity, port arrivals, and demand from processing companies.
With the aim of providing transparent information on the state of fisheries in Chile, the National Fisheries Society (Sonapesca F.G.) compiled and analyzed data from scientific committee reports, presenting the State of Biomasses with Respect to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) 2025.
Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) represents the equilibrium point that allows for the sustainable harvesting of a fishery resource without affecting reproduction or population size. Ideally, fisheries should remain close to or above 100% of this indicator.According to the report, nine of the 17 fisheries analyzed are above the biological optimum, exceeding 100% of MSY.
Authorities launch a major survey to see how the cephalopod proliferation is affecting shipowners
Devon fishermen lament that their traditional shellfish fisheries have plummeted by up to 80%
The British government has been monitoring the widespread presence of octopus in its waters for more than a year. The unusual bloom, which worries local shellfish fishermen, is the focus of attention for the industry, scientists, and authorities, who still don't quite know what to do about an event that hasn't occurred in 75 years and which they attribute mainly to climate change. Through the Marine Management Organization (MMO), the Administration is closely monitoring the situation and, in its latest update, reveals that the cephalopod plague continues, with more than 400 tons caught between January and February alone, a 450% increase compared to the same period last year.
Author: Adrián Amoedo / Fato de Vigo | Read the full article here
They represent the event’s commitment to, and investment in the future of the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries. The students receive a ISK 300,000 bursary towards their studies. Today the first tranche of the bursary, and a commemorative certificate were presented and the second half of the award will be made in September at the prestigious IceFish Awards Ceremony
The three worthy recipients are all students at the Icelandic College of Fisheries. They are Katarzyna Staszek, Ewa Jaros and Malgorzata Barbara Sworowska. All three are studying quality management at the college and working in the commercial fishing industry. Katarzyna at Brim in Reyjavik; Ewa at Jakob Valgeir in Bolungarvik and Malgorzata at Nýfisk Sandgerdi, Sudurnesjaber.
Both Katarzyna and Malgorzata attended the presentation. The Icelandic weather stepped in to prevent Ewa from attending in person but she will receive her certificate from the Headmaster at the College.
The Bursary applications were assessed by a specialist judging panel from the industry, including Klemenz Sæmundsson, Headmaster of the Icelandic College of Fisheries; Hrefna Karlsdóttir, Senior adviser at Fisheries Iceland; Kjartan Sveinsson, Chairman, National Association of Small Boat Owners; and Bjarni Jonsson, representative of IceFish.
EU packaging rule changes will require seafood industry to rethink packaging.
New EU packaging rules could force seafood producers to redesign packaging systems over the next decade, according to a researcher at the Norwegian food research institute Nofima.
Writing in an opinion piece published by seafood industry publication IntraFish.no, senior researcher Anlaug Ådland Hansen said the EU’s EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will require a comprehensive review of packaging solutions used in seafood exports.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Salmon farming heavyweight SalMar has secured 6,112 tonnes of biomass allowance in Norway by winning permission to convert eight temporary development licences into permanent standard permits.
The permits – seven of 796 tonnes and one of 540 tonnes – are held by SalMar subsidiary Arctic Offshore Farming AS, in connection with the development of Arctic Offshore Farming concept for exposed offshore locations. The facility is designed as a circular, semi-submersible structure with two cages and a feed barge, where the cages can be operated below the surface to reduce contact with sea lice.The concept was developed by Norway Royal Salmon (NRS) and Aker, which were granted development permits for the project in 2018.
Author: Therese Soltveit / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The maritime sector is reinforcing its role as one of the major drivers of employment in the global and European economy, combining the enduring relevance of traditional maritime trades with the emergence of new professions linked to digitalization, the energy transition, and technological innovation. Seafarers, shipbuilding and repair personnel, port technicians, logistics specialists, experts in new fuels, and blue biotechnology professionals are already among the most in-demand profiles in an industry undergoing profound transformation.
The maritime-port system requires highly qualified professionals to guarantee navigational safety, the efficiency of logistics chains, and the operation of strategic infrastructure for international trade.
A new global study suggests the fishing industry could dramatically increase the amount of seafood reaching consumers simply by reducing waste after fish are landed.
Researchers found that only about 54% of the world’s harvested fish is ultimately eaten by people, with the rest lost to spoilage, inefficient processing, poor storage or diverted to non-food uses such as fishmeal. By improving handling, storage and processing, that figure could potentially rise to 74% without catching a single extra fish.The research, conducted by scientists at the UCL Energy Institute and collaborators, suggests that better post-harvest practices could generate what the authors call a ‘hidden harvest’.
Award winning Scottish salmon farm, Loch Duart is set to return to the Seafood Expo in Boston on the back of a successful US focussed marketing campaign. Loch Duart can be found as part of the Seafood from Scotland section of the event (Stand – 2745), which is North America’s largest seafood trade exposition.
Loch Duart’s heritage breed salmon is growing in popularity in North America and has grown significantly following their recent culinary competition in partnership with Chef’s Roll.
The record-breaking fish carrier has arrived in Scotland and is in service already
Delivered from Sefine Shipyard in December 2025, the 93-metre live fish carrier Inter Alba has entered service in Scotland and has already successfully completed its first work period, performing combined freshwater and FLS treatment. With a well capacity of approximately 6,500 m³, Inter Alba is currently the largest wellboat operating in Scotland.
Designed by Salt Ship Design AS, the vessel is built around fish welfare, careful handling and high biosecurity. A substantial battery package, combined with heat recovery and other efficiency measures, helps reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Russia’s Fishing Fleet Nears 1 Million Tons in Early 2026 Catch Russia Fed.
Strong Far East harvest leads national totals while several Okhotsk pollock areas lag behind last year’s pace
Russian fishermen are rapidly approaching a major seasonal milestone,...