IN BRIEF - Okhotsk Sea: Bad Weather Can't Stop the Herring Boom!
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Thursday, February 06, 2025
Severe weather hampered fishing operations in the Far East last week, with a large cyclone impacting all regions, particularly the Shelikhov Gulf and the Kamchatka-Kuril and North Kuril subzones. Many vessels endured storms for three to four days.
Despite the challenging conditions, Far Eastern fishermen have achieved strong results in some fisheries. As of February 2, 2025, the pollock catch reached 269,000 tons, with 55 vessels actively fishing, according to the Federal Fisheries Agency's monitoring system.
Pacific herring has seen a particularly successful season, with a catch of nearly 110,000 tons, exceeding 2024 levels by over 115%. Ten vessels participated in the herring fishery.
Cod catches in the Far Eastern basin reached 14,500 tons, matching the 2024 level.
The Ministry of Agriculture of Russia has implemented fishing restrictions in the West Bering Sea and Karaginsky subzones. Order No. 29, dated January 21, 2025, prohibits longline fishing until March 31, 2025, and bottom trawling and seine netting until April 15, 2025 (excluding scientific research and control catches).
In Primorsky Krai, refrigerator occupancy for fish product storage was 39% as of February 2. Thirty-one vessels carrying over 26,000 tons of fish products were en route to port.
"Easing the burden" on companies while simultaneously ensuring that momentum toward achieving decarbonization goals is maintained.
With this aim in mind, the Commission has just proposed a major reform of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which was launched in 2005. Since then, while driving down emissions, the scheme has generated €270 billion in revenue that was reinvested in innovation, industrial decarbonization, and the modernization of the European energy system. "However, the geopolitical and economic context has changed, and EU industry is under greater pressure," notes the Commission.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
The prospect of cod and pollock ultimately being left out of the 21st sanctions package reflects the delicate balance between political pressure on Moscow and the need to ensure supplies for the European processing industry.
Negotiations regarding the European Union's twenty-first sanctions package against Russia have once again placed the fishing sector at the heart of the EU debate. Although the European Commission had proposed banning imports of certain species caught by the Russian fleet, the latest discussions among Member States suggest that fish may ultimately be excluded from the final text—a decision that is already impacting European markets for cod and Alaska pollock.
The El Niño climate pattern is expected to trigger severe marine heatwaves, leading to a significant decline in Indian oil sardine availability in 2027, according to the ICAR-Central Marine Research Institute (CMFRI).
Speaking at the inauguration of a scientist–farmer interface programme to mark National Fish Farmers Day at CMFRI on 10 July, CMFRI director Grinson George warned that the warming associated with El Niño is expected to intensify between October and December. The resulting impact is likely to be felt across the northern Indian Ocean by April or May 2027.
Source: The Fish Site | Read the full article here
IceFish attracts visitors from across Iceland and from over 60 other countries. The three-day event focuses on commercial fishing and Aquaculture and offers a wide range of exhibitors from across the sectors.
This year there will be Danish and Faroese pavilions and a strong exhibitor presence from Norway. The exhibition has growing international importance and there are exhibitors from fifteen other countries including Germany, Spain, Canada and the UK.
Naturally occurring compounds such as geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) are two of the leading causes of poor flavour, writes Asbjørn Husby. As producers increasingly adopt more efficient production models, taking control of these compounds is vital.
Geosmin and MIB are naturally occurring organic compounds produced by microorganisms commonly found in aquaculture ponds and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Even at extremely low concentrations, once these compounds have been absorbed, it can lead to fish containing undesirable flavours, such as earthy or musty tastes, which are easily noticed by consumers.
With a presence in sectors such as mining, transportation, infrastructure, data centers, energy, and—of course—aquaculture, WSP has focused its expertise and technical capabilities on generating solutions that add value to its clients' businesses and position them for future success.
With extensive experience in consulting, engineering, and integrated solutions, WSP—an international company based in Montreal, Canada—has established itself as a strategic partner for the country's key industries. In southern Chile, its relationship with the aquaculture sector has developed over more than two decades; this track record has enabled the company to gain deep insight into the region, the specific characteristics of the sector, and the challenges it faces regarding growth, sustainability, and innovation.
Chinese agribusiness Joyvio has requested a new arbitration in its long-running legal dispute with the former owners of Chilean salmon farmer Australis Seafoods, following the annulment of a compensation award worth around $300 million (€258 million).
According to Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, Joyvio has asked the Arbitration and Mediation Center (CAM) of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce to appoint a new arbitration panel, arguing that the Santiago Court of Appeals overturned the previous award but did not invalidate the underlying arbitration proceedings.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
The spot price of market-influencing Norwegian farmed salmon increased by NOK 1.44 (£0.11) per kilo, up to NOK 64.30 (£5.12) per kilo, in week 28, according to sector statistic provider Akvafakta.
That price is NOK 1.5 above the same week last year. If we compare it to the same week two years ago, the price is down by NOK 9.62, writes Fish Farming Expert's Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no.
If we look at the trend for the last four weeks, the price is down NOK 0.64.
Author: Ole Andreas Drønen / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Reshaping seafood purchasing with quality, health and trusted certification, new global ASC research reveals.
Global study of almost 15,000 consumers shows growing interest in sustainable seafood, with trusted certification increasingly helping shoppers buy with confidence.
Consumer interest in sustainable food is growing rapidly, with a more than 10 percentage point increase since 2024 in consumers who say they prefer environmentally friendly products and look for sustainability claims on food. Yet when shoppers buy seafood, health, taste and quality still come first. Trusted certification is increasingly helping consumers turn their sustainability intentions into purchasing decisions.
The Ministry of Fisheries, with the support of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the UNFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has commissioned the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) to conduct an international scientific campaign. Launched yesterday and running until July 22, the campaign will assess the impact of semi-pelagic trawl doors—known as "flying doors"—on the seabed. The survey will take place in waters off the coast of Alicante (Mediterranean), where the switch from conventional doors has allowed the fishing fleet to increase its days of activity.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Closer Does Not Mean More Abundant: Tuna Shifts Its Map in the Pacific Worldwide
The warming of the Pacific is modifying the distribution of several tuna species in the Eastern Pacific, temporarily bringing them closer to the California coast. For the industry, this signal does no...