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.
The latest penalty brings fines imposed on foreign vessels for illegal fishing in Argentine waters during 2026 to more than ARS 4.533 billion.
Argentine authorities sanctioned the Hai Xing 2, a Chinese-origin vessel sailing under the Tanzanian flag, after detecting fishing activity inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near Golfo San Jorge.
The vessel received a fine of nearly ARS 1.9 billion, becoming the fourth foreign fishing vessel sanctioned by Argentina in 2026 for illegal operations in waters under national jurisdiction.
FFA-coordinated surveillance operation strengthens regional efforts to detect and deter illegal fishing across Pacific waters.
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) flagged 16 vessels for further investigation during a regional surveillance operation targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The coordinated crackdown reinforces cooperation among Pacific nations to identify suspicious fishing activity, improve compliance and protect the region’s valuable tuna and marine resources.
The 3D-COAST system is designed to automate oyster handling, cut labor needs and produce up to 125,000 oysters per raft annually.
An oyster farm in Maine, US, is testing 3D-COAST, a floating vertical conveyor powered by two solar panels. The technology moves oyster baskets between water and air, automating tumbling and helping control biofouling.
Nissui targets 10,000 tonnes by 2030 as domestic production gains momentum.
Japan’s salmon farming sector is expanding, especially in Tohoku, driven by strong Asian demand and rising costs. Nissui plans to increase annual production from 4,200 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes by 2030.
The measure runs until October 15, 2026, covering fishing, trade, storage and export along all Omani coasts.
Oman has imposed its seasonal kingfish ban to support stock recovery and sustainable fisheries. In 2025, production reached 19,743 tonnes, worth RO 44.4 million. Violations may result in fines of up to RO 300 and imprisonment.
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Chile’s Constitutional Court has struck down a measure that would have made it easier for salmon farmers to move existing aquaculture concessions, dealing a setback to efforts to loosen regulatory constraints on the sector.
The court said in a communiqué dated August 13 that it had declared unconstitutional provisions creating so-called “micro-relocations” and exempting them from Chile’s Environmental Impact Assessment System.
The measure would have covered movements of up to 350 metres from the original concession area.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
It was the fifth consecutive week of price increases last week, and the second-highest export tonnage ever
The spot price for market-influencing Norwegian farmed salmon rose by NOK 0.64/kg last week (week 32) to NOK 70.99/kg. That price that is NOK 15.94/kg higher than the same week in 2025.
The average spot price so far this year is NOK 77.41 NOK/kg, compared to NOK 78.34 for the same period last year.
Author: Pål Mugaas Jensen / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
New rules widen access across Spanish fleets but impose a limit of one tuna per vessel per trip or day.
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has authorised 233 tonnes of bluefin tuna by-catch. Quotas include 67 tonnes for the Bay of Biscay, 64 tonnes for Cádiz ports, 55 tonnes for Mediterranean fleets and 47 tonnes for the Gulf of Cádiz.
Foreign fleets operating beyond Argentina’s EEZ could undermine conservation measures for Illex argentinus.
INIDEP warns that IUU fishing threatens squid sustainability in the Southwest Atlantic. In 2026, more than 250 foreign jiggers operated near Mile 201 and 110 around the Falklands/Malvinas, compared with 84 Argentine vessels.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
ARGENTINA.png)
Argentine authorities sanctioned the Hai Xing 2, a Chinese-origin vessel sailing under the Tanzanian flag, after detecting fishing activity inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near Golfo San Jorge.
AMERICAN SAMOA
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) flagged 16 vessels for further investigation during a regional surveillance operation targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The coordinated crackdown reinforces cooperation among Pacific nations to identify suspicious fishing activity, improve compliance and protect the region’s valuable tuna and marine resources.
UNITED STATES.png)
The 3D-COAST system is designed to automate oyster handling, cut labor needs and produce up to 125,000 oysters per raft annually.
JAPAN
OMAN
The measure runs until October 15, 2026, covering fishing, trade, storage and export along all Omani coasts.
WORLDWIDE.png)
Time-temperature, colour-changing labels help airlines, cruise lines, and rail operators protect perishable food quality from preparation to onboard service
CHILE
Chile’s Constitutional Court has struck down a measure that would have made it easier for salmon farmers to move existing aquaculture concessions, dealing a setback to efforts to loosen regulatory constraints on the sector.
NORWAY.png)
The spot price for market-influencing Norwegian farmed salmon rose by NOK 0.64/kg last week (week 32) to NOK 70.99/kg. That price that is NOK 15.94/kg higher than the same week in 2025.
SPAIN
New rules widen access across Spanish fleets but impose a limit of one tuna per vessel per trip or day..png)
Foreign fleets operating beyond Argentina’s EEZ could undermine conservation measures for Illex argentinus.
