IN BRIEF - Japanese 'IWASHI' Sardines in California? A Shocking Discovery in the Pacific
UNITED STATES
Friday, March 14, 2025
We hear from the scientist who discovered Japanese sardines off the coast of California for the first time and discuss what it means for the future.
In 2022, Dr. Gary Longo detected Japanese sardines swimming in the eastern Pacific, off the coast of California. This was the first time they’d ever been seen here—their normal range is in the western Pacific from Korea to Russia, thousands and thousands of miles away. It was a shocking discovery. Sardines are incredibly important to the California current ecosystem and are a key forage fish across the globe.
On this episode of Dive In with NOAA Fisheries, we scratch at this mystery of Japanese sardine appearing in U.S. waters. How did they get here? What does it mean for the native Pacific sardine? Are they staying? (Spoiler alert: so far, yes.)
We hear from Dr. Longo, a research scientist at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center and one of the authors of a new study documenting this discovery. The authors suggest marine heatwaves that warmed the North Pacific over the last decade might have opened a corridor of favorable habitat, which the Japanese sardines followed across the ocean.
Salmon farmer Alsaker had to reduce biomass under Norway's traffic light system but managed to maintain nearly all of its harvest volume
Norway's Alsaker Group delivered a pre-tax profit of NOK 649 million (£51.7m) in 2025, despite production being affected by 6% capacity reductions under the government's traffic light system, the company said in a press release today.
The group, which is the parent company of Alsaker Fjordbruk, had operating revenues of NOK 2.596 billion. This gives a profit margin before tax of 25%, down from 33.5% in 2024.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), Europêche and Copa-Cogeca have jointly called on EU institutions to incorporate the revised International Maritime Organization’s STCW-F Convention into European law through a dedicated directive, arguing the move would improve safety, professional recognition and labour mobility for Europe’s fishing workforce.
The revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), which entered into force on 1 January 2026, sets internationally recognised standards for the training, certification and competence of fishing vessel personnel.
Domestic and international factors—including reduced fishing quotas and global uncertainty—shaped the performance of Norwegian seafood exports during the first half of the year.
Norway exported seafood worth NOK 84.5 billion in the first half of the year. This represents a decrease of NOK 669 million, or 1%, compared to the same period last year.
The main markets for Norwegian seafood exports during the first half of the year were Poland, China, and the United States.
As nominations open for the next Prime Minister, food supply chain leaders have penned an open letter to candidates with a five-point plan for a more resilient and affordable food system.
Key areas the new Prime Minister should focus on are delivering value for the public, well-negotiated EU realignment, the planning system, securing workers, and investment and growth.
The NFU, British Retail Consortium, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and UKHospitality have joined forces to urge those running for Prime Minister to back a five-point plan for a more resilient and affordable food system.
Fish farmers around the world could soon be facing a fishmeal supply crisis and seriously higher costs, according to a new warning from Bloomberg Opinion, the global business platform.
Bloomberg says that wholesale prices have shot up and are now around US $3,000 a metric ton (£2,248).
Peru is the world’s leading supplier and exporter of fishmeal, accounting for almost a third of total global production.Bloomberg says that exceptionally warm Pacific seas from El Niño conditions off South America, and issues with the anchovy fisheries, have resulted in repeated fishing suspensions and the lowest catch quotas for almost 10 years.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Pure Salmon has moved a step closer to building what would become the European Union's largest land-based salmon farm after its proposed facility in south-west France received a favourable environmental opinion from regional authorities.
The project, located in Verdon-sur-Mer, is now awaiting a final decision from local authorities. Approval would allow construction to begin in the coming weeks.
Pure Salmon plans to produce 10,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon annually using a land-based recirculating aquaculture system.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
The sustainable fisheries agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritania is currently the most significant one the EU has in place with non-member countries—at least in terms of the number of vessels involved and the €60 million Europe pays for fishing rights in those waters. The agreement runs until November 2026. However, not a single bottom longliner has gone there to fish this year. These vessels—classified under Category 3 of the agreement—primarily targeted Ray's bream (or *castañeta*; *Brama brama*). Or rather, they *used* to. The eleven vessels operating under this category—all from Galicia—have abandoned the fishing ground after suffering a drastic drop in catches last year.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
MEP Francisco Millán Mon supports the modernization of the trade pact but urges caution regarding the future liberalization of canned tuna imports and calls for monitoring of the impact on the European industry.
The modernization of the Global Agreement between the European Union and Mexico has received broad support in the European Parliament, although the text continues to raise concerns within parts of the EU's fishing and canning industries. During the debate held in Strasbourg, Galician MEP Francisco Millán Mon warned of the risks associated with the future liberalization of canned tuna from Mexico and called on the European Commission to continuously monitor the effects on the market.
The world’s second largest Atlantic salmon farmer, SalMar, harvested 81,800 gutted weight tonnes in Norway and Iceland in the second quarter of this year, it said in a trading update.
That harvest volume is a 37% increase compared to the same period last year, when SalMar harvested 59,700 gwt.
SalMar’s Q2 2026 harvest volumes were:
Farming Central Norway: 38,900 gwt (Q2 2025: 33,900 gwt)
Farming Northern Norway: 32.6 gwt (20,600 gwt)
SalMar Ocean: 4.8 gwt (1,200 gwt)
Icelandic Salmon: 5.5 gwt (4,000 gwt)
Total: 81,800 gwt
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Thai Union has launched the seafood industry’s first shelf-stable tuna product in a recyclable, mono-material pouch.
Typical tuna pouches found in retail stores are made from aluminum foil and mixed plastics that are layered and cannot be recycled in standard waste streams.
However, Thai Union’s new Stir & Serve pouch, launched under its John West brand of seafood products, is solely made from polypropylene, which can be disposed of in many existing recycling streams throughout Europe, according to the firm.
THe company said the product uses a film technology developed by packaging supplier Mondi, thatdelivers the oxygen and moisture protection needed to keep tuna shelf-stable for 18 months at room temperature.
Author: Christine Blank / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
Fish landings grow 8% in the first half Argentina
Total catches reach 486,678 tons in the first half of the year driven by shrimp and hake, compensating for the decline recorded in the squid fishery.
Declared landings by the national fishing fleet r...
Mifco recorded tuna purchases worth 11.3 million mvr in June Maldives
The Maldivian state-owned company processed 568 metric tonnes across 517 vessels, consolidating the minimum purchase price to protect the income of local fishermen.
The state-owned Maldives Industr...
UNITED STATES
In 2022, Dr. Gary Longo detected Japanese sardines swimming in the eastern Pacific, off the coast of California. This was the first time they’d ever been seen here—their normal range is in the western Pacific from Korea to Russia, thousands and thousands of miles away. It was a shocking discovery. Sardines are incredibly important to the California current ecosystem and are a key forage fish across the globe.
NORWAY.png)
Norway's Alsaker Group delivered a pre-tax profit of NOK 649 million (£51.7m) in 2025, despite production being affected by 6% capacity reductions under the government's traffic light system, the company said in a press release today.
EUROPEAN UNION
The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), Europêche and Copa-Cogeca have jointly called on EU institutions to incorporate the revised International Maritime Organization’s STCW-F Convention into European law through a dedicated directive, arguing the move would improve safety, professional recognition and labour mobility for Europe’s fishing workforce.
Domestic and international factors—including reduced fishing quotas and global uncertainty—shaped the performance of Norwegian seafood exports during the first half of the year.
UNITED KINGDOM.png)
Key areas the new Prime Minister should focus on are delivering value for the public, well-negotiated EU realignment, the planning system, securing workers, and investment and growth.
WORLDWIDE
Fish farmers around the world could soon be facing a fishmeal supply crisis and seriously higher costs, according to a new warning from Bloomberg Opinion, the global business platform.
FRANCE
Pure Salmon
MAURITANIA
The sustainable fisheries agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritania is currently the most significant one the EU has in place with non-member countries—at least in terms of the number of vessels involved and the €60 million Europe pays for fishing rights in those waters. The agreement runs until November 2026. However, not a single bottom longliner has gone there to fish this year. These vessels—classified under Category 3 of the agreement—primarily targeted Ray's bream (or *castañeta*; *Brama brama*). Or rather, they *used* to. The eleven vessels operating under this category—all from Galicia—have abandoned the fishing ground after suffering a drastic drop in catches last year. 
MEP Francisco Millán Mon supports the modernization of the trade pact but urges caution regarding the future liberalization of canned tuna imports and calls for monitoring of the impact on the European industry..png)
That harvest volume is a 37% increase compared to the same period last year, when SalMar harvested 59,700 gwt.
THAILAND.png)
Typical tuna pouches found in retail stores are made from aluminum foil and mixed plastics that are layered and cannot be recycled in standard waste streams.
