IN BRIEF - WTO fisheries subsidy curbs: India rejects draft text citing inadequate protection for small fishers
INDIA
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Demands more balance in obligations on curbing overcapacity and overfishing subsidies
The subsidies identified for prohibition include those pertaining to the construction, acquisition and modernization of vessels; purchase of fishing gear and related machinery; fuel, ice, or bait; insurance and income support during seasonal closures. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
India has made a strong pitch at the WTO for more effective carveouts for small-scale and artisanal fishers to protect their livelihood subsidies and has rejected the draft text circulated by the chair of the WTO negotiations on curbing overcapacity and overfishing (OCOF) subsidies arguing that the special and differential treatment (SDT) provisions for its fishing communities needed to be stronger.
In 2020, Mohamed Mansour, a tilapia farmer from Sharqia Governorate, was facing challenges on his 40-acre farm. He was experiencing a too-high feed conversion ratio, and could only get a single production round per year.
With the help of Skretting Egypt’s Sales Manager Hassan Ali, Mr. Mansour decided to switch over to using Skretting Egypt’s tilapia fish feed. This product is known fondly as the 'mango sack', as its vibrant orange colour is similar to the flesh of the local Egyptian mangoes. Soon, his FCR improved by 40% to 1.2.
Under the guidance of Hassan Ali and the Skretting Egypt team, Mr Mansour gradually expanded his farm. By 2024, his farm had reached up to 200 acres, achieving two production rounds annually. His farm was able to achieve maximum efficiency in production, which also enhanced his way of life.
How life in different parts of the Barents Sea reacts to climate change.
Since 2005, many species of zooplankton, fish, and benthic animals have increased significantly in number in the northwest Barents Sea. In the southeast Barents Sea, most fish species have decreased in number, while jellyfish—especially lion’s mane jellyfish—and snow crab have increased considerably. Juveniles of commercially important fish species have spread over larger areas of the Barents Sea: cod and haddock during a particularly warm period, and capelin when the sea cooled down again.
Chilean fishing and salmon-farming firm Blumar has decided to halt a USD 30 million (EUR 26.8 million) investment in a frozen food plant in the central Chilean city of Coronel as it waits to see how national legislation regarding industrial fishing quotas plays out.
The plant project – which had already had received required permitting – “was scheduled to be passed by [Blumar’s] board of directors and approved during 2025 to begin construction toward the end of this year, but it was postponed
Author: Christian Molinari / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here
Speaking from the latest edition of the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Argentine fishing industry leader Antonio “Tony” Solimeno shared his perspective on the structural challenges facing the sector in an interview with Revista Puerto journalist Karina Fernández.
Solimeno outlined three key pressure points: rising domestic costs, falling international market prices, and increasingly burdensome global tariffs. “Hake is in a tough spot, shrimp prices have been falling for three years, and only squid remains stable. Those with integrated operations are managing a little better,”he said.
He also criticized the limitations of the Mercosur trade bloc, citing sanitary and bureaucratic issues at borders, and how it hinders bilateral trade deals. “We don’t have agreements with anyone. Wherever we go, we pay tariffs,”he emphasized.
Looking ahead, Solimeno pointed to a clear global trend: more processed seafood products, smaller packaging, and ready-to-eat formats. “The market no longer wants 21-kilo interleaved blocks. They want one-kilo bags and ready meals. The consumer has changed—and we’ll need to change too.”
With consumption habits evolving rapidly, he closed with a clear warning:“We’ll need to think carefully and always keep in mind that change is coming.”
Nine out of ten land-based aquaculture facilities inspected by Norwegian emissions control authorities last year did not comply with regulations, and several had serious violations, according to the Norwegian Environment Agency, Miljødirektoratet. The agency's director, Hilde Singsaas, acknowledges that "land-based fish farming facilities are becoming more numerous and larger. They cause physical interference with nature and emit large amounts of emissions into the sea. Inspections show that many companies do not have sufficient control over emissions.
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
Maruha Nichiro acquires majority stake in Van der Lee Seafish.
Seafood Connection, a subsidiary of Japan’s Maruha Nichiro, has acquired a 70 percent stake in Netherlands-based processor Van der Lee Seafish in a transaction valued at €40 million ($44.4 million).
The deal includes shares in Van der Lee Seafish’s subsidiary King Fish Selection. Both companies are headquartered in Urk, the Netherlands.
Source: SalmonBusinessl Read the full article here
The Norwegian land-based fish farmer seeks to build facilities in both South Korea and North America, but there are several factors that are creating difficulties.
Both the current uncertainty related to the impact of potential tariffs in the North American market, as well as the absence of a regulatory framework for land-based salmon farming in North America, reduce the relative attractiveness of expanding into this market, Salmon Evolution writes in its report for the first quarter of 2025.
Over the past three years, Salmon Evolution has conducted an extensive search for suitable locations in North America and says it has identified several promising areas with great potential for a hybrid flow-through system like the one it uses in Norway.
Author: Mugaas Jensen / fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
Strategic partnership with RD Corporation aims to establish a major fishing cannery in Madang, boosting local employment and the national seafood processing capacity.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – The government of Papua New Guinea has pledged a significant investment of K80 million (approximately USD 22.5 million) in the newly established Kumul Fisheries Ltd, according to the Minister for International Trade and Investments, Richard Maru. This commitment was announced during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RD Corporation in Port Moresby on Friday, signaling a strong governmental push to expand the nation's seafood processing capabilities.
Minister Maru expressed confidence in the swift finalization of the shareholder's agreement following the MoU signing. The joint venture structure for Kumul Fisheries Ltd involves key stakeholders including Kumul Consolidated Holdings (representing the State with a 40 percent stake), the Madang Provincial Government (5 percent), Madang District (2.5 percent), Sumkar District (2.5 percent), and RD Fishing Company (holding the majority share at 50 percent).