IN BRIEF - Globefish: 'Cod farming seems to be on the way up again'
NORWAY
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Norwegian production of farmed cod reached 12 000 tonnes in 2023, and is expected to increase to 14 000 tonnes in 2024. Although these are still very modest volumes, they are an indication that in the future, farmed cod may replace some of the volumes lost by reduced quotas in the Barents Sea.
However, some of the cod farmers are even more optimistic. One farmer said he expects the 2024 volume to reach 20 000 tonnes, and by 2028, his company alone will produce 28 000 tonnes a year. There have been a lot of technological, biological and genetic improvements since Norway embarked on cod farming in the early 2000s. Production costs have been cut considerably, and production time is shorter.
Farmed cod can now be grown to 4 kg in 18 months in the sea, and year-round production is possible. Thus, farmers would be able to supply fresh cod all through the year, while the wild catch in Norway peaks during the period from February through March. Most of the farmed cod would go for exports as fresh fish destined for the high-end restaurant market.
There are challenges, though. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) has stopped processing all new applications for cod farming licences while it assesses how cod farming might be affecting the wild populations. Investors have been taken by surprise, and nobody knows when applications will be processed again.
Reducing production: STIA would have reduced the production of the plant, which led to the discarding of more than 100 tons of shrimp.
Extortion: The company maintains that the union would be demanding a "bonus" for productivity outside the collective agreement, which it considers extortion.
Economic losses: The union's actions would have generated million-dollar losses for the company and put jobs at risk.
For its part, STIA categorically denies the accusations and counterattacks by stating:
Legitimate assemblies: The measures taken by the workers were through legitimate assemblies and did not constitute a blockade.
Company non-compliance: Red Chamber has allegedly breached wage and food agreements, as well as engaged in irregular labour practices.
Defamation: The company's accusations are false and seek to damage the union's image.
Hear how gliders are used to survey Antarctic krill, the foundation of the region's food web.
Glider “Adrian” getting deployed from the R/V Laurence M. Gould. Credit: Andrew Titmus
Remote underwater gliders—or underwater drones—present opportunities for all kinds of data collection and oceanographic research. They're incredibly cost effective, requiring less staff and equipment than traditional methods. They can remain deployed longer than a ship can be out, and they can go places where a ship can't go. And, you can pilot them anywhere with a laptop and an internet connection—even from your couch!
On our latest podcast, we talk with Jen Walsh, a research biologist and glider pilot for the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. She talks about how we're using gliders in remote areas, like Antarctica, and how they're changing the way we collect fisheries data and learn about the ocean.
Barcelona - Balfegó, leader in fishing and marketing of bluefin tuna and the first B Corp company in the Spanish fishing sector, launches the Christmas campaign 'Give Tunateca'. With this initiative, Tunateca, a space for gastronomic experimentation focused on Balfegó bluefin tuna, proposes as a Christmas gift to undertake a gastronomic journey through the different parts of the Balfegó bluefin tuna and taste different preparations of this tuna with an extraordinary flavour. A peculiar gift, the most foodie of the year, through the palate and with a luxury common thread: the Balfegó bluefin tuna.
You can choose between:
Blue Menu
Red Menu
Kaitai Experience
This last option includes the kaitai ceremony – the cutting up of a specimen of Balfegó bluefin tuna weighing more than 100 kg – and a special gastronomic menu by Tunateca Balfegó.
These unique and exclusive gifts are the result of the work of the Tunateca team, led by the executive chef, Alejandra Ormeño, and the head chef, Felipe Salinas, both passionate about innovative, creative and sustainable cuisine, to offer gastronomic excellence based on an exceptional raw material, the Balfegó bluefin tuna.
Tunateca opened its doors in 2017 with the help of Balfegó Group, a company specialized in fishing, aquaculture and trade of Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), under sustainability criteria and guaranteeing the continuity of the species, which currently exports to more than 40 countries.
Nykøbing Mors, Denmark-headquartered Vilsund Blue, the nation's largest industrial producer of shellfish and seafood, has adopted new sustainable packaging for its products through a collaboration with London, U.K.-headquartered DS Smith.
The company will replace plastic pallets for canned products with corrugated cardboard ones as part of its work to eliminate its use of plastic and reduce its carbon emissions.
The company cooks, packages, and distributes 250 metric tons of fresh shellfish daily. Its new fiber-based packaging will increase the number of canned units on each individual pallet, increasing the capacity pallets can hold and, thus, the efficiency of product transportation.
Author: Erin Spampinato / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Economy of the Nation reports that the Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) made the new allocations of the Individual Transferable Catch Quotas (CITC) for the common hake (Merluccius Hubbsi) that will be in effect from January 1, 2025 for a new period of 15 years. This is a measure for the species of the Argentine fishing ground that contributes the most volume to national exports. The Galician fishing sector breathes with the adopted measure and from now on a favorable scenario for new investments is elucidated.
Canadian device will be available globally, says New Brunswick-based developer
A Canadian company that has developed a device to reduce crowding of farmed fish during boat loading operations plans to make its technology commercially available next year.
The SmoothMove device from East Coast Innovation Inc., (ECI) is designed to replace the traditional funnel at the end of a fish suction hose. Its integrated cameras provide the operator with underwater visibility, enabling real time monitoring of the population during the transfer.
Author: Gareth Moore / fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
The 12th session was held in Tehran (Iran) from December 1 to 4. The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries Vasily Sokolov, the Iranian delegation was headed by Deputy Head of the Iranian Fisheries Organization for Aquaculture Mehdi Shakuri.
Representatives of Rosrybolovstvo also met with Deputy Minister of Agricultural Jihad of Iran - Head of the Fisheries and Fish Farming Organization "Shilat" Hosseini Seyed Hosseini.
During the 12th session of the Commission, the parties discussed a wide range of issues, including: development of bilateral cooperation in the scientific research sphere, conducting scientific research; artificial reproduction and aquaculture; fishing, processing of fish raw materials and management of bioresources; trade in products from aquatic biological resources.
The parties expressed mutual interest in expanding cooperation in terms of student training and specialist exchanges in the interests of the fisheries industries of the two countries.
The parties paid special attention to the issues related to the lowering of the Caspian Sea level and the impact of these processes on living conditions and aquatic biological resources.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced updates and an extension to the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP), aimed at expediting the clearance process for food imports from participants who uphold rigorous safety standards throughout their supply chains.
The VQIP, a voluntary initiative, allows approved importers to benefit from faster inspections and smoother importation of their products. According to the monthly bulletin of the Federal Center for Animal Health Protection under the Russian Federal Research Institute of Animal Health (VNIIZG), the revised program introduces enhanced flexibility and streamlined operations for participating importers.
The US regulator applies VQIP as follows:
FDA reviews the application and supporting documents to assess compliance with the VQIP requirements;
If approved, FDA may conduct a VQIP inspection to verify product compliance with food safety systems requirements;
For importers subject to both VQIP and FSVP/HACCP for juices or seafood, FDA may conduct inspections to verify compliance with regulatory requirements;
The FDA may request food labels to identify any labeling violations. Applicants must correct any deficiencies found.
To assist participants in obtaining facility certification from an accredited certifier under the Accredited Third-Party Producer (TPP) Certification Program, FDA has extended the deadline for submitting an application and notification of participation.
Loc Tran is on the cusp of stocking a brand new 30 ha, 1,500 tonne capacity shrimp farm which he hopes will offer a blueprint for a new generation of farmers in Vietnam.
A year ago, when I last met Tran, he was looking for investors to help him build a new model farm: one that he hoped could rescue a sector that was on its knees, due to high production costs, poor economies of scale and – above all – the shockingly low price of shrimp on the global market.
Author: Rob Fletcher / The Fish Site l Read the full article here
The drop in volume of between 40% and 50% has paralyzed processing plants
The Committee for the Sustainable Management of the Giant Squid of the South Pacific (Calamasur) has warned about the impact that the production crisis affecting the giant squid or squid is having on the economy of the fishing sector and on the livelihoods of fishermen, especially artisanal ones. According to the committee, this species registers a decrease in volume of between 40% and 50%, while in value "the fall will be even more pronounced."
Source: Fishing Industries l Read the full article here
Chubut Province Offers Services to China's Unregulated Fishing Fleet Argentina
The Chubut government offered the IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing fleet of China supplies in the ports of the province, according to what was revealed after a meeting between Governo...
Oman’s Fisheries Sector Adds $374M to GDP, Achieves 13% Growth Oman
Oman’s fisheries sector continues its impressive trajectory of growth, contributing $374 million to the nation’s GDP and recording a 13% increase in fish production from January to July 20...