• 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.

• 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.

Source: NOAA Fisheries

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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

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.

Source: Federal Agency for Fisheries

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