IN BRIEF - Karine Rød Haraldsson is the Seafood Council's new envoy to the USA
UNITED STATES
Monday, February 10, 2025
Karine comes from the position as Business Manager at Findus Norway, where she has been responsible for various customers in the value chain, QSR in the Nordics and other export-oriented businesses. With 12 years of experience from Findus and previous work at Nortura, she has gained solid expertise in marketing and sales, especially within FMCG, Foodservice and B2B.
Huge opportunities for existing and new products
She also has valuable experience from the American market, including through her responsibility for international customers at Findus and recently as project manager for a salmon retail project in the United States.
"I feel very privileged to be allowed to work to promote seafood products in the US at a time that can be demanding for the export industry", says Haraldsson
"The USA is a large market with unimaginable opportunities. I see five ways to build on the collaboration we have with exporters today and help them succeed with both existing and new products in the years to come,"says Karine.
Haraldsson will take up her position at the Seafood Council on May 2. But already in mid-March she will participate in Seafood Expo North America (SENA) to get to know Norwegian exporters and the local value chain better.
Hofseth Processing in Ålesund will undergo a significant upgrade in the coming months to expand capacity and streamline production.
To meet rising demand and optimize the processing of farmed salmon and trout, Hofseth will implement substantial upgrades at its Ålesund facility, according to a company press release.
The company is doubling its sorting capacity by transitioning from a single-lane to a two-lane Marel whole fish sorter. To accommodate this expansion within its existing infrastructure, Hofseth collaborated with Marel, MMC First Process, and Samey Robotics to develop a comprehensive solution that enhances both sorting capacity and operational flexibility, while supporting sustainable food production goals.
The upgraded line will feature a two-lane whole fish sorting system with integrated Marel AXIN software. MMC First Process will provide a spiral cooling tank and continuous fish discharge system, along with an automated empty case solution with a 200% increase in storage capacity and a high-speed lidding machine. Completing the process are packaging robots from Samey Robotics, controlled by AXIN Dynamic Palletizing software. Installation is scheduled to begin in the coming months.
Marel and MMC First Process established a strategic partnership in February 2024 to deliver integrated equipment and software solutions to the seafood industry.
Following the certification obtained by 36 vessels of the yellow fleet under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard, conversations began in mid-2024 with representatives of the artisanal fleet, whose vessels are less than 10 meters in length. This fleet was not included in the previous certification process due to the lack of information on their impacts on the ecosystem.
Elba Brunetti, director of CeDePesca Argentina, along with Tania Zualet, led the efforts and provided detailed information to the sector about the steps and requirements necessary to implement a PROME. The principles and indicators to be worked on were explained, and the importance of the fleet's participation in the Onboard Observer Program was highlighted.
CeDePesca reported that the agreements with APARCh were signed last January, and on February 11th, the profile of the shrimp PROME for the artisanal fleet was published on the Fishery Progress platform.
Today, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis will host an event to launch an EU-wide campaign about aquaculture in the EU.
The campaign, developed in collaboration with Member States and the Aquaculture Advisory Council, focuses on raising awareness, understanding and support for the development of aquaculture - the farming of fish, shellfish and algae - in the EU.
Under the rallying title "EU aquaculture. We work for you with passion", this campaign will, over the next three months, showcase the dedication and commitment of EU producers to sustainable aquaculture and to providing high-quality products. It will also show the benefits of developing this activity in the EU. By increasing production within the EU, we can reduce our dependence on imports for food and boost local economies.
The campaign features nine different species (mussels, trout, clams, sea bream, oysters, carp, salmon, meagre, and seaweed) and many aquaculture producers. Through videos, educational content, and a road trip around EU aquaculture sites, you will gain a better understanding of how the sector works, its benefits, and live an immersive experience “from farm to plate”.
Maruha Nichiro Corporation will change its company name to "UMIOS Corporation" on March 1, 2026, pending shareholder approval at their June 25, 2025 meeting.
Notice Regarding the Change of Trade Name Maruha Nichiro Corporation (hereinafter “the Company”) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors resolved at today's meeting to change the Company's trade name. This change is subject to approval of the corresponding amendments to the Articles of Incorporation at the 81st Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for June 25, 2025
Reason for the Change:
The company aims to address global environmental and social challenges, moving beyond its current business model to ensure sustainability for the next 100 years. The new name reflects this forward-looking approach.
About the Name:
The new name, "UMIOS" (pronounced u?.mi.?s), symbolizes the company's commitment to providing optimal solutions in a changing world.
Note:
Details regarding the formal changes to the company's articles of incorporation will be released at a later date.
As the salmon industry grows, the company is expanding its presence in key markets such as Norway, Chile, Scotland, and Canada.
The aquaculture industry is the most relevant business area for Garware Technical Fibers, which has been operating in this sector globally since the late 1990s and in Chile since 2014, particularly with the salmon industries in Australia, Canada, Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, New Zealand, and Chile.
It is also entering emerging markets in Asia Pacific with Japan and Indonesia. "Where there is salmon farming, there is Garware; that's how we are present and interact with our clients and industry professionals, providing them with innovative aquaculture solutions. Our advanced technologies are designed to deliver superior protection and durability, ensuring the safety and productivity of salmon farms, always adapting to local requirements.
Planas demands that the EU fund ship construction if it wants fish
The European Commission is convinced that the bigger the ship, the more it catches. And despite the industry and Spain's insistence that this is not the case, it is resisting funding what has been dubbed social GT (tons of gross tonnage), an increase in ship capacity aimed at improving crew comfort and, in turn, their safety. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Luis Planas, insisted yesterday at the Council of Ministers for the sector held in Brussels that "the European Maritime Fund for Fisheries and Aquaculture (FEMPA) must be opened up to the construction of new vessels, and that the time has come to review concepts such as tonnage, fishing capacity, length, and other parameters
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Biogemar, Omarsa Mar Bravo, and Promarisco Chanduy lead the adoption of responsible practices in shrimp larval production in Ecuador.
The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) have recognised Biogemar, Omarsa Mar Bravo, and Promarisco Chanduy hatcheries for their commitment to sustainability in shrimp larval production. The recognition was awarded on March 12 during AquaExpo Santa Elena 2025 as part of the progress achieved through the Scale Up program.
The EU’s Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, is currently hosting an event to launch an EU-wide aquaculture campaign.
The campaign, developed in collaboration with EU Member States and the Aquaculture Advisory Council, focuses on raising awareness, understanding and support for the development of aquaculture.
The campaign features nine different species – mussels, trout, clams, sea bream, oysters, carp, salmon, meagre and seaweed – and many aquaculture producers.
Source: The Fish Site l Read the full article here
Algal oil was included in almost 1 million tonnes of aquafeed
An all-time low forage fish dependency ratio (FFDR) of 0.37 was reported today in the 2024 Sustainability Report published by feed producer BioMar. The FFDR indicates the amount of wild marine resources used to produce 1 kg of fish or shrimp, as calculated using the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) farm standards.
The company said the milestone was reached through the innovative use of alternative ingredients and trimmings, which now represent 55% of the total marine ingredients.
Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
Russian fishing companies have resumed supplying canned fish to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) after a three-year hiatus.
These fish products are part of the UN's humanitarian aid to Asian countries, addressing food insecurity in the region.
Images show the floating factory 'Vsevolod Sibirtsev', a producer of at-sea canned fish, and the label on the 245-gram sardine cans, specifically marked 'DO NOT BUY, DO NOT SELL - NOT FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE' for the WFP.
A New Direction for Squid Peru
The squid (dosidicus gigas) fishery is an essential pillar of Peruvian artisanal fishing. Its relevance transcends the figures that position Peru as a global leader in cephalopod landings: it represen...
UNITED STATES
Huge opportunities for existing and new products
NORWAY
ARGENTINA.png)
EUROPEAN UNION
JAPAN
WORLDWIDE
The aquaculture industry is the most relevant business area for 
SPAIN
The European Commission is convinced that the bigger the ship, the more it catches. And despite the industry and Spain's insistence that this is not the case, it is resisting funding what has been dubbed social GT (tons of gross tonnage), an increase in ship capacity aimed at improving crew comfort and, in turn, their safety. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Luis Planas, insisted yesterday at the Council of Ministers for the sector held in Brussels that "the European Maritime Fund for Fisheries and Aquaculture (FEMPA) must be opened up to the construction of new vessels, and that the time has come to review concepts such as tonnage, fishing capacity, length, and other parameters 
ECUADOR
Biogemar, Omarsa Mar Bravo, and Promarisco Chanduy lead the adoption of responsible practices in shrimp larval production in Ecuador.
The campaign, developed in collaboration with EU Member States and the Aquaculture Advisory Council, focuses on raising awareness, understanding and support for the development of aquaculture. 
DENMARK
Algal oil was included in almost 1 million tonnes of aquafeed
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
