Salmon Scotland, the trade body representing the UK’s largest food export, is calling on John Swinney to cut the red tape hindering Scotland’s blue economy.

The appeal comes as Scotland’s Finance Secretary Shona Robison and UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves face tough financial outlooks and impose public spending curbs. Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, described Scottish salmon as “a bright spot for Scotland’s economy” and stressed the need for support to build on “giant leaps” in global sales, with the sector on track for record-breaking exports.

Source: FishFocus | Read the full article here

With the announcement on Monday by Belgium of its candidate for European Commissioner, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib, and three days after the deadline given by the elected president Ursula von der Leyen for the different member countries to propose their candidates, the latter can now begin to form her team and decide the responsibilities of each of the candidates for the assumption of the designated portfolios.

The candidate for European Commissioner on the part of Spain is the Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera.

Source: Ipac | Read the full article here

The Port Authority of Vigo has opened to public consultation the initial version of the Delimitation of Port Spaces and Uses (DEUP), including the strategic environmental study, in accordance with the provisions of art. 69 of Royal Legislative Decree 2/2011, of September 5, approving the Revised Text of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy.

According to the information provided by the Port of Vigo, after carrying out a prior consultation with the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment belonging to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge

Source: IndustriasPesqueras | Read the full article here

From today, companies can contact Innovation Norway about loans through the new scheme Green Industry Financing. The government makes up to five billion kroner available to realize large industrial projects.

"Norway has a world-class industry and skilled professionals who will take us through a major restructuring. But we cannot meet those challenges with yesterday's tools. Green industrial financing is a powerful tool that will help create jobs and realize innovative green industrial projects", says Minister Cecilie Myrseth (Ap).

The scheme, which will be managed by Innovation Norway, has a total budget of up to NOK 5 billion and loans can be issued until 31 December 2025.

<--Photo:  Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet

"Private capital must lead the way, but the community must also step up to speed up the green transition. Innovation Norway now has an important task as Norway's green industry bank, and I hope many companies will apply", says the Minister Myrseth.

The scheme is set up as a risk loan scheme, and loans will be granted with elements of state aid or on market terms. The government has set aside NOK 1.75 billion for loss provisions. The public sector must not bear all the risk, as private financing must be involved in all the projects.

Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries

In the first half of 2024, Florida land-based salmon producer Atlantic Sapphire harvested 2,395 tons, with an average weight of just 1.4 kilos.

The company reported that it will take measures to increase the weight of the fish, but to unleash its potential, it has to obtain financing close to 100 million dollars and invest it.

In this regard, the new CEO of Atlantic Sapphire, Chilean Pedro Courard, gives details of how they will improve their indices.

Author: Jonathan Garcés / SalmonExpert | Read the full article here

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been trying for months to secure a deal to ban harmful fishery subsidies leading to overfishing and overcapacity in global fishing fleets.

Negotiations have all failed so far, and future attempts to pass the deal are looking bleak, according to European Center for International Political Economy (ECIPE) Director and Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, who told SeafoodSource that key WTO members like India have dug in on their opposition.

Author: Mark Godfrey / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Proximar triples salmon standing biomass. Proximar Seafood AS is announcing its fourth production update following the successful initiation of production of Atlantic salmon in its Oyama-facility in Japan in October 2022. At the end of Q2 2024, the Company had a standing biomass of 360 metric tonnes, more than a tripling from the 112 metric tonnes at the end of Q1 2024.

Source: FishFocus | Read the full article here

The Xunta de Galicia, through the Consellería do Mar, has expressed its disagreement with the ideas defended by the European Commission in the “Communication on Sustainable Fishing”, sent to the European Parliament and the Council last June and which has been the subject of observations by the Galician Government. The Department of the Sea, led by Alfonso Villares, has confirmed that it submitted a document of allegations to the Commission, within the framework of the public participation process that ended on August 31.

Source: IndustriasPesqueras | Read the full article here

The drop in prices in recent months will mean that, for the first time in three years, the bulk of the sector will cover its operating costs and recover profitability. Fuel prices represent the main operating cost for the Spanish fishing fleet, as well as for the fleet of the European Union (EU) as a whole, according to a report by the European Commission on sustainable fishing submitted to Parliament and the Council, which makes an exception for the "vulnerability" of the fleet segments that depend more directly on "overexploited stocks and use energy-intensive fishing gear", as is the case of Galician deep-sea vessels.

Source: EuropaAzul | Read the full article here

Gangtok: In a bid to boost the aquaculture sector in Sikkim, a two-day training program organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Central Agricultural University (CAU) has empowered trout farmers in Sikkim with expert knowledge to enhance their farming systems.

The program, held at Lingtam, Subaney Dara, focused on feeding management, tank hygiene, and disease control strategies to improve the livelihoods of farmers and promote fish culture in the state.

Senior Scientist Dr. Prakash Sharma emphasized the importance of proper fish feed management, entrepreneurial expansion, and market strategy development to generate revenue.

Sikkim is a state in northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal as part of the Himalayas

Dr. A Anuradha Devi, Principal Investigator, highlighted the potential of the fish farming industry and introduced the Agro Advisory Services (m4agri) application, a toll-free service for farmers.

Yogesh Dangal, Block Officer, Fisheries Department, explained various government schemes and provided details on setting up fish kiosks, eligibility criteria, subsidies, and facilities available to beneficiaries.

The program concluded with an interactive session, where participants shared their concerns and clarified issues with officials from the Fisheries Department and progressive farmers.