Shamim Nyanda, community manager for the forthcoming Women in Ocean Food Africa venture studio, explains her dedication to empowering the continent’s female blue food entrepreneurs.

Following a joint degree in social sciences and education, Nyanda ventured into activism, with a focus on climate, but soon realised that something was missing. 

Nyanda’s new role involves running the latest of Hatch Blue’s global innovation studios, following the success of similar women-focused initiatives in Asia and Latin America. 

The year-long programme aims to connect 12 women-led teams that are working in Africa’s blue economy with investors, experts and mentors – something that Nyanda understands the need for only too well. 

Author: Rob Fletcher / The Fish Site | Read the full article here

After 16 years’ service as CEO of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA), Ian Gatt CBE has announced his intention to retire from the role, which has resulted in the SPFA Board appointing well-known Scottish fishing industry figure, Hannah Fennell, as CEO Designate.

Hannah Fennell joins SPFA as CEO Designate on 3 February and will work closely alongside Ian Gatt for the next 12-18 months to familiarise herself with the role before then taking over as CEO.

Ian Gatt (64) has steered SPFA through a challenging period for the Scottish pelagic fishing industry, including international disputes over quota shares and increasing regulation affecting the sector. 

Source: Fish Focus | Read the full article here

Sydney, Australia opened a new AUD 800 million (USD 538 million, EUR 459 million), 26,000-square-meter fish market on 19 January in what it called a “major milestone” for the country’s seafood industry.

The new market, located on Sydney Harbour, was designed by 3XN GXN Architects and the New South Wales (NSW), Australia government called the new building “the world’s best fish market” in a release.  NSW said it is now the third major landmark on the harbor’s waterfront, located alongside the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. 

Author: Haley Jones / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Myanmar earned more than US$278.9 million from fishery exports during the first nine months of the 2025–2026 financial year (April–December), according to the Department of Fisheries.

Over 227,000 metric tonnes of seafood were exported to more than 40 countries, including China, Thailand, Bangladesh and Japan, through both maritime routes and land border trade channels.

Of the total volume, more than 113,500 metric tonnes were shipped by sea, generating an estimated US$177.5 million. A further 114,000 metric tonnes, valued at about US$101.36 million, were exported to neighbouring countries via land borders.

In the previous 2024–2025 financial year (April 2024–March 2025), Myanmar’s fishery exports totalled around 400,000 metric tonnes, earning approximately US$421 million.

Key export products include hilsa, rohu, river catfish, seabass, eel, shrimp and crab, according to the Myanmar Fisheries Federation. The sector is supported by more than 140 cold storage facilities nationwide, with

Nissui announces board and executive changes.

Japanese seafood giant, the Nissui Corporation, has announced a series of changes to its board of directors and executive officers, following a resolution at a board meeting held on 19 January.

The company said chairman of the board Shingo Hamada will retire from his role as representative director upon the expiry of his term as a director. His retirement is scheduled to take effect at the conclusion of Nissui’s 111th ordinary general meeting of shareholders on 25 June.

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

Chile is expecting modest salmon export growth this year, but that prediction was made before President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat against other salmon producing countries.

Chile is unlikely to be paying higher tariffs at least until later in the year.

The Chilean salmon industry is forecast to grow by around 4.2% in 2026, says analyst Cristian Delgado, a PhD student in Economics and Business and academic at the San Sebastián University on the Patagonia Campus.

The prediction is based on projections from the Chile Central Bank.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here

Russia has fully transitioned its fishing fleet to domestic satellite systems for vessel monitoring, abandoning foreign networks as of January 1, 2026.

According to the Federal Agency for Fisheries, fishing vessels now transmit location data exclusively via Russian orbital constellations—Gonets, Yamal, and Express—to the Industry Monitoring System (IMS).

The move follows Order No. 250 of the Ministry of Agriculture, which ended the use of British Inmarsat satellite stations as technical monitoring equipment on ships. Authorities say the switch reduces the risk of vessels being disconnected from foreign satellite networks and strengthens uninterrupted operational oversight.

The transition, launched on May 13, 2024, lasted 18 months and involved the complete replacement of foreign-made shipborne monitoring stations with domestic ones. The new requirements apply to vessels with a gross tonnage over 80 tons and engine power exceeding 55 kW.

According to Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Fisheries Monitoring and Communications System Center, tests conducted in December 2025 showed that Gonets stations were more than twice as reliable as Inmarsat equipment in 2025. He added that the domestic system also significantly lowers communication costs for shipowners.

Source: Federal Agency for Fisheries