IN BRIEF - Amendment to the law on the management of large bluefin tuna has been enacted
JAPAN
Thursday, June 20, 2024
It will provide material for negotiations on quota increases.
A bill amending the Fisheries Law and the Fisheries Distribution Optimization Law aimed at strengthening resource management through individual management of large Pacific bluefin tuna (over 30 kg) was passed by a majority vote at the House of Councilors plenary session of the 213th regular Diet session held on the morning of the 19th. The Fisheries Law requires reporting of the number of large bluefin tuna caught in addition to the catch volume and requires records such as the name of the vessel used and the weight of each individual. The Distribution Optimization Law requires distributors to transmit recorded information at the time of capture. It will be promulgated within 30 days and take effect no more than two months after its promulgation.
An illustration of the new reporting requirements for large Pacific bluefin tuna
Following the failure to report catches that occurred in Oma, Aomori, the government has been rushing to put in place a system that allows for individual comparisons of large Pacific bluefin tuna and significantly strengthens penalties. In case of failure to comply with the reporting obligation, the previous penalty was up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 300,000 yen (US$1,898) and will be increased to a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to 500,000 yen. (U$D 3,164), only for large Pacific bluefin tuna
Source: The Suisan Keizai (translated from original in japanese)
By June 25, 2024, according to the industry monitoring system of Rosrybolovstvo (TSMS), the catch by all Russian users reached 2.44 million tons - 1.7% more than the level of 2023 for the same period
Including production:
Far Eastern basin – 1.85 million tons (+3%)
Northern basin – almost 256 thousand tons (+5.5%)
Western basin – 48 thousand tons.
Azov-Black Sea basin – 15.5 thousand tons
Volga-Caspian basin – 46 thousand tons.
In the exclusive economic zones of foreign states, conventional areas and the open part of the World Ocean, the Russian fleet produced more than 218 thousand tons.
As of June 24, the total load of fish terminals in the Primorsky Territory was 21% (23.5 thousand tons of fresh frozen fish products in storage).
There are 28 vessels with 29.3 thousand tons of fish products approaching the seaports of Primorsky Krai, including one vessel with salmon (2.7 tons). Fresh frozen catches of pollock (10.2 thousand tons), herring (0.079 thousand tons) and cod (1.04 thousand tons) are delivered to the ports.
Source: Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo)
Reference is made to the stock exchange announcements by Salmon Evolution ASA ("Salmon Evolution" or the "Company") on 18 June 2024, regarding the successful private placement of approximately NOK 365 million and the increase in bank facilities with NOK 675 million.
The Company has taken the final investment decision for Indre Harøy phase 2 and has accordingly signed an agreement with Artec Aqua and Hent, in which the phase 2 grow-out project moves into the construction phase. Mobilization will commence shortly, with planned construction starting during Q3 2024. In parallel the Company is proceeding with the planning and engineering for the additional tank capacity. As previously communicated no final decisions or agreements are entered into for this part of the phase 2 project.
“We are now creating a foundation for substantial profitable growth, and with phase 2 in full operation we will have a strong cash-flow generating platform with significant annual investment capacity”, CEO of Salmon Evolution ASA, Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen said.
The European sector grouped in EAPO and Êuropeche is "deeply disappointed" by the partial agreement reached between the United Kingdom, Norway and the Faroe Islands on the distribution of mackerel fishing opportunities in the northeast Atlantic. The joint quota for the three states is 739,386 tonnes. "This agreement does not resolve the critical problem of catches exceeding the Total Allowable Catches established in accordance with scientific advice. Instead, it rewards the establishment of excessive and inflated unilateral quotas by some parties in recent years," he maintains. .
In this sense, it urges all coastal States to resume their consultations on a "comprehensive exchange agreement" that should reflect "genuine and sustainable interests."
Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here
A consultation to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the common fisheries policy (CFP) has been started by the European Commission with the aim to gather evidence and different perspectives from a range of stakeholders, including individuals, the fisheries and the maritime sectors, NGOs and other organisations, and national administrations from member states.
Results of these consultations, alongside other analyses and studies will be used to assess the CFP’s performance in achieving its objectives, its economic implications, and its relevance in the context of emerging needs.
Nomad Foods, the company behind some of Europe’s iconic frozen food brands including Birds Eye, Findus, iglo, Ledo and Frikom has today announced the results of its eighteen month industry-leading study, exploring if frozen food storage temperatures can be increased, leading to significant carbon emission reductions and cost savings, without impacting product safety or quality.
AZTI Develops Revolutionary Genetic Method for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management
The AZTI Technology Centre has pioneered a genetic method that revolutionizes the identification of prey in the stomachs of commercially significant fish species such as anchovy, sardine, hake, horse mackerel, and mackerel. This breakthrough technique promises to enhance the application of ecosystem-based models for sustainable fish stock management.
Author: Oliver McBride / The Fishing Daily l Read the full article here
Omega Azul to reach 3,000 tons per year within five years
Omega Azul, which operates amberjack farming in northwestern Mexico, announced on the 13th that it plans to increase amberjack production to 3,000 tons per year within the next five years. The current production volume is 450 tons. The company aims to expand its business to meet growing demand.
Last year, the company merged with Amberjack Farm Mexico, which was also engaged in amberjack farming. The company has acquired offshore assets, land-based production licenses, parent fish and hatchery equipment, processing facilities, super freezers, and a catalog of amberjack genes [....]
Source: Minato-Yamaguchi (translated from original in Japanese)
The most representative organizations in the fishing, aquaculture, processing and marketing sectors of our country will once again request the Government to eliminate or reduce VAT on fishing products. The sector will make this request following the announcement made by the Council of Ministers to extend from July 1 the tax reduction for basic foodstuffs, among which, once again, fishing vessels are not recognized as such. The claim has been supported by Conxemar, Anfaco-Cecopesca, Aecoc, Apromar, Arvi, Cepesca, Fedepesca, Fenamar and the Fncp, among others.
The sector will also ask the Government to explain and argue the reason for this repeated decision that distances consumer access to a quality diet, even more so in the case of the most disadvantaged social strata.
iItaly, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Cyprus and Denmark are the six largest European markets for canned tuna imports from Vietnam
The European Union recorded significant growth in canned tuna imports from Vietnam in the first five months of 2024. Canned tuna accounts for almost 49% of the total turnover of tuna exports from Vietnam to the EU, a 33% more than in the same period of 2023, reaching more than 43 million dollars. The increase in imports highlights the EU's growing interest in this market segment.
Hilton Food Group-owned Foppen Seafood has issued a recall for one lot number of toast slices sold in Kroger grocery stores.
The recall is for Smoked Norwegian Salmon Slices – toast-sized in 8.1-ounce packages, identified by lot number 412 and sold in Kroger and Payless Supermarkets across 15 U.S. states.
The Harderwijk, Netherlands-based smoked salmon brand said the listeria was found during routine testing. The affected lot was distributed to Kroger and Payless Supermarkets stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
Author: Cliff White / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here