Members of Parliament in Tanzania have urged the government to reduce the royalties and levies imposed on fisheries products to boost the industry.

The parliamentary standing committee on industry, trade, agriculture and livestock said that these royalties and levies hinder efforts to improve the welfare of fishermen and their families.

Deodatus Mwanyika, the committee chairperson, presented the lawmakers’ views in parliament in response to the 2024/2025 financial year budget proposals tabled by Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Abdallah Ulega.

The parliament members emphasized the need for the government to continue removing unnecessary royalties and levies on fisheries products to enable the sector to improve people’s welfare and contribute more effectively to economic growth.

In his response, Ulega said that the government is implementing measures to protect various marine species and promote sustainable fisheries. He told the House that the sector has created employment for six million Tanzanians, including providing direct employment for 198,475 fishermen.

By Xinhua

Florida land-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire has appointed Cermaq Chile managing director Pedro Courard as its new chief executive.

Courard (pictured left), who will take over from CEO and co-founder Johan Andreassen (pictured right) on August 1, is the second Cermaq executive to join the company this month following the appointment from the global director of Cermaq. of Finance, Gunnar Aasbo-Skinderhaug, as the new CFO and Deputy CEO of Atlantic Sapphire

Courard has been involved in the salmon industry in Chile for over 25 years, holding different management positions, such as most recently managing director of Cermaq Chile, the country’s second-largest salmon producer.

Andreassen said: “I am very pleased that after a long and thorough process Pedro Courard has been selected as my successor. Pedro has a strong operational track record from the Chilean salmon industry and I am convinced that he will be a good match to lead the Miami operations and take the company to operational excellence in Phase 1 and beyond.

“The strategic position of Atlantic Sapphire is stronger today than ever, being the sole land-based salmon producer at scale in the vast and growing US market with a unique location that enables the Company to grow its production to unmatched scale, sustainably.”

Pedro Courard, current General Manager of Cermaq Chile, will leave his position. His successor will be Joachim Wessel from June 1.

The position of General Manager will be assumed by Joachim Wessel, current Commercial and Supply Chain Manager. Joachim joined Cermaq in March 2020 and has a long and successful career in the salmon industry, working for important companies such as Mowi and AquaChile, in addition to the General Management of Friosur.

Joachim is highly respected internally at Cermaq, as well as externally in the Chilean industry.

Source: MundoAcuicola l Read the full article here

Norwegian salmon giant SalMar continued to be troubled by tough winter conditions and jellyfish attacks during the start of this year, the group’s first quarter results show.

These problems, along with extreme weather at times, left their mark on farming conditions in Norway between January and March.

SalMar produced a group operational EBIT or operational profit of NOK 1,512 million (almost £112m) against NOK 1,884m (£138m) 12 months earlier.

Group revenues were down too – from NOK 6,792 million (£499m) in Q1 2023 to NOK 6,555 million (£482m) this time.

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

• In collaboration with the AZTI Technology Centre, validation tests have commenced on new floating and submerged fish aggregation devices developed by Zunibal.
• The tests have initiated with an initial phase in a tropical, semi-controlled environment at the IATTC Achotines Laboratory facilities in Panama. Concurrently, real-condition tests are underway with 210 devices distributed between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to assess their effectiveness.
• The two solutions integrate a bio-based and compostable material, offering an innovative alternative that significantly reduces waste generation and promotes the sustainability of tuna fishing.

Author:  Oliver McBride / The Fishing Daily l  Read the full article here

Buoyed by the success of their first seaweed farm, Atlantic Mariculture Limited not only has plans to dramatically increase its own growing capacity but also to catalyse the growth of UK’s entire seaweed sector - by developing transferable technologies and establishing a commercial research hub.

Rows of pink buoys bobbing in a fresh easterly breeze brighten an otherwise drab April day on Loch Sunart

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

The British government announces a new discard policy from 2025

Leaving the EU has given us the opportunity to adopt a new approach to fisheries management that is in the best interests of the UK fishing industry.” These are the words of the United Kingdom Fisheries Minister, Mark Spenser, following the announcement that the use of technology will be implemented to control and manage fishing activity in British waters such as cameras, gear sensors; technology, known as remote electronic monitoring (REM), which aims to ensure that catches are accurately recorded.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here

Container freight rates from Asia to Europe and America are rapidly increasing

On the 10th, container freight rates from Asia to the West Coast of North America exceeded $4,000 per 40-foot container, an increase of more than $1,000 from before China's Labor Day (1-5 days) holiday. May 1st is the renewal period for the service contract (SC) for North American routes, but there are few examples of increases at this time. The tide is changing, with not only North American routes but also increases in shipping to northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.

As of October 10, freight rates compiled by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) are $4,393 to the west coast of North America and $5,562 to the east coast of North America. Compared to April 26, just before the Labor Day holiday, prices to the West Bank increased by $791, and prices to the East Coast increased by $901. Compared to the previous day on the 19th, prices have actually increased by $1,300 to $1,400 for both coasts.

On European routes, where prices are rising along with North America, prices for Northern Europe as of May 10th are $2,869 per 20-foot container (up $569 as of April 26th), and prices for the Mediterranean are $3,915 (up $680 as of April 26th). Shipments to Europe are also being affected by tight space due to shipments being brought forward in preparation for the prolongation of the Red Sea crisis.

Innophys Co., Ltd. (Hachioji City, Tokyo, president: Naotaka Otokawa), a venture company originating from Tokyo University of Science, delivered three assist suits developed by the company to JF Akita in February of this year.

Approximately two and a half months have passed since the trial introduction, and we have received positive feedback from fishermen and market participants, saying, "The strain on my lower back has been reduced" and "I can really feel the support it provides."

The company's assist suits have been used in the nursing care, agriculture, construction, and logistics fields, but this is the first time that they have been tested for full-scale implementation in the fishing industry.

A person in charge of the Akita Prefectural Fisheries Promotion Center contacted the company and asked if they would like to conduct a demonstration experiment with a view to introducing it to fisheries workers, and the company received an inquiry about the "Muscle Suit Soft-Power", which reduces the burden on the lower back by 35%. A total of three machines were delivered, including one Muscle Suit Soft-Light, which protects the waist like a corset and eases the burden of work. [....]

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska this spring unexpectedly pulled her support for a Republican-led bill that seeks to pave the way for more oil drilling in the state, opening her up to criticism from opponents who claim she’s supporting a pro-Biden agenda.

It was the latest in a series of moves by the Democrats that led to a mix of reactions from conservation and tribal groups and resource development advocates.

Peltola late last month backed the controversial Donlin Gold prospect, joining Alaska Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan in a friends-of-the-court legal brief expressing support. That effort drew criticism from a tribal group in the region, and praise from industry trade groups. They called the Southwest Alaska mine one of the state’s “most important and necessary economic development projects.”

Also on May 1, Peltola introduced legislation in the House to stop the Pebble copper and gold mine in the Bristol Bay region that’s home to the world’s largest commercial sockeye salmon fishery. That move drew widespread applause from conservation and tribal groups, and opposition from the mine developer.[continues...]

Author/Source: Alex DeMarban/Alaska Journal of Commerce