IN BRIEF - Sea of Okhotsk: pollock and herring catch increased by 4% compared to last year
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Thursday, February 02, 2023
According to the industry monitoring system, by January 31, 2023, the total pollock catch in the Far Eastern Basin reached 222 thousand tons, which is 24.5 thousand tons or 12.4% more than in 2022.
The main catch falls on the Sea of ??Okhotsk, where pollock and herring are actively fished. By January 31, almost 182,000 tons of pollock were harvest, which is 4% higher than last year.
Since the beginning of the year, 49 thousand tons of Pacific herring have been harvested in the Far Eastern Basin, which is 4.3% more than in 2022.
Currently, 93 vessels are operating in the Sea of ??Okhotsk for pollock and herring. Periodically, up to 6 vessels leave Severo-Kurilsk to fish for bottom-food items with pollock by-catch in the Kamchatka-Kuril subzone and in the Northern Kuriles area.
Two receiving and processing vessels and four snurrevods are working on bottom-food facilities off the coast of Western Kamchatka. Pollock catches are still as by-catch. 20 fishing vessels and two floating bases are engaged in the extraction of herring in the North Sea of ??Okhotsk subzone. Specialized pollock trawling in the Sea of ??Okhotsk is carried out by 69 vessels. 14 observers from VNIRO work in the region.
According to the data of the Primorsky Territorial Administration of the Federal Agency for Fishery, the region's refrigerators in sea fishing ports are loaded on average by 42%. There are 27 vessels with fresh catches on board - more than 38.3 thousand tons, including 12 vessels - with 23 thousand tons of pollock and 22 vessels - with 9 thousand tons of herring. Fresh fish products are regularly sent to the domestic market.
Source: United Press Service of the Federal Agency for Fishery
The Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) released its latest resource assessment for the Japanese common flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) on December 26, 2025.
While coastal regions like Sanriku saw a surprising uptick in migrations last year, experts warn that the species remains in a critical state overall.
Click on the image to enlarge it
The "Pacific Shift" Explained
According to the National Research Institute for Fisheries Science, the 2025 surge along the Pacific coast was driven by two specific environmental factors:
Slightly Higher Spawning Success: A marginal increase in winter-born parent fish compared to the previous year provided a larger initial larval base.
Ocean Current Diversion: Favorable current patterns acted as a "conveyor belt," pushing newborn larvae toward the Pacific side rather than their traditional routes into the Sea of Japan.
A Tale of Two Stocks
Despite the localized bounty in the Pacific, the broader picture is bleak. The autumn-born stock, which primarily supports the Sea of Japan fisheries, continues to hover at all-time record lows.
Japanese fisheries experts emphasize that "resource recovery" is not yet on the horizon. The low density of parent fish in the autumn-born group suggests that the reproductive cycle remains fragile. Marine biologists point to rising sea temperatures in the East China Sea spawning grounds as a persistent threat
Anfaco-Cytma Reveals Rabat Will Close Exports to Supply Its Industry and Sell in the EU
Zakia Driouich, Morocco's Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries, announced on January 7 that her country intends to temporarily suspend frozen sardine exports starting February 1, according to the Vigo-based employers' association Anfaco-Cytma. If implemented, this "could have a significant impact on the activity and employment" of Spanish and EU canneries and processing industries.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
The squid fleet completes its departure for the fishing grounds this week, hoping to improve the unstable results of recent seasons. The 16 trawlers licensed for this resource, all partly owned by Galician capital, went from recording almost 100,000 tons in the two seasons of 2022 to a meager 56,000 last year. Biomass levels are a concern for the shipowners, who are still processing the largest investment in their fleet in the fishing grounds in 40 years.
The Beiramar docks are chameleon-like, completely changing their appearance in a matter of hours: from a dense swarm of large vessels, some moored alongside each other, to being dotted with smaller boats of different types and fishing grounds.
Author: Lara Graña / Faro de Vigo | Read the full article here
The Sefine shipyard in Türkiye has completed the construction of a new wellboat that is expected to end up working for the fish farmer Mowi, in Scotland.
The NB67 is the third largest live fish transport vessel we have built at Sefine, and it has been successfully delivered and launched into the seas as the second vessel realised under the contract we signed with our Norwegian business partner, Intership, in 2022.”
The vessel, to be named Inter Alba, was designed by SALT Ship Design, also of Norway.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
The world is now home to about 8.3 billion people and millions still do not have enough nutritious food. As concerns about food security grow, scientists are looking beyond land for solutions. New research suggests the ocean could play a much larger role than previously thought. A team led by scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama found that restoring coral reef fish populations could greatly increase the amount of seafood produced sustainably each year, providing food for millions of peopleThe study shows that many reef fish populations have been heavily overfished and are producing far below what they could support over the long term.
China recorded the largest value growth among Norway’s seafood export markets in 2025, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Export value to China increased by NOK 2.9 billion ($0.28 billion), or 31 per cent, compared with the previous year, reaching a total of NOK 12.3 billion ($1.19 billion). This moved China from Norway’s sixth largest seafood market in 2024 to its third largest in 2025.
Thanks to increased e-commerce, better distribution channels and strong growth in salmon consumption, China became a growth engine for Norwegian seafood exports in 2025
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
A maritime emergency on December 27 proved the life-saving value of the Palau-Taiwan partnership after a local fisherman was rescued north of Ulong Island.
When fisherman Edward Tadao’s engine failed, leaving him stranded, he activated the SOS function on his vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS). This device was installed as part of the Strengthening Coastal Fisheries Management Project, a joint initiative by Palau’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment (MAFE) and the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM).
Swift Emergency Response
The emergency signal was instantly picked up by Palau Marine Law Enforcement and the project team. Using real-time AIS positioning data, rescuers located the vessel with high precision.
Outcome: The fisherman and vessel were safely returned to shore.
Casualties: None; no injuries reported.
Strengthening Maritime Safety
While AIS is often used for fisheries oversight and data collection, this incident highlights its critical role as a safety net. By equipping small-scale vessels with this technology, the project provides a vital layer of protection for Palau’s fishing community.
The initiative continues to integrate sustainable resource management with advanced maritime safety, ensuring that technology adoption leads to both better data and safer seas for local fishers.
While Spain's crustacean market is dominated by global giants such as Ecuador, Argentina, Mozambique and Vietnam, the province of Burgos has carved out a strategic specialization in Venezuelan imports. Since 2013, 60% of all Spanish prawn purchases from Venezuela have been concentrated within the Burgos food industry.
Burgos’ Role in the Caracas-Madrid Axis
The seafood industry in the city of Burgos and Valdorros has established Venezuela as a preferred partner:
Specialization: Burgos managed €165 million of the €274 million that Spain has imported from Venezuela over the last decade.
Annual Balance: During the first ten months of last year, the province processed over 1,800 tons (worth €8.26 million), capturing half of the total trade flow between the two nations for this product.
Global Context: A Market of Giants
It is essential to note that despite the strong local link with Caracas, Venezuela is not a dominant player in the overall Spanish market. Countries like Ecuador (a leader in farmed shrimp) and Argentina (a leader in wild-caught prawns) remain Spain’s primary suppliers.
Burgos leverages this Venezuelan niche to complement its broader portfolio, using its robust logistics infrastructure and processing plants to distribute the finished product throughout Spain and much of Europe.
Balanced Supply and Demand Keep Prices Steady in Major Production Hubs
A recent survey by Cepea (Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics) indicates that tilapia prices remained predominantly stable during the week ending January 2, 2026. The data suggests a harmonious balance between supply and demand as the new year begins, with only minor price fluctuations recorded across the country's primary production centers.
Market Outlook
According to Cepea researchers, these discreet fluctuations are typical for the beginning of the year. The market currently lacks any abrupt movements in supply or significant pressure from consumer demand, leading to the current plateau in pricing.
"The market is currently in a state of equilibrium, reflecting a period of seasonal normalcy without external shocks to the supply chain," the report noted.
Far East Fleet Deployed as 2026 Sea of Okhotsk Fishing Season Begins Russia Fed.
Pollock and Herring Harvest Targets Set Following Record-Breaking 2025 Yields
The Russian Far East has officially launched the 2026 Sea of Okhotsk fishing season, known as Season "A". This critic...
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The main catch falls on the Sea of ??Okhotsk, where pollock and herring are actively fished. By January 31, almost 182,000 tons of pollock were harvest, which is 4% higher than last year.
JAPAN.png)
MOROCCO
Anfaco-Cytma
FALKLAND ISLANDS
The squid fleet completes its departure for the fishing grounds this week, hoping to improve the unstable results of recent seasons. The 16 trawlers licensed for this resource, all partly owned by Galician capital, went from recording almost 100,000 tons in the two seasons of 2022 to a meager 56,000 last year. Biomass levels are a concern for the shipowners, who are still processing the largest investment in their fleet in the fishing grounds in 40 years.
TURKEY
The Sefine shipyard in Türkiye has completed the construction of a new wellboat that is expected to end up working for the fish farmer
WORLDWIDE
The world is now home to about 8.3 billion people and millions still do not have enough nutritious food. As concerns about food security grow, scientists are looking beyond land for solutions. New research suggests the ocean could play a much larger role than previously thought. A team led by scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama found that restoring coral reef fish populations could greatly increase the amount of seafood produced sustainably each year, providing food for millions of peopleThe study shows that many reef fish populations have been heavily overfished and are producing far below what they could support over the long term. 
CHINA
PALAU
SPAIN.png)
The seafood industry in the city of Burgos and Valdorros has established Venezuela as a preferred partner:
BRAZIL
