IN BRIEF - Bluefin Tuna ‘Catch-Tag-Release’ Scientific Survey Programme for 2023 Opens for Charter Skippers
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Ireland’s Tuna CHART bluefin tuna sea angling survey programme for 2023 has opened for charter skippers to apply.
Anglers in Ireland will once again have the opportunity to catch and release bluefin tuna in 2023 through the continuation of the Tuna CHART (CatcH And Release Tagging) programme that has been in operation around our coast since 2019.
Experienced charter skippers are now invited to apply to take part in this year’s Atlantic bluefin tuna scientific survey programme of Irish waters.
Building on the successes of the Tuna CHART programmes of 2019-2022, this scientific data collection catch-and-release fishery for Ireland will again operate in 2023.
A maximum of 25 authorisations may be granted to qualifying angling charter vessel skippers around the Irish coast for this fishery, which opens on 1 July and closes on 12 November.
The Tuna CHART programme is a collaborative scientific programme between Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Marine Institute in partnership with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority
Laboratory tests have revealed dangerously high arsenic levels in imported shrimp from Greenland, exceeding the allowable limit by four times, according to Vetandlife. The findings have already been reported to Rosselkhoznadzor.
The analyses were carried out in January 2026 by the All-Russian State Center for Quality and Standardization of Veterinary Medicines and Feed (FSBI “VGNKI”), operating under the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance. The products were tested for compliance with the technical regulations “On Food Safety” and “On the Safety of Fish and Fish Products.”
Tests showed that arsenic levels in a sample of frozen-cooked northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) reached 20 mg/kg, which is four times higher than the maximum permissible limit. The sample was taken from a shipment weighing 18 tons. Details of the violation were forwarded to the Northwestern Interregional Office of the supervisory agency.
Experts warn that prolonged consumption of foods with elevated arsenic can lead to its accumulation in the body, increasing the risk of neurological disorders, skin damage, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, particularly of the skin, lungs, and bladder. In cases of acute exposure, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a sharp drop in blood pressure.
The cities of Dakhla (Morocco) and Dreux (France) are strengthening their cooperation in agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy, and waste management following the signing of a cooperation agreement this Saturday in Dakhla.
The meeting was chaired by Erragheb Hormatallah, President of the Dakhla Communal Council, and attended by Pierre-Frédéric Billet, Mayor of Dreux, who led a French delegation made up of business leaders, investors, and representatives of the GEDIA Group, a key player in the environmental and renewable energy sectors.
PUERTO DESEADO is experiencing an exceptional summer driven by strong activity in the squid jigging sector. According to Mar y Pesca, more than 15,000 tons of squid have already been unloaded at the local port, amid the sustained arrival of vessels dedicated to harvesting the resource.
Currently, 25 squid jigging vessels are operating, with new arrivals announced almost daily, encouraged by the sustained abundance of squid, which is increasingly conc
Nichirei announced on February 3 that it will invest more than USD 100 million (approximately 15.5 billion yen) to build a new frozen food factory in the United States, with operations scheduled to begin in 2028.
The facility will produce frozen processed chicken products and rice dishes, targeting rising demand as the Asian food market continues to expand across the US.
The new plant will be built in Arkansas by Nichirei Global Foods, a sub-subsidiary of Nichirei Foods set to be established in February 2026. The factory will cover approximately 16,000 square meters and is expected to create around 180 on-site jobs, strengthening the company’s local production footprint.
Currently, Nichirei operates its own frozen rice manufacturing facility in California. By expanding in-house production in the US and reducing reliance on outsourced manufacturing, the company aims to improve efficiency and boost profitability while reinforcing its supply chain for the North American market.
ANFACO-CYTMA has launched a new edition of the gastronomic competition “One can, one tapa by ANFACO-CYTMA”, aimed at hospitality schools throughout Spain, with the goal of fostering creativity and culinary technique through the use of canned fish and seafood in tapa format.
The competition is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and #AlimentosdEspaña, and is part of the “Fill your table with the sea” campaign. The initiative seeks to bring the gastronomic value of canned products closer to the educational sphere, highlighting them as a versatile, healthy and high-quality ingredient.
Participating schools are challenged to select one student to represent their institution with a tapa proposal made from canned fish and/or seafood. The creations must demonstrate creativity, balance and culinary judgment, showcasing the wide range of possibilities these products offer in small-format cuisine.
Each school may submit a single entry, which will represent the institution in the competition, in accordance with the established rules.
Capelin season is officially underway in Neskaupstaður following new advice from the Marine Research Institute, which has proposed a total capelin catch of more than 197,000 tonnes for the season. In response, preparations moved swiftly at Síldarvinnslan, where the focus this year will be on processing capelin for human consumption, according to the company’s website.
The first catch of the season arrived on January 20, when the Greenlandic vessel Polar Amaroq landed 340 tonnes of capelin at the local processing plant. Shortly afterward, Barður NK delivered 880 tonnes, followed by a second landing from Polar Amaroq, which brought in an additional 1,200 tonnes. These landings mark a strong and active start to the season in the town.
Oddur Einarsson, chief foreman at the processing plant, says full-scale operations are expected by the end of February, with production running in double shifts, 24 hours a day. He notes that staff were fully prepared once the scientific advice was issued and that there is clear optimism both within the plant and throughout the local community.
The Legislative Assembly took a key step toward regulating the fishing sector by approving a favorable opinion on the Law for the Creation of the Salvadoran Authority for the Blue Economy (ASEA).
Source: WIkipedia
The opinion was issued yesterday by the Health, Agriculture, and Environment Committee, which endorsed the initiative without debate among its members. The new entity will be responsible for the regulation and oversight of fishing, aquaculture, and other activities linked to the blue economy throughout the national territory.
During the session, lawmakers received a visit from Marta Solís, representing the Ministry of Economy, as part of the review of the proposed legislation. The creation of ASEA aims to strengthen the sustainable management of the country’s marine and aquaculture resources.
Pending data for December, Galicia imported more than 4,250 tons of frozen sardines from Morocco, 41% more than in the entire previous year, according to data from the State Secretariat for Trade. This represented a raw material cost of over 5.7 million euros.
For this species, and for the region's processing industry—primarily canning—the North African country is crucial. It is Galicia's number one trading partner, far ahead of Portugal (3,154 tons from January to November 2025), France (1,700 tons), and Croatia (1,290 tons).
Authors: Lara Graña - Jorge Garnelo / Faro de Vigo | Read the full article here
Octopus, spider crabs, and bivalves are the most valuable in the poachers' haul
It is difficult, if not impossible, to estimate how much the 28,000 kilos of fish and shellfish that the Galician Coast Guard prevented from being sold illegally last year represent in the poaching activity. Using the average price per kilo of the different species at Galician fish markets as a reference, their value at first sale would have exceeded €300,000. This would be what would be paid to professionals in the sector who comply with the regulations, because the market value would be close to €400,000 after applying 10% VAT, 3% fees, and profit margins.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
China drives January shift in Norwegian salmon trade.
China emerged as a key driver of changing salmon trade flows in January, as Norwegian exports continued to move away from the United States and towards Asia and European processing markets.
Norway exported 112,092 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 10.4 billion ($1.01 billion/€915 million) in January, down NOK 133 million ($12.9 million/€11.7 million), or 1 percent, compared with the same month last year, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here