IN BRIEF - Johnny Håberg will be the new seafood envoy to Africa
NORWAY
Monday, May 27, 2024
The Norwegian Seafood Council has hired Johnny Håberg (52) in the position of seafood envoy to Africa. Håberg will lead the Seafood Council's work in the region from summer 2024.
"I am very pleased that Johnny will be the Seafood Council's new envoy in an important region for Norwegian seafood. We look forward to putting his broad international experience from the seafood industry in place, and very good knowledge of some of the products that are relevant for the region", comments Børge Grønbech, chief executive of the Seafood Council.
Looking forward to the opportunity
Over the past five years, Norwegian seafood exports to Africa have skyrocketed to almost NOK 2 billion, with a focus on key markets such as Egypt, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Congo Brazzaville, Ghana and Morocco
Strong international seafood profile
Håberg comes from the position of export director at Salmon Brands, which he has held since 2017. He has also been stationed in Brazil for several years, first as the Seafood Council's envoy to Brazil in the period 2010 to 2015, before leading Brødrene Sperre's business and strategy work in Brazil.
Johnny Håberg thus replaces Trond Kostveit, who has led the Seafood Council's work since the initiative in Central and West Africa began in 2016.
WASHINGTON D.C. — In a decisive move to solidify maritime leadership, the U.S. Senate confirmed Timothy Petty on December 19, 2025, as the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Petty will now spearhead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) fisheries division.
A Strategic Leadership Role
As the head of NOAA Fisheries, Petty is tasked with a massive mandate: managing the nation’s marine fisheries and ensuring the conservation of protected ocean species. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) noted that Petty will act as second-in-command at NOAA, likely stepping into the role of NOAA Deputy Administrator.
Background and Expertise
Petty, a seasoned geologist, brings extensive legislative and administrative experience to the Department of Commerce:
Department of the Interior: Served as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science (2018–2021).
Capitol Hill: Former senior staffer for the House Subcommittee on Water and Environment.
During his October confirmation hearing, Petty faced rigorous questioning regarding stock assessments and the streamlining of disaster relief funding for coastal communities. His appointment comes at a critical time as the agency balances commercial fishing interests with escalating climate-related challenges in federal waters.
During his recent annual televised Q&A session, President Vladimir Putin addressed a growing concern for Russian households: the lack of affordable fish. Despite Russia’s vast maritime resources, domestic consumption continues to fall short of national health standards.
Barriers to Consumption
The President identified several systemic bottlenecks preventing the fishing industry from meeting public demand. Currently, high costs and logistical hurdles mean that high-quality catch from the Far East often struggles to reach the more populated European regions of Russia at competitive prices.
The Strategic Roadmap
To bridge the gap between the ocean and the dinner table, Putin outlined a multi-pronged strategy:
Logistical Optimization: Streamlining supply chains to ensure fish products move across the country more efficiently.
Reduced Transport Costs: Implementing measures to lower the price of shipping from eastern ports to the West.
Tax Incentives: Reviewing taxation policies to alleviate pressure on the fishing industry.
Fleet Modernization: Creating favorable conditions to continue the construction of domestic fishing vessels.
"We need to ensure that fish products can reach consumers as cheaply as possible," Putin emphasized, signaling that the government will prioritize infrastructure and affordability to improve the national diet.
This maritime sector, located off the coast of Río Negro Province (between parallels 41° and 43° S and extending to the 62° W meridian), is currently under a strict bottom-trawling ban for shrimp per Resolution CFP No. 7/2018. The proposed mission aims to:
Evaluate population dynamics within the protected reserve.
Analyze potential yields in light of recent changes observed in the commercial fishery.
Provide empirical data to support future management and sustainability decisions.
Technical Rationale
The decision follows an assessment of fleet behavior and catch yields in open fishing grounds over recent seasons. By gathering updated technical information, autho
The ship will replace the flagship of the French fleet, the Charles de Gaulle, starting in 2038
French President Emmanuel Macron has officially launched the construction of the new aircraft carrier that will eventually replace the flagship of the French Navy, the Charles de Gaulle. The president himself announced the plans for the construction of this next-generation vessel in February 2023. At that time, French media, citing sources close to the project, estimated that the final phase would begin around 2031. The ultimate goal is for the new aircraft carrier to be ready for deployment by 2038, as confirmed this Sunday on her Twitter account by Defense Minister Catherine Vautin, the year the De Gaulle will be decommissioned.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
MBA Chief Executive, Professor Willie Wilson, reflects on 2025.
December always brings with it one of the highlights of our calendar, the Annual General Meeting, and with it an invaluable moment to reflect on our science, our community and our impact. Despite what has been an undeniably challenging period for the wider world, the ocean and the academic sector, the MBA has continued to deliver.
Our?2025 Annual Report?captures this story in more detail and I would personally like to share a few highlights that illustrate the strength, ambition and impact of the MBA today.
Norway and Russia have reached an agreement on fishing quotas in 2026 for shared Barents Sea stocks, but the sanctioning of two major Russian companies by Norway continues to be a point of contention.
Norway and Russia have agreed to set a total quota for Northeast Arctic cod of 285,000 metric tons (MT), a decrease of 16 percent compared to the quota set for 2025. That proposal is a compromise between the Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group number of 269,550 MT and a number from the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) which proposed a much higher quota of 315,033 MT, which would have been an increase over the quota set for 2025.
Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
The three unions represented at the negotiating table for the national collective bargaining agreement for the fish and seafood canning industry (CIG, CCOO, and UGT) have broken off talks with employers following what they consider a "regressive proposal" that, they explain, "insists on changing the professional classification system so that nothing changes and aims for a real wage increase of 0.0%."
This was announced by the CIG, which demands a "clear and transparent" professional classification based on a job evaluation that avoids discretion and arbitrary classification decisions by companies, in addition to a 5% wage increase.
Source: iPac.aquaculture | Read the full article here
Shark scare at salmon farm as damage discovered in sea pen.
A swarm of sharks has ripped into a salmon farm in Norway, tearing holes in nets and sparking fears thousands of fish may have escaped.
The dramatic incident unfolded at a SalMarsite in Trøndelag, Norway where operators discovered extensive damage to a sea pen after repeated shark attacks.Regulators say the predators struck under cover of darkness, forcing the company to urgently move fish out of the damaged enclosure and deploy emergency recapture nets.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
A ban on salmon farm in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, has been overturned by a single vote in the region’s legislature, according to reports.
The local government in Tierra del Fuego passed the law in 2021, but regional legislator Agustín Coto – now a senator - moved to revoke the ban in the face of an economic squeeze. Tourism in Tierra del Fuego has slowed, and the region’s manufacturing sector is facing increasing pressures.Argentina’s current president, Javier Milei, also favours deregulating the nation’s industries to boost growth.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
FISA presented the preliminary program for the AquaSur 2026 Congress, featuring three days focused on innovation, sustainability, genetics, and technologies for aquaculture.
The thirteenth edition of AquaSur will take place from March 24 to 26, 2026, in the Los Lagos Region of Chile. The exhibition is considered the leading meeting point in the Southern Hemisphere for companies dedicated to aquaculture and related products.
The event organizers, FISA, part of the French group GL events, have high expectations for this edition.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
Giant Squid Catch in Peru Projected to Grow by 245% Peru
A new regulatory framework and strengthened satellite control drive the recovery of "pota" at the close of 2025.
The Peruvian fishing industry is preparing for a historic year-end. Accordin...
Pret A Manger Unveils Landmark Animal Welfare Policy United Kingdom
Comprehensive Protections for All Species to be Implemented Across 700+ Global Locations by 2030
LONDON — Pret A Manger, a global leader in the food-to-go sector with more than 700 locations wo...
NORWAY
"I am very pleased that Johnny will be the Seafood Council's new envoy in an important region for Norwegian seafood. We look forward to putting his broad international experience from the seafood industry in place, and very good knowledge of some of the products that are relevant for the region"
UNITED STATES
As the head of NOAA Fisheries, Petty is tasked with a massive mandate: managing the nation’s marine fisheries and ensuring the conservation of protected ocean species. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) noted that Petty will act as second-in-command at NOAA, likely stepping into the role of NOAA Deputy Administrator.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
ARGENTINA
FRANCE.png)
French President Emmanuel Macron has officially launched the construction of the new aircraft carrier that will eventually replace the flagship of the French Navy, the Charles de Gaulle. The president himself announced the plans for the construction of this next-generation vessel in February 2023. At that time, French media, citing sources close to the project, estimated that the final phase would begin around 2031. The ultimate goal is for the new aircraft carrier to be ready for deployment by 2038, as confirmed this Sunday on her Twitter account by Defense Minister Catherine Vautin, the year the De Gaulle will be decommissioned. 
UNITED KINGDOM
MBA Chief Executive, Professor Willie Wilson, reflects on 2025. 
Norway and Russia have reached an agreement on fishing quotas in 2026 for shared Barents Sea stocks, but the sanctioning of two major Russian companies by Norway continues to be a point of contention. 
SPAIN.png)
The three unions represented at the negotiating table for the national collective bargaining agreement for the fish and seafood canning industry (CIG, CCOO, and UGT) have broken off talks with employers following what they consider a "regressive proposal" that, they explain, "insists on changing the professional classification system so that nothing changes and aims for a real wage increase of 0.0%.".png)
A swarm of sharks has ripped into a salmon farm in Norway, tearing holes in nets and sparking fears thousands of fish may have escaped.
A ban on salmon farm in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, has been overturned by a single vote in the region’s legislature, according to reports.
CHILE.png)
FISA presented the preliminary program for the 
