South Korea experienced a significant 63% surge in Norwegian seafood imports in February compared to the previous year.

February 2025 imports reached 10,107 tons, up from 6,207 tons in February 2024. Total imports for January and February rose by 42% to 25,069 tons, compared to 17,674 tons in the same period of 2024. Norwegian seafood now represents 16% of South Korea's total seafood imports, which reached 152,793 tons.

[Import Trends by Product]

Norwegian seafood import values also increased, with February 2025 reaching USD 55.4 million, a 14% rise from USD 48.76 million in February 2024. The cumulative value for January and February increased by 30% to USD 139.4 million, compared to USD 107.31 million in 2024. However, the average import price decreased by 8% to USD 5.56/kg, down from USD 6.07/kg the previous year. The increased demand for Norwegian seafood in South Korea is evident, particularly for frozen mackerel and salmon fillets.

Source: Union Forsea Corp.

Russian Fisheries Catch Report

According to data from the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) industry monitoring system, Russian fishermen have harvested 1,036,600 tons of aquatic bioresources since the beginning of the year.

Catches by basin:

• Far Eastern Basin: 872,000 tons
  • Pollock: 660,500 tons
  • Cod: 29,000 tons
  • Pacific Herring: 136,800 tons (+15,300 tons compared to 2024)
• Northern Basin: 61,400 tons
  • Cod: 43,800 tons
  • Haddock: 8,900 tons
• Western Basin: 19,500 tons (+8.3% compared to 2024)
  • Sprat: 12,900 tons (+700 tons compared to 2024)
  • Baltic Herring: 6,300 tons (+1,000 tons compared to 2024)
• Azov-Black Sea Basin: 10,800 tons (+20.5% compared to 2024)
  • Anchovy: 9,800 tons (+1,600 tons compared to 2024)
• Volga-Caspian Basin: 17,700 tons (+17.6% compared to 2024)
  • Sprat: 17,100 tons (+2,800 tons compared to 2024)

Russian fleets also harvested 53,900 tons in foreign exclusive economic zones, international waters, and the open ocean (+24,100 tons or 81.1% compared to the same perio

Reston, VA – The National Fisheries Insitute launched a revitalized AboutSeafood.com to continue its efforts connecting the seafood community and increase access to crucial seafood information.

The updated website is part of NFI’s Strategic Plan, launched in March of 2024, which aims to shape, connect, and grow the sector across the supply chain.

“A renewed AboutSeafood.com will help us better align with NFI’s Strategic Plan by increasing our interactions with key audiences, improve overall functionality, and enhance the user experience,” said Lisa Wallenda Picard, NFI President and CEO. “Advances to AboutSeafood.com will continue to position NFI as the leading voice for the seafood community.”

The website will offer resources for stakeholder audiences, providing the latest information on seafood with a direct focus on combatting misinformation in the media and equipping its users with facts on seafood policy, including health and nutrition, trade and commerce, sustainability and sourcing, safety, and economic integrity.

“The work done to enhance the website is far more than a facelift, it’s a project that will help support sound public policy and nutrition information based on science by putting resources in the hands of members and boosting NFI’s already loud digital voice. This will have a lasting impact on the industry moving forward,” said Ryan Clark, CEO and President of The Town Dock and NFI Chairman.

Nichirei's Polish subsidiary, Frigo Logistics Sp. z oo, has established the Nowy Dwor Logistics Center near the country's capital, Warsaw.

On February 27th, an opening ceremony was held at the center, inviting approximately 160 people, including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Poland, Mr. Kono, and the Mayor of Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki.

Greetings from guests (Left: Ambassador Kono, Right: Mayor Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki)

The company operates a business in Poland, mainly in refrigerated logistics for retail chain stores. The center, which serves as the core base in the metropolitan area, has installed automated storage equipment with a capacity of approximately 30,000 tons, aiming to reduce labor in the operation of the logistics center. Through the establishment of this new center, the company aims to further expand its existing services and respond to the strong demand for storage and transportation in upstream logistics. In addition, by consolidating the functions of three surrounding bases that were responsible for delivery to the northeastern area of ??Poland, the center will provide more efficient transportation and delivery services.

Going forward, Nichirei will continue to combine its increased storage capacity with its transportation and delivery network, which covers all of Poland, to provide advanced one-stop services that meet the diverse needs of its customers

During the recent O!Mega Taste festival, pollock roe became a highlight of Maslenitsa week at the Moscow on the Wave markets, featuring tastings, a cook-off, and a master class.

From February 24 to March 2, visitors to the Moscow on the Wave fish markets enjoyed pollock roe as part of the Moscow Maslenitsa celebrations. Over 650 people sampled blini with pollock roe, with 90% praising its taste and texture and sharing their ideas for dishes featuring pollock roe.

On the final day of Maslenitsa, Oleg Koroban, chef at the Culinary Studio, member of the International Alliance of Culinary Professionals, and Speaker of the Siberian Chefs Guild, along with Alexander Meshkov from Battle of the Chefs (Season 4), held a pollock cook-off. They amazed guests with their elegant crepes, garnished with cream and pepper sauce, pollock roe, and fresh pollock, plus fritters with pollock liver, beetroot hummus, and crispy pollock-shaped chips. Celebrity guest Serge Gorely from TNT Channel's Comedy Club was impressed by these fresh takes on the familiar wild white fish. Meanwhile, at a dedicated master class, guests learned to prepare pollock dishes themselves, with the new culinary creations delighting both adults and children.

Source: Russian Fishery

Tunisia's aquaculture sector experienced significant investment growth in 2024, with approved projects valued at US$8.4 million, a sevenfold increase from 2023's US$1.8 million.

This growth reflects a rising interest in aquaculture, despite its limited contribution to local fish supply. In 2022, aquaculture accounted for only 13% (21,000 tons) of Tunisia's total fish production (158,500 tons). The government aims to increase aquaculture's contribution to 30% by 2030.

Marine fish farming is the dominant aquaculture activity. However, aquaculture remains one of the least invested sectors in agriculture. In 2024, private investments in agriculture totaled US$144 million, with aquaculture representing only 5.8%. Agriculture received the majority of investments (58.7%), followed by agriculture/maritime fishing services (21.2%) and maritime fishing (11.5%).

Tunisia has significant aquaculture potential due to its 1,350-kilometer coastline, extensive maritime zone (over 80,000 sq km), and lagoons (100,000 hectares). The country has 25 marine aquaculture farms, producing 400-3,500 tons annually, mainly seabass and seabream. In 2021, aquaculture accounted for 16% of Tunisia’s aquatic product output and employed over 2,000 people.

On March 11, 2025, the China Fisheries Association and Beijing Huasilian Certification Center signed a strategic cooperation agreement. This agreement marks the beginning of a collaborative effort in fishery certification.

This cooperation is occurring at a critical time, as the fishery industry is transitioning towards high-quality development. Promoting healthy and ecological breeding models, enhancing the quality and safety of fishery products, and protecting consumer rights are key concerns. To address these concerns, the China Fisheries Association and Huasilian Certification Center are strategically focusing on developing a fishery industry certification system with Chinese characteristics. They also aim to actively promote the mutual recognition and integration of Chinese certification standards with relevant international systems, a goal of significant importance.

Huasilian Certification Center is a third-party certification body approved by the National Certification and Accreditation Administration of China.

Four men arrested at sea as they tried to smuggle cocaine with an estimated street value of about £100m into the UK on a fishing boat have been convicted.

The men were found with more than a tonne of the drug on board the Lily Lola, off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall, in September last year.

Michael Kelly and Jake Marchant pleaded guilty before trial, with a jury also finding Jon Williams and Patrick Godfrey guilty at Truro Crown Court on Wednesday.

All four were convicted of conspiring to smuggle a tonne of cocaine.

Source: BBC l Read the full article here

Industry body Seafood Scotland is calling for industry partners to back the creation of an innovative Scottish “ocean cluster”, which it says could unlock three times more value from by-products in Scotland’s seafood industry.

Seafood Scotland CEO Donna Fordyce officially announced the establishment of the group at the prestigious Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Conference – a focal event for the industrial biotechnology community in Scotland - calling on organisations across Scotland’s seafood industry to get behind the initiative as it seeks to secure funding.

Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer l Read the full article here