IN BRIEF - South Korean frozen pollock imports up 14% in September
SOUTH KOREA
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
In September, South Korea imported 17,127 tons of frozen pollack, marking a 14% increase compared to 14,964 tons in the same period last year.
From January to September, cumulative imports totaled 105,136 tons, marking a slight decline of 1% compared to 106,596 tons during the same period in 2023. Frozen pollock comprised approximately 16% of the total seafood imports, which reached 651,137 tons by the end of September.
Geographically, 99% of frozen pollock imports (103,720 tons) originated from Russia, while the United States contributed 1,289 tons and China 127 tons. Among these, China had the highest import price at USD 1.61/kg, followed by the U.S. at USD 1.25/kg, and Russia at USD 0.96/kg.
In September 2024, the import value of frozen pollock reached USD 16 million, reflecting a 12% increase from USD 14.27 million in September 2023. However, the cumulative import value from January to September saw a 10% decrease, totaling USD 101.09 million, down from USD 112.85 million the previous year. The average import price was USD 0.96/kg, a 9% decline from USD 1.06/kg in 2023. While the volume of frozen pollock imports is rising, the decreasing import prices and overall value are raising questions about future trends in the market.
For reference, wholesale distribution prices for frozen pollock in Korea are approximately KRW 39,500 for the Russian-origin (7-count) variety and around KRW 29,500 for the 8-count variety.
Russia has fully transitioned its fishing fleet to domestic satellite systems for vessel monitoring, abandoning foreign networks as of January 1, 2026.
Accordingto the Federal Agency for Fisheries, fishing vessels now transmit location data exclusively via Russian orbital constellations—Gonets, Yamal, and Express—to the Industry Monitoring System (IMS).
The move follows Order No. 250 of the Ministry of Agriculture, which ended the use of British Inmarsat satellite stations as technical monitoring equipment on ships. Authorities say the switch reduces the risk of vessels being disconnected from foreign satellite networks and strengthens uninterrupted operational oversight.
The transition, launched on May 13, 2024, lasted 18 months and involved the complete replacement of foreign-made shipborne monitoring stations with domestic ones. The new requirements apply to vessels with a gross tonnage over 80 tons and engine power exceeding 55 kW.
According to Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Fisheries Monitoring and Communications System Center, tests conducted in December 2025 showed that Gonets stations were more than twice as reliable as Inmarsat equipment in 2025. He added that the domestic system also significantly lowers communication costs for shipowners.
Oceana maintains that at least 105 large-scale fishing vessels owned by European citizens or companies operate under "flags of convenience," meaning countries considered tax havens or states that have received formal warnings from the European Union for failing to combat illegal fishing.
According to the NGO's new analysis, Spain accounts for the majority of these links: Spanish citizens or companies have legal or financial interests in 73 vessels flying the flags of these countries. Furthermore, the report's findings reveal a legal loophole that limits the ability of authorities to effectively monitor the involvement of Spanish and European citizens and companies in foreign-flagged vessels.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
The 20th CNA will be held in Vigo from June 1st to 4th
Since January 16th, paper submissions and registration for the 20th National Aquaculture Congress have been accepted. Under the theme "Returning to the Origins," the Congress will be held in Vigo, at the AFundación headquarters, from June 1st to 4th of this year. The deadline for paper submissions is May 15th, while registration for the Congress itself will also be open until May 15th.
As in previous editions, the Congress will serve as a meeting point and networking opportunity for researchers, government agencies, and businesses to showcase the R&D&I being developed in the sector
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
Organic certification body, the Soil Association, has launched a consultation about proposed changes to its standard for Scottish farmed salmon.
Last year the charity, which is the UK’s largest and most recognised certifier of organic produce, warned it would withdraw from the sector if meaningful progress was not delivered by summer 2026.
It has proposed a series of changes to its salmon standard following what it says is extensive research, including consultation with aquaculture experts, and these proposals are now available for anyone with an interest in salmon farming to comment on before the closing date on March 15.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Aquaticode and Cooke ESPAÑA enter agreement to develop and implement AI phenotyping for sea bass and sea bream. Hatcheries producing sea bass and sea bream have traditionally relied on manual visual assessment to identify weak or unviable fish at an early stage. This process is labour-intensive, highly variable, and provides little biological accuracy at the earliest life stages.Aquaticode has entered into an agreement with Cooke ESPAÑA to develop a new AI-based phenotyping product line aimed at supporting earlier and more consistent decision-making in bass and bream hatcheries.
East Coast Shellfish Association Executive Director Robert Rheault said he spent his recent holiday season reacting to a U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) outbreak alert he calls “ridiculous.”
On 23 December, the CDC put out an alert that said 64 cases of salmonella had been linked to raw oysters across 22 states, with 20 hospitalizations and zero deaths.It was an announcement not of an outbreak but of an investigation. In fact, what they found was it does not meet the FDA’s definition of an outbreak by any imagination which would be two sick people having food from a common source,” Rheault said. “In any case, of the 65 people who came down with this very rare strain of salmonella, 22 of them claimed they had had oysters in the past two weeks.
Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
During 2024, Ventisqueros strengthened its Sustainable Schools Program, benefiting 14 rural schools in the municipalities of Hualaihué, Quemchi, Quinchao, Puerto Varas, Chaitén, and Ayacara in the Los Lagos Region. Developed in partnership with Fundación La Semilla, the initiative promotes early environmental education, school innovation, and community development in remote areas.
The program includes environmental workshops, educational fairs, agroecological activities, the delivery of supplies, and ongoing technical support, enabling each school community to develop its own projects through the Sustainable School Funds (FES). Thanks to this support, schools have made progress in recycling, energy efficiency, school gardens, cultural heritage preservation, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental education, generating tangible improvements in their surroundings.
A key milestone was the progress made by four schools toward Environmental Certification from the Ministry of the Environment (SNCAE), recognizing their ability to integrate sustainable practices into school management.
The initiative also includes educational visits to Ventisqueros’ fish farms and hatcheries, strengthening the connection between education, territory, and responsible aquaculture. Through this work, Ventisqueros reaffirms its commitment to sustainability built through education and projected toward the future.
The demonstration coincides with a meeting scheduled for this afternoon with the Secretary General for Fisheries, Isabel Artime, after a week of the fleet being moored in protest.
Ayamonte – The fishing sector in Ayamonte is continuing its protest against the new European Fisheries Control Regulation today with a demonstration scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Punta del Moral fishing pier. This coincides with a meeting planned for the same time between representatives of the sector and the Secretary General for Fisheries, Isabel Artime.
The mobilization comes after the fleet remained moored last week as a protest against regulations that shipowners and crews consider disproportionate, rigid, and out of touch with the realities of artisanal and inshore fishing.
The sector argues that the application of the regulation imposes administrative burdens that are difficult to bear, such as the individual declaration of catches and the obligation to notify authorities of their arrival in port several hours in advance. These measures create operational uncertainty and jeopardize the economic viability of numerous vessels.
With this gathering, maritime professionals are demanding real dialogue, flexibility, and adaptation of the regulations, so that the necessary control and sustainability are compatible with the daily work of the traditional fleet.
The research vessel Árni Friðriksson arrived in Akureyri a week ago after completing a week-long survey of capelin spawning migrations east and north of Iceland.
Árni Friðriksson tracks in the capelin survey 5-12 January 2026 (pink) along with acoustic values ??for capelin (red lines perpendicular to the survey tracks). The grey line shows the 400 m depth contour. Source: hafogvatn
The survey aimed to map the current distribution of the capelin stock to support planning and assessment of a forthcoming comprehensive survey.
Findings indicate that the traditional eastward spawning migration has not yet progressed. The leading edge of the migration was located northeast of Langanes, where capelin abundance was negligible. Capelin were subsequently observed along the continental shelf edge toward the Kolbeinsey Ridge and farther west, where the highest densities were recorded.
Stormy weather prevented the vessel from surveying areas farther west, while sea ice off the Westfjords also limited coverage.
Based on these results, a more extensive assessment of the capelin stock is planned for early next week. The survey will involve five vessels: the research ships Árni Friðriksson and Þórunn Þórðardóttir, and the fishing vessels Barði, Heimaey and Polar Ammassak.
Polish fishermen have stopped landing sprat at the port of Nexø because prices have fallen too low, according to Danish media Fiskeritidende.
A difference of just two Danish kroner per kilo — approximately $0.31 USD/kg — has led Polish sprat fishermen to prefer landing their catch in Poland rather than on Bornholm. This pricing gap is reported by TV2 Bornholm.
In Poland, fishermen can receive about 4.60 DKK per kilo (roughly $0.72 USD/kg), while in Nexø they were offered around 2.60 DKK per kilo (about $0.41 USD/kg).
The price drop is attributed to lower demand, partly because mink feed factories in the Bornholm port city no longer operate at previous levels. Additionally, sprat is widely regarded as an edible fish in Poland, sustaining stronger local demand.
The shift has had noticeable economic effects on the Port of Nexø. In past years the port earned over 1 million DKK in landing fees (more than $155,000 USD), but this year it expects re
SOUTH KOREA
Geographically, 99% of frozen pollock imports (103,720 tons) originated from Russia, while the United States contributed 1,289 tons and China 127 tons. Among these, China had the highest import price at USD 1.61/kg, followed by the U.S. at USD 1.25/kg, and Russia at USD 0.96/kg..png)
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Oceana 
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East Coast Shellfish Association Executive Director Robert Rheault said he spent his recent holiday season reacting to a U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) outbreak alert he calls “ridiculous.”
CHILE
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