Participating in the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FAA) Operation Island Chief in August, PSS H.I. Remeliik II destroyed 18 illegal Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) and conducted a number of boardings resulting in seizures of fishing equipment.

The PSS H.I. Remeliik II, a patrol boat supported by Australia, has been actively combating illegal fishing in Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It has participated in regional operations, destroying illegal fishing devices and conducting boardings. Additionally, the vessel has provided essential services to remote communities, including delivering supplies and conducting medical evacuations. These efforts contribute to protecting marine resources, ensuring food security, and maintaining regional stability.

Another patrol in October saw PSS H.I. Remeliik II and crew destroy a further 26 illegal FADs. IUU fishing contributes to global overfishing, threatens marine ecosystems, puts food security and regional stability at risk, and is linked to major human rights violations and even organized crime

Cooke Inc. Opposes Proposed NMCA in South Coast Fjords

In a personal letter sent to Premier Furey of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Glenn Cooke to protect local industries and the families that rely on them rather than impose restrictive measures that will lead to their demise.

Cooke Inc., a major Seafood Group, is urging the Newfoundland and Labrador government to withdraw from the proposed National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in the South Coast Fjords. The company argues that this initiative, spearheaded by the federal government, would have severe negative impacts on local communities and the seafood industry.

The NMCA would restrict fishing and aquaculture activities, jeopardizing the livelihoods of many people who depend on these industries. It would also hinder the growth of the aquaculture sector, particularly salmon farming, which has been identified as a key driver of economic development in the region.

Cooke Inc. emphasizes the importance of sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices and highlights the company's commitment to environmental responsibility. They argue that the NMCA would undermine these efforts and limit opportunities for future growth.

The company urges the provincial government to prioritize the economic and social well-being of coastal communities and to reject the proposed NMCA.

Read the letter at this link

In 2023, total imports of pangasius into the European Union declined sharply from the previous year. In fact, some 70 000 tonnes were imported, 3 000 tonnes less than in 2022, reports FAO-Globefish.

Main supplying country was Viet Nam with a share of 90 percent of total imports, however the real share is far higher, as the second and third supplier are the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Belgium, which are mere re-exporting countries.

Germany has emerged as main consumer of pangasius fillets, as in this country, price aspects outnumber quality and taste aspects. Spain that used to be a major pangasius consumer some 10 years ago has continuously reduced its imports of this species. In 2023, the country imported 5 500 tonnes, almost 1 000 tonnes less than in the previous year.

In the first nine months of 2024, imports of the pangasius were stable at 2023 levels, some 54 000 tonnes were imported during this period into the EU. German imports of pangasius increased by 2 percent during the period to 9 200 tonnes. Spanish imports increased by 40 percent y-o-y to some 5 500 tonnes during Jan-Sep 2024.

Kontali shrimp production analyst Erwin Termaat takes a deep dive into El Niño and La Niña - the climate systems intrinsically linked to Ecuador’s shrimp farming industry - providing insight into past trends and future outlooks.

The success of Ecuador’s aquaculture industry, which leads the world in terms of shrimp exports, with 987,900 tonnes LSE exported from January until September in 2024, is deeply intertwined with the natural climate cycles that influence the Pacific Ocean.

Among the most influential of these climate cycles are the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, which are part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). These periodic climatic events significantly shape the productivity of shrimp farming: impacting growth rates, disease prevalence and, ultimately, export volumes.

Author: Erwin Termaat (Shrimp production analyst, Kontali) / The Fish Site l Read the full article here

In the first-half of 2024, the combined profit of fishing, fish processing and aquaculture companies in Russia decreased by 14.2% to RUB 60.2 billion (approximate US$550 million), according to a new study from the Russian Association of the Fishing Fleet Shipowners.

While the entire Russian economy is generally not faring well this year, with estimates made by the Russian state statistical service Rosstat finding the net profit of firms decreased by an average 1.8% in the first six months, the seafood industry ranks among the worst financial performers. Indeed, fishing industry union VARPE has calculated that nearly every second Russian fishing company was loss-making in the period.

Source: Worldfishing l Read the full article here 

Sierra Leone's fishing industry is facing significant challenges due to rampant illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Foreign fishing vessels, particularly Chinese, are depleting fish stocks and undermining local livelihoods.

Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Wang Qing and Sierra Leone Fisheries Minister Dugba signed the implementation agreement of the Sierra Leone-aided fishing wharf project

Key Points:

• Economic Impact: IUU fishing costs Sierra Leone millions of dollars annually, affecting the country's economy and food security.
• Local Livelihoods: The fishing industry is a vital source of income for many Sierra Leoneans, but it is being threatened by illegal fishing.
• Government Ineffectiveness: The government has struggled to address the issue of IUU fishing, despite its significant economic impact.
• Community Response: Local fishermen are taking matters into their own hands to protect their livelihoods.

The continued prevalence of IUU fishing poses a serious threat to the long-term sustainability of Sierra Leone's fisheries and the well-being of its people.

The oldest fish market in London, England, and the largest inland market in the United Kingdom, is set to close after plans to relocate it were abandoned.

Authorities recently ditched plans to move the Billingsgate fish market and co-locate it with the Smithfield meat market at Dagenham Dock under a GBP 1 billion (USD 1.3 billion, EUR 1.2 billion) development project via plans originally announced in 2022.

Author: Jason Holland / SeafodoSource l Read the full article here

The Seafood Council assists companies that wish to register for the export of live aquatic products to China.

In November it was announced that the export of live snow crab to China will be opened . Nevertheless, two criteria must be satisfied before the export of living species can be carried out in practice. Firstly, the species must be officially entered on the list of approved species. Furthermore, the manufacturer must have sent information to the Chinese authorities and be listed on this list . Note that this registration differs from the registration of food producers which takes place in CIFER (Single Window). 

Earlier this autumn, information was collected by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority in collaboration with industry organizations to list producers of live aquatic products. For the producers who were on these lists, it is not necessary to register again as snow crab has been added to the list for all companies. 

For companies that were not on the previously sent list and wish to register for live seafood to China, this can now be done by following the process described here .