IN BRIEF - Investment Quota Program in Action: Two Pollock Processing Plants Open in Sakhalin Oblast in 2024
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Thursday, January 09, 2025
Two state-of-the-art pollock processing plants have been completed in Sakhalin Oblast under the second phase of the investment quota program.
Built by the Gidrostroy Group of Companies, these facilities are equipped to produce pollock fillets, mince, and efficiently utilize 100% of the catch by converting waste into fish meal and fish oil.
Key Plant Capacities:
Daily Production: At least 100 tons of pollock products.
Waste Utilization: At least 20 tons of products derived from production waste daily.
The new plants are strategically located on Iturup Island and Shikotan Island, enhancing processing capabilities in the region. The total investment for these facilities amounted to approximately 3.2 billion rubles, a significant contribution to local infrastructure and the fishing industry.
Modernizing the Industry:
These plants are part of a larger initiative under the investment quota program, which has resulted in the construction of 27 cutting-edge processing facilities across the country. The program's focus on modernization and sustainability aims to strengthen the seafood industry's efficiency and reduce waste.
Salmon Evolution (OSE: SALME) harvested 1,729 tonnes HOG in Q4, including 105 tonnes LW post smolt, taking full year harvest volume to 4,891 tonnes HOG including post smolt.
The quarter showed strong feeding and biomass gain, especially in the second half of November and December.
Q4 operational summary:
All-in price realization on harvested fish of NOK ~82/kg.
Successful post smolt delivery.
Total harvest of 1,729 tonnes HOG, including 105 tonnes LW post smolt.
Average harvest weight of ~3.8 kg (HOG), up 15% from last quarter, with continued excellent product quality and a superior grade share of 95%.
Biomass production of 1,518 tonnes LW, second highest on record and up 11% Q/Q.
Standing biomass of 2,023 tonnes LW end Q4.
"Salmon Evolution achieved significant milestones in 2024 with solid growth in harvest volumes and strong operational progress through the year”, CEO of Salmon Evolution, Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen said.“We are especially proud of our excellent biological results, introducing a new standard of salmon farming and giving us a great momentum going into 2025”, he said.
The era of commercial finfish pen aquaculture in Washington State appears to have come to an end following a decisive vote by the Board of Natural Resources on January 7 to ban the practice entirely.
This move marks a significant victory for Washington State’s Commissioner of Public Lands, Hilary Franz, who has been a staunch advocate for limiting aquaculture leasing on state-owned tidelands.
“Avoiding impacts is our legal and moral responsibility,” Franz stated, as reported by the Seattle Times. “I ask why we ever allowed this... I am asking the board to learn from the past and the effects of our decision.”
The industry has faced mounting scrutiny since a catastrophic pen collapse in 2017 released an estimated 263,000 farmed Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. That incident triggered widespread public and governmental criticism, leading to ongoing legal and regulatory challenges for aquaculture operations in the region.
Cooke Aquaculture, one of the key industry players, and other proponents have worked to maintain a foothold in the Pacific Northwest. However, their efforts have met resistance from the state’s Department of Natural Resources, which has opposed applications from Cooke and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to raise black cod and steelhead in net pens.
The Argentine Naval Prefecture intercepted a Chinese fishing vessel working in the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In this case, it was a trawler, the Xinrun 579, which belongs to a series of newly built vessels that moved this year to this key fishing ground for the Galician fleet.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here
The Norwegian government has sold approximately 30.1 million shares of Aker Solutions ASA for a total consideration of around NOK 963 million. With this sale, the State, which held a 6.11% stake in the company, has completely divested its ownership in Aker Solutions.
“The State initially sold its stake in Aker Solutions in 2022. The company has performed well since then, and the State has assessed that selling the remaining shares now aligns with its goal of achieving the highest possible returns over time within a sustainable framework,”stated Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry.
“Aker Solutions is a key supplier to the energy sector. However, with a relatively small ownership stake, the State had limited influence over the company. Strategically and in terms of value, we believe this is the right time to complete this transaction,” added Minister Myrseth.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries oversaw the sale of 30,092,943 shares in Aker Solutions. This corresponds to 6.11% of the company's total shares. The sale was conducted through an auction process targeting institutional investors, achieving a sale price of NOK 32 per share. This represents a discount of just under 6.2% compared to the closing price on the same day.
"Resignation." This is the general feeling of the Mediterranean trawler fleet after confirming that the change of mesh in the codends, which will be paid for by the Government, is the "only way" offered by the compensation mechanism agreed by the Council of Ministers of Fisheries last December to mitigate the reduction of fishing days for this year, of 66% according to the agreed regulation. Cepesca regrets the "little room for maneuver" to recover fishing days and conveys the concern that reigns in the sector, due to the implications that it will have for the competitiveness and profitability of the fleet. This was expressed by the employers' association to the Government in the framework of the recent meeting called by the General Secretariat of Fisheries to explain the measures that the Executive will adopt to support the sector in this transition.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here
Deeside, Wales, U.K.-based grocer The Food Warehouse, as well as its parent company Iceland Foods, is expanding its Slimming World frozen meals range, including the addition of new seafood meals.
Iceland, which operates more than 950 Iceland stores and more than 185 Food Warehouse Stores, said in a press release that it has added 24 products to the range.
New seafood offerings include King Prawn Bhuna, King Prawn Linguine, and Italian-Style Salmon.
Coinciding with Iceland and other grocery chains rolling out lower prices and deals to start the new year in the U.K.
Author: Christine Blank / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here
Aker QRILL Company, the global leader in krill harvesting and production of krill-based ingredients recently divested from Aker Biomarine, is pleased to announce an agreement with Tersan Shipyard to construct its fourth state-of-the-art krill fishing vessel.
This agreement involves the purchase and significant rebuild of a project that was cancelled 18 months ago, and secures continued sustainable supplies of feed and raw materials from Antarctic krill, recognised as the world’s largest single-species biomass.
AquaGenetics do Brasil has adopted a new name and visual identity, becoming GenoMar Genetics Brasil.
According to the company, the change reflects a stronger integration with the GenoMar Genetics Group, a global leader in tilapia genetics.
GenoMar has been at the forefront of tilapia research and breeding for nearly 35 years, delivering genetically improved fingerlings and juveniles to the industry worldwide.
Source: The Fish Site l Read the full article here
The Peruvian Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), through the Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), has initiated a new research cruise to evaluate the populations of giant squid along the Peruvian coast.
This initiative aims to gather updated data on the distribution, abundance, and biological status of this species, which plays a vital role in both artisanal and industrial fisheries in the country.
Key Objectives of the Research Cruise:
Comprehensive Evaluation: A thorough assessment of the biological and fishery indicators of giant squid will be conducted to monitor the health and trends of the population.
Projections for 2025: The collected data will inform projections for fishing opportunities in the coming year and guide fisheries management decisions.
Sustainability Focus: The research underscores the importance of preserving the resource while supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities.
The previous research cruise, conducted in December 2024, revealed positive signs of recovery in the giant squid population, particularly among juvenile specimens in the central coastal region. These findings are encouraging and suggest potential for improved resource availability in the near future.
This research cruise represents a critical step in ensuring the sustainable management of Peruvian marine resources. By providing science-based insights, the initiative supports informed decision-making to promote the conservation and responsible use of giant squid—one of the nation's most significant fishery resources.
The Seafood Council's annual conference, Seafood Nation Norway, celebrated a record-breaking year for Norwegian seafood exports in 2024, reaching NOK 175.4 billion.
However, the conference also highlighted the challenges of navigating a changing global landscape, including geopolitical tensions and the need for increased cooperation.
Key themes discussed included:
The importance of international trade: Despite global challenges, Norwegian seafood continues to find markets in over 150 countries, with a focus on growing markets in Southeast Asia.
Sustainability and innovation: The industry recognizes the need for sustainable practices, including technological advancements like AI and gene editing, to ensure long-term success.
Collaboration: The conference emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry, research, and government to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
The event concluded with a discussion on the future of the seafood industry, highlighting the need for adaptability, innovation, and a focus on sustainability to ensure continued growth and success in the years to come.
South Korea's Frozen Mackerel Imports Decline by 14% in 2024 South Korea
South Korea imported 11,708 tons of frozen mackerel in December 2024, marking a 3% increase compared to 11,367 tons in December 2023.
However, the cumulative import volume for 2024 was 40,928 ton...
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
NORWAY.png)
The quarter showed strong feeding and biomass gain, especially in the second half of November and December.
UNITED STATES
ARGENTINA
The «Xinrun 579» was fishing illegally
“The State initially sold its stake in Aker Solutions in 2022. The company has performed well since then, and the State has assessed that selling the remaining shares now aligns with its goal of achieving the highest possible returns over time within a sustainable framework,”
SPAIN
"Resignation." This is the general feeling of the Mediterranean trawler fleet after confirming that the change of mesh in the codends, which will be paid for by the Government, is the "only way" offered by the compensation mechanism agreed by the Council of Ministers of Fisheries last December to mitigate the reduction of fishing days for this year, of 66% according to the agreed regulation. 
UNITED KINGDOM
Deeside, Wales, U.K.-based grocer The Food Warehouse, as well as its parent company 
Aker QRILL Company
BRAZIL
AquaGenetics do Brasil has adopted a new name and visual identity, becoming GenoMar Genetics Brasil.
PERU.png)
Comprehensive Evaluation: A thorough assessment of the biological and fishery indicators of giant squid will be conducted to monitor the health and trends of the population.
