Fisheries cooperation fees to be reduced, with operations expected to proceed ahead of schedule

Negotiations between Japan and Russia regarding salmon and trout fishing are currently underway. These talks, conducted via web conference from March 10 to 13, aim to establish the operational terms for small salmon and trout drift net fishing within 200 nautical miles of Japan.

The discussions focus on fishing conditions within 200 nautical miles of each country, based on the suspended Japan-Russia Offshore Fisheries Agreement. The negotiations also involve intergovernmental consultations concerning Russian salmon and trout.

Japanese fishing gillnetters await the salmon trout season in Russian waters

Japan is represented by Hiromichi Takahashi, Director of the Fisheries Agency's Aquaculture Promotion Department, as the government’s lead representative, alongside officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Fisheries Agency, the Hokkaido government, and fishing organizations. The Russian side is led by AV Yakovlev, Deputy Director General of the Federal Fisheries Agency, and includes representatives from the Federal Fisheries Agency, the Border Guard Agency, and other relevant authorities.

According to the Pacific Small Salmon and Trout Fisheries Association, chaired by Oda Tsukasa, last year 20 vessels under 14 tons went out to sea, catching only around 400 tons of chum and pink salmon—just 20% of the allocated fishing quota of 2,050 tons.

Gårdsfisk, a Swedish pioneer in sustainable land-based catfish and trout farming, has successfully closed a SEK 50 million (€4.57 million) Series A funding round, co-led by Hatch Blue’s Blue Revolution Fund and Industrifonden. 

Founded in 2013 by Johan Ljungquist and Mikael Olenmark, Gårdsfisk has developed a vertically integrated recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) that enables land-based fish farming with minimal environmental impact. By working with partner farmers, Gårdsfisk ensures that its fish, including catfish and trout, are farmed locally and sustainably.

Source: The Fish Site l Read the full article here

Exporters on Edge: EU slaps on fresh tariffs as trade tensions rise

The global trade war continues to intensify, with both the European Union and China announcing retaliatory tariffs in response to recent US and Canadian trade measures. The latest developments add further uncertainty to international markets, including the seafood sector, which could be caught in the crossfire.

On Wednesday, the European Commission confirmed that it will reinstate previously suspended countermeasures against the US following Washington’s decision to impose up to 25% tariffs on EU steel, aluminium, and related products.

Source: SalmonBusiness l Read the full article here

In June 2025, Uganda meets the world for the World Aquaculture Safari 2025 Conference (WA25 Uganda).The conference, which is being organised by the World Aquaculture Society, is expected to bring together nearly 2000 participants from around the world.

Themed “Aquaculture on the Rise”, the event aims to address some of the sector’s challenges whilst showcasing new technologies for sustainable and resilient aquaculture practices.

Source: Fish Farmer l Read the full article here

Aerodyne Japan Co., Ltd. has achieved a significant milestone in advancing drone logistics solutions within Japan.

The company successfully completed a long-distance drone delivery demonstration in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Utilizing Aerodyne Japan's PWORCA, the drone transported approximately 10 kg of fresh fish on a 48 km round trip between Takashimacho and Egaishikacho in approximately 20 minutes. Flight PILOT handled operations, while Aerodyne provided technical expertise on aircraft operation.

This demonstration was a collaborative effort, building on the global alliance partnership between Aerodyne Group and Phoenix Wings GmbH, manufacturer of the PW ORCA. Aerodyne Group, a leading provider of DT3 (Drone Tech, Data Tech, Digital Transformation) solutions with operations in over 45 countries, announced the partnership in February. The two companies share a vision for drone logistics and have collaborated on numerous pilot and proof-of-concept (POC) projects.

The partnership leverages Aerodyne's advanced data technology, encompassing real-time analytics, route optimization, and predictive maintenance, crucial for safe and efficient drone logistics. This technology is combined with Phoenix Wings' high-performance VTOL aircraft, the PW ORCA, which boasts a maximum payload of 15 kg and a range of 100 km.

Starting in 2022, the Fisheries Agency will designate the 3rd to 7th of each month as "Fish Day," a week to strengthen activities to increase consumption of seafood, and announced that the number of supporting members had exceeded 1,000 at the end of February.

In Hokkaido, Aeon Hokkaido Co., Ltd. started the initiative in March, and during the first period from March 3rd to 7th, eco-labeled "sustainable seafood" produced through sustainable fishing and aquaculture was displayed in the sales area, and consumers were encouraged to consume it. 

The Aeon Kuwazono store sold fresh seafood such as Hokkaido surf clams and cherry salmon, as well as MSC-certified line-caught "red bonito for sashimi" (thawed). A staff member at the store said, "This is our first attempt, but we started it with the hope that people will eat a lot of seafood."

Unión Martín and Japan Tuna have inaugurated an innovative -60°C refrigerated warehouse in the Port of Las Palmas, the first and only one of its kind in the Canary Islands.

This specialized facility is designed to store sashimi-grade tuna unloaded by the Japanese fleet, consolidating Las Palmas as a key hub in the international market for this product.

With this new infrastructure, Unión Martín plans to distribute more than 2,000 tons of sashimi tuna annually, strengthening its position in the global market. The inauguration was attended by the Consul of Japan, Shinji Yamada, underscoring the importance of this collaboration.

The opening of this refrigerated warehouse will generate a positive impact on the local economy of Gran Canaria. In addition to Unión Martín's current 160 employees, a new team of professionals specializing in tuna processing will be created. Some of these professionals have received training in Japanese factories, and the rest will complete their training in the coming months.

The team will be trained to process tuna in various presentations, including loins, slices, cuts for sashimi and Saku, carpaccio, and other formats. This expansion will not only generate skilled employment but also strengthen the local fishing industry, reaffirming the company's commitment to the economic development of the archipelago.