IN BRIEF - Russian Fisheries Support UN Food Program with Canned Fish Shipments
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Russian fishing companies have resumed supplying canned fish to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) after a three-year hiatus.
These fish products are part of the UN's humanitarian aid to Asian countries, addressing food insecurity in the region.
Images show the floating factory 'Vsevolod Sibirtsev', a producer of at-sea canned fish, and the label on the 245-gram sardine cans, specifically marked 'DO NOT BUY, DO NOT SELL - NOT FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE' for the WFP.
ABANCA has renewed its collaboration agreements with the OP ANACEF Professional Fishermen's Organization and the Port and Ría de Marín Fishing Producers' Organization (OPROMAR), reaffirming its commitment to the entire maritime value chain.
The signing ceremony, held in Marín, was attended by José Luis Ramírez (ABANCA), Francisco Freire Lino (OP ANACEF), Claudino González (OPROMAR), and Javier Fraga (ABANCA Mar). The meeting served to map out a joint roadmap to tackle challenges such as rising costs, the lack of generational renewal, and the current geopolitical situation.
Sustainability is the core focus of the agreement. Through ABANCA Mar (a specialized unit active since 2016), the bank offers a tailored product catalog where credit takes center stage. A key highlight is the naval mortgage, designed to upgrade the fleet with more efficient vessels.
These comprehensive solutions—including credit lines, loans, and advanced sustainable subsidy payouts—will benefit 18 freezer trawlers from OP ANACEF and 30 fishing companies from OPROMAR.
Salmon accounted for 65% of the value of Norwegian seafood exports to the UK in 2025, the Norwegian Seafood Council has announced. At the same time, consumption increased in both the grocery and catering markets, with 8% growth in home consumption and 20% more servings outside the home.
Salmon is the UK’s most popular fish, with sales of domestic and imported fish in the 12 months to August 2025 rising 7.2% to £1.5 billion amid rising demand.
Bjørn-Erik Stabell of the Norwegian Seafood Council believes that the seafood industry must be clearer about marketing seafood as a natural source of protein.
The Norwegian Seafood Council’s UK director, Bjørn-Erik Stabell, describes salmon as the fastest growing source of protein in the British catering market measured in number of servings.
Author: Kyst redaksjonen / fishfarming expert | Read the full article here
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has announced the opening of a new support scheme aimed at assisting owners of registered fishing and aquaculture vessels in managing rising fuel costs.
Application Timeline
The scheme officially opened for applications on 21 May 2026. Interested applicants have a limited window to apply, as submissions will close at 5:00pm on 12 June 2026. BIM has advised that late applications will not be accepted, urging eligible vessel owners to submit their applications in advance of the deadline.
Further details on eligibility criteria and application processes are available here. Vessel owners are encouraged to review the requirements carefully and apply within the specified timeframe.
According to data compiled by the Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Co-operative, market values for farmed coho salmon (gin-zake) are currently facing a downward trend. As of May 20, average cumulative prices have dropped by 8%, hitting a low of $5.11 per kilogram (812 Yen).
The recent figures show a clear decline compared to the much higher price ranges recorded during the exact same period in the previous year. Landings are still progressing across key distribution hubs, with the underlying data originating from the combined market locations of Onagawa, Ishinomaki markets, and the Shizugawa operations office.
Industry experts note that all listed unit prices are calculated excluding consumption tax. Despite steady shifting market values, overall aquaculture revenues in Miyagi Prefecture are experiencing pressure due to this ongoing price slump.
At the 33rd annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada, Vladimir Belyaev, Advisor to the Director of the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), was elected President of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC). This appointment underscores the authority of Russian fisheries science and strengthens the country's role in managing transboundary marine resources.
The NPAFC, comprising five member countries, has established critical objectives for the upcoming term. Key priorities include tracking the migration, abundance, and survival of Pacific salmon. Following below-average catch volumes in 2025, the commission will focus on developing data-driven recommendations to protect vulnerable populations. Additionally, member states will coordinate strict measures to combat illegal fishing across the high seas.
"Conserving salmon stocks cannot tolerate disunity," stated Belyaev. "Sustainability depends on honest cooperation to forecast population dynamics and ensure protection in the convention area."