South Korea's appetite for Norwegian seafood is surging, with cumulative imports from January to October 2025 reaching 68,608 tons, a significant 25% increase over the same period last year.

This strong performance occurred despite a slight 3% dip in October imports (3,660 tons). Overall, Norwegian seafood makes up 9% of Korea's total seafood imports.

Key Product Gains and Price Trend

The growth was powered by several key product categories:

• Frozen Mackerel led the charge, with imports rising 32% to 31,697 tons.

• Frozen Mackerel Fillet saw a massive 74% surge (6,507 tons).

• Fresh Atlantic Salmon also experienced a major leap, growing 75% to 5,832 tons.

Conversely, general Fresh Salmon imports saw a 7% decrease.

In terms of value, the cumulative imports for the first ten months reached USD $481.93 million, a 10% increase year-over-year. However, the average import price dropped by 12% to $7.02 per kilogram, suggesting that while volume is up, the unit cost has declined.

Source: Union Forsea Corp

Norwegian municipalities and county authorities that host fish farms will receive more than NOK 1.4 billion (£105.1 million) through the Aquaculture Fund this year, the government has announced.

The Aquaculture Fund receives income from the sale of new permit capacity for aquaculture, as well as from a type of tax - a "production fee" of NOK 0.965 per kilo that is levied on farmed salmon.

In total, 143 municpalities and eight county councils will receive a payment from the fund, calculated on how much area each individual municipality and county has set aside for fish farming.

Source: fihsfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

The Central African country of Cameroon has received a USD 98 million (EUR 85 million) loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to expand its livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.

The nation’s Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries will put the funding toward support for its five-year Livestock and Fish Farming Value Chain Development Project (PD-CVEP), a key component of which is producing and distributing improved, high-yield broodstock of a strain of Clarias, or African catfish, as well as tilapia.

Author: Shem Oirere / SeafoodSource | Read the  full article here

Firda Seafood to develop deep-sea rainbow trout farming project in China using closed-containment vessels.

Norway’s Firda Seafood Group plans to launch deep-sea rainbow trout farming in China, following talks with the Fishery Machinery and Instrument Research Institute (FMIRI) of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences during the 28th China International Fisheries & Seafood Expo in Qingdao.

Chairman Ola Braanaas and CEO Lina Braanaas Utne led the Firda delegation, which reviewed China’s large-scale offshore aquaculture vessel technology, including the Guoxin No.1, a 100,000-tonne enclosed farming ship developed by FMIRI. 

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

MOKPO (Yonhap) -- A Chinese fishing boat capsized off South Korea's southwestern Gageo Island on Sunday, leaving three crew members missing and two others in cardiac arrest, Coast Guard officials said.

The 98-ton vessel sank in international waters about 80 kilometers off Gageo Island at around 6:50 a.m., according to officials.

Of the 11 people on board, six were initially rescued by another Chinese vessel operating nearby. The Coast Guard later rescued two more who were drifting at sea, but both were found in cardiac arrest and rushed to a hospital, officials said.

The Coast Guard said a search operation is under way for the three missing fishermen in cooperation with its Chinese counterpart.

The island province of Hainan has marked a milestone in expanding its agricultural exports following the recent shipment of 600 kilograms of frozen seafood, including large yellow croaker, leopard coral grouper, and green grouper, which arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

This logistical success is the result of a key partnership between aviation authorities in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The shipment departed from Haikou Meilan International Airport, efficiently transited through Hong Kong International Airport (operated by Cathay Pacific), and reached major US cities in approximately 20 hours, establishing a reliable international cold chain channel.

The collaboration is based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September between Hainan Airport Group and the Airport Authority Hong Kong to boost air logistics cooperation. Its goal is for the Hainan Free Trade Port to open new global markets.

To facilitate the operation, the Haikou Meilan Airport Customs implemented 24-hour services, including immediate inspection and release.

Currently, the Meilan airport operates seven international cargo routes connecting to eight destinations, including Paris, Milan, and Johannesburg.

NEW TAIPEI — A major search-and-rescue operation is underway northwest of Taiwan after two Taiwanese fishing vessels capsized between late Wednesday and Thursday. As of Thursday night, nine crew members have been rescued, but four remain missing, with efforts focused on saving two individuals still trapped or entangled.

The first incident was reported Thursday morning by the Coast Guard Administration (CGA). The fishing boat, the Yu Shan No.36, capsized near Cape Fugui late Wednesday night, according to Vice Captain Su Chen-yi of the CGA Fleet Branch.

Of the nine people aboard the Yu Shan No.36, six were saved by nearby vessels and taken to Fuji Fishing Harbor.

Later Thursday, rescuers from Taiwan's National Airborne Service Corps located two of the missing individuals: one was spotted entangled in fishing nets near the stern, and another was holding onto the overturned cabin. Although poor weather prevented helicopter airlifts, CGA rescuers aboard a boat were actively working to secure them. The fate of the fourth missing person remains unknown.

The CGA's Northern Branch continues to lead the combined air and sea search efforts.

Mowi Scotland reports higher margins on improved biology, harvests in line with guidance.

Mowi Scotland reported continued good biological performance in the third quarter, with stable mortality and growth. Harvest volumes rose year on year, in line with guidance, while unit costs declined.

Mowi said harvesting from sites with strong cost performance offset the impact of lower market prices, which reflected higher global supply. Price achievement benefited from improved harvest weights, differentiated products and contracts. 

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

India’s seafood export industry is grappling with a major challenge following the recent US tariff hike, prompting urgent calls from industry leaders and policymakers for a rethink to sustain the sector’s growth

The issue dominated discussions at the industry meet held alongside the fourth International Symposium on Marine Ecosystems (MECOS 4) at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here

A major controversy has broken out in Norway over claims that illegal shipments of damaged and inferior salmon are being sold into Europe.

The scandal has been exposed by the national broadcaster NRK through its NRK Brennpunkt investigation, a Norwegian equivalent of the BBC’s Panorama.

NRK Brennpunkt published a run of documentary revealing that fake labels from several bona fide Norwegian seafood companies have been used on fish exported out of the country.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here