The revelation that the European Union (EU) has not been importing fish and its related products from Pakistan for the last three years is another bad news about the country’s dwindling economy. In a country already caught up in a menace of circular debt and external debt servicing, any trade deficit due to imbalance in its imports and exports is always a bad omen.
A Senate panel was informed on Monday that EU member countries while not allowing any fish import from Pakistan in the last three years, are insisting to visit Karachi’s Fishery and other related facilities before deciding to allow import from Pakistan. The Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Haider Zaidi, informed the Senate Standing Committee that “The EU insists on visiting Karachi’s Fishery whose hall is not in proper condition at the moment. An inspection right now can even result in complete ban on Pakistan’s fish products.”
Using remote sensing data of sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) together with catch data, the pelagic hotspots of Skipjack tuna (SKPJ) were identified. MODIS/Aqua satellite data and the fish catch data were obtained during 2002-2016 period. Empirical cumulative distribution frequency (ECDF) model of satellite-based oceanographic data in relation to skipjack fishing was used for the initial statistical analysis and the results showed that key pelagic habitat corresponded mainly with the 0.4 – 0.7 mg m-3 Chl-a concentration.
Chl-a represents the phytoplankton that attracts the food items of SKPJ like zooplankton and nekton The favorable SST range for SKPJ is 26 - 27 0C which provides suitable thermocline and an optimum level of upwelling to circulate nutrients needed for the primary production.
The high total catches and CPUEs were found within the months of September to December and the optimum levels of Chl-a, SST also were observed in similar months. Hence, the South-West monsoon season was identified as the best and peak season of SKPJ fisheries.
The Dubai Municipality has refuted rumours online concerning a specific brand of canned tuna that has been spotted in the UAE markets.
Social media platforms have been abuzz with rumours regarding the dangers of consuming a canned tuna sold under the brand name 'Anguelmo', local media reported.
According to online rumours,'Anguelmo' canned tuna is made from synthetic fibers that can cause deadly health problems.
In a statement, Dubai Municipality denied the rumours stating that it was not based on any scientific evidence or official sources.
It also added that the Food Safety Department inspects all imported products and ensures that they are safe for consumption.
The marketing tactics being used to sell a soy-based "vegan tuna", a product which has a similar name and packaging to the real thing, have upset the Australian seafood industry.
"Tuno" is being sold as "vegetarian fishless tuna" which tastes similar to regular tinned tuna but is made with water, soy flour, yeast extract, maltodextrin and salt, instead of fish.
Seafood Industry Australia chief executive Jane Lovell said fish-free substitutes were a "slap in the face" for the industry, which had worked hard to establish a solid reputation.
[In April], the Impossible Burger marked a meatless milestone with its debut as a Burger King Whopper. Meanwhile, Lou Cooperhouse was in a San Diego office park quietly forging plans to disrupt another more fragmented and opaque sector of the food industry: seafood.
His company, BlueNalu …. is racing to bring to market what’s known as cell-based seafood — that is, seafood grown from cells in a lab, not harvested from the oceans. BlueNalu is aiming for serious scalability …. enough cell-based seafood to meet the consumption demands of more than 10 million nearby residents.
The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council has appealed to the Government to, as a matter of urgency, set up a body of fish scientists to carry out investigation into the trans-shipment of fish, also known as “Saiko”, on the high seas.
“SAIKO” is one of the deadliest fishing practices, which have been outlawed worldwide, and the Fisheries Law of Ghana, Act 625, also prohibits it.
“Unfortunately, however, in Ghana, it is still actively done in the Central and Western regions and it is causing inestimable havoc to Ghana’s fisheries because it emboldens the industrial trawlers to ‘steal’ the fish from the artisanal or small-scale fishermen,” Nii Abeo Kyerekuandah IV, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, said at a press conference on Thursday.
When we think of mass habitat extinction, colourful, diverse and highly visible ecosystems such as tropical rain forests and coral reefs come to mind. Approximately half of global shallow water coral reefs and forests have been lost over the last few hundred years, but there are glimmers of hope. Deforestation rates are declining and some corals have shown resilience to stress from climate change.
A far less visible ecosystem crisis has occurred relatively recently beneath the ocean’s surface. A study revealed that 85% of global oyster reefs have been lost over the last 150 years. Of those remaining, over one third are so depleted that they no longer function as ecosystems, particularly those in Europe, North America and Australia. Only a few healthy oyster reefs remain in South America, and even these are 50% of their prior abundance, making oyster reefs one of the most threatened habitats on Earth.
Cases of illegal foreign vessels intercepted in Northern Australian waters have plummeted in recent years, according to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), but another "concerning" new issue is raising its head.
Instances of large, rogue fishing pontoons being retrieved after drifting into Australian waters has more than tripled in the past year, from five in 2017/18, to 18 already in 2018/19.
The figures come off the back of a suspected illegal Indonesian fishing vessel being seized by authorities in NT waters off East Arnhem Land late last month, which resulted in the apprehension of 14 crew members and the discovery of hundreds of kilograms of frozen fish.
Yesterday marked an important milestone in New Zealand’s maritime industry as the last of almost 1200 commercial operators transferred to the new Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS).
"It has been a successful, five year process," Maritime NZ Deputy Director, Compliance, Pelin Fantham said.
MOSS was introduced on 1 July 2014, and Maritime NZ ran a gradual transition to help make the change from the old safety system to the new as smooth as possible for the industry.
Yesterday marked an important milestone in New Zealand’s maritime industry as the last of almost 1200 commercial operators transferred to the new Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS).
"It has been a successful, five year process," Maritime NZ Deputy Director, Compliance, Pelin Fantham said.
MOSS was introduced on 1 July 2014, and Maritime NZ ran a gradual transition to help make the change from the old safety system to the new as smooth as possible for the industry.
Yesterday, Ms Fantham presented Penwarden Holdings Ltd with its certification in a small ceremony on Whangarei Harbour.
She congratulated Penwarden Holdings Ltd for completing the transition and bringing its fishing vessels the Bilyara, and the brand new Karearea, into MOSS.
"Transitioning from the old system to MOSS has been one of the most significant changes in the maritime sector for in the past 15 years.
PAKISTAN
SRI LANKA
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
AUSTRALIA
UNITED STATES
GHANA
MALTA
INDONESIA
NEW ZEALAND
