BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture agreed to purchase up to $30 million in farm-raised catfish products and $25 million in Gulf shrimp.
The seafood purchased by the USDA will be distributed to various nutrition assistance programs and charities.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith says this should also benefit seafood producers in Mississippi.
“Our catfish producers and shrimpers in Mississippi have hit hard times because of high input costs, inflation, and unfair global competition,"said Hyde-Smith. “This new round of Section 32 purchases should work to help sustain their operations while also supplying more protein for nutrition assistance programs.”
The Chubut Secretariat of Fisheries has announced the suspension of fishing activities in provincial waters between parallels 43° 30’ and 44° 00’ S for a period of seven days.
This measure, aimed at ensuring resource sustainability and preserving the marine ecosystem, is part of the responsible fisheries policies led by Secretary of Fisheries Dr. Andrés P. Arbeletche.
Under Resolution No. 2/2025, the suspension applies to all vessels engaged in the capture of Patagonian shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) within the designated area. It will remain in effect from 00:00 on January 7 until 00:00 on January 14, 2025. After this period, fishing authorizations will automatically resume without requiring additional administrative actions.
Reasons for the Suspension
The decision is based on recent data indicating a concerning increase in the proportion of juvenile specimens classified as L3-L4 or smaller within the catches. This precautionary measure seeks to protect pre-recruits, which are essential to ensuring the sustainable exploitation of the resource in the future.
Commitment to Sustainable Fishing
This action underscores the Chubut provincial government’s commitment to sustainability and the responsible management of its fishery resources. It aligns with principles of conservation, reducing unnecessary fishing efforts, and preventing overexploitation, thereby ensuring the continuity of this valuable economic activity and the health of marine ecosystems.
On January 6, 2025, the Abate Molina scientific vessel departed from the Port of Valparaíso, embarking on a 28-day mission. Professionals and technicians from the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) will conduct hydroacoustic surveys to characterize and evaluate anchovy and common sardine stocks. The study spans the regions between Valparaíso and Los Lagos, coinciding with the peak recruitment period and the early stages of their seasonal decline.
Captain José Echeverría leads the vessel, while fisheries engineer Álvaro Saavedra serves as the head of the cruise.
Objectives of the Cruise
To estimate the size of the stock of anchovy and common sardine resources and their spatial distribution in the period of maximum recruitment to the fishery present in the study area.
To characterize and analyze in a space-time context, the demographic composition and its interannual variation of the stocks evaluated through biological indicators.
Characterize and analyze the bio-oceanographic conditions present in the study area and their relationship with the spatial distribution of resources.
Characterize the aggregations of anchovy and common sardine resources in the study area.
Implement the Continuous Improvement Plan for hydroacoustic assessment studies of pelagic resources: anchovy, common sardine, southern sardine and horse mackerel, as appropriate, in accordance with the priorities identified in the preparation of the plan and the available budget.
The 2024 Public Report on Sustainable Aquaculture in Paraguay highlights the achievements of the Surubí Commercial Production Project, a collaborative initiative between the Taiwan Technical Mission in Paraguay and the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the National University of Asunción. This report provides an overview of the year’s activities, including the training of future aquatic resource experts, scientific advancements aimed at strengthening the sector, educational workshops and activities, as well as strategic collaborations with Paraguayan and international institutions.
(Photo courtesy of the Taiwan Technical Mission in Paraguay)
Key Accomplishments of the Surubí Project
Technical Training:
The project prioritized the training of technical personnel to ensure the successful operation of fry production facilities. This included training programs for technicians from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), equipping them with the necessary skills to support the aquaculture industry.
Introduction of Advanced Fry Production Technology:
As part of the project’s innovation efforts, cutting-edge fry production technology was introduced, enabling the experimental production of 200,000 fry during 2024.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in Paraguay's journey toward sustainable aquaculture, showcasing a commitment to capacity building, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships to bolster the nation's fisheries sector.
Russia's fish export volumes, which saw a decline this year, are expected to recover in 2025, according to Ilya Shestakov, head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo).
Shestakov highlighted that the primary foreign markets for Russian fish products include China, South Korea, Nigeria, and the Netherlands. He also reported that the total fish catch in Russia for the current year is projected to be approximately 4.92–4.93 million tons, falling slightly short of the initially forecasted 5 million tons. However, the outlook for 2025 is more optimistic, with expectations of reaching the 5 million ton benchmark.
Key Export Figures and Trends
In 2023, fishery exports grew by 12%, according to Rosrybolovstvo.
Frozen fish constituted the majority of exports, accounting for 76% of the total.
Pollock remained the dominant export species, followed by herring, sardines, and crabs, which are also supplied to international markets.
The anticipated recovery in export volumes underscores Russia's strategic efforts to strengthen its position in the global seafood market, leveraging its robust fisheries sector to meet growing demand from key trading partners.
The sinking of a fishing boat off the coast of the port of Kashima, in the prefecture of Ibaraki, northeast of Tokyo, caused the death of two crew members on Monday and the disappearance of three others, whose search continues.
The Japanese Coast Guard believes that it is possible that the boat, which was fishing for sardines, capsized due to the excess of fish in the net although the investigation of the event is still ongoing, according to the Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
Angulas Aguinaga, owner of brands such as La Gula del Norte, Krissia, Aguinamar and Royal, has closed an alliance agreement with Aperitivos Iñaki, recognized for its specialization in the production of products such as anchovies, gildas and other high-quality pickles with the aim of joining forces and expanding its product offering.
This agreement responds to Angulas Aguinaga's commitment to innovation, the diversification of its portfolio and the objective of offering consumers "a wider range of modern fish products," says Angulas Aguinaga.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers caught a commercial fisher in San Fransisco, California, U.S.A., with thousands of pounds in illegal catch, some of which was hidden behind a false wall in his fishing vessel.
The officers claim they spotted the owner of a commercial trawling vessel unloading several burlap sacks from their vessel at Pier 45 in San Francisco. When officers confronted the individual later on at a restaurant, the fisher “attempted to flee and hide fish,” according to a CDFW social media post. Aboard the vessel, officers found a false wall hiding fillets of salmon, despite the fishery season being closed.
Author: Nathan Strout / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here
Norway exported a total 2.8 million tonnes of seafood in 2024, worth a record NOK 175.4 billion, with the volume corresponding to 38 million meals every single day. This was achieved despite the year being characterised by cod quota cuts, production challenges for farmed salmon, geopolitical fluctuations and economic turmoil in the global market.
Last year’s overall export value represented an increase of 2% or NOK 3.7 billion on the previous best – set in 2023.
Norway and Canada salmon farmer Grieg Seafood harvested approximately 23,400 gutted weight tonnes of fish in the fourth quarter of 2024, the company said in a trading update.
The harvest volume included 5,300 gwt from Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, where the company has exclusive rights to grow salmon and is slowly increasing production volume.
Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
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UNITED STATES
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Captain José Echeverría leads the vessel, while fisheries engineer Álvaro Saavedra serves as the head of the cruise.
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RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Shestakov highlighted that the primary foreign markets for Russian fish products include China, South Korea, Nigeria, and the Netherlands. He also reported that the total fish catch in Russia for the current year is projected to be approximately 4.92–4.93 million tons, falling slightly short of the initially forecasted 5 million tons. However, the outlook for 2025 is more optimistic, with expectations of reaching the 5 million ton benchmark.
JAPAN
The other 15 sailors were rescued
SPAIN
Angulas Aguinaga,
NORWAY
Norway exported a total 2.8 million tonnes of seafood in 2024, worth a record NOK 175.4 billion, with the volume corresponding to 38 million meals every single day. This was achieved despite the year being characterised by cod quota cuts, production challenges for farmed salmon, geopolitical fluctuations and economic turmoil in the global market. 
Norway and Canada salmon farmer
