Negotiations for the UK's exit from the EU

The European Parliament warns that it will not vote this month on any agreement signed after the 21st

"However, large gaps remain to be bridged, particularly in fisheries." The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, had a telephone conversation yesterday with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, in which it was clear that there has been "substantial progress" on many issues but it has also been evidenced that the Fishing is the last hurdle to solve the Eurodivorce.

The negotiations continue today in Brussels but the disagreement in the fisheries chapter is maximum. 

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

Some countries go through the third wave of the virus, infections increase and the measures are more drastic. The various vaccines begin their testing phase.

Covid-19 (coronavirus) affects much of the world every day. AQUA, for a couple of months, has been detailing the situation of the virus in the main Chilean salmon markets. Next, we give you a little more detail of the current scenario in each of these countries. This is the data available until this Tuesday, December 15.

The United States is the country most affected in the world by the Covid-19 outbreak. More than 30,000 Americans died from the disease in the first 13 days of December, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The death toll in the country since the start of the pandemic was nearly 300,000 as of Sunday night, with more than 16.2 million reported cases.

Source: aqua.cl | Read the full article here

The European Parliament has adopted an interim agreement on the EU program for the environment and climate action LIFE to boost EU action in 2021-2027. The agreement will allow the Commission to begin preparing to implement the program.

The total budget allocated to LIFE in the commitment on the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 is € 5.4 billion, of which € 3.5 billion will be allocated to environmental activities; and 1.9 billion euros will go to climate action.

The program will contribute to the mainstreaming of climate actions and the overall goal of earmarking at least 30% of EU budget spending on climate targets.

Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here

Agreements on next year’s catch limits for more than 200 commercial fish stocks in the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean, and the Black Sea have been reached by European Union fisheries ministers following two days of intense negotiation at the annual Agrifish Council meeting.

As more than 100 of the stocks in the Atlantic and North Sea have historically been co-managed with the United Kingdom, and given the ongoing E.U.-U.K. negotiations on their future relationship, ministers agreed to set provisional quotas for the fish stocks shared with Britain.

The provisional quotas are designed to ensure the continuation of sustainable fishing in the concerned areas until consultations with the U.K. are concluded, the European Council said.

Author: Jason Holland / Seafoodsource | Read the full article here

Seafish, the organisation which supports the seafood industry, has urged businesses in the sector to take advantage of its advice about preparing for trading with Europe in 2021 as the UK nears the December 31 end of its Brexit transition period.

“Whether you import, export, process and distribute, catch or farm seafood, you can find guidance for your business on our support hub,” said Seafish in a press release.

“If you are unable to find the answer to your question in our guidance then our regulation team will be available to answer further questions on the end of the Brexit transition period over Christmas and New Year through a pre-bookable service.”

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

Hopes of a rise in fresh salmon prices in the run up to Christmas have all but evaporated. Even a modest surge in exports over the past week has failed to bring any relief for fish farmers.

According to Statistics Norway, the average export price for chilled salmon in week 50 was NOK 46.09 (£3.95) per kilo, down by 0.6 per cent on a week earlier and almost half what it was this time last year.

Just over 24,000 tonnes of fresh salmon were exported during the week, up by 2.3 per cent on the previous seven day period.
The Statistics Norway figures are calculated on the price when crossing the Norwegian border.

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

The North Atlantic Seafood Forum is being postponed from 9th-11th of March to 8th-10th of June 2021.

“We have listened to the industry. Many of our regular delegates now fear that both Brexit and Covid challenges will require their full attention in Q1, thus making it difficult to attend NASF in March.” says Mr. André Akse, the General Manager of North Atlantic Seafood Forum.

NASF 2021 will be a digital conference. From 8th-10th of June our delegates will be able to attend more than 150 presentations from Seafood executives and specialists. The event will also host a series of discussion sessions and digital meeting rooms where delegates easily can connect with other delegates and leading companies in the industry.

Pelagic vessel Tasiilaq has been acquired from Faroese owners, replacing an older, smaller vessel which had already been sold this summer.

The former Christian í Grótinum (ex-Kvannøy) brings Pelagic Greenland, a Royal Greenland subsidiary, significantly greater fishing and carrying capacity.

The handover took place in the Faroese earlier this month, with the Greenlandic flag raised and the new name and numbers painted on. Initially the handover should have taken place in the summer, but was delayed.

Author: Quentin Bates / FiskerForum | Read the full article here

100 firefighters and 40 vehicles were deployed to fight massive blaze at iconic fishing hub in May.

The bulk of San Francisco‘s seafood industry sued the city on Wednesday, reports Associated Press.

Last May 130 firefighters battled a huge fire which started in warehouse at the Port of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. The site is the centre of Northern California’s commercial and sport fishing fleets. The Wharf’s Pier 45 houses the West Coast’s largest concentration of commercial fish processors and distributors.

Fisherman, who lease space from the port to store their equipment, allege the port knew but did not stop homeless people from entering and setting camping and cooking fires within the building.

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

Nordic Aqua Partners (NAP) is aiming to stock the first eggs into its Chinese land-based facility within a year.

The company is due to start construction of its Ningbo facility in January 2021 and has just signed a deal with Benchmark Genetics to supply 9.5 million ova over the next five years. According to NAP, it will be the first fully integrated and commercially viable RAS facility in China. The initial capacity is 8,000 tonnes, with ambitions to expand first to 16,000 tonnes and then to 40.000 tonnes.

“Benchmark Genetics has a proven record of their ability to supply live eggs all-year-round to destinations worldwide, and security of supply is of key importance to optimise the production planning at our facility,” said Ragnar Joensen, chairman of the board of NAP, in a press release.

Author: Rob Fletcher / The Fish Site | Read the full article here