IN BRIEF - US judge seeks plan to protect humpback whales from fishery
UNITED STATES
Friday, March 17, 2023
A U.S. judge this week ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service violated the law when it failed to develop a plan to prevent West Coast commercial sablefish fishermen from harming humpback whales.
The Endangered Species Act requires the fisheries service to develop a plan to reduce the number of whales accidentally injured or killed by the fishery, but the agency neither crafted such a plan nor started to create one, the ruling said.
About 150 commercial fishing vessels use traps to capture sablefish in waters off California, Oregon and Washington.
The fisheries service estimates the fishery accidentally injuries or kills an average of one humpback whale per year.
Sablefish dwell on muddy ocean floors deeper than 650 feet. To target the fish, fishermen place multiple heavy pots on the seafloor and link them together with heavy-duty fishing line.
The number of pots ranges from 15 to 50 while the lines can stretch about two miles, according to court documents. The fishery deployed an annual average of 75,000 pots from 2015 to 2019, the document said.
The research vessel Árni Friðriksson has completed a week-long capelin survey off the northwest coast of Iceland, focusing on spawning migrations and stock abundance. Survey coverage extended from west of Dohrnbank along the continental slope off the Westfjords to Skagagrunn.
At the same time, the vessel Þórunn Þórðardóttir gathered acoustic data during a hydrographic survey examining ocean conditions around Iceland in February. Scientists reported almost no capelin north of Iceland. A small quantity of mature capelin was detected near the continental slope at Bardagrunn, while immature fish were observed farther offshore near drift ice off the Westfjords.
Researchers estimate that the bulk of the 328 thousand tonnes of capelin recorded northwest of Iceland in January has now migrated eastward, moving clockwise around the country. The stock is expected to spawn in coastal waters in the south and west in March.
The Marine and Freshwater Research Institute has announced no further capelin surveys will be conducted this winter.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has welcomed the expansion of Iceland Foods’ certified seafood range, signalling a growing shift among UK retailers to make responsibly farmed seafood both accessible and affordable.
Launching on 10 February, Iceland’s expanded selection of ASC-labelled products reflects rising consumer demand for seafood that protects both people and the environment — without carrying a premium price tag.
The latest rollout increases Iceland’s total ASC-certified range to 15 products, adding newly certified salmon, seabass, scallops and prawns. Several items will be included in multi-buy promotions, reinforcing the retailer’s commitment to keeping sustainable choices within reach of everyday shoppers.
Ecuador's non-oil exports reached a record high in 2025 thanks to shrimp, while the industry warns of new regulations.
During 2025, Ecuador achieved a historic record in non-oil exports, totaling USD 29.402 billion, representing an 18.3% increase compared to the previous year. This result was led by the performance of shrimp, which consolidated its position as the country's main export product, along with the contribution of canned fish.
Shrimp topped the ranking of exports with USD 8.401 billion, registering a year-on-year increase of 20.2%, and confirming its status as the main driver of growth in Ecuador's non-oil sector.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
The event, produced by Diversified, is returning to the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, and will bring together seafood suppliers, processors, equipment manufacturers, and service providers from around the world to showcase products and close deals.
With 246,665 net square feet of exhibit space and exhibiting companies representing 48 countries confirmed to date – with continued growth expected – the 2026 edition reinforces its position as the must-attend event for seafood industry professionals seeking to maximize business opportunities in one place
Source: SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
A new study led by researchers at University of Stirling has found that changes in aquafeed composition over the past two decades have significantly reshaped the environmental footprint of European aquaculture, reducing reliance on wild-caught fish while increasing impacts across several other environmental indicators.
The research, led by Björn Kok and Dr Wesley Malcorps of the university’s Institute of Aquaculture, examined developments between 2000 and 2020 and found that the European aquaculture sector cut its overall use of wild-caught fish in feed by 13%, despite nearly doubling in production over the same period. Growth was largely driven by the expansion of Atlantic salmon farming in Norway.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
King salmon farmer leases vessel to support expansion ambitions
New?Zealand?King?Salmon (NZKS) is to introduce the country’s first wellboat, it has announced.
Until now, New Zealand has been the only major salmon-producing country not using this technology.
The 18-year-old wellboat, previously called the Ronja Nordic, has been appropriately renamed the Ronja King. It is currently on its way from Haugesund in Norway to Spain and is expected to arrive in New Zealand waters in April.
Author: Gareth Moore / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The winter storms that battered large areas of the United States in January have had a very noticeable effect on supermarket shelves: more stockpiling, fewer restaurant visits, and a rise in sales value across virtually all seafood categories. This phenomenon was also accompanied by a second decisive factor: an acceleration of seafood-specific inflation, more pronounced than general food inflation.
Data from Circana, analyzed by 210 Analytics, shows the extent to which bad weather can reshape consumption patterns in just a few days.
EJF and Calamasur Want to Put a Stop to Chinese Activity Operating Outside of Scientific Recommendations
“One of the world’s most important squid fisheries is heading toward an ecological and social crisis as vast Chinese fishing fleets take advantage of weak governance, lack of transparency, and regulatory gaps throughout the Southeast Pacific.” Adding to this biological crisis, new research by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) highlights labor abuses by one of the companies involved—China National Fisheries Corporation—whose catches are exported to the US, the European Union, and the UK.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
What sounds like a terrible idea – farming tropical shrimp in chilly northern Germany – is exactly what HanseGarnelen is turning into a high-tech, almost-zero-carbon showcase for “German shrimp”.
HanseGarnelen runs what is currently the largest operational clear-water shrimp recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) farm in Europe, producing around 100 tonnes of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) a year in Glückstadt, northern Germany. After a brush with insolvency and a change of ownership, the company is betting on automation, local branding and continuous improvement to make “German shrimp” a viable alternative to imports.
Author: Emma Barbier / The Fish Site | Read the full article here
EU–India Free Trade Agreement Set to Reshape European Tuna Market European Union
Indian exporters gain tariff edge as Vietnamese producers face mounting competitive pressure
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Total Russian Catch Surpasses 644 Thousand Tons by Mid-February 2026 Russia Fed.
Sea of Okhotsk Pollock and Herring Campaign Drives Growth in Far Eastern Basin
According to the industry monitoring system of the Federal Agency for Fisheries as of February 16, 2026, the total catch...
High Inshore Squid Levels Strengthen Case for Pilot Fishery in Shetland United Kingdom
Record catches in 2025 survey add momentum to industry calls for a targeted inshore squid trial backed by local science
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UNITED STATES
ICELAND
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UNITED KINGDOM.png)
ECUADOR
Ecuador's non-oil exports reached a record high in 2025 thanks to shrimp, while the industry warns of new regulations.
Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America
A new study led by researchers at University of Stirling has found that changes in aquafeed composition over the past two decades have significantly reshaped the environmental footprint of European aquaculture, reducing reliance on wild-caught fish while increasing impacts across several other environmental indicators.
NEW ZEALAND
King salmon farmer leases vessel to support expansion ambitions
The winter storms that battered large areas of the United States in January have had a very noticeable effect on supermarket shelves: more stockpiling, fewer restaurant visits, and a rise in sales value across virtually all seafood categories. This phenomenon was also accompanied by a second decisive factor: an acceleration of seafood-specific inflation, more pronounced than general food inflation.
EJF and 
GERMANY
What sounds like a terrible idea – farming tropical shrimp in chilly northern Germany – is exactly what HanseGarnelen is turning into a high-tech, almost-zero-carbon showcase for “German shrimp”.
