IN BRIEF - More than three years in prison for a skipper and a sailor for carrying 1,700 kilos of hashish
SPAIN
Saturday, December 02, 2023
Huelva (EFE).- The Provincial Court of Huelva has sentenced the skipper and a sailor of a fishing boat to three years and five months in prison each after they were surprised when they were transporting more than 1,700 kilos of hashish on the boat destined for to the fishing port of Isla Cristina (Huelva).
The sentence, to which EFE has had access, considers them responsible for a crime against public health, for which it also imposes two fines of 12 and 9 million euros each.
It is considered proven that the accused, the first as a skipper and the second as a sailor of a fishing vessel, sailed around 09:10 a.m. on October 28, 2022 towards the Fishing Port of Isla Cristina, carrying 54 bales in the hold of the vessel. of burlap with hashish, about 35 kilos each.
Upon realizing the presence of security forces and stocks in the port and to avoid police action, they changed their course by anchoring the ship in the middle of the Isla Cristina estuary and disembarked in a small boat, with which they sailed in the opposite direction. towards the shipyard area, where they were intercepted.
The Civil Guard inspected the ship and found hidden in its hold a total of 54 bundles of burlap weighing 1,768 kilos that would have fetched a price of 3.6 million euros on the illicit market.
With the goal of promoting initiatives that contribute to the conservation of priority ecosystems in South America, a growing number of companies, cargo clients, charter flights, and passengers have joined the LATAM Group's emissions offsetting programs. Among them is the LATAM Group's "1+1: Offset to Conserve" program, an initiative that doubles the offsetting efforts of those who choose to offset the emissions generated by their air travel or cargo shipments.
Launched in 2022, the 1+1 program is based on a collaborative model: for every ton of CO2 offset by a client, LATAM contributes an additional ton, multiplying the impact of the joint action.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
In 2020, Namibia's hake trawl and longline fishery targeting two hake species, Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus, became the first fishery in Namibia, and the second in Africa, to meet the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard. Today, the fishery achieved its second MSC certification following a rigorous and independent assessment conducted by Control Union (UK) Limited, which examined hake stocks, fishery management processes, and ecosystem impacts.
Matti Amukwa, president of the Namibian Hake Association, explains that “since the country’s independence, the government, scientists, and industry have worked hand in hand to rebuild the hake stock and create a profitable fishing industry that gives back to the people and the environment.”
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
In collaboration with Vietnamese shrimp firm Minh Phu, U.S. frozen seafood importer and distributor CenSea has debuted a new premium shrimp brand targeting restaurant chefs and other high-end buyers.
The range, called CenSea Reserve and using Minh Phu-produced shrimp products, includes raw, easy-peel vannamei shrimp in 8/12, 13/15, and 16/20 counts, as well as raw, easy-peel black tiger prawns in 13/15 and 16/20 counts, all of which is Best Aquaculture Practices-certified, CenSea said in a release.
According to CenSea Co-President Jeff Stern, the launch of CenSea Reserve is a strategic move to disrupt the premium segment.
Author: Christine Blank / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
ULMA Packaging UK supports Orkney Crab’s move to high-performance thermoforming. Leading packaging machinery manufacturer ULMA Packaging UK has successfully supported premium seafood producer, Orkney Crab, in upgrading its packaging operation by installing a TFS 500 thermoforming machine. The move has helped the business improve efficiency, consistency and pack presentation for whole crab and lobster.
The value of farmed salmon imported into Canada has more than doubled during a 10-year period in which production in British Columbia has fallen by 40%, the BC Salmon Farmers Association has revealed.
Canada’s salmon imports are now worth approximately CAD 700 million (£375m) annually. Much of this growth has come from countries such as Chile and Norway, as Canada turns to international suppliers to meet demand that could be fulfilled locally if farmers were allowed to produce more fish.The increased value of imports comes as BC’s salmon farmers fight a race against time to persuade the Liberal-led federal government
Author: Gareth Moore / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
SalMar ASA has officially finalized the acquisition of the remaining 49% stake in Øylaks MTB AS, bringing its total ownership to 100%. The deal strengthens SalMar’s production capabilities by securing full control over an additional license for Atlantic salmon production.
Transaction Details
The acquisition was settled through the issuance of 209,402 new SalMar shares at a subscription price of NOK 655.20 per share. The SalMar Board of Directors approved the share issuance today, utilizing an authorization granted on June 20, 2025.
Impact on Share Capital
Following the registration of these new shares in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises, SalMar’s financial structure will be updated as follows:
This move marks a clean consolidation of SalMar’s salmon farming assets as the company continues to optimize its production footprint in the Atlantic salmon market.
The national aquaculture industry marks a milestone in gender equity with the emergence of Women in Chilean Aquaculture (WICA).
On January 13, the network held its first in-person meeting in Puerto Varas, gathering leaders and professionals from across the production chain.
Led by Francisca Araya and Karina Gajardo from the company Aquabyte, the initiative is inspired by successful models in Norway and Canada. Its objective is clear: to strengthen female leadership and close gender gaps in an industry that has historically been male-dominated.
During the event, a diagnostic survey was conducted to address critical challenges such as professional stagnation and perceptions of discrimination. In immediate response, an online communication and leadership workshop will be held in March in partnership with the consultancy Empoderadas.
The network's major consolidation milestone will be its official launch at AquaSur 2026, the most important aquaculture exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere. On this stage, WICA will present its strategic action lines to foster technical collaboration and increase the visibility of women in senior management positions, transforming the future of aquaculture in Chile.
The year 2024 is remembered as one of the worst for Galician fish markets. Problems with shellfish harvesting, including high mortality rates on the sandbanks, and difficulties faced by the fleets operating in the Gran Sol fishing grounds (due to bans on bottom fishing) and purse seine fishing (due to a lack of horse mackerel and quotas in general) resulted in the lowest landings of the century so far (102,461 tons of fish and shellfish) and €382.9 million in sales, a level not seen for over two decades. In a context that remains challenging for an increasingly aging sector, given the generational renewal issues affecting both personnel and fishing vessels, the industry managed to rebound in 2025
Author: Adrian Amoedo / Faro de Vigo | Read the full article here
Supreme Decree No. 23 from the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) establishes mandatory limits and best practices for odor control in fish and aquaculture plants starting in 2026.
On December 17, 2025, Supreme Decree No. 23 from the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) was published in the Official Gazette, establishing an Emission Standard for fishmeal and fish oil plants and fish feed plants. The regulation aims to control the impact of unpleasant odors and protect the quality of life of communities by setting, for the first time, measurable limits and a set of mandatory operational best practices for the industry.
Rabat has signed and activated a four-year fishing agreement with Moscow—focused on small pelagic species like sardines—while the Moroccan government announces the suspension of frozen sardine exports starting February 1, 2026, to ensure domestic supply and contain prices. The Moroccan press thus portrays a two-pronged approach: attracting partners at sea while simultaneously "reserving" raw materials on land.
The sequence begins in October 2025, when Morocco and Russia signed a new four-year fisheries cooperation agreement in Moscow, intended to replace the previous agreement that expired on December 31, 2024.
EU Tightens Safety Standards for Frozen Tuna Imports Starting 2026 European Union
The European Union is moving to eliminate "trade fraud" and bolster food safety in the seafood sector by implementing stricter freezing requirements for tuna.
Under the newly issued Delegated Reg...
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CHILE
With the goal of promoting initiatives that contribute to the conservation of priority ecosystems in South America, a growing number of companies, cargo clients, charter flights, and passengers have joined the LATAM Group's emissions offsetting programs. Among them is the LATAM Group's "1+1: Offset to Conserve" program, an initiative that doubles the offsetting efforts of those who choose to offset the emissions generated by their air travel or cargo shipments.
NAMIBIA.png)
In 2020, Namibia's hake trawl and longline fishery targeting two hake species, Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus, became the first fishery in Namibia, and the second in Africa, to meet the 
UNITED STATES
In collaboration with Vietnamese shrimp firm 
UNITED KINGDOM.png)
ULMA Packaging
CANADA
The value of farmed salmon imported into Canada has more than doubled during a 10-year period in which production in British Columbia has fallen by 40%, the BC Salmon Farmers Association has revealed.
NORWAY
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The year 2024 is remembered as one of the worst for Galician fish markets. Problems with shellfish harvesting, including high mortality rates on the sandbanks, and difficulties faced by the fleets operating in the Gran Sol fishing grounds (due to bans on bottom fishing) and purse seine fishing (due to a lack of horse mackerel and quotas in general) resulted in the lowest landings of the century so far (102,461 tons of fish and shellfish) and €382.9 million in sales, a level not seen for over two decades. In a context that remains challenging for an increasingly aging sector, given the generational renewal issues affecting both personnel and fishing vessels, the industry managed to rebound in 2025.png)
Supreme Decree No. 23 from the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) establishes mandatory limits and best practices for odor control in fish and aquaculture plants starting in 2026.
MOROCCO
Rabat has signed and activated a four-year fishing agreement with Moscow—focused on small pelagic species like sardines—while the Moroccan government announces the suspension of frozen sardine exports starting February 1, 2026, to ensure domestic supply and contain prices. The Moroccan press thus portrays a two-pronged approach: attracting partners at sea while simultaneously "reserving" raw materials on land.
