Balanced Supply and Demand Keep Prices Steady in Major Production Hubs

A recent survey by Cepea (Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics) indicates that tilapia prices remained predominantly stable during the week ending January 2, 2026. The data suggests a harmonious balance between supply and demand as the new year begins, with only minor price fluctuations recorded across the country's primary production centers.

Market Outlook

According to Cepea researchers, these discreet fluctuations are typical for the beginning of the year. The market currently lacks any abrupt movements in supply or significant pressure from consumer demand, leading to the current plateau in pricing.

"The market is currently in a state of equilibrium, reflecting a period of seasonal normalcy without external shocks to the supply chain," the report noted.

Source: Cepea

Fisheries New Zealand has launched an investigation into potential illegal fish dumping after a spearfisher shared "gut-wrenching" footage of dead fish floating near Great Barrier Island.

The video, posted to social media by veteran spearfisherman Darren Shields, shows a trail of discarded fish on the water’s surface. Shields, who spotted the waste while out on the water, told reporters this is a symptom of a much larger crisis.

A Call for Stricter Limits

Shields highlighted a steady decline in local fish stocks, blaming both commercial and recreational overfishing. "We’ve been allowed to take too much for too long," he said. "The population is growing, more people are on the water, and we need to adjust our limits to allow for that."

He is calling for an end to bottom trawling, arguing that the method is inherently destructive and leads to the capture of undersized or non-quota species that are often discarded.

The Official Response

Fisheries NZ has already identified a commercial vessel operating in the area at the time of the report. Regional Manager Andre Espinoza confirmed that officials are reviewing:

"Illegal discarding is relatively rare due to the prevalence of cameras and real-time tracking," Espinoza stated, "but we take every complaint seriously."

If an offence is proven, the vessel operators could face significant fines or the forfeiture of their vessel.

• It wants to "learn" from other management models to take advantage of the proliferation of this species on its coasts
• It is already evaluating a quota system

In the English counties of Devon and Cornwall, the octopus is an anecdotal species. On the three occasions when it has not been, when it has proliferated in abundance on their coasts—in 1899, 1950, and 2025—it has been considered a "plague." "In the last two or three months, this coast has been visited by a perfect plague of octopuses. They have practically ruined the industry, and many shipowners have tied up their boats in despair [...] They are the most disgusting beasts," published the local newspaper, the Western Evening Herald, founded four years earlier, on December 18, 1899. Even now, when this cephalopod mollusk is a globally sought-after product, it carries the same stigma in these parts of England.

Optimar has secured a major aquaculture contract to supply harvesting and slaughtering equipment to a new fish farming project in Kazakhstan, marking the company’s first delivery to the country and a significant expansion of its international footprint.

The deal is with Organic Fish, which is developing a modern trout farming operation in the Caspian Sea. The project aims to reach an annual production capacity of around 5,000 tonnes within three to four years. Optimar will deliver a complete harvesting package for offshore operations and a slaughterhouse package for land-based processing.

Source: Worldfishing |  Read the full article here

A Japanese sushi magnate has paid a record-breaking £2.4 million for a giant bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s famous New Year fish auction. Kiyoshi Kimura, widely known as the “Tuna King,” placed the winning bid of 510.3 million yen for the 243-kilogram fish, which was caught off the northern coast of Japan.

Speaking after the pre-dawn auction at Tokyo’s main fish market, Kimura admitted he had not expected the price to climb so high.

The price paid was the highest recorded since auction data began being collected in 1999. The previous record was set in 2019, when a 278-kilogram bluefin sold for 333.6 million yen shortly after the market relocated from the historic Tsukiji site to a new, modern facility. Last year’s top tuna fetched 207 million yen.

Source: FIsh Focus |  Read the full article here

Salmon farming project in Fukushima advances toward commercialization.

A land-based aquaculture project focused on Benizake, or sockeye salmon, in Fukushima Prefecture is moving from pilot scale toward commercial development after expansion plans were selected for national subsidy support.

The project is being undertaken jointly by Okayama University of Science, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation, and Ichii Inc.. The partners plan to expand operations and construct new facilities in Namie, following their selection under Japan’s Subsidy for Business Location to Support Self-Reliance and Return, and Create Employment.

Source: SalmonBusieness | Read the full article here