• Binational collaboration: Chile and Peru are working together to sustainably study and manage a shared marine resource of great economic importance.
• Hydroacoustic assessment: Scientists use specialized equipment to estimate the number of fish in a given area.
• Standardization of methods: The goal is to establish common protocols for assessing anchovy, which will allow for more accurate and reliable data.
• Sustainable management: This collaboration seeks to ensure responsible fishing and long-term conservation of anchovy.

Click to enlarge

By the end of November 2024, South Korea had imported 29,220 tons of frozen mackerel, reflecting a significant 20% decline compared to the 36,420 tons imported during the same period in 2023. Despite this drop in volume, domestic distribution prices have remained stable, hovering in the high KRW 90,000 range. The average import unit price for frozen mackerel through November 2024 was recorded at USD 2.30 per kilogram.

Import Volumes and Unit Prices by Country

• Norway:

  • 26,624 tons (91.12% of total imports)
  • Average price: USD 2.31/kg

• China:

  • 1,441 tons (4.93% of total imports)
  • Average price: USD 2.32/kg

• Netherlands:

  • 848 tons (2.9% of total imports)
  • Average price: USD 2.16/kg

The upward trend in Norwegian frozen mackerel prices is expected to continue, driven by stable demand and reduced import volumes.

Source: Union Forsea Co

The coelacanth, a prehistoric fish once thought to be extinct, was rediscovered in 1938.

This ancient species, dating back 400 million years, has survived largely unchanged. Its unique features, such as its limb-like fins and slow metabolism, have fascinated scientists. The discovery of two distinct species, the Western Indian Ocean coelacanth and the Indonesian coelacanth, further highlights the diversity of this remarkable creature. The coelacanth's survival serves as a testament to the resilience of life and the mysteries that still exist in our oceans.

After the initial discovery in South Africa, another specimen surfaced 15 years later near the Comoro Islands. Further sightings in Indonesia during the 1990s led to the identification of two distinct species:

• Western Indian Ocean coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae)
• Indonesian coelacanth (Latimeria menadoensis)

Scientists attribute its survival to:

• Stable habitats in deep-sea caves.
• Unique physiological traits that support navigation in complex environments.
• A slow metabolism that sustains life even when food is scarce.

The coelacanth reminds us that the natural world holds mysteries waiting to be discovered, inspiring awe and respect for life’s enduring adaptability.

Source: UNIONRAYO

Participating in the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FAA) Operation Island Chief in August, PSS H.I. Remeliik II destroyed 18 illegal Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) and conducted a number of boardings resulting in seizures of fishing equipment.

The PSS H.I. Remeliik II, a patrol boat supported by Australia, has been actively combating illegal fishing in Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It has participated in regional operations, destroying illegal fishing devices and conducting boardings. Additionally, the vessel has provided essential services to remote communities, including delivering supplies and conducting medical evacuations. These efforts contribute to protecting marine resources, ensuring food security, and maintaining regional stability.

Another patrol in October saw PSS H.I. Remeliik II and crew destroy a further 26 illegal FADs. IUU fishing contributes to global overfishing, threatens marine ecosystems, puts food security and regional stability at risk, and is linked to major human rights violations and even organized crime

HANOI,  (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's seafood exports reached nearly 9.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of this year, up 11.5 percent year on year, local media cited the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) on Tuesday.

Seafood exports in November alone slowed down but still maintained impressive growth with a turnover of 924 million dollars, up 17 percent year on year, said the association.

Shrimp and tra fish (pangasius) continue to be Vietnam's key seafood export products.

Shrimp exports recorded a 22-percent growth in November and are forecast to reach 4 billion dollars in turnover for the whole year.

Meanwhile, turnover of tra fish exports was estimated at 1.84 billion dollars as of November and is predicted to hit 2 billion dollars by the end of this year.

Cooke Inc. Opposes Proposed NMCA in South Coast Fjords

In a personal letter sent to Premier Furey of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Glenn Cooke to protect local industries and the families that rely on them rather than impose restrictive measures that will lead to their demise.

Cooke Inc., a major Seafood Group, is urging the Newfoundland and Labrador government to withdraw from the proposed National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in the South Coast Fjords. The company argues that this initiative, spearheaded by the federal government, would have severe negative impacts on local communities and the seafood industry.

The NMCA would restrict fishing and aquaculture activities, jeopardizing the livelihoods of many people who depend on these industries. It would also hinder the growth of the aquaculture sector, particularly salmon farming, which has been identified as a key driver of economic development in the region.

Cooke Inc. emphasizes the importance of sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices and highlights the company's commitment to environmental responsibility. They argue that the NMCA would undermine these efforts and limit opportunities for future growth.

The company urges the provincial government to prioritize the economic and social well-being of coastal communities and to reject the proposed NMCA.

Read the letter at this link

In 2023, total imports of pangasius into the European Union declined sharply from the previous year. In fact, some 70 000 tonnes were imported, 3 000 tonnes less than in 2022, reports FAO-Globefish.

Main supplying country was Viet Nam with a share of 90 percent of total imports, however the real share is far higher, as the second and third supplier are the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Belgium, which are mere re-exporting countries.

Germany has emerged as main consumer of pangasius fillets, as in this country, price aspects outnumber quality and taste aspects. Spain that used to be a major pangasius consumer some 10 years ago has continuously reduced its imports of this species. In 2023, the country imported 5 500 tonnes, almost 1 000 tonnes less than in the previous year.

In the first nine months of 2024, imports of the pangasius were stable at 2023 levels, some 54 000 tonnes were imported during this period into the EU. German imports of pangasius increased by 2 percent during the period to 9 200 tonnes. Spanish imports increased by 40 percent y-o-y to some 5 500 tonnes during Jan-Sep 2024.

Kontali shrimp production analyst Erwin Termaat takes a deep dive into El Niño and La Niña - the climate systems intrinsically linked to Ecuador’s shrimp farming industry - providing insight into past trends and future outlooks.

The success of Ecuador’s aquaculture industry, which leads the world in terms of shrimp exports, with 987,900 tonnes LSE exported from January until September in 2024, is deeply intertwined with the natural climate cycles that influence the Pacific Ocean.

Among the most influential of these climate cycles are the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, which are part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). These periodic climatic events significantly shape the productivity of shrimp farming: impacting growth rates, disease prevalence and, ultimately, export volumes.

Author: Erwin Termaat (Shrimp production analyst, Kontali) / The Fish Site l Read the full article here