IN BRIEF - 22.5% of European commercial fishing vessels accused of using forced labor
EUROPEAN UNION
Monday, February 12, 2024
Europe is second only to Asia, whose companies, especially those from China, own nearly two-thirds of the ships involved in forced labor. An estimated 128,000 fishermen suffer horrific abuses as a result of forced labor on board fishing vessels every year, a figure that likely significantly underestimates the full scale of this crisis.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), abuses include physical violence, non-payment of wages and being required to spend more time in the workplace than allowed.
According to a recent report, 22.5% of commercial fishing vessels accused of forced labor are owned by European companies, led by Spain and the UK.
Most European countries - along with other fishing superpowers such as China, Indonesia and the US - have yet to ratify key treaties prohibiting forced labor on fishing vessels, such as ILO Labor Convention 188, while the relevant EU directive applies only to EU-flagged vessels or vessels operating in EU waters.
Even if countries comply with the ILO Convention and other key agreements, financial secrecy means that the ultimate owners of accused ships can continue to evade justice.
Crucially, ratification of these agreements will result in the proceeds of forced labor courts being consistent with the proceeds of crime under money laundering laws, making prosecution easier.
Ecuadorian Skipjack Remains More Expensive Than Bangkok As Fishing Resumes on January 19
The price gap for skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) is once again a barometer of tension in the global tuna market. Fish landed in Manta, Ecuador, maintains a significant premium compared to deliveries destined for Bangkok, Thailand. This difference, far from diminishing, continues to put pressure on the margins of the Ecuadorian canning industry just before the purse seine fleet resumes operations in the IATTC area following the seasonal closure.
The Nueva Pescanova Group has begun the validation phase of the first prototypes of a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool to optimize surimi production. Implementation will begin at the Chapela factory this January. This solution is part of the "PremIA" R&D project, which aims to develop a new AI-based predictive system to improve efficiency and quality in the production of fish, shellfish, and related products.
The goal of PremIA is to design and implement a tool that analyzes large volumes of information, detects hidden patterns, and generates statistical models to forecast future production performance.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Welsh Government funding of up to £1.85m is being opened to support the marine, fisheries and aquaculture sector, with applications accepted from 7 January until 31 March.
The funding, delivered through the Welsh Marine and Fisheries Scheme, is intended to support sustainable growth across the sector while strengthening coastal communities. Grants are available across 11 categories, covering a broad mix of operational, environmental and business-focused activities.Eligible projects range from upgrades to aquaculture sites and vessel equipment aimed at reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, to professional advice on marine environmental sustainability, business planning and marketing.
Chinese abalone firm Fujian Xiangbin recently acquired Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)two-star certification in an effort to expand sales in the domestic premium market and also grow international sales of its products.
Securing BAP two-star status in late 2025 marked a “milestone breakthrough” for the company, according to Xiangbin CEO Xiuying Chen.
Located in the Southeastern Chinese province of Fujian where much of China’s abalone production is centered, Xiangbin started out in live abalone trading in 2003 before expanding into farming, processing, distribution, and global sales
Author: Mark Godfrey / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
The organisers of Iceland’s IceFish Conference have announced that the programme will double in size this year and co-locate with the IceFish Exhibition at Fifan-Smárinn Halls, in Kópavogur, Reykjavík.
The expanded programme features two conferences, 100% Fish for Profit, formerly Fish Waste for Profit, and Aquaculture, Driving Sustainable Growth, a new event taking place on day one of IceFish, on September 22. 100% Fish for Profit will return with a packed one and half day programme on days two and three, September 23-24.
The IceFish conference organisers will be working in close collaboration with the Icelandic Ocean Cluster on conference content and chairing.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
The Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) released its latest resource assessment for the Japanese common flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) on December 26, 2025.
While coastal regions like Sanriku saw a surprising uptick in migrations last year, experts warn that the species remains in a critical state overall.
Click on the image to enlarge it
The "Pacific Shift" Explained
According to the National Research Institute for Fisheries Science, the 2025 surge along the Pacific coast was driven by two specific environmental factors:
Slightly Higher Spawning Success: A marginal increase in winter-born parent fish compared to the previous year provided a larger initial larval base.
Ocean Current Diversion: Favorable current patterns acted as a "conveyor belt," pushing newborn larvae toward the Pacific side rather than their traditional routes into the Sea of Japan.
A Tale of Two Stocks
Despite the localized bounty in the Pacific, the broader picture is bleak. The autumn-born stock, which primarily supports the Sea of Japan fisheries, continues to hover at all-time record lows.
Japanese fisheries experts emphasize that "resource recovery" is not yet on the horizon. The low density of parent fish in the autumn-born group suggests that the reproductive cycle remains fragile. Marine biologists point to rising sea temperatures in the East China Sea spawning grounds as a persistent threat
Anfaco-Cytma Reveals Rabat Will Close Exports to Supply Its Industry and Sell in the EU
Zakia Driouich, Morocco's Secretary of State for Maritime Fisheries, announced on January 7 that her country intends to temporarily suspend frozen sardine exports starting February 1, according to the Vigo-based employers' association Anfaco-Cytma. If implemented, this "could have a significant impact on the activity and employment" of Spanish and EU canneries and processing industries.
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
The squid fleet completes its departure for the fishing grounds this week, hoping to improve the unstable results of recent seasons. The 16 trawlers licensed for this resource, all partly owned by Galician capital, went from recording almost 100,000 tons in the two seasons of 2022 to a meager 56,000 last year. Biomass levels are a concern for the shipowners, who are still processing the largest investment in their fleet in the fishing grounds in 40 years.
The Beiramar docks are chameleon-like, completely changing their appearance in a matter of hours: from a dense swarm of large vessels, some moored alongside each other, to being dotted with smaller boats of different types and fishing grounds.
Author: Lara Graña / Faro de Vigo | Read the full article here
The Sefine shipyard in Türkiye has completed the construction of a new wellboat that is expected to end up working for the fish farmer Mowi, in Scotland.
The NB67 is the third largest live fish transport vessel we have built at Sefine, and it has been successfully delivered and launched into the seas as the second vessel realised under the contract we signed with our Norwegian business partner, Intership, in 2022.”
The vessel, to be named Inter Alba, was designed by SALT Ship Design, also of Norway.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Record-Breaking Year for Norwegian Cold-Water Prawns Norway
Shift Toward High-Value Consumer Products Drives Revenue to New Heights Despite Lower Catch Volumes
Norway has solidified its position as a global leader in the shellfish industry, exporting 31,8...
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EUROPEAN UNION.png)
According to a recent report, 22.5% of commercial fishing vessels accused of forced labor are owned by European companies, led by Spain and the UK.
WORLDWIDE
Ecuadorian Skipjack Remains More Expensive Than Bangkok As Fishing Resumes on January 19
SPAIN
The 
UNITED KINGDOM
Welsh Government funding of up to £1.85m is being opened to support the marine, fisheries and aquaculture sector, with applications accepted from 7 January until 31 March.
CHINA.png)
Chinese abalone firm Fujian Xiangbin recently acquired 
ICELAND.png)
The expanded programme features two conferences, 100% Fish for Profit, formerly Fish Waste for Profit, and Aquaculture, Driving Sustainable Growth, a new event taking place on day one of IceFish, on September 22. 100% Fish for Profit will return with a packed one and half day programme on days two and three, September 23-24.
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RUSSIAN FEDERATION
MOROCCO
Anfaco-Cytma
FALKLAND ISLANDS
The squid fleet completes its departure for the fishing grounds this week, hoping to improve the unstable results of recent seasons. The 16 trawlers licensed for this resource, all partly owned by Galician capital, went from recording almost 100,000 tons in the two seasons of 2022 to a meager 56,000 last year. Biomass levels are a concern for the shipowners, who are still processing the largest investment in their fleet in the fishing grounds in 40 years.
TURKEY
The Sefine shipyard in Türkiye has completed the construction of a new wellboat that is expected to end up working for the fish farmer
