IN BRIEF - The Undersecretary of Fisheries chose not to punish illegal fishing of toothfish
ARGENTINA
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Fishing a quota species without being a quota holder is prohibited by the Federal Fisheries Law and is considered a very serious offense.
The Tai An vessel does not have a quota for toothfish; Therefore, it can only incidentally capture up to 5 tons per trip, as established by Resolution 9/2023 of the Federal Fisheries Council.
However, this ship was operating in the toothfish distribution area, where wells with depths greater than a thousand meters are located, on March 2 and 6. It is suspected that such a large volume could not be loaded in just two days, so the cargo could be made up of 142 tons with a significant proportion of juvenile specimens, which would further aggravate the ship's situation.
The toothfish is a species that is protected internationally due to its limited availability and very high vulnerability. Therefore, illegal fishing anywhere in the world can be punished by certifying organizations and even by the market.
The fact is of unusual gravity: the Tai An ship has not only stolen 142 tons of toothfish from the Argentine Sea, worth three and a half million dollars, but has also endangered the sustainability of the resource. Given this situation, the only thing the Undersecretary of Fisheries did was tell the boat to leave the distribution area of this species, allowing it to continue fishing in other areas.
“It's what I can do,”Juan Antonio López Cazorla told the businessmen who complained about his inaction.[...]
Source: Revista Puerto (Translated from original in Spanish)
The Regional Ministry of the Sea and the Fundación Nueva Pescanova will turn Galicia into the international hub for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture with the IV Global Sustainable Seafood Galicia Forum, to be held in Vigo on April 28.
The Regional Minister of the Sea, Marta Villaverde, signed the collaboration agreement with the foundation’s president to support the event, which will once again position the region as a global showcase for the quality and excellence of Galician seafood products.
The forum will bring together professionals involved in the blue transformation, from responsible fisheries and aquaculture to scientific and business innovation. Its third edition gathered more than 300 professionals from 30 countries, reinforcing its international reach.
The Galician Government is allocating €75,625 to the initiative, co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The event aligns with the Galicia Blue Economy Strategy, which mobilizes €144 million to strengthen the sector’s social, environmental, and economic sustainability and to consolidate Galicia’s position as a European leader in marine protection and long-term economic development.
In an unprecedented ceremony in SalmonChile's 40-year history, the association's leadership changed hands, with Arturo Clément handing over the presidency to Patricio Melero, a former member of parliament and former minister with extensive experience in the sector, after having served for 20 years on the Aquaculture Commission.
The event, which brought together more than 200 attendees at the Empormontt City-Port Liaison Center, included the participation of regional and municipal authorities, union representatives, artisanal fishing leaders, leaders from other associations, and prominent businesspeople from the production sector.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
With the 2020-2026 protocol expiring, European purse seiners are now excluded from the quota in the Seychelles EEZ, while Brussels and Victoria are racing against time to negotiate a renewal under pressure from social, environmental, and transparency concerns.
Seychelles wants to rebalance a historic agreement that, since the late 1980s, has guaranteed European access to Indian Ocean tuna. With the protocol expiring on February 23, 2026, fishing activity under this framework is suspended, and negotiations are stalled over a single figure: the archipelago is demanding an improved economic return commensurate with the real value of the resource; the EU is offering a much smaller increase.
Registration is now open for the fifth Global Shrimp Forum, taking place in Utrecht from 1 to 3 September 2026 and featuring its most extensive, revamped programme to date.
The 2026 Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) is set to combine the successful elements of the previous four conferences with significant structural updates designed to enhance the experience for delegates, speakers and sponsors. Key changes include a redesigned exhibition zone and the relocation of plenary sessions to larger facilities.
Returning by popular demand to deliver the opening plenary will be Jan Lambregts, head of RaboResearch global economics & markets at Rabobank, whose insights on the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape drew glowing reviews from attendees last year
Source: The Fish Site | Read the full article here
Waitrose is to suspend sales of mackerel products due to concerns about overfishing.
The supermarket said it would stop sourcing fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29 April, as well as tinned mackerel once their current stocks have been sold.
Marine groups have recommended a cut in the amount of North East Atlantic mackerel being caught to prevent a collapse in population numbers.
Waitrose said it was the first UK supermarket to suspend mackerel sales, adding it would only start selling the fish again once it met their "high sourcing standards".
Author: Emer Moreau / BBC | Read the full article here
In its quarterly report, Norwegian producer Hofseth announces a major change
The Hofseth Group will implement a gradual transition in production from trout, which accounted for around half of the fish harvested in Q4, to salmon.
This follows a strategic review of the fish farming business, according to the company's fourth quarter report.
The decision means that the hatchery in Tafjord will switch to producing only salmon smolt in 2026 and that trout will gradually be phased out of the group's production mix.
Author: Ulrik Tallhaug Sydnes / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
YOKOHAMA — Kamome Propeller Co., Ltd., headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, has launched its next-generation “SGmax Propeller,” designed to deliver superior energy-saving performance for commercial vessels. The company, led by President and CEO Kazuki Itazawa, began sales on March 2, 2026.
Building on the success of its SG Propeller, introduced in 2010 and delivered to more than 600 ships worldwide, the new model enhances efficiency while supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime operations.
The SGmax Propeller incorporates advanced design technologies refined from the SG series, including hub vortex weakening technology. By optimizing blade area and rake distribution, the new propeller achieved an approximately 2% improvement in efficiency over the SG model during water tank testing. Compared with conventional MAU-type propellers, the SGmax demonstrates an estimated 5% efficiency gain. Cavitation levels remain comparable to the SG propeller, while strict hull vibration targets have been successfully met.
The SGmax expands Kamome’s portfolio of energy-saving solutions, complementing its Controllable Pitch Propeller, GATE RUDDER® SYSTEM, and KAMOME REACTION AND BULB RUDDER, strengthening the company’s commitment to more sustainable and efficient shipping technologies.
Two merchant ships were hit by projectiles in the area this Sunday
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard prohibited the passage of any vessel through the Strait of Hormuz this weekend. While not officially issuing the warning, they did caution shipping companies about the risks of crossing its waters amidst the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. "We have no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz at this time, nor do we have any plans to do anything that could disrupt navigation in it at this stage," declared Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi yesterday. At least two merchant ships ignored their recommendations this Sunday—one of them, the Skylight, is on the US sanctions list for exporting Iranian crude oil—and were hit by projectiles in the area early in the morning.
Following the incidents, major shipping companies Maersk and MSC—which together account for 35% of global container shipping—decided to suspend all vessel traffic through this port "until further notice."
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), European Shipowners' Association (ECSA), and the Asian Shipowners' Association (ASA), as well as the UN, are calling for measures to be taken to protect the lives of seafarers and the safety of vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
The coordinated attack by the United States and Israel against Iran, launched last Saturday and marking a turning point in the escalating conflict in the Middle East, has triggered widespread alarm within the international maritime community.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), European Shipowners' Association (ECSA), and the Asian Shipowners' Association (ASA) have issued a joint statement warning of the security implications for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Cites management setbacks, climate change, and dramatic environmental changes unravelling the Southern Ocean’s delicate web of life
The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) submitted a formal objection to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) regarding the decision to re-certify the Antarctic krill fishery as sustainable, despite serious concerns about growing industrial fishing pressure and dramatic climate-driven impacts on the ecosystem.
The objection initiates an independent legal adjudication process over the coming months that, if successful, could result in a change to the MSC certification of the fishery, or the imposition of new conditions to safeguard the krill stock and wider ecosystem.
China’s Squid Price Index Plunge by Up to 36% China
Zhoushan Squid Price Index confirms generalized declines across the four main distant-water fishing zones as of February 13, 2026, amid increased supply and international demand adjustments
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The Regional Minister of the Sea, Marta Villaverde, signed the collaboration agreement with the foundation’s president to support the event, which will once again position the region as a global showcase for the quality and excellence of Galician seafood products.
CHILE
In an unprecedented ceremony in 
SEYCHELLES
With the 2020-2026 protocol expiring, European purse seiners are now excluded from the quota in the Seychelles EEZ, while Brussels and Victoria are racing against time to negotiate a renewal under pressure from social, environmental, and transparency concerns.
NETHERLANDS
Registration is now open for the fifth 
UNITED KINGDOM
Waitrose
NORWAY.png)
The 
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IRAN.png)
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard prohibited the passage of any vessel through the Strait of Hormuz this weekend. While not officially issuing the warning, they did caution shipping companies about the risks of crossing its waters amidst the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. "We have no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz at this time, nor do we have any plans to do anything that could disrupt navigation in it at this stage," declared Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi yesterday. At least two merchant ships ignored their recommendations this Sunday—one of them, the Skylight, is on the US sanctions list for exporting Iranian crude oil—and were hit by projectiles in the area early in the morning.
WORLDWIDE
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), European Shipowners' Association (ECSA), and the Asian Shipowners' Association (ASA), as well as the UN, are calling for measures to be taken to protect the lives of seafarers and the safety of vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
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The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) submitted a formal objection to the 
