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)
Laboratory tests have revealed dangerously high arsenic levels in imported shrimp from Greenland, exceeding the allowable limit by four times, according to Vetandlife. The findings have already been reported to Rosselkhoznadzor.
The analyses were carried out in January 2026 by the All-Russian State Center for Quality and Standardization of Veterinary Medicines and Feed (FSBI “VGNKI”), operating under the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance. The products were tested for compliance with the technical regulations “On Food Safety” and “On the Safety of Fish and Fish Products.”
Tests showed that arsenic levels in a sample of frozen-cooked northern prawn (Pandalus borealis) reached 20 mg/kg, which is four times higher than the maximum permissible limit. The sample was taken from a shipment weighing 18 tons. Details of the violation were forwarded to the Northwestern Interregional Office of the supervisory agency.
Experts warn that prolonged consumption of foods with elevated arsenic can lead to its accumulation in the body, increasing the risk of neurological disorders, skin damage, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, particularly of the skin, lungs, and bladder. In cases of acute exposure, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and a sharp drop in blood pressure.
The cities of Dakhla (Morocco) and Dreux (France) are strengthening their cooperation in agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy, and waste management following the signing of a cooperation agreement this Saturday in Dakhla.
The meeting was chaired by Erragheb Hormatallah, President of the Dakhla Communal Council, and attended by Pierre-Frédéric Billet, Mayor of Dreux, who led a French delegation made up of business leaders, investors, and representatives of the GEDIA Group, a key player in the environmental and renewable energy sectors.
PUERTO DESEADO is experiencing an exceptional summer driven by strong activity in the squid jigging sector. According to Mar y Pesca, more than 15,000 tons of squid have already been unloaded at the local port, amid the sustained arrival of vessels dedicated to harvesting the resource.
Currently, 25 squid jigging vessels are operating, with new arrivals announced almost daily, encouraged by the sustained abundance of squid, which is increasingly conc
The freezer trawler Playa da Cativa, based in Vigo, was detected by satellite on the 1st in Argentine territorial waters at a speed that the Naval Prefecture considers compatible with fishing. Antonio López Cazorla, Argentina's Undersecretary of Fisheries, confirms that they have opened an investigation for alleged illegal fishing. If the infraction is proven, and because "we are inflexible, it will be fined €850,000," although he also indicates that they expect "the vessel to quickly acknowledge its actions, and, if it cooperates, the fine could be reduced by 25%."
Owned by the Galician company Moradiña, headquartered in Cangas de Morrazo, the Playa da Cativa has its operational base in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Author: Cecilia Valdez / La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
The new ship, scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, will be the first large sailing-assisted cruise ship built in Chinese shipyards and aims for fuel savings of up to 40%.
The race to decarbonize the cruise industry has opened a new front—and a new market—in Asia. The US company Atlas Ocean Voyages, linked to the Portuguese group Mystic Invest, has confirmed an order in China for an expedition ship with sail-assisted propulsion, a move that raises the technological bar for the sector and puts Chinese shipyards on the map of sailing-assisted voyages.
The agreement aims to promote the sale of seafood products in the company's more than 1,500 stores in Spain.
In 2024, the company distributed more than 9,000 tons of fish from 73 fish markets along the Spanish coast.
During the "Fishing and Aquaculture in Spain: Blue Economy from Sea to Table" event, organized by Carrefour in collaboration with REECEA (Spanish Network of Knowledge Spaces for the Blue Economy) and the Fisheries Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the company promoted a collaboration agreement with 30 suppliers and associations in the fishing and consumer sectors.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Highland Council backs extension of Bakkafrost hatchery.
Bakkafrost Scotland has received planning consent from Highland Council to extend its Applecross hatchery site in Wester Ross.
The application, submitted in June 2025 and approved in January 2026, relates to an extension of an existing hatchery building at the former Russelburn Hatchery, now operating as Applecross Hatchery.
According to planning documents, the site has been in operation for more than 35 years for the rearing of salmon eggs and smolt.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority commences a series of nationwide information sessions for industry including roll out of new fisheries Electronic Recording System (ERS) hardware and updates on the revised Fisheries Control Regulation for vessels over 12m
In January, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority commenced a series of nationwide information sessions for industry starting in Co. Wexford and running until early March.
Nichirei announced on February 3 that it will invest more than USD 100 million (approximately 15.5 billion yen) to build a new frozen food factory in the United States, with operations scheduled to begin in 2028.
The facility will produce frozen processed chicken products and rice dishes, targeting rising demand as the Asian food market continues to expand across the US.
The new plant will be built in Arkansas by Nichirei Global Foods, a sub-subsidiary of Nichirei Foods set to be established in February 2026. The factory will cover approximately 16,000 square meters and is expected to create around 180 on-site jobs, strengthening the company’s local production footprint.
Currently, Nichirei operates its own frozen rice manufacturing facility in California. By expanding in-house production in the US and reducing reliance on outsourced manufacturing, the company aims to improve efficiency and boost profitability while reinforcing its supply chain for the North American market.
ANFACO-CYTMA has launched a new edition of the gastronomic competition “One can, one tapa by ANFACO-CYTMA”, aimed at hospitality schools throughout Spain, with the goal of fostering creativity and culinary technique through the use of canned fish and seafood in tapa format.
The competition is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and #AlimentosdEspaña, and is part of the “Fill your table with the sea” campaign. The initiative seeks to bring the gastronomic value of canned products closer to the educational sphere, highlighting them as a versatile, healthy and high-quality ingredient.
Participating schools are challenged to select one student to represent their institution with a tapa proposal made from canned fish and/or seafood. The creations must demonstrate creativity, balance and culinary judgment, showcasing the wide range of possibilities these products offer in small-format cuisine.
Each school may submit a single entry, which will represent the institution in the competition, in accordance with the established rules.
ARGENTINA.png)
RUSSIAN FEDERATION.png)
The analyses were carried out in January 2026 by the All-Russian State Center for Quality and Standardization of Veterinary Medicines and Feed (FSBI “VGNKI”), operating under the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance. The products were tested for compliance with the technical regulations “On Food Safety” and “On the Safety of Fish and Fish Products.”
MOROCCO.png)
The freezer trawler Playa da Cativa, based in Vigo, was detected by satellite on the 1st in Argentine territorial waters at a speed that the Naval Prefecture considers compatible with fishing. Antonio López Cazorla, Argentina's Undersecretary of Fisheries, confirms that they have opened an investigation for alleged illegal fishing. If the infraction is proven, and because "we are inflexible, it will be fined €850,000," although he also indicates that they expect "the vessel to quickly acknowledge its actions, and, if it cooperates, the fine could be reduced by 25%."
CHINA
SPAIN
The agreement aims to promote the sale of seafood products in the company's more than 1,500 stores in Spain.
UNITED KINGDOM.png)
Bakkafrost Scotland has received planning consent from Highland Council to extend its Applecross hatchery site in Wester Ross.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.png)
SFPA Explains New Fisheries Control Regulation
JAPAN.png)
