Other Media | Fish Focus: Nueva Pescanova – Spain’s most sustainable seafood company
SPAIN
Monday, April 15, 2024
The Nueva Pescanova Group has been ranked as the first fishing company in the world and second overall in the global seafood sector for its contribution to a sustainable and responsible seafood industry, according to the Seafood Stewardship Index 2023. It is the only Spanish company to be included in this ranking, produced by the non-profit organisation World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), which measures the contribution of the 30 most influential companies in the seafood sector to a more sustainable future. Source: Fish Focus l Read the full article here
Production of farmed marine salmon in Hokkaido reached approximately 520 tons between April and July 2026—a 22% increase compared to the same period the previous year—according to figures released on August 27 by the Japanese industry publication Suikei.
Photo: Hokkaido Shiriuchi Salmon
This growth extends a trend that began in 2019 with the launch of initial experimental farming projects in southern Hokkaido and along the Sea of ??Japan coast. While the expansion remains in a regional development phase, it points to a growing presence of locally produced salmon within the Japanese market supply.
The program, funded by RVO and EMFAF, will remain open until September 3, 2026, to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices on Dutch vessel owners.
The Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) is keeping open until September 3, 2026, a dedicated support line designed for fishing vessel owners affected by escalating fuel costs. The scheme has a total budget of €13.5 million, co-funded at 70% by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), with the remaining 30% provided by the Dutch Government.
The call for applications is aimed exclusively at vessels registered as fishing units in the Netherlands and provides differentiated aid based on license type, engine power, fishing gear, and targeted activity. Eligible categories include North Sea shrimp (Crangon crangon) fishing, mussel (Mytilus edulis) and oyster (Ostrea edulis) farming, as well as various coastal and trawl fishing operations.
The first application window opened on August 20 and will close on September 3, 2026, at 17:00 hours. Compensation is calculated based on liters of diesel supplied between March and June 2026, with reference rates ranging from €0.21 to €0.45 per liter, depending on the month of supply. The maximum grant per vessel ranges from €5,000 to €189,000.
More fisheries than ever before are working with the MSC Programme, as global momentum for sustainable seafood continues, according to the organisation’s annual report, Progress and Partnership in Sustainable Seafood.
Of the 600 fisheries certified to the MSC Fishery Standard, the leading benchmark for sustainable fishing, a record 115 were re-certified in 2025/2026. New Zealand’s hoki fishery achieved its fifth recertification, celebrating 25 years in the Programme.
Investors are increasingly interested in “blue economy” innovators – but there are still issues to be addressed if the sector is to reach its full potential. That’s the key message in a report from the European Union’s BlueInvest Investor Report 2026.
BlueInvest, a European Union initiative to boost investment in the EU blue economy, has published a report mapping out the funding ecosystem available the blue economy – the range of industries centred around the sea.
Funds representing €11bn (£9.5bn) in capital are wholly or partially exposed this sector, and there is up to €3bn (£2.6bn) totally dedicated to it, the report finds.
Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
External experts have visited the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) to present differing perspectives during an ongoing public consultation on the potential introduction of commercial salmon farming.
Initiated by Unity Marine—a joint venture aiming to establish an annual production of 50,000 tonnes—the consultation saw the developer bring in Canadian aquaculture specialists Dr. Gary Marty and Bernie Taekema. The experts detailed environmental assessment models, biosecurity controls, and site selection criteria based on British Columbia's regulatory framework.
Conversely, opposition campaigners from Salmon Free Falklands brought in Louise Cherrie, a former environmental authority insider from Tasmania, to highlight concerns regarding local governance, carrying capacity, and long-term marine ecosystem risks. Public engagement on the matter continues through October 30, 2026.
New Dalian subsidiary will integrate seed, breeding, R&D and marine aquaculture
Zoneco Group will establish Zhangzidao Seed Technology with RMB 20 million (US$2.97 million) in capital, consolidating seed, genetics and R&D. Its existing Qingdao Qianyan unit posted RMB 115.45 million in revenue and RMB 10.80 million net profit in H1 2026.
The Chinese firm Zoneco Group announced plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on consolidating its operations in seed development, genetic improvement, scientific research, and marine aquaculture.
Faroese and foreign vessels intensify operations in international waters north of the archipelago
Mackerel fishing is picking up around the Faroe Islands. Greenlandic vessels Polar Amaroq and Polar Princess landed or scheduled 600 and 700 tonnes in Kollafjørður, while Faroese vessels joined the fishery. On August 25, Norðingur landed 120 tonnes at Pelagos in Fuglafjørður before returning to the grounds.
UF professor honored for his global contributions to aquaculture economics and policy
James Anderson, professor at the University of Florida, was named a 2026 World Aquaculture Society Fellow, recognizing his leadership in aquaculture economics, markets and policy. His work includes the Aquaculture Performance Indicators (APIs), a framework assessing economic, environmental and community outcomes across 80+ aquaculture systems worldwide.
Anderson’s own interest in the discipline started not with economics, but with the first fish tank he owned as a child.
TS3 system provides GPS updates every 30 seconds for small-scale coastal fleets
Fiji is piloting Triton’s Spear (TS3), developed by Japan’s Ocean Solution Technology with JICA support. The solar-powered system tracks vessels via GPS every 30 seconds, aiming to improve fisher safety, coastal resource management and sustainable fisheries across the Pacific.
Businessman Álvarez Castellano says the magistrate left unsigned the document that would allow the *J. Barreiro* to resume fishing operations.
Although the Argentine courts ruled to lift the suspension imposed on the *J. Barreiro*—a vessel belonging to the Conarpesa group (42% owned by the Galician firm Wofco)—the ship remained detained as of Tuesday, according to Fernando Álvarez Castellano, director of the Argentine fishing company. He attributes the delay to the missing signature of the judge who originally halted the vessel; she is no longer handling the case after the businessman announced legal action against her.
Author: Cecilia Valdez / La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
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SPAIN
The 
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NETHERLANDS
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789 Fisheries in 
EUROPEAN UNION
Investors are increasingly interested in “blue economy” innovators – but there are still issues to be addressed if the sector is to reach its full potential. That’s the key message in a report from the European Union’s BlueInvest Investor Report 2026.
FALKLAND ISLANDS
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FAROE ISLANDS
Faroese and foreign vessels intensify operations in international waters north of the archipelago
UNITED STATES
UF professor honored for his global contributions to aquaculture economics and policy
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TS3 system provides GPS updates every 30 seconds for small-scale coastal fleets
ARGENTINA
Businessman Álvarez Castellano says the magistrate left unsigned the document that would allow the *J. Barreiro* to resume fishing operations.
