IN BRIEF - Europêche, asks Von der Leyen to guarantee neutrality until the new Commission is established
EUROPEAN UNION
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Fishermen call for the vacancy already left by Virginijus Sinkevicius to be addressed and for any potential interim commissioner to refrain from interim mandates
Madrid - The European fishing sector, represented by Europêche, of which the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (CEPESCA) is a part, has formally requested the acting president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, to address priority is given to the imminent vacancy left by Virginijus Sinkevicius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries in the previous Community Executive, following his announcement of taking up a parliamentary seat.
Left, David Voces, general director of Europêche and right. Javier Garat, pte Europêche.
The sector requests this in a letter addressed to the president in which, in addition, it values ??her decision to appoint an exclusive Commissioner for Fisheries for the next term, and emphasizes the need to achieve a true balance between the conservation of biodiversity, a fleet competitive fishing and food security. According to the sector, this balance has not existed during the current legislature and it is necessary to make decisions based on greater knowledge of the fishing reality and scientific data.
Likewise, the sector calls on Von der Leyen to pay greater attention to primary food production and food sovereignty, advocating for these issues to be raised to the level of the Vice Presidency within the agenda and structure of the new Commission.
Larval Monitoring Identifies Spawning Events and Alerts Mussel Farmers in the X Region
The Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), through its Environmental Department, has officially announced the start of the 2025-2026 mussel seed collection season for mussel (Mytilus chilensis) in the X Region of Los Lagos, Chile.
The announcement is based on results from the larval monitoring program, funded by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), which detected a significant increase in the concentration of D-larvae in late September 2025, indicating recent mussel spawning events.
The data should alert mussel farmers to prepare their collectors. High larval concentrations were recorded in key sectors, notably:
Pichicolo:230,000 larvae per m³.
Hornopirén: approximately 50,000 larvae per m³.
Compu:4,181 larvae per m³.
Castro:1,972 larvae per m³.
All information generated by the program is available to users on the IFOP digital platform "Semilla Endémica" (ifop.cl/monitoreo-larvas-de-mitilidos), allowing producers to make timely management decisions.
Strategic Investment in Gardermoen Business Park Reinforces Oslo's Logistics Axis and Seafood Cluster
Abrahams Salmon Processing KS, a newly established subsidiary of the German processing giant Dirk Abrahams GmbH, is setting up a modern filleting facility in Gardermoen Business Park in Norway. The company has signed a long-term agreement with Oslo Airport City (OAC) for this investment, which is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2026.
The new plant, which will span approximately 4,660 square meters, represents a significant investment aimed at the advanced processing of Norwegian salmon for the international market, including feeding its own smoking and processing operations in Germany.
Abrahams' establishment is a crucial boost for the OAC seafood cluster, which already houses key players like Mowi and Grieg Seafood.
Henrik MS Danielsen, CEO of OAC, welcomed the arrival: "The company will be an important complement to our existing seafood cluster and will help strengthen Gardermoen as Norway's most central hub for processing, distribution, and export."
Hans Kr. Bakken, General Manager of Abrahams Salmon Processing KS, highlighted the strategic location near Oslo Airport, which is crucial for air freight logistics. The facility, being constructed by Veidekke Logistikkbygg, will feature a high technical standard and be BREEAM certified to ensure efficient and sustainable operations.
The Balearic Sea has warmed by +0.036°C annually since 1982, with record anomalies in 2022 and 2023.
The western Mediterranean, and especially the Balearic Sea, is experiencing one of the warmest periods ever recorded. According to a study conducted by researchers Blanca Fernández-Álvarez, Bàrbara Barceló-Llull, and Ananda Pascual at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), the Balearic Sea is warming, and this warming is affecting the method used to detect marine heat waves.
The article analyzes more than 40 years of sea surface temperature data (1982-2023) to assess how marine heat waves have evolved and how the detection methodology can alter their identification and interpretation.
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
The organization renews its partnership with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who will continue to serve as an ambassador for the country's seafood products.
Spain remains one of the most important markets for Norwegian seafood products thanks to the popularity and high penetration of salmon in the domestic market. During the first eight months of the year, salmon exports grew 23%, exceeding 59,000 tons, after closing 2024 with more than 81,775 tons exported, consolidating salmon as "the favorite fish of Spaniards according to all surveys," according to Mar de Noruega, the national subsidiary of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Norway’s salmon farmers face the possibility of a new tax announced yesterday by the Labour government in its first post-election Budget.
Oslo is looking at introducing a levy on lost or escaped salmon as from January 2027 – which hasn’t gone down at well with the industry.
In another move which has disappointed the industry, the government has decided against abolishing the Norm Price Council which was almost scrapped with general party agreement back in the summer. The Storting agreed to leave it until after the election.
The industry body Seafood Norway said it was surprised the government was proposing new levies on both aquaculture and fishing.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Chile has become the first country in Latin America to introduce legislation to ban octopus farming nationwide. Bill 17913-12 was introduced this week by Representative Marisela Santibáñez with support from 7 additional congress representatives, and now moves to the commission of environment and natural resources to be discussed. This bill would prohibit the intensive farming of octopuses, focusing on the potential harmful impacts that this industry could pose for the environment. The bill was introduced by local Chilean organisation Fundación Veg, with additional support, technical information, and draft language provided by Aquatic Life Institute.
Thailand’s Parliament has approved sweeping amendments to the country’s Fisheries Law, drawing criticism from small-scale fishers and environmental groups who warn the changes could weaken marine protections and undermine international commitments on sustainable fishing.
Thailand introduced a new Fisheries Act in 2015 in an attempt to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and labor abuses after being downgraded to Tier 3 in the U.S.’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report and receiving a “yellow card” warning from the European Commission, which is an official warning issued by the E.U. to trading partners falling short of tackling IUU activities.
Author: Toan Dao / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here
Amazonian Pioneer Converts Her Passion into a Personalized Cultivation and Sales Business Model
Matilde Ikeda, an entrepreneur from Puerto Maldonado, Peru, has successfully transitioned her career from fish trader to thriving aquaculturist, specializing in the cultivation of the Amazonian fish paco (Piaractus brachypomus).
Since the age of 9, Ikeda was dedicated to trading fish. In 2015, she decided to pivot and utilize her own ponds to start paco cultivation. Despite initial difficulties, her dedication prospered. Her pond currently houses over 9,000 fingerlings and paco of various sizes, including specimens weighing over one kilogram.
"I grab my net, tie it at one end, go around, and pull out any fish I want," Matilde said, describing the ease of harvesting her production.
Although she maintains her commercial activity at the market, Matilde Ikeda has developed a more personalized business model. She prefers direct sales, packing the fish on her motorcycle for delivery "from house to house" to her customers.
For Ikeda, aquaculture is more than just a job: "It’s my hobby, because it’s my joy; I don't see it as work. I love living in the countryside," she explained. Her story is an example of the potential of sustainable aquaculture in the Peruvian Amazon to generate income and personal development.
Beijing Denounces Violation of Sovereignty and International Norms
The Government of China has strongly condemned the United States for the interception of a Venezuelan fishing vessel near its coast, labeling the action as a unilateral overreach of law enforcement and a violation of international norms.
The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, stated that Beijing opposes Washington "unilaterally exceeding the reasonably necessary limits to carry out the so-called law enforcement against ships of other nations." He urged the U.S. to utilize bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks for judicial cooperation.
Jian reaffirmed China's firm stance against any interference by external forces in the internal affairs of Venezuela. Furthermore, he underscored China’s support for the declaration of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and its rejection of the "use or threat of use of force in international relations," insisting on respect for the sovereignty of States.
New Plant Will Create 400 Jobs in December Due to Lower Labor Costs and Logistics Advantages
The Spanish fishing company Wofco is set to inaugurate a new processing plant in Paraguay in December, operating under its subsidiary, South Atlantic Company. Located 40 kilometers from Posadas, the investment amounts to nearly 40 million dollars.
Lucio Tortosa Palacios, CEO of the subsidiary, confirmed that the 10,000 square-meter plant will primarily be supplied with shrimp from Rawson (Argentina). It will have a processing capacity of 600 tons, equivalent to two containers of shrimp tails daily.
The project is expected to generate between 400 and 600 direct jobs. Tortosa told Revista Puerto that Paraguay was chosen as the "best place" when factoring in economic and logistical costs. The decision hinged on lower operational costs, particularly labor, which is more affordable than in Argentina and allows workers to earn a decent living with salaries of approximately 400 dollars.
In addition to wages, Paraguay offers comparative advantages, such as cutting the cost of social charges for companies by half. The Paraguayan State acts as the main supervisor of compliance with labor agreements.
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The announcement is based on results from the larval monitoring program, funded by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), which detected a significant increase in the concentration of D-larvae in late September 2025, indicating recent mussel spawning events.
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SPAIN
The Balearic Sea has warmed by +0.036°C annually since 1982, with record anomalies in 2022 and 2023.
The organization renews its partnership with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who will continue to serve as an ambassador for the country's seafood products..png)
Oslo is looking at introducing a levy on lost or escaped salmon as from January 2027 – which hasn’t gone down at well with the industry.
Chile has become the first country in Latin America to introduce legislation to ban octopus farming nationwide. Bill 17913-12 was introduced this week by Representative Marisela Santibáñez with support from 7 additional congress representatives, and now moves to the commission of environment and natural resources to be discussed. This bill would prohibit the intensive farming of octopuses, focusing on the potential harmful impacts that this industry could pose for the environment. The bill was introduced by local Chilean organisation Fundación Veg, with additional support, technical information, and draft language provided by Aquatic Life Institute. 
THAILAND
Thailand’s Parliament has approved sweeping amendments to the country’s Fisheries Law, drawing criticism from small-scale fishers and environmental groups who warn the changes could weaken marine protections and undermine international commitments on sustainable fishing.
PERU
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The Spanish fishing company 
