IN BRIEF - Hungarian presidency to work towards a competitive european aquaculture sector
HUNGARY
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
The environmental and economic sustainability of freshwater aquaculture and the promotion of innovative and sustainable solutions were in the focus of the informal meeting of EU Directors-General and attachés for fisheries in Balatonfüred, Hungary.
The Hungarian presidency chose the improvement of the competitiveness of European aquaculture as the theme of the informal meeting held in Balatonfüred between 8 and 10 July, with the aim of developing an integrated and holistic approach to the development of both marine and freshwater aquaculture farms together with the Member States.
Fruitful debates took place both in plenary and in session meetings, offering a good basis for the continuation of the Presidency’s work to enhance the global role of European aquaculture.
The EU’s catches from marine fisheries are no longer sufficient to meet the growing demand for fisheries products, which is why it is vital to increase the competitiveness of the aquaculture sector.
Hungary is also aiming to bring about a shift in mindset that puts freshwater fish consumption in perspective alongside marine fish consumption. These efforts are in line with the recent Aquaculture 2030 Strategy of the Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, which shows that the Commission is also clearly committed to strengthening the role of the sector.
The 2026 shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has begun earlier than usual, driven by strong market signals after high shrimp prices in 2025 and limited supply. Farmers and businesses in Can Tho, Ca Mau, and Vinh Long have accelerated pond stocking to seize opportunities.
By early 2026, many areas had reached a high percentage of their planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly, according to VASEP.
In coastal western provinces, the early onset of salinity has facilitated water intake and pond preparation, but also increased pressure on farming schedules. The sector still faces challenges, including unseasonal rains, falling raw shrimp prices compared to late 2025, and rising costs for feed and seed.
Meanwhile, diseases such as EHP microsporidia are spreading, affecting productivity. Authorities recommend using high-quality broodstock, improving pond management, and applying biosecurity measures to reduce risks and enhance efficiency.
Between April 6 and 12, 2026, authorities from the Primorsky Interregional Office of Rosselkhoznadzor inspected nearly 2 tons of unmarked salted caviar carried in both checked and hand luggage at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (Yelizovo).
The inspections are part of an ongoing experiment launched on November 1, 2022, aimed at regulating the air transport of caviar lacking manufacturer labels. During the latest reporting period, no violations were recorded regarding the legal limit of 10 kg per passenger.
However, since the start of the program, officials have documented 270 violations, involving a total of 2.7 tons of unmarked caviar.
Overall, authorities estimate that more than 600.3 tons of such caviar have been inspected in Kamchatka Krai. According to the Service, the volume of caviar exported under the guise of personal consumption has decreased by threefold since the experiment began.
Between November 10 and 11, 2026, Puerto Varas will be the meeting point for researchers, producers, authorities, and representatives of civil society at the International Conference on Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS2026).
The event, organized by the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research – Applied Research, INCAR², brings together researchers, industry professionals, regulatory authorities, and representatives of civil society to create a space for interdisciplinary exchange to present and discuss the latest advances in piscirickettsiosis, including new technologies, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic strategies, and their environmental and socioeconomic impact.
The European Commission is urged to assess, and if necessary, revise its multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea, as well as to adopt a new approach to risk management.
With 15 votes in favor, six against, and six abstentions, the Fisheries Committee approved a report prepared by Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA) urging the European Commission to assess and, if necessary, revise its multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea, as well as to adopt a new approach to risk management. MEPs are calling for the Commission to "use all available legal instruments to prevent further decline in Baltic Sea fish stocks."
In this regard, they request an evaluation of the evolution of quota allocation among the different fleet segments in order to understand a possible causal relationship between pressure on resources and quota allocation by Member States.
Source: Industriss Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Planet Tracker has released a major update to its open-access Seafood Database, giving investors and lenders a faster way to identify, quantify and prioritise seafood-related sustainability risks within their portfolios.
The database now covers 300 seafood-exposed companies spanning the global value chain, including fishing, aquaculture, feed production, processing, branding and distribution. It connects company-level sourcing data with independently derived environmental metrics, highlighting exposure to overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive practices and broader ocean health risks.
Pareto cuts salmon price forecast on stronger supply growth.
Pareto Securities has lowered its full-year 2026 Atlantic salmon price estimate to NOK 80/kg (€7.20), down from NOK 82/kg (€7.38), citing stronger-than-expected supply growth and continued downside risk to the broader sell-side consensus of around NOK 85/kg (€7.65).
Global salmon supply increased by more than 12% in the first quarter of 2026, while FCA Oslo prices declined by only 3%. The relatively modest price movement was attributed in part to resilient demand in Asian markets.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Supermarket chain Asda has launched a new premium product in the UK, showcasing sustainable Scottish mussels.
The retailer’s new offering product uses mussels which are rope-grown in the Shetland Islands and around the Scottish mainland and have been certified to Marine Stewardship Council Standard since 2012.
It was created, Asda says, in response to the findings of consumer research conducted by Scottish Shellfish that revealed the barriers preventing shoppers buying more seafood and the potential levers to them purchasing more.
Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Vietnam’s tilapia export sector is showing strong momentum in early 2026, signaling expanding global demand and shifting market dynamics.
During the first two months of 2026, exports reached US$23 million, marking a sharp 242% increase compared to the same period last year, according to VASEP. The surge reflects not only sustained demand from traditional buyers but also rapid growth in emerging markets.
Brazil remains the leading destination, accounting for 54% of total exports, while the United States follows with 17%. This distribution highlights a notable shift in market structure, with new regions playing a larger role in driving growth.
Industry analysts point to these trends as evidence of untapped potential for Vietnamese tilapia, suggesting that continued diversification could further strengthen the sector’s global position throughout 2026.
Russia’s fisheries sector reported strong results, with total catches surpassing 1.5 million tons, according to the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo). As of April 13, total aquatic bioresources reached 1,596 thousand tons.
Far Eastern Basin:
The largest share came from the Far Eastern basin with 1,354.4 thousand tons. Key species included pollock (1,025.2 thousand tons), Pacific herring (201.3 thousand tons), cod (42.9 thousand tons), and flounder (17 thousand tons)—an increase of 3.7 thousand tons vs. 2025.
Northern Basin:
Catches totaled 99 thousand tons, led by cod (53 thousand tons) and haddock (23.6 thousand tons), up 4.3 thousand tons year-on-year.
Western Basin:
Production reached 31.8 thousand tons, an increase of 1.7 thousand tons. Sprats (26.1 thousand tons) rose by 6 thousand tons, while Baltic herring accounted for 5.3 thousand tons.
Azov-Black Sea Basin:
Total catch stood at 14 thousand tons, dominated by anchovy (12.2 thousand tons).
Opromar and chef Lucía Freitas have sparked debate on fish consumption in school cafeterias at the Salón Gourmets. With the implementation of Royal Decree 315/2025, which mandates 1 to 3 weekly servings of fish and limits fried foods, the sector highlights an uneven starting point.
A study by Opromar and the Fundación Española de la Nutrición covering 2,738 schools shows that 96.6% meet the required frequency, but only 26% reach the recommended level of oily fish. Regional differences are stark: Aragón (74.4%), Castilla-La Mancha (59.1%), and the northwest (71.1%) versus Valencian Community (6.2%), Catalonia (2.7%), and Murcia (0%).
Common species include hake (91.7%) and cod (46.9%), while tuna appears as a main dish in just 6.8% of menus. Only 57% of schools provide full nutritional information.
Freitas showcased practical recipes—mackerel pie, anchovy salad, and monkfish with leeks—stressing that “children like fish when it’s well prepared.” Meanwhile, Opromar is rolling out Super Peixiño 2026 in 10 schools in Madrid, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the European Union.
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VIET NAM
By early 2026, many areas had reached a high percentage of their planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly, according to 
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
CHILE
Between November 10 and 11, 2026, Puerto Varas will be the meeting point for researchers, producers, authorities, and representatives of civil society at the International Conference on Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome (SRS2026).
EUROPEAN UNION.png)
With 15 votes in favor, six against, and six abstentions, the Fisheries Committee approved a report prepared by Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA) urging the European Commission to assess and, if necessary, revise its multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea, as well as to adopt a new approach to risk management. MEPs are calling for the Commission to "use all available legal instruments to prevent further decline in Baltic Sea fish stocks."
WORLDWIDE
NORWAY
Pareto
UNITED KINGDOM
Supermarket chain .png)
During the first two months of 2026, exports reached US$23 million, marking a sharp 242% increase compared to the same period last year, according to VASEP. The surge reflects not only sustained demand from traditional buyers but also rapid growth in emerging markets..png)
SPAIN
