The Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) released its latest resource assessment for the Japanese common flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) on December 26, 2025.

While coastal regions like Sanriku saw a surprising uptick in migrations last year, experts warn that the species remains in a critical state overall.

Click on the image to enlarge it

The "Pacific Shift" Explained

According to the National Research Institute for Fisheries Science, the 2025 surge along the Pacific coast was driven by two specific environmental factors:

• Slightly Higher Spawning Success: A marginal increase in winter-born parent fish compared to the previous year provided a larger initial larval base.

• Ocean Current Diversion: Favorable current patterns acted as a "conveyor belt," pushing newborn larvae toward the Pacific side rather than their traditional routes into the Sea of Japan.

A Tale of Two Stocks

Despite the localized bounty in the Pacific, the broader picture is bleak. The autumn-born stock, which primarily supports the Sea of Japan fisheries, continues to hover at all-time record lows.

Japanese fisheries experts emphasize that "resource recovery" is not yet on the horizon. The low density of parent fish in the autumn-born group suggests that the reproductive cycle remains fragile. Marine biologists point to rising sea temperatures in the East China Sea spawning grounds as a persistent threat

The catch volume of one of the main commercial species – pollock – exceeded 2.1 million tons.

This is the best result in more than 25 years.

Video: RRPK

Source:  Federal Agency for Fisheries

A maritime emergency on December 27 proved the life-saving value of the Palau-Taiwan partnership after a local fisherman was rescued north of Ulong Island.

When fisherman Edward Tadao’s engine failed, leaving him stranded, he activated the SOS function on his vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS). This device was installed as part of the Strengthening Coastal Fisheries Management Project, a joint initiative by Palau’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment (MAFE) and the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM).

Swift Emergency Response

The emergency signal was instantly picked up by Palau Marine Law Enforcement and the project team. Using real-time AIS positioning data, rescuers located the vessel with high precision.

• Outcome: The fisherman and vessel were safely returned to shore.

• Casualties: None; no injuries reported.

Strengthening Maritime Safety

While AIS is often used for fisheries oversight and data collection, this incident highlights its critical role as a safety net. By equipping small-scale vessels with this technology, the project provides a vital layer of protection for Palau’s fishing community.

The initiative continues to integrate sustainable resource management with advanced maritime safety, ensuring that technology adoption leads to both better data and safer seas for local fishers.

While Spain's crustacean market is dominated by global giants such as Ecuador, Argentina, Mozambique and Vietnam, the province of Burgos has carved out a strategic specialization in Venezuelan imports. Since 2013, 60% of all Spanish prawn purchases from Venezuela have been concentrated within the Burgos food industry.

Burgos’ Role in the Caracas-Madrid Axis

The seafood industry in the city of Burgos and Valdorros has established Venezuela as a preferred partner:

• Specialization: Burgos managed €165 million of the €274 million that Spain has imported from Venezuela over the last decade.

• Annual Balance: During the first ten months of last year, the province processed over 1,800 tons (worth €8.26 million), capturing half of the total trade flow between the two nations for this product.

Global Context: A Market of Giants

It is essential to note that despite the strong local link with Caracas, Venezuela is not a dominant player in the overall Spanish market. Countries like Ecuador (a leader in farmed shrimp) and Argentina (a leader in wild-caught prawns) remain Spain’s primary suppliers.

Burgos leverages this Venezuelan niche to complement its broader portfolio, using its robust logistics infrastructure and processing plants to distribute the finished product throughout Spain and much of Europe.

Balanced Supply and Demand Keep Prices Steady in Major Production Hubs

A recent survey by Cepea (Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics) indicates that tilapia prices remained predominantly stable during the week ending January 2, 2026. The data suggests a harmonious balance between supply and demand as the new year begins, with only minor price fluctuations recorded across the country's primary production centers.

Market Outlook

According to Cepea researchers, these discreet fluctuations are typical for the beginning of the year. The market currently lacks any abrupt movements in supply or significant pressure from consumer demand, leading to the current plateau in pricing.

"The market is currently in a state of equilibrium, reflecting a period of seasonal normalcy without external shocks to the supply chain," the report noted.

Source: Cepea

Fisheries New Zealand has launched an investigation into potential illegal fish dumping after a spearfisher shared "gut-wrenching" footage of dead fish floating near Great Barrier Island.

The video, posted to social media by veteran spearfisherman Darren Shields, shows a trail of discarded fish on the water’s surface. Shields, who spotted the waste while out on the water, told reporters this is a symptom of a much larger crisis.

A Call for Stricter Limits

Shields highlighted a steady decline in local fish stocks, blaming both commercial and recreational overfishing. "We’ve been allowed to take too much for too long," he said. "The population is growing, more people are on the water, and we need to adjust our limits to allow for that."

He is calling for an end to bottom trawling, arguing that the method is inherently destructive and leads to the capture of undersized or non-quota species that are often discarded.

The Official Response

Fisheries NZ has already identified a commercial vessel operating in the area at the time of the report. Regional Manager Andre Espinoza confirmed that "Illegal discarding is relatively rare due to the prevalence of cameras and real-time tracking," Espinoza stated, "but we take every complaint seriously."

If an offence is proven, the vessel operators could face significant fines or the forfeiture of their vessel.

Cell-cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has raised US $11 million (£8.13m) to advance commercialisation of its bluefin tuna meat grown from fish cells.

San Diego-based BlueNalu said the capital will support it as it prepares for market introduction of cultivated tuna, pending regulatory approval in the US.The money is also expected to advance the company’s scale-up activities, including continued process optimisation and manufacturing readiness for its next-generation production facility, designed to support meaningful commercial production volume.

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

Two of Norway’s largest salmon farmers, the Lerøy Seafood Company and SalMar, have released trading updates for the final three months of last year.

The two companies are co-owners of Scottish Sea Farms, but the SSF figures will not become available until next month.

Lerøy harvested 49,300 tons of salmon and trout compared to 56,800 tons during the same period in 2024.

The harvested volume of salmon and trout for the full year 2025 was 195,600 GWT, compared to 171,200 GWT in 2024.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here