IN BRIEF - Longliner Argos Georgia loss and crew's fate news echoed in European Parliament
EUROPEAN UNION
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Following the incident that forced the Argos Georgia’s crew to abandon the vessel near the Falkland Islands, the chair of the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries Carmen Crespo (EPP, ES) said:
“On my first day as chair of Parliament's fisheries committee, my thoughts are with the missing fishermen in the Falkland Islands and their families. We sincerely hope their rescue is completed soon.
In these difficult times, the Committee on Fisheries offers its solidarity with the Galician people, so closely linked to the fishing sector and from which several of the missing crew members of the ship Argos Georgia come.
This accident highlights the harshness of fishing activity and the sacrifice and risk that sea professionals experience”.
The European Parliament member Carmen Crespo belongs to the Spanish conservative Popular Party and will hold the chair for the next two and half years. The MEP will also be sitting at the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission.
On taking office MEP Crespo said she will defend fisheries since“it is a key socioeconomic sector” and plays a strategic role for Europe's food security. Originally she was a member of the Agriculture, Water and Rural Development Junta of the Andalucía region in Spain.
LASCAFAN backs federal technical committee and calls for sector overhaul
LASCAFAN urged Nigeria’s aquaculture committee to establish clear farming standards, improve affordable feed supply and strengthen industry-led research. President Olatoye Fajimi said standardisation could shift fish farming from subsistence toward commercial production.
The initiative thanks foreign workers for their contribution while giving visibility to their lives away from home
Singapore seafood supplier Catch Seafood is distributing free meals to migrant construction workers from India and Bangladesh, while asking about allergies and dietary preferences. Launched on August 25, the TikTok series highlights their work and family sacrifices; its third video surpassed 66,000 views.
Technology cooperation aims to boost fish production, water efficiency and food security
Indonesia plans to deploy 40,000 mini recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with Australia. Initially targeting tilapia and catfish, the program will later include pangasius, barramundi, grouper and jade perch, combining technology transfer, community development and more sustainable production.
FAO targets 75% aquaculture growth by 2040, but experts warn of mounting pressure on marine resources
The FAO aims to boost global aquaculture production by 75% by 2040. Changing Markets Foundation estimates feed-intensive growth could consume 41.4 million tonnes of wild fish annually, or 46% of the 2020 global catch, mainly for fishmeal and fish oil used in salmon and shrimp farming.
Large-scale maritime operation safeguards fishing fleet after four-month summer moratorium
Fishing resumed on September 1 north of 35°N, with 26,000 vessels heading to fishing grounds. Under the 2026 Escort the Fishing Season Opening operation, authorities deployed 20+ patrol vessels, 30+ drones and 200+ officers across key waterways to prevent merchant-fishing vessel collisions and ensure safe navigation.The Yellow and Bohai Seas are home to a variety of advantageous industries, including shipping, fishing, and petrochemicals, resulting in frequent activity of merchant and fishing vessels and dense maritime traffic in these waters.
Joan Simonet, the Regional Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Natural Environment, has welcomed the European Commission's consideration of changes to the Multiannual Plan for Demersal Fisheries in the Western Mediterranean. The proposed changes aim to increase the number of fishing days allowed for trawlers, without having quotas constrained by the status of the most vulnerable species. This was one of the key demands jointly presented to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, last May by Spain's five Mediterranean autonomous communities, according to a statement from the Regional Ministry.
Source: Europa Press / La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) has launched the "Sea of ??Opportunities 2026-2027" campaign, as part of the Roadmap for the Reactivation of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The campaign aims to inform the public about species whose availability has temporarily increased along the Peruvian coast due to oceanographic changes associated with the El Niño phenomenon. Developed using scientific information from the Peruvian Marine Institute (Imarpe), the initiative seeks to guide fishermen, distributors, restaurants, and consumers on new fishing alternatives, contributing to diversifying the product offerings and reducing pressure on species whose availability has decreased.The Minister of Production, Juan Carlos Requejo, explains that "El Niño is temporarily modifying the conditions of our sea and the presence of different species.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
US firm wants seat at the table as it expands from Chile into Norway and Scotland
The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) has announced that Sudvet Corp., an animal welfare company headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and specialising in botanical and biotechnological solutions for aquaculture, has joined as an associate member.
Sudvet develops botanical solutions aimed at reducing antibiotics and antiparasitic use in salmon farming. It offers a number of products that include AQ Bliss, a feed additive formulated with essential oils that is said to prevent fish stress during handling and help maintain the quality of the fish’s mucus.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Direct grants will offset higher fuel and fertiliser costs caused by the Middle East crisis
The European Commission approved Portugal’s €30 million scheme for agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture. Companies may receive up to €50,000, including €0.10/litre for agricultural or marine diesel consumed from April 1-June 30, 2026.
The plan aims to cut regulatory burdens while strengthening science-based fisheries management.
NOAA Fisheries unveiled priorities to expand domestic seafood production after input from more than 700 stakeholders. Reforms target sustainable fishing opportunities, stronger markets and infrastructure, processing capacity and tougher action against IUU fishing.
EUROPEAN UNION
“On my first day as chair of Parliament's fisheries committee, my thoughts are with the missing fishermen in the Falkland Islands and their families. We sincerely hope their rescue is completed soon.
NIGERIA
LASCAFAN backs federal technical committee and calls for sector overhaul
SINGAPORE
INDONESIA
WORLDWIDE
FAO targets 75% aquaculture growth by 2040, but experts warn of mounting pressure on marine resources
CHINA
Large-scale maritime operation safeguards fishing fleet after four-month summer moratorium
BELGIUM
Joan Simonet, the Regional Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Natural Environment, has welcomed the European Commission's consideration of changes to the Multiannual Plan for Demersal Fisheries in the Western Mediterranean. The proposed changes aim to increase the number of fishing days allowed for trawlers, without having quotas constrained by the status of the most vulnerable species. This was one of the key demands jointly presented to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, last May by Spain's five Mediterranean autonomous communities, according to a statement from the Regional Ministry.
PERU
Peru's Ministry of Production (Produce) has launched the "Sea of ??Opportunities 2026-2027" campaign, as part of the Roadmap for the Reactivation of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The campaign aims to inform the public about species whose availability has temporarily increased along the Peruvian coast due to oceanographic changes associated with the El Niño phenomenon. Developed using scientific information from the Peruvian Marine Institute (Imarpe), the initiative seeks to guide fishermen, distributors, restaurants, and consumers on new fishing alternatives, contributing to diversifying the product offerings and reducing pressure on species whose availability has decreased.The Minister of Production, Juan Carlos Requejo, explains that "El Niño is temporarily modifying the conditions of our sea and the presence of different species.
UNITED STATES
US firm wants seat at the table as it expands from Chile into Norway and Scotland
PORTUGAL
Direct grants will offset higher fuel and fertiliser costs caused by the Middle East crisis
