IN BRIEF - Galician fishermen, among the 246 Spanish vessels that can catch bigeye tuna again
SPAIN
Thursday, September 05, 2024
Since midnight on September 3, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has reopened directed fishing for bigeye tuna for the 246 Spanish vessels that had been banned from fishing since July 19 due to having exhausted the part of the national quota that had been assigned to them. Among them, there are several based in Galician ports.
They have the option of catching Thunnus obesus again because the ministry has applied what it calls an optimization mechanism, through which it recovers the kilos of this species that other fleets do not usually catch.
On this occasion, 1.82 million kilos of the 8.33 that the Spanish fleet can catch in the Atlantic this year have been allocated to the common pool.
The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation (Rosselkhoznadzor)—which inspected nine Chilean processing facilities and their entire associated supply chains, including farming centers, cold storage plants, and processing sites—has announced the lifting of restrictions on five facilities, allowing them to resume exports to that market.
For the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca), this announcement “represents significant progress in the process of implementing the adopted corrective measures” and reflects the outcome of collaborative efforts to strengthen the official control system and ensure compliance with requirements established by the Eurasian Economic Union and the Russian Federation.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Sashimi rules the salmon category in China, according to NSC research, offering an opening for salmon imports
Ahead of World Seafood Shanghai (WSS), taking place from 26–28 August, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) has pinpointed sashimi as a key opportunity in China’s rapidly expanding salmon market. This is being driven by rising in-home consumption, fast delivery services and the parallel growth of factories providing sashimi-grade salmon to meet demand.
Austevoll Seafood, the global-based majority owner of the Lerøy Seafood Group has again strongly rejected allegations of salmon price fixing going back several years – but the company adds that there is still no timetable for the European Commission to resolve the issue.
Writing in its second quarter financial report under the heading “special considerations”, Austevoll said it was not possible to “at this stage to make any statement on whether the case will result in sanctions or other negative consequences for the group, or when the case will end”.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
In the first half of 2026, the share of production fish - fish that have wounds, deformities or other quality defects when harvested - was 10.6% of the harvest volume, compared to 17.7% in the first half of 2025 and 30% in the first half of 2024. At the same time, the harvest volume is at a record high.
Production fish cannot be sold directly for normal consumption, but must be corrected through processing before they can be sold as food.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Strong demand for frozen fish, squid, sardines and live crustaceans drives rapid trade growth
Pakistan’s seafood exports to China reached $220 million in the first seven months of 2026, up 41% from $156 million a year earlier. Frozen fish led exports at $40.04 million, followed by cuttlefish and squid at $36.39 million. Around 200 Pakistani seafood exporters are now registered with Chinese customs.
Scheme will offset higher fuel costs with grants covering up to 70% of the increase
The European Commission approved Germany’s €4.5 million aid scheme for fishing and aquaculture companies affected by higher fuel prices linked to the Middle East crisis. Direct grants will cover 70% of estimated additional fuel costs from March 1 to July 23, 2026, capped at €50,000 per company. The scheme runs until December 31, 2026.
More than 745,000 salmon died in June, the highest monthly loss since December 2024
Mortality reached about 3% of farmed salmon at sea. MAST linked the largest losses to incidents during fish release and transfers in the Eastfjords and Westfjords. After corrective measures, mortality fell to about 1% in July.
September program will connect consumers with local fishers, aquaculture producers and chefs across Darwin.
Australia’s Northern Territory will hold its inaugural NT Seafood Month in September, showcasing mud crab, Spanish mackerel, Humpty Doo barramundi, Australia Bay snapper and local prawns. The NT Seafood Trail will feature restaurants, producer dinners, chef collaborations and cooking demonstrations.
New rules target traceability, stock protection and stronger seafood exports
Kerala unveiled a draft fisheries plan featuring science-based harvest controls, gear restrictions and digital traceability. Square-mesh codends will protect juveniles, while wider TED adoption and MSC certification for shrimp and cephalopods aim to strengthen sustainability and access to global markets.
Data from the SFPA reveal significant disparities in the uptake of fishing opportunities allocated for 2026: albacore has reached 116%, saithe stands at 170%, sole at 169%, blue whiting at 118%, and hake at 94%, while numerous other quotas remain below 20%.
The utilization of fishing quotas allocated to Ireland for 2026 shows significant imbalances, with more than four months still remaining in the year. Data published by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) highlight stocks where usage already exceeds available limits, alongside others where only a small fraction has been caught. This situation reflects a combination of fleet strategies, resource availability, and the complexity of the European quota management system.
Illex Squid Closure Reshapes Atlantic Commercial Season United States
NOAA limits directed fishery through year-end after projecting 96% of domestic quota will be harvested
The directed fishery for Illex squid (Illex illecebrosus) is formally closed in United States fe...
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RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation (Rosselkhoznadzor)—which inspected nine Chilean processing facilities and their entire associated supply chains, including farming centers, cold storage plants, and processing sites—has announced the lifting of restrictions on five facilities, allowing them to resume exports to that market.
CHINA
Ahead of 
NORWAY
Austevoll Seafood,
In the first half of 2026, the share of production fish - fish that have wounds, deformities or other quality defects when harvested - was 10.6% of the harvest volume, compared to 17.7% in the first half of 2025 and 30% in the first half of 2024. At the same time, the harvest volume is at a record high.
PAKISTAN
Strong demand for frozen fish, squid, sardines and live crustaceans drives rapid trade growth
GERMANY
Scheme will offset higher fuel costs with grants covering up to 70% of the increase
ICELAND
More than 745,000 salmon died in June, the highest monthly loss since December 2024
AUSTRALIA.png)
Australia’s Northern Territory will hold its inaugural NT Seafood Month in September, showcasing mud crab, Spanish mackerel, Humpty Doo barramundi, Australia Bay snapper and local prawns. The NT Seafood Trail will feature restaurants, producer dinners, chef collaborations and cooking demonstrations.
INDIA.png)
New rules target traceability, stock protection and stronger seafood exports
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.png)
Data from the SFPA reveal significant disparities in the uptake of fishing opportunities allocated for 2026: albacore has reached 116%, saithe stands at 170%, sole at 169%, blue whiting at 118%, and hake at 94%, while numerous other quotas remain below 20%.
