Hla Htay, Deputy Regional Head of Myanmar's Fisheries Department, has called for coordinated efforts among various departments to prevent fish and prawns treated with formalin from entering Yangon via the Thai-Myawady border. His remarks came during a meeting of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation on September 10.

Hla Htay emphasized the critical role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in testing for formaldehyde in imported fish and prawns, which are often cheaper than Myanmar's domestic seafood products.

“Yangon is the final destination. These fish and prawns pass through Kayin State, Mon State, and Bago Region before reaching Yangon. With numerous entry points into the city, it’s impossible for our department to act alone. We require the cooperation of other entities, including the Myanmar Police Force and the FDA,” Hla Htay explained.

He also recounted previous enforcement efforts, noting that trucks carrying fish and prawns illegally brought into Yangon via Myawady were seized in 2016 and 2017. The confiscated goods were sold at auction. However, such operations were halted due to death threats targeting enforcement teams.

“Our teams had to fund these operations out of our own pockets. Then the threats started. To be frank, even at Sanpya Market in Yangon, we know who the importers are. However, we are planning for arrests, and the FDA will take the lead in conducting inspections,” he added.

The situation underscores the need for strengthened regulatory measures and interdepartmental collaboration to protect Myanmar’s fisheries industry and ensure public health.

The Salmonika Group of Companies, owned by the family of Oleg Nikolaevich Kozhemyako, has announced its acquisition of Gorod 415, a prominent fishing company previously held by the family of Senator Boris Aleksandrovich Nevzorov from the Kamchatka Krai Legislative Assembly.

This strategic acquisition aligns with ongoing efforts to secure fishing areas and follows transactions related to the purchase of Vityaz Avto. In November 2024, Tymlatsky Rybokombinat, a subsidiary of the Salmonika Group, acquired a 70% stake in Gorod 415. The acquired company specializes in fish extraction and processing and boasts a modern processing complex along with its own fleet.

The Nevzorov family retains ownership of several other fishing enterprises along Kamchatka’s eastern coast, underscoring their continued presence in the industry. This move marks a significant step in the ongoing consolidation of the fishing sector, highlighting the evolving dynamics and strategic realignments within this vital industry.

The 2025 grant program supports investments, promotional campaigns, and initiatives to enhance the added value of fishing and aquaculture products.

The Governing Council of Andalusia has approved a €5.2 million grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development to improve the marketing and processing of fishing and aquaculture products in the region.

Co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), the 2025 program dedicates €5 million to supporting investments by businesses engaged in processing and marketing these products. Additionally, €130,000 will be allocated to promotional campaigns, while €75,000 will fund initiatives that enhance the quality and added value of fishing and aquaculture products.

Eligible recipients of this funding include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-profit organizations within the sector, and Andalusian fishermen's associations, along with the federations representing them.

This financial support reflects Andalusia’s commitment to strengthening the aquaculture sector, promoting sustainable practices, and increasing the competitiveness of local producers on national and international markets.

The legislation marks a step forward for sustainable aquaculture practices in the country.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially enacted Law 15.070/2024, which establishes a comprehensive framework for the use of bioinputs in agriculture and aquaculture, according to Toda Palavra, a partner of TV BRICS.

Under the new law, bioinputs are defined as materials or processes of biological origin used in the production, transformation, or storage of agricultural, aquatic, or forestry products.

These inputs play a critical role in promoting healthier growth, pest control, and disease management while providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical inputs.

The law regulates the entire lifecycle of bioinputs, including their production, import, export, registration, commercialization, use, inspection, and regulation.

It also addresses related areas such as research, packaging, advertising, transportation, storage, waste disposal, and incentives for the development of bioinputs.

With this initiative, Brazil aims to set a global benchmark for sustainable agricultural innovation.

The Norwegian government is establishing a new subsidy scheme for bait for fishing vessels that fish with longlines. The subsidy does not apply to the deep-sea fishing fleet.

"In the last five years, the cost of bait has almost doubled. To remedy the situation, a scheme with line subsidies will be established for 2025", says Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss in a press release from the ministry.

The purpose of the scheme is to help alleviate the demanding liquidity situation for fishing vessels that fish with longlines and autolines, by reducing the cost burden resulting from extraordinary expenses for bait and line rental in 2025. Vessels that fish with longlines and autolines can apply for subsidies. There are no geographical restrictions on who can apply for subsidies. The subsidy scheme does not apply to conventional deep-sea fishing vessels. A ceiling of NOK 200,000 per vessel is set for subsidies.

Russian fishermen have broken the world and their own record for catch by one vessel in a calendar year for the third time. The freezer fishing cannery trawler Petr I (owned by Tralflot) caught 93.5 thousand tons of fish in 2024.

The vessel was on the fishery for 307 days: the first voyage lasted from January 8 to June 1, and the second from July 2 to December 20. The total number of the two crews was 130 people. In winter and spring, the trawler caught pollock, herring, ivasi and mackerel in the Sea of ??Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, in summer and autumn - ivasi and mackerel in the Pacific Ocean.

By the end of 2023, the fishing trawler Peter I had caught and processed more than 90 thousand tons of aquatic bioresources. Its previous record was set in 2019 – 87.2 thousand tons of fish products.

Fiskebåt Nord is very concerned about reports that Russian vessels may have fished more than the cod quotas indicate. “We now have to find out what is right and what is wrong,” says Ivar Andreassen, chairman of Fiskebåt Nord.

The information that overfishing is taking place appears, among other things, in an article in The Barents Observer on November 28 this year. In the early 1990s, when the cod stock was much larger, there was a Russian overfishing.

Photo: courtesy Odd Kristian Dahle/Fiskebåt/FIS

"If the same thing happens now, the situation is very serious. Therefore, it is important to find out about this, and whether there is any truth to this information or not," says Andreassen.

Fiskebåt Nord has written a letter to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries requesting that the matter be followed up and investigated further. Among other things, there is information that Russian fish is being delivered from freezer boats to Dutch ports.

Ecuadorian police seized more than a ton of cocaine in the Guayas province, with its final destination being Vigo, Spain, as reported on December 24, 2024.

The operation, named "Poseidon LXIII", was carried out on Monday, December 23, in a port in Guayaquil. During a pre-shipment intrusive inspection of a container loaded with export products, the police discovered 23 black plastic packages containing 1,264 rectangular bundles of a compact white substance. Tests confirmed the substance was cocaine.

In total, 1,257.68 kilograms of cocaine were seized, equivalent to over 12.5 million doses.

The police stated that investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for this criminal act.

Economic Impact of the Seizure

According to police estimates, this operation dealt a significant blow to criminal organizations, causing multimillion-dollar losses. If the cocaine had been sold:

• In Europe, it would have generated revenues exceeding $31.4 million.
• In the United States, its value would have surpassed $18.8 million.
• In Ecuador, its market price would have reached over $1.5 million.

Ecuador is ranked as the third country in the world with the highest amount of drug seizures, following Colombia and the United States. Over the past three years, authorities have confiscated nearly 200 tons of drugs annually. Between January 1 and December 18, 2024, alone, seizures surpassed 282 tons, solidifying Ecuador’s position as a key player in the global fight against drug trafficking.

The 2,000-ton scientific research vessel "Jia Hai Ke 7", constructed by Guangzhou Salvage Bureau Jiangmen Co., Ltd. for Zhuhai Jiahai Marine Technology Co., Ltd., was successfully launched. This vessel marks a significant milestone as China's first private scientific research ship equipped with a DP-2 dynamic positioning system.

Measuring 70.26 meters in length and 13.30 meters in beam, "Jia Hai Ke 7" features advanced electric propulsion technology, combining an electric motor with a rudder-propeller system. Its innovative design ensures flexible operation, low energy consumption, reduced noise levels, and high-precision positioning. Upon completion, the vessel will primarily support offshore marine geological surveys while also accommodating marine scientific investigations.

The construction process was closely monitored by surveyors from the Jiangmen Inspection Office of CCS Guangzhou Branch. The surveyors actively addressed technical challenges, assisted the shipyard in refining welding techniques, minimized assembly errors, and significantly shortened the project timeline, earning high praise from stakeholders.

Moving forward, the China Classification Society (CCS) will continue to strengthen partnerships with shipowners and shipyards, advance technical research, and maintain rigorous safety and quality standards to ensure the successful delivery and operational excellence of "Jia Hai Ke 7."

In November 2024, South Korea imported 512 tons of frozen ray, an 18% decrease compared to the 626 tons recorded in November 2023.

From January to November 2024, cumulative imports totaled 6,294 tons, reflecting a 4% decline from the 6,531 tons imported during the same period in the previous year. Frozen ray imports accounted for 0.8% of the nation’s total seafood imports of 814,815 tons.

Clicl on the image to enlarge

The primary source countries for frozen ray as of November 2024 included:

• United States: 3,103 tons (49%)
• Argentina: 1,417 tons (23%)
• Indonesia: 345 tons
• Brazil: 313 tons
• Spain: 299 tons

Unit import prices varied significantly among suppliers. Spain recorded the highest unit price at USD 5.47/kg, followed by Indonesia at USD 3.98/kg, the United States at USD 3.58/kg, and Papua New Guinea at USD 1.00/kg, which was the lowest.

The import value of frozen ray in November 2024 was USD 1.92 million, down 9% from USD 2.10 million in November 2023. However, the cumulative import value for the year reached USD 25.50 million, marking a 12% increase from USD 22.87 million during the same period in 2023. The average import unit price from January to November 2024 rose by 16%, reaching USD 4.05/kg compared to USD 3.50/kg in the previous year.

Source: Union Forsea Corp.