Fresh Landings See Growth for Third Straight Month in September

The Japan Fisheries Federation reported that total landings of Japanese flying squid, including both fresh and frozen varieties, rose by 22% in September compared to the same period last year, reaching 5,521 tons.

This growth was driven largely by fresh squid landings, marking the third consecutive month of year-on-year increases. Cumulatively, the total landings since January have exceeded those recorded during the same period in the previous year.

Source: Suisan-Keizai

Portugal is about to ramp up its aquaculture production business in a big way following the approval of a new fish farm on the Algarve.

Mariculture Systems Portugal (MSP) has been given the go ahead for its sea bass and sea bream project near Vila Real de Santo António which it describes as a major milestone.

The designed installation consists of a semi-submersible platform, situated eight miles off the coast and permanently anchored to the seabed.

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

Fishmeal production in 2024 has seen a significant boost, driven by Peru’s strong anchovy season, according to The International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation (IFFO).

Through September 2024, global fishmeal production increased by nearly 23% compared to the same period in 2023. This rise is primarily due to a substantial uptick in Peru’s supply, which accounts for 20% of global fishmeal and fish oil production.

Source: Worldfishing l Read the full article here

FISHERIES professionals from Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago are participating in a regional training workshop on fisheries statistics and data analysis, held from November 11 to 21.

The initiative aims to enhance the capacity of these professionals to gather, analyse, and utilise fisheries data effectively, ensuring sustainable fisheries management and improved decision-making.

Yann Laurent, Head Trainer from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), underscored the importance of the training.

Participants are being trained in theoretical concepts, statistical software, and advanced sampling techniques, with a focus on the digitalised CALIPSEO data collection system. This cutting-edge system enables efficient and precise data management, paving the way for reliable fisheries statistics.

Gaushimi Poeran, a participant from Suriname, emphasised the relevance of the workshop to her country’s small-scale fisheries sector.

“The small-scale fisheries sector in Suriname is growing rapidly, and it’s crucial for us to improve our data collection and ensure that it meets international standards. With this training and FAO’s best practices, we now have better tools to deliver our data in a more quantitative way,” she said.

Similarly, Lara Ferreira, a Fisheries Officer from Trinidad and Tobago, appreciated the opportunity to strengthen data management practices.

Australian Border Force (ABF) has successfully detected and interdicted 14 foreign fishing vessels, with a total of 112 crew onboard, in northern Australian waters.

Between 14 and 18 November 2024, ABF officers, in consultation with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), boarded and inspected 14 foreign fishing vessels.

The interdictions resulted in an apprehension and the seizure of catch and a variety of fishing and fishing-related equipment including:

• 550 kilograms of sea cucumber (worth up to AUD$55,000)
• 200 kilograms of fish (a combination of dried and fresh product)
• 2,500 kilograms of salt (used to process and preserve catch)
• equipment used during illegal fishing activities including air compressors and regulators, hand lines, reef shoes, long lines and hand lines, spear guns, fishing nets, and other equipment.

The combination of apprehensions, controlled and regulated vessel destructions, and removal of expensive equipment enable a strong deterrent against future ventures into Australian waters.

ABF’s message to illegal foreign fishers in Australian waters is simple: We will intercept you, and you will lose your catch, your equipment, and possibly even your vessel.

Information about suspicious activity which may impact the security of Australia’s borders can be provided to Border Watch online.

The government has announced plans to formulate a 25-year fisheries master plan.

The ministry said as the fisheries sector is the second-largest industry in the economy, it needs to be strengthened and developed. Therefore, targeted development must be brought to the industry under a clear strategic plan.

The plan will set out the objectives, vision, and objectives of the fisheries sector for the next 25 years, while also setting goals to increase economic benefits by utilizing marine resources. The effort is supported by financial assistance from the World Bank.

House Committee Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources chairperson Brian Raymund Yamsuan disclosed that two House panels have approved the proposal creating the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR).

Yamsuan said his committee and the House Committee on Government Reorganization approved the substitute bill— a consolidation of 13 measures, during a joint hearing last Tuesday.

“This proposed measure is not merely about governance—it is about ensuring that our marine life and those who depend on them thrive in the face of modern challenges,” Yamsuan said.

The solon said establishing the DFAR would help fulfill the country’s goal of attaining food security and safeguard the welfare of 2.5 million Filipinos dependent on the country’s oceans and inland water bodies for their livelihood.

Yamsuan is optimistic that the passage of the bill will help address the country’s declining fish catch.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippines produced 1.02 million metric tons (MT) of fish in the second quarter of 2024, a decrease of 6.2% from the 1.07 million MT recorded in the same period in 2023.