IN BRIEF - Skipper Fined €14,000 for Illegal Fishing Off Donegal
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
A German-registered, Spanish-based fishing vessel’s skipper, Ángel Ares Esteban, has been fined €14,000 for illegal fishing activities in waters off Donegal.
The case, heard at Donegal Circuit Court by Judge John Aylmer, revealed that Esteban had violated EU regulations limiting fishing gear soak times to 72 hours. This restriction, mandated under Regulation (EU) 1241/2019, SI 520/2019, and Section 14 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, is crucial for minimizing potential environmental impacts.
Esteban was absent from court proceedings but faced charges for exceeding the legally permitted soak time—the duration nets are left in the water—while fishing for monkfish and whitefish. The vessel, F/V 'Pesorsa Dos', a 27-meter-long boat employing static tangle nets, had its soak times significantly surpass the 72-hour limit.
Officers from the Irish Naval Service, aboard the LÉ William Butler Yeats, carried out a routine inspection on July 16, 2020, and discovered the violations. Following detections of non-compliance, the Pesorsa Dos was escorted to Killybegs and detained for further investigation.
A sea fisheries officer based in Killybegs testified that the vessel had deployed approximately 2,000 tangle nets, which can each span up to 10 kilometers in length. The total combined length of nets on board exceeded 100 kilometers, with five of these nets forming the basis of the prosecution.
PRIMORYE — In February, the Primorsky branch of the National Center for Fishery and Agricultural Products Safety (FSBI) “APK NATSRYBA” processed and certified 75,800 tons of fish products for export, the institution reported.
A total of 576 shipments of fish, seafood, and related products were inspected to ensure compliance with international standards. Key exports included pollock, cod, sardines, flounder, squid, shrimp, crab, halibut, scallops, mollusks, and fish-derived products such as roe, milt, and fish meal.
China remained the leading destination, receiving 55,200 tons across 383 shipments. South Korea imported 11,100 tons in 134 batches, while European Union countries accounted for 9,500 tons in 59 shipments.
The figures highlight Primorye’s continued role as a major hub for seafood exports in the region.
The presence at the leading seafood trade show in the United States is part of the strategy of Chile's main salmon producer to deepen its relationships with customers, push higher-value categories, and consolidate its position in a market crucial for its international expansion.
For the company, this participation comes at a particularly relevant time. The United States is not only its main international destination but also a market that drives the development of brands, convenience formats, and more differentiated offerings. In this arena, growth no longer depends solely on scale but also on the ability to better understand consumers, respond consistently, and capture more value within the category.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
For fish processors, profitability is often determined by small operational gains.
A slight improvement in yield.
Less product loss during packing.
A portion that commands a stronger price per kilo.
These details make a real difference across a processing operation.
At the same time, processors are operating in a tougher environment. Labour shortages, rising input costs and tight retail margins mean every stage of the process needs to work efficiently.
In many cases, the biggest gains do not come from new machinery or major process changes. They come from the everyday materials used on the factory floor.
The market-influencing spot price of Norwegian farmed salmon climbed a good deal last week, and has thus increased by more than NOK 15 in two weeks. Not since early summer in 2024 have there been better prices in regular weeks.
According to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), the spot price of salmon rose by NOK 8.01 per kilo in week 11 to NOK 94.45 (£7.30) per kilo. That price is NOK 12.09/kg better than in the same week last year. You have to go back to week 22 of 2024 to find better prices if you ignore the usual price peaks around Christmas and New Year.
Author: Pål Mugaas Jensen / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen is not one to go in for hyperbole. His statements are usually measured and well thought through before he delivers.
So when he says that President Donald Trump’s tariff measures have created a great deal of frustration and confusion, you can bet that the impact has probably been more difficult than that.
Jacobsen told Fish Farmer that the North American (US) market is important for the company, adding that so too is Europe, its primary market, and Asia where its business is growing.He added that Europe is Bakkafrost’s largest market, followed by the US and then the Far East in third place. But business with China is growing.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Chilean aquaculture has positioned itself as a global production powerhouse, particularly in salmon farming. However, the current international landscape presents a deeper challenge: moving from a leadership model based on volume to one based on innovation, technology, and exportable knowledge.
Chile is currently a global leader in aquaculture due to its scale, production efficiency, and specialization, particularly in the salmon industry. However, when we talk about aquaculture innovation in the strict sense—that is, the capacity to develop its own technology, generate intellectual property, scale solutions, and export knowledge.
The intensity of the damage suffered by the fishing and aquaculture sector will be directly proportional to the duration of the military crisis and the level of disruption to fossil fuel extraction infrastructure. This was the conclusion reached on Monday by the Spanish Aquaculture Business Association (APROMAR), Cepesca, and the National Federation of Fishermen's Associations at a meeting convened by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, to analyze the consequences of the recent attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran for the fishing and aquaculture sector. The meeting focused particularly on the situation arising from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption to oil and natural gas flows.
Source: iPac.aquacultura | Read the full article here
With Seafood Expo North America taking place in Boston on 15-17 March, Rob Lewis, head of technical and innovation at Catapult Print, a leading US-based linerless label provider for the seafood sector, discusses the advantages of linerless labels in driving operational efficiency, reducing waste and delivering quality and compliance.
With so much volatility and price fluctuation in the seafood market, hanging on to market share and margin is more challenging than ever. Keeping quality high and costs down is critical, which is why both seafood producers and retailers are increasingly looking to linerless labels to help them achieve both of those goals.
Labels may not seem like a major part of the cost profile for seafood products, but when labelling fails, the impact on production is immediate and significant. Quality issues, such as labels detaching due to moisture or smearing under stress, can result in inconsistency across SKUs, compliance failures, and even rejected shipments.
Nearly 40% of fish died in first hit from 2025 algae crisis.
A research paper published in the Journal of Fish Diseases has documented 39.5% acute mortality at the first salmon farm struck by the 2025 algae bloom in northern Norway.
The first signs were reduced appetite and turbid water, followed by behavioural changes and rapid fish death. Water samples confirmed dominance of Phaeocystis pouchetii and Chrysochromulina leadbeateri. Post-mortem examination and histopathological findings in gills and liver confirmed algae as the cause of death.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Air China Cargo has expanded its operation between Chengdu and Glasgow Prestwick Airport to a daily service on the back of rising demand
The service between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Prestwick was launched in June 2025 and had been operating four times per week until yesterday, when the frequency was increased. It carries Chinese goods to Scotland and exports such as salmon, caught seafood, and whisky, to China.
Daily connectivity enables Scottish exporters to move premium products such as salmon, seafood, and whisky into China while also supporting faster and more reliable imports into Scotland from one of China’s most dynamic manufacturing regions
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Global Scallop Trade Shifts as U.S. Faces Shortage of Premium Sizes Worldwide
Chinese small scallops fill U.S. supply gap while French exports reshape China’s seafood imports
As the U.S. Atlantic scallop fishing season approaches its close, the market is experiencing a p...
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REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
A total of 576 shipments of fish, seafood, and related products were inspected to ensure compliance with international standards. Key exports included pollock, cod, sardines, flounder, squid, shrimp, crab, halibut, scallops, mollusks, and fish-derived products such as roe, milt, and fish meal.
UNITED STATES
The presence at the leading seafood trade show in the United States is part of the strategy of Chile's main salmon producer to deepen its relationships with customers, push higher-value categories, and consolidate its position in a market crucial for its international expansion.
UNITED KINGDOM.png)
These details make a real difference across a processing operation.
NORWAY
FAROE ISLANDS.png)
So when he says that President Donald Trump’s tariff measures have created a great deal of frustration and confusion, you can bet that the impact has probably been more difficult than that.
CHILE
Chilean aquaculture has positioned itself as a global production powerhouse, particularly in salmon farming. However, the current international landscape presents a deeper challenge: moving from a leadership model based on volume to one based on innovation, technology, and exportable knowledge.
SPAIN
The intensity of the damage suffered by the fishing and aquaculture sector will be directly proportional to the duration of the military crisis and the level of disruption to fossil fuel extraction infrastructure. This was the conclusion reached on Monday by the Spanish Aquaculture Business Association (.png)
With so much volatility and price fluctuation in the seafood market, hanging on to market share and margin is more challenging than ever. Keeping quality high and costs down is critical, which is why both seafood producers and retailers are increasingly looking to linerless labels to help them achieve both of those goals.
A research paper published in the Journal of Fish Diseases has documented 39.5% acute mortality at the first salmon farm struck by the 2025 algae bloom in northern Norway.
CHINA.png)
The service between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Prestwick was launched in June 2025 and had been operating four times per week until yesterday, when the frequency was increased. It carries Chinese goods to Scotland and exports such as salmon, caught seafood, and whisky, to China.
