IN BRIEF - South Korea's Frozen Mackerel Imports Surge in January
SOUTH KOREA
Monday, February 10, 2025
South Korea's frozen mackerel imports reached 12,082 metric tons in January 2025, a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (9,693 metric tons). This volume represents 16% of total seafood imports (75,350 metric tons).
Norway supplied the vast majority (96%, or 11,610 metric tons) of imported frozen mackerel, with China contributing 4% (449 metric tons) and the Netherlands less than 1% (23 metric tons). The average import price per kilogram was USD 2.74 for Norwegian mackerel and USD 1.98 for Chinese mackerel
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The total import value reached USD 32.67 million, a substantial 53% increase from USD 21.30 million in January 2024. The average import price per kilogram also rose by 23% year-on-year, from USD 2.20 to USD 2.70. This surge in both volume and value is attributed to increased domestic demand and international market price fluctuations.
For context, current domestic wholesale prices in South Korea for frozen Norwegian mackerel are approximately KRW 99,000 per 20kg for the 400/600 size range and KRW 98,000 per 20kg for the 300/500 size range.
Asian cellular agriculture firm Avant is winding down its Singapore research subsidiary, Avant Proteins, but says it remains committed to securing approval for its cultivated seafood in the city-state.
Carrie Chan, Co-Founder, and CEO with Mario Chin, Co-Founder & CSO
Headquartered in Hong Kong, the startup is known for its cultivated fish technology and marine peptide platform, with research operations previously based in Singapore. According to a notice published in the Singapore Government Gazette and reported by The Straits Times, the Singapore entity is being voluntarily wound up.
In a statutory declaration, co-founder and CEO Carrie Chan said the company “cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business.”
The move reflects ongoing consolidation in the cultivated protein sector across Asia. However, Avant stressed it is not shutting down entirely. In a recent LinkedIn post, the company confirmed it is still pursuing regulatory approval in Singapore and plans to take its “next step to support the industry in a different way.”
While its local research arm closes, Avant’s broader ambitions in cultivated seafood remain in focus.
A growing debate has emerged over Iceland’s proposed aquaculture legislation, as nearly 1,000 comments have been submitted on a draft bill introduced by Minister of Fisheries and Industry Hanna Katrín Friðriksson.
Most of the feedback focuses on salmon farming in sea cages, with minimal attention given to land-based aquaculture — a disparity industry leaders say highlights a fundamental issue with the proposed law.
Lárus Ásgeirsson, chairman of Laxey in Vestmannaeyjar and head of the land-based aquaculture division of the Farmers Association of Iceland (BÍ), argues that the two sectors should not be regulated under the same legislation.
“We want to clearly separate land-based aquaculture from sea-cage farming,” Ásgeirsson said in an interview with 200 mílur.
He and other representatives maintain that land-based fish farming, conducted in closed systems on land, more closely resembles livestock agriculture than marine cage operations. Reflecting that view, the land-based aquaculture interest group operates within BÍ, which has formally submitted comments on the bill.
Industry stakeholders now urge lawmakers to introduce a separate bill tailored specifically to land-based aquaculture.
TOKYO – The Norwegian Seafood Council has appointed global communications agency Burson to lead integrated communications in Japan, expanding their partnership beyond Korea.
Under the new mandate, Burson will deliver strategic counsel and integrated campaigns across earned media, influencer engagement, industry communications and brand activations. The goal is to boost awareness, consideration and consumption of Norwegian seafood in two of the world’s leading seafood markets.
“Burson has delivered excellent strategic thinking and proven performance in Korea,” said Johan Kvalheim, counsellor fisheries at the
Following a record-breaking edition in 2025, Nor-Shipping will be held in Oslo and Lillestrøm from June 7-11, 2027, and will be supported by maritime companies that have already signed on as partners.
Two well-known names have secured key partner positions: banking giant DNB and DNV, the world's leading classification society, are renewing their contracts after the success of Nor-Shipping 2025. They are joined by internationally renowned partners: Abu Dhabi-based ADNOC and Noatum Maritime, two major players in the sector, are joining forces with pioneering Jotun, the recently spun-off Kongsberg Maritime, and leading insurance company SKULD.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Iceland foods expands ASC-labelled seafood range with new launches. Iceland Foods is strengthening its commitment to responsibly farmed seafood, by expanding its Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) labelled range
Following last year’s progress, which saw the retailer increase its own-label ASC seafood lines and set a target to exceed 25 certified products by the end of 2026, this latest rollout gives customers an even wider choice of sustainable options in-store and online.
The expansion includes several new ASC-certified products, bringing Iceland’s total ASC range to 15 products.
The AKVA aquaculture technology group delivered a 41% plus increase in its fourth quarter revenues, the company said today.
The figure was NOK 1,113 million (£85m) an increase of NOK 321 million (£24m) on a year earlier.
AKVA described the quarter as a period of high revenues and a strong order book.
The land based division chalked up record high quarterly revenues of NOK 422 million (£32m), an increase of NOK 205 million (almost £16m) or 94% compared to Q4 in 2024.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Havforskningsinstituttet: Record increase in Norwegian salmon production in 2025.
Norwegian farmed salmon production rose by 200,000 tonnes between 2024 and 2025, marking the largest year-on-year increase since official statistics began in 1980, according to the Institute of Marine Research’s 2026 risk report.
Total output growth occurred despite a lower average number of fish standing in the sea in 2025 compared with the previous year, suggesting improved utilisation of existing production capacity.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Jakarta's largest recent investment push for its fleet aims to increase productivity, strengthen the cold chain, and create up to 600,000 jobs, all while keeping the blue economy agenda in mind.
Indonesia has launched an ambitious program to build 1,582 new fishing vessels starting in 2026, a significant undertaking that the government links to coastal modernization, food security, and shipbuilding reindustrialization. The plan—to be rolled out gradually until 2028—has the backing of the United Kingdom within a framework of bilateral maritime cooperation, according to Indonesian officials and international trade media.
According to the United Nations, the world produces 430 million tons of plastic annually, much of which has a short lifespan, generating negative consequences for ecosystems.
The Director of the Environment, Climate Change, and Oceans Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Julio Cordano, was elected today in Switzerland as the new president of the negotiation process for the international agreement on plastic pollution. The Undersecretary of the Environment, Maximiliano Proaño, also participated in the meeting.
Source: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here
With the latest development, reduction fisheries producing fishmeal and fish oil for aquaculture feed and engaged in the Improvement Program are now included within ASC’s sustainability ladder for marine ingredients.
SOUTH KOREA.png)
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SINGAPORE
ICELAND
Most of the feedback focuses on salmon farming in sea cages, with minimal attention given to land-based aquaculture — a disparity industry leaders say highlights a fundamental issue with the proposed law.
JAPAN
NORWAY
Following a record-breaking edition in 2025, 
UNITED KINGDOM
The 
Havforskningsinstituttet: Record increase in Norwegian salmon production in 2025.
INDONESIA.png)
Jakarta's largest recent investment push for its fleet aims to increase productivity, strengthen the cold chain, and create up to 600,000 jobs, all while keeping the blue economy agenda in mind.
CHILE
According to the United Nations, the world produces 430 million tons of plastic annually, much of which has a short lifespan, generating negative consequences for ecosystems.
WORLDWIDE
Fisheries participating in the 
