IN BRIEF - Japanese 'IWASHI' Sardines in California? A Shocking Discovery in the Pacific
UNITED STATES
Friday, March 14, 2025
We hear from the scientist who discovered Japanese sardines off the coast of California for the first time and discuss what it means for the future.
In 2022, Dr. Gary Longo detected Japanese sardines swimming in the eastern Pacific, off the coast of California. This was the first time they’d ever been seen here—their normal range is in the western Pacific from Korea to Russia, thousands and thousands of miles away. It was a shocking discovery. Sardines are incredibly important to the California current ecosystem and are a key forage fish across the globe.
On this episode of Dive In with NOAA Fisheries, we scratch at this mystery of Japanese sardine appearing in U.S. waters. How did they get here? What does it mean for the native Pacific sardine? Are they staying? (Spoiler alert: so far, yes.)
We hear from Dr. Longo, a research scientist at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center and one of the authors of a new study documenting this discovery. The authors suggest marine heatwaves that warmed the North Pacific over the last decade might have opened a corridor of favorable habitat, which the Japanese sardines followed across the ocean.
South Korea experienced a significant 63% surge in Norwegian seafood imports in February compared to the previous year.
February 2025 imports reached 10,107 tons, up from 6,207 tons in February 2024. Total imports for January and February rose by 42% to 25,069 tons, compared to 17,674 tons in the same period of 2024. Norwegian seafood now represents 16% of South Korea's total seafood imports, which reached 152,793 tons.
[Import Trends by Product]
Norwegian seafood import values also increased, with February 2025 reaching USD 55.4 million, a 14% rise from USD 48.76 million in February 2024. The cumulative value for January and February increased by 30% to USD 139.4 million, compared to USD 107.31 million in 2024. However, the average import price decreased by 8% to USD 5.56/kg, down from USD 6.07/kg the previous year. The increased demand for Norwegian seafood in South Korea is evident, particularly for frozen mackerel and salmon fillets.
The Xunta (regional government) is assisting the sector and will allow each structure to increase its harvest capacity from 100 to 150 cuerdas (100 acres) of farmed mussels, which are scarce due to climate change and shorter production cycles.
Understanding and adapting the capabilities of a species to its production cycle is essential in the primary sector, whether it's a pig or a lettuce. The same applies to mussels: the longer the cycle, the larger they will be; the shorter it is, the smaller they will be, and the sooner they can be sold, but the sooner new seed will also be needed.
Author: Jorge Garnelo / Faro de Vigo l Read the full article here
The company maintains that the improved results "are primarily due to the measures implemented by the new management team."
From April to December 2024, the Nueva Pescanova Group achieved an EBITDA (gross operating profit calculated before deducting financial expenses) of €40.1 million, four times higher than the previous year (from April 2023 to March 2024), representing a 309% increase in nine months. This €40.1 million exceeds the forecast made by the company's management, which estimated it would reach €37.5 million at the end of the year.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here
The Port of Vancouver in the Canadian province of British Columbia has announced its annual statistics, showing that 158 million metric tons (MT) of cargo, which included seafood products, moved through the port in 2024, a 5 percent increase year over year and a record for the port.
The news of the port’s strong 2024 performance comes amid an escalating trade war between the U.S. and Canada. Xotta emphasized, in a release by the Port Authority, that the Port of Vancouver was ready to meet the challenges of the moment.
Author: Erin Spampinato / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here
MERL, which is located at Machrihanish in Argyll, received the UK Government funding as part of the new Argyll and Bute Rural Growth Deal, which aims to foster economic growth through connecting the region’s high-value business sectors with national and international markets and linking local economic successes with national strategic priorities.
Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors, while the Scottish Government aspires to double the economic contribution of Scotland’s aquaculture industry to £3.6 billion by 2030.
Source: The Fish Site l Read the full article here
Ireland’s agriculture, food, fisheries, and marine minister Timmy Dooley will be the keynote speaker at the IFA Aquaculture Conference in Limerick next week.
The conference and AGM will be held at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Limerick, on Thursday, March 20.
IFA Aquaculture is the aquaculture division of the Irish Farmers Association.
Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
According to data from the Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) industry monitoring system, Russian fishermen have harvested 1,036,600 tons of aquatic bioresources since the beginning of the year.
Catches by basin:
Far Eastern Basin: 872,000 tons
Pollock: 660,500 tons
Cod: 29,000 tons
Pacific Herring: 136,800 tons (+15,300 tons compared to 2024)
Northern Basin: 61,400 tons
Cod: 43,800 tons
Haddock: 8,900 tons
Western Basin: 19,500 tons (+8.3% compared to 2024)
Sprat: 12,900 tons (+700 tons compared to 2024)
Baltic Herring: 6,300 tons (+1,000 tons compared to 2024)
Azov-Black Sea Basin: 10,800 tons (+20.5% compared to 2024)
Anchovy: 9,800 tons (+1,600 tons compared to 2024)
Volga-Caspian Basin: 17,700 tons (+17.6% compared to 2024)
Sprat: 17,100 tons (+2,800 tons compared to 2024)
Russian fleets also harvested 53,900 tons in foreign exclusive economic zones, international waters, and the open ocean (+24,100 tons or 81.1% compared to the same perio
Reston, VA – The National Fisheries Insitute launched a revitalized AboutSeafood.com to continue its efforts connecting the seafood community and increase access to crucial seafood information.
The updated website is part of NFI’s Strategic Plan, launched in March of 2024, which aims to shape, connect, and grow the sector across the supply chain.
“A renewed AboutSeafood.com will help us better align with NFI’s Strategic Plan by increasing our interactions with key audiences, improve overall functionality, and enhance the user experience,”said Lisa Wallenda Picard, NFI President and CEO.“Advances to AboutSeafood.com will continue to position NFI as the leading voice for the seafood community.”
The website will offer resources for stakeholder audiences, providing the latest information on seafood with a direct focus on combatting misinformation in the media and equipping its users with facts on seafood policy, including health and nutrition, trade and commerce, sustainability and sourcing, safety, and economic integrity.
“The work done to enhance the website is far more than a facelift, it’s a project that will help support sound public policy and nutrition information based on science by putting resources in the hands of members and boosting NFI’s already loud digital voice. This will have a lasting impact on the industry moving forward,” said Ryan Clark, CEO and President of The Town Dock and NFI Chairman.
Nichirei's Polish subsidiary, Frigo Logistics Sp. z oo, has established the Nowy Dwor Logistics Center near the country's capital, Warsaw.
On February 27th, an opening ceremony was held at the center, inviting approximately 160 people, including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Poland, Mr. Kono, and the Mayor of Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki.
Greetings from guests (Left: Ambassador Kono, Right: Mayor Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki)
The company operates a business in Poland, mainly in refrigerated logistics for retail chain stores. The center, which serves as the core base in the metropolitan area, has installed automated storage equipment with a capacity of approximately 30,000 tons, aiming to reduce labor in the operation of the logistics center. Through the establishment of this new center, the company aims to further expand its existing services and respond to the strong demand for storage and transportation in upstream logistics. In addition, by consolidating the functions of three surrounding bases that were responsible for delivery to the northeastern area of ??Poland, the center will provide more efficient transportation and delivery services.
Going forward, Nichirei will continue to combine its increased storage capacity with its transportation and delivery network, which covers all of Poland, to provide advanced one-stop services that meet the diverse needs of its customers
During the recent O!Mega Taste festival, pollock roe became a highlight of Maslenitsa week at the Moscow on the Wave markets, featuring tastings, a cook-off, and a master class.
From February 24 to March 2, visitors to the Moscow on the Wave fish markets enjoyed pollock roe as part of the Moscow Maslenitsa celebrations. Over 650 people sampled blini with pollock roe, with 90% praising its taste and texture and sharing their ideas for dishes featuring pollock roe.
On the final day of Maslenitsa, Oleg Koroban, chef at the Culinary Studio, member of the International Alliance of Culinary Professionals, and Speaker of the Siberian Chefs Guild, along with Alexander Meshkov from Battle of the Chefs (Season 4), held a pollock cook-off. They amazed guests with their elegant crepes, garnished with cream and pepper sauce, pollock roe, and fresh pollock, plus fritters with pollock liver, beetroot hummus, and crispy pollock-shaped chips. Celebrity guest Serge Gorely from TNT Channel's Comedy Club was impressed by these fresh takes on the familiar wild white fish. Meanwhile, at a dedicated master class, guests learned to prepare pollock dishes themselves, with the new culinary creations delighting both adults and children.
FAO-Globefish - Tuna Market Overview Worldwide
Higher tuna trade in 2024
International tuna trade recovered during January–September 2024 with a 20 percent rise in imports at three million tonnes valued at USD 11.86 billion, as compar...
UNITED STATES
In 2022, Dr. Gary Longo detected Japanese sardines swimming in the eastern Pacific, off the coast of California. This was the first time they’d ever been seen here—their normal range is in the western Pacific from Korea to Russia, thousands and thousands of miles away. It was a shocking discovery. Sardines are incredibly important to the California current ecosystem and are a key forage fish across the globe.
SOUTH KOREA
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SPAIN
The Xunta (regional government) is assisting the sector and will allow each structure to increase its harvest capacity from 100 to 150 cuerdas (100 acres) of farmed mussels, which are scarce due to climate change and shorter production cycles.
CANADA
The Port of Vancouver in the Canadian province of British Columbia has announced its annual statistics, showing that 158 million metric tons (MT) of cargo, which included seafood products, moved through the port in 2024, a 5 percent increase year over year and a record for the port. 
UNITED KINGDOM
MERL, which is located at Machrihanish in Argyll, received the UK Government funding as part of the new Argyll and Bute Rural Growth Deal, which aims to foster economic growth through connecting the region’s high-value business sectors with national and international markets and linking local economic successes with national strategic priorities.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Ireland’s agriculture, food, fisheries, and marine minister Timmy Dooley will be the keynote speaker at the IFA Aquaculture Conference in Limerick next week.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION.png)
POLAND
