Reston, VA – Tonight, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at strengthening the U.S. seafood community. NFI commends the President and his Administration for taking a thoughtful, strategic approach to supporting American seafood production and consumption. The EO outlines key actions to benefit every link in the supply chain—from hardworking fishermen to parents who serve their family this nutritious and sustainable protein at home.

Importantly, the Order calls for reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens on fishermen and seafood producers while also promoting the many benefits of eating seafood as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

NFI stands ready to support the Administration in advancing this important policy initiative and improving the lives of all those who depend on the commercial seafood industry.

Lisa Wallenda Picard

President & CEO

The People's Republic of China has become the 108th member state of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA).

The PSMA seeks to ensure that only legal, regulated, and declared fish catches are landed in ports and ultimately marketed. "This is achieved by allowing parties to deny entry or use of the port to foreign vessels suspected of engaging in IUU fishing, thereby preventing catches resulting from these illicit practices from reaching markets and consumers," explains FAO.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

Glasgow company uses shellfish industry sidestream to make greener sound insulation 

A start-up company creating a biodegradable ‘wool’ material from by-products of the Scottish shellfish sector has relocated its headquarters to Glasgow in a move that will underpin future growth and shorten its supply chains.

Seastex uses mussel beards or byssus – the threads that help mussels attach to surfaces in the ocean such as ropes, rocks or each other – to create a natural textile that can be used for acoustic insulation, upholstery, and a range of other purposes.

Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here

Considering the U.S.’s launch of a global trade war and U.S. President Donald Trump’s disdain for international collaboration, experts are warning that the U.S. may soon leave the World Trade Organization (WTO), a move that could render trade rules unenforceable among developing economies and throw global trade further into chaos.

A breakdown of WTO discipline would endanger various agreements meant to regulate the global seafood supply chain, including a 2022 deal limiting harmful fishery subsidies which negotiators have been trying to improve upon with a follow-up agreement.

Author: Mark Godfrey / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here

A Scottish company that uses whisky industry by-products to grow microalgae as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to fish-derived Omega-3s is hoping to build a production plant in Grangemouth.

MiAlgae is a biotech company that has developed a process which it says will reduce the aquaculture sector’s dependence on wild-caught fish for the Omega-3 oils that are vital for both fish and human health.

It has now submitted plans for a production facility at Grangemouth, on Scotland’s east coast, where Scotland’s last oil refinery is in the process of being shut down 

Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer l Read the full article here

After nine years, including a successful tenure in Portugal, Rismo moves on, while Rørtveit expands his global responsibilities following his role in Southeast Asia.

Trond Rismo (left), the Norwegian Seafood Council's envoy to Portugal, is embarking on a new career path. Upon the conclusion of his term on August 1st, Rismo will leave the Seafood Council after nine years of dedicated service.

"I am proud of my time at the Seafood Council," Rismo reflected. "It has been rewarding to collaborate with talented individuals both within the organization and across the seafood industry. There is a season for everything, and after my time in Tromsø, followed by three fulfilling years in Portugal, I am eager to pursue new opportunities."

Effective April 22nd, Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit will assume responsibility for the Norwegian Seafood Council's initiatives in the Middle East.

Following the completion of his five-year term as the seafood envoy to Southeast Asia last summer, Rørtveit has been leading the integration of the seafood industry into the Norwegian government's "All of Norway exports" initiative. This new appointment signifies an expansion of his global responsibilities within the Council.

Following the warning issued by the EU fish consumption guide, published by the British NGO Marine Conservation Society, calling on consumers to find an alternative to Northeast Atlantic mackerel, the EU fishing industry is setting the record straight, as reported by Melanie CHARTIER.from Le Marin.

Northeast Atlantic mackerel was removed on April 11 from the annual Good Fish Guide (VISwijzer), a list of species to avoid eating, compiled by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), an influential British NGO that ranks choices based on their degree of overfishing.

Their guide uses a traffic light system for consumers and a scale of 1 to 5 for businesses. This system assigns a color code to each rating based on the location and method of fishing or farming: green (ratings 1 or 2) for preferred options ; orange (ratings 3 or 4) for necessary improvements; and red (ratings 5) for fish to avoid . Businesses, including restaurants and supermarkets, are recommended to only offer seafood rated from 1 to 3.

The blue whiting fishery has started up in the Faroese zone, and good catches and fine weather have been reported.

A total of 33,430 tonnes were reported by 20 boats last week. The fishermen report good conditions and the catches are relatively good, with hauls of 600 tonnes. The weather conditions look like they will hold up throughout the week, but there may be some rough weather from Saturday onwards. There are just over 57,000 tonnes remaining of the Norwegian quota for blue whiting for 2025, and we expect that a significant amount of blue whiting will be fished in the coming week.

Otherwise, it has been quiet in the other fisheries. 4 tonnes of horse mackerel from Møre, 190 tonnes of blue whiting, and 100 tonnes of sprat from the edge (likely referring to the edge of the fishing grounds or a specific area).

Source: Norges Sildesalgslag

Aiming for $1.29 Billion in Shipments This Year, Indonesia Focuses on Diversification, Quality, and Expanding Approved Exporters.

JAKARTA (Xinhua) – Indonesia has announced its ambition to boost fishery product exports to China, a key export market, driven by increasing demand. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries revealed on Tuesday that the country has set an export target of USD 1.29 billion to China for this year, an increase from the USD 1.24 billion recorded in the previous year, according to ministry data published by Antara news.

"We have established synergy with relevant domestic ministries and institutions, as well as the Indonesian embassy in Beijing, to diversify our export offerings and increase overall export volume," stated Ishartini, head of the Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Supervision Agency.

The data indicates a positive trend in fishery product exports to China, with figures reaching USD 1.14 billion in 2023 and USD 1.12 billion in 2022.

To meet this year's ambitious target, the Indonesian government is actively working to enhance product quality and safety standards. Furthermore, efforts have been made to increase the number of domestic companies authorized to export fishery products to the Chinese market, which stood at 544 as of March.