IN BRIEF - ICFA Announces Resource to Amplify Seafood’s Nutritional Benefits Will Be Released in Early June
UNITED STATES
Monday, May 05, 2025
Reston, VA – The International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) is setvto launch a Seafood Nutrition Toolkit in early June that will provide resources for its members tovcommunicate the nutritional benefits of seafood around the globe.
ICFA, a coalition of the national fish and seafood industry associations from the world’s majorvfishing nations, is working together with its counterpart, the Global Seafood Communicatorsv(GSC), a group dedicated to advancing effective communication within the seafood sector, tovconstruct a resource that will assist ICFA and its members in communicating unified messagingvon seafood’s health benefits to a wealth of audiences.
“The toolkit will not only identify existing evidence and known benefits of seafood consumptionvbut will contain messaging to help ICFA reach a common goal: raise public awareness of thevbenefits of eating seafood using correct, science-based messaging,” GSC Chair Fiona MacMillan, of Seafood New Zealand, said.
The group plans to introduce the toolkit during their panel at Seafood Expo Global on Tuesday, May 6, from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
“This new resource will be a cornerstone of the work ICFA and GSC do and will support us as we continue to move forward and grow,”ICFA Chair Ivan López Van der Veen said. “With resources like the toolkit, we will be able to not only discuss the topics most important to seafood internally but communicate them publicly.”
Microsoft Corp. has teamed up with NOAA Fisheries to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model that forecasts how changes in river flows affect salmon habitat in the Columbia River Basin.
The two-year collaboration, led by Morgan Bond of NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, aims to modernize habitat assessment using satellite imagery and cloud computing.
As part of its AI for Good Lab, Microsoft is providing $5 million in Azure cloud credits and technical support to analyze high-resolution imagery. This approach replaces traditional field-based studies, enabling faster, more cost-effective evaluations across a much larger scale.
The AI model will help fisheries managers see in near real-time how water flow variations alter available salmon habitat. A key goal is to assess the actual impact of restoration efforts, such as securing water rights, by predicting how much habitat is gained per investment.
“This tool helps us identify where small changes in flow could make a big difference,”Bond said. “It’s about maximizing restoration outcomes.”
Microsoft’s Chief Data Scientist Juan Lavista Ferres noted the broader significance:“Protecting wild salmon runs is vital to the region. Our technology can help NOAA better understand water dynamics and support sustainable fish populations.”
The project represents a major step in aligning cutting-edge tech with ecosystem recovery, providing actionable insights to improve salmon restoration strategies throughout the basin.
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has announced the full implementation of an Electronic Sanitary Certification (E-Cert) system for seafood imports originating from Peru, marking a significant step toward digitalizing import health documentation.
Effective for shipments departing on or after May 1, 2025, the transition from paper-based to electronic certification follows the completion of a pilot program and aligns with Korea’s broader strategy to adopt blockchain-enabled systems for enhanced traceability, document integrity, and streamlined import procedures.
Key Implementation Details:
Scope: All seafood products imported from Peru
Effective Date: May 1, 2025 (date of shipment departure)
Change: Importers must now input a unique electronic certificate number in place of paper documentation
An MFDS spokesperson highlighted the expected benefits: “This transition will significantly enhance the efficiency, transparency, and safety of Korea’s seafood import controls. Close collaboration with importers and competent authorities in exporting countries will be critical to a smooth rollout.”
Despite a 53% year-on-year decrease in imports from Peru in the first four months of 2025 (4,992 metric tons vs. 10,867 tons in 2024), the country remains Korea’s ninth-largest seafood supplier by volume during that period.
The move is part of Korea’s ongoing efforts to modernize its food safety and logistics infrastructure
The Spanish tuna fleet, grouped under OPAGAC, has appointed Silvia Manglano as its new Project Manager. In this role, Manglano will oversee initiatives aligned with the fleet's Code of Best Practices, focusing on minimizing the fishery's impact on the marine ecosystem and ensuring the biological sustainability of tropical tuna. Key projects include the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
Manglano holds a degree in Environmental Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid, a master's degree in Oceanography and Marine Environment Management from the University of Barcelona, and has completed studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (Germany). She is currently working on her master's thesis at the Institute of Marine Sciences (iMARES), analyzing the feeding patterns of sea turtles and their ecological role in the food web.
Despite her relative youth, OPAGAC's new Project Manager has extensive experience in research projects related to marine biodiversity and forest biomass, as well as in the development of product traceability strategies, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, and in conducting legislative studies on environmental regulations and sustainability reports.
On April 24, 2025, Nichirei Logistics Group entered into a share purchase agreement with Litt Resources Sdn. Bhd. to acquire additional issued shares of our affiliated company, NL Litt Tatt Group Sdn. Bhd. (“NLLTG”).
This acquisition will make NLLTG our consolidated subsidiary. The transaction is expected to be completed in July 2025.
This acquisition builds upon the company's previous investments in Malaysia, beginning with NL Cold Chain Network (M) Sdn. Bhd. (“NLCCN”) in June 2018, followed by an investment in NLLTG in June 2022, and the full acquisition of NLCCN in March 2023. These steps have progressively strengthened the company's integrated storage and transportation services and expanded its Malaysian operations.
The consolidation of NLLTG is aimed at streamlining decision-making and enhancing the company's management structure. This will enable the company to maximize synergies between NLLTG's specialized delivery services and NLCCN's extensive storage capacity, driving further business growth in Malaysia.
Patagonian toothfish will be subject to a management plan to adapt the resource's status to fishing. Therefore, the management plan, established for three years, is currently being reviewed in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Economic interest is crucial, since France receives €100 million from this resource for approximately 6,000 tons.
The fishing of this precious resource, exported mainly to China and the United States, is governed by a management plan based on the total allowable catch (Tac), revised annually. Scientific monitoring of the resource is carried out by the National Museum of Natural History, with a monitor on board the vessels.
Based on the marine litter that appears on beaches, the European Commission estimates that between 80 and 85% is plastic, and that 27% is "fishing-related." The law that, implementing an EU directive, will specifically regulate the management of plastic waste from fishing gear has not yet been approved in Spain. However, Brussels already requires member countries to monitor the waste entering their markets, the waste generated, and what is done with it. Among other reasons, this information will be used to establish "binding" annual collection and recycling rates.
Source: La Voz de Galicia l Read the full article here
The value of Chilean salmon exports increased by 5.6% to US $1.857 billion in the first quarter of 2025, against a background of domestic restrictions on the industry and fluctuations in global markets in which US tariffs were a major factor.
Data prepared by consulting firm Infotrade shows that the value of Atlantic salmon exports fell 5.3% to $1.126bn, coho salmon export value increased by 25.2% to $637 million, and the value of trout exports increased by 54.1% to $94m.
Author: Jonathan Garcés / fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global opens the doors to its 31st edition on 6 May, bringing exhibitors from 87 countries to Barcelona, Spain.The expo, running from 6 to 8 May at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía Venue, will occupy 51,217 net square meters and features 2,187 exhibiting companies in Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and the Galleria (between halls 4 and 5), according to event organizer Diversified
Nordic Halibut enjoyed an all-time high price level and what it says was a unique market position for farmed halibut in 2024.
The company, which farms halibut in sea cages, said in its annual review that its price performance was in response to strong market demand for premium halibut and limited supply. It implemented a 4% price increase across all sizes and markets, achieving an all time an all-time high average price of NOK 167 per kilo (£12.07) HOG (head on, gutted)
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish farmer l Read the full article here
Initially dedicated to stone production, a laborious and precarious job, Hung decided to change course and ventured into aquaculture.
In 2023, she accessed financing from the Thanh Hoa Microfinance Organization (IMF), a turning point that allowed her to establish and expand her mud-free eel and frog farming facility, "Dong Phat."
Hung emphasizes the agility of the loan process, the absence of required collateral, and the valuable financial advice she received. With the capital, she invested in ponds, water filtration systems, and the breeding of both species, complementing her growth with a business management course from the "Grow My Business" Project.
Today, Dong Phat's production supplies the local market and even exports to China. Hung has diversified her offerings, including prepared eel dishes, which enjoy great popularity. In addition, her enterprise generates employment for local women, improving their income and quality of life.
Hung's success demonstrates the effectiveness of microcredits when combined with support and training. The IMF, in this sense, has facilitated the creation of businesses, the overcoming of poverty, and the attainment of family economic autonomy for many disadvantaged women in rural areas. Her case is a model of economic development in Dong Phu, especially in the field of sustainable agriculture and food processing.
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“The toolkit will not only identify existing evidence and known benefits of seafood consumptionvbut will contain messaging to help ICFA reach a common goal: raise public awareness of thevbenefits of eating seafood using correct, science-based messaging,”
The two-year collaboration, led by Morgan Bond of NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, aims to modernize habitat assessment using satellite imagery and cloud computing.
SOUTH KOREA
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SPAIN
The Spanish tuna fleet, grouped under 
JAPAN
WORLDWIDE
Patagonian toothfish will be subject to a management plan to adapt the resource's status to fishing. Therefore, the management plan, established for three years, is currently being reviewed in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Economic interest is crucial, since France receives €100 million from this resource for approximately 6,000 tons.
Based on the marine litter that appears on beaches, the European Commission estimates that between 80 and 85% is plastic, and that 27% is "fishing-related." The law that, implementing an EU directive, will specifically regulate the management of plastic waste from fishing gear has not yet been approved in Spain. However, Brussels already requires member countries to monitor the waste entering their markets, the waste generated, and what is done with it. Among other reasons, this information will be used to establish "binding" annual collection and recycling rates.
CHILE
The value of Chilean salmon exports increased by 5.6% to US $1.857 billion in the first quarter of 2025, against a background of domestic restrictions on the industry and fluctuations in global markets in which US tariffs were a major factor.
NORWAY
Nordic Halibut enjoyed an all-time high price level and what it says was a unique market position for farmed halibut in 2024.
VIET NAM.png)
In 2023, she accessed financing from the Thanh Hoa Microfinance Organization (IMF), a turning point that allowed her to establish and expand her mud-free eel and frog farming facility, "Dong Phat."
