IN BRIEF - Sonali Bank signs agreement with Department of Fisheries
BANGLADESH
Sunday, May 25, 2025
New Agreement to Utilize Sonali Payment Gateway for Fisheries Sector Charges and Fees, Boosting Efficiency in Bangladesh's Seafood Trade.
DHAKA – Sonali Bank PLC and the Department of Fisheries have formalized a new partnership aimed at enhancing the efficiency of financial transactions within Bangladesh's vital fisheries sector. An agreement was signed on Saturday, enabling the Department of Fisheries to collect all export-import related charges and fees through the secure and accessible Sonali Payment Gateway.
The signing ceremony took place at the head office conference room of the Department of Fisheries. Subhash Chandra Das, Deputy Managing Director of Sonali Bank PLC, and Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Director General (In Charge) of the Department of Fisheries, affixed their signatures to the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.
The collaboration is expected to streamline payment processes for businesses involved in the country's growing seafood trade, facilitating smoother operations for exporters and importers.
Key officials present at the event included Aklima Islam, General Manager of Sonali Bank, and Deputy General Manager Md. Aminur Rahaman Khan. From the Department of Fisheries, Principal Scientific Officer Masuda Khanam and Dr. Md. Khaled Kanak also attended the ceremony, alongside other high-ranking officials from both institutions.
Unions Halt All Maritime and Port Activities, Protesting Decrees Impacting Merchant Marine and Fishing Sector Wages.
BUENOS AIRES – Argentina's ports are facing a complete 24-hour shutdown as maritime and port unions initiated a nationwide strike today, May 27, 2025. The industrial action, which began at 00:00 AM and will conclude at 24:00 PM, protests recent government decrees aimed at deregulating water transport and the fisheries sector.
The Naval Skippers' Union of the Argentine Republic and the Center of River and Fishing Patrons and Officers and Maritime Cabotage announced the strike. They specifically cite Decree 340/25, known as the "Merchant Marine Exception Regime," which follows Decree 37/2025 that modified the "Maritime, River, and Lake Navigation Regime," paving the way for current deregulation attempts.
Union leaders accuse the government of acting "functionally to business interests that seek to promote a 30% reduction in the salaries of workers in the fishing sector" by suspending prospecting in national waters. They also condemned Resolution 1/2025 from the Ministry of Health's advisory cabinet, which they claim is designed to dismantle the social welfare system for healthcare.
The strike highlights escalating tensions between labor unions and the Argentine government over economic policy and its impact on maritime and fishing industries.
WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Warning Letters to two international seafood processing facilities—one in Venezuela and another in South Korea—citing significant violations of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations. These deficiencies raise serious concerns about the potential for Clostridium botulinum toxin formation, a severe food safety hazard.
The FDA sent a Warning Letter to Yeshua Bendito, C.A., a seafood processor in San Francisco, Zulia, Venezuela, following a remote regulatory assessment conducted in June 2024. The company, which processes cooked, ready-to-eat (RTE) refrigerated and frozen crab meat in reduced oxygen packaging, was found to have HACCP plan deficiencies that could lead to botulism toxin, natural toxins, and chemical contamination risks. The FDA deemed their products adulterated under U.S. law.
Similarly, Eden F&C Co. Ltd., a seafood processor in Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, received a Warning Letter after an April 2024 inspection. This facility processes RTE frozen fish sausage corn dogs in vacuum packaging. The FDA identified serious HACCP violations that could foster the growth of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum and toxin formation, leading to the adulteration of their products.
Both Warning Letters, issued in early November 2024 and recently made public, require the companies to respond within 15 business days, outlining corrective actions.
Collaborative Effort Leads to Relocation of Unauthorized Aquaculture, Enhancing Navigation and Addressing Encroachments in Vital Vietnamese Port.
CAM RANH, Vietnam – Cam Ranh Bay's crucial shipping lanes are significantly clearer after a concerted effort to remove illegal aquaculture cages, marking a positive shift for maritime safety and port operations. The Nha Trang Maritime Port Authority recently convened a conference to review and assess the success of this clearance work, specifically targeting the dedicated channel to Cam Ranh International Port.
In recent times, the Nha Trang Maritime Port Authority, alongside the Department of Transport (now Department of Construction), Cam Ranh City People's Committee, and various port enterprises, intensified coordination to tackle unauthorized aquaculture and fishing activities. These activities had been encroaching on maritime infrastructure, shipping channels, and anchorage areas within Cam Ranh Bay's seaport waters.
Through this collaborative approach, authorities have successfully relocated and cleared cages from prohibited aquaculture zones. They've also prevented the proliferation of new illegal cages and promptly addressed violations.
To ensure the long-term resolution of this issue, the Nha Trang Maritime Port Authority recommends implementing appropriate sanctions against uncooperative households who deliberately violate regulations.
Envisioned as an annual umbrella event, SEB 2025 aims to unite all facets of the seafood sector, from hatchery and feed operators to aqua farmers, processors, exporters, and international trading agents. MPEDA's primary goal is to foster trade relations and significantly boost India's seafood exports.
The expo promises a unique platform for trade visitors to conduct business, exchange technological insights, and forge valuable relationships. Key features of SEB 2025 include an International Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM), designed to facilitate direct interactions between top global seafood importers and Indian exporters. Additionally, the event will host Seafood Tasting Sessions to showcase the diversity and quality of Indian seafood, alongside Technical Sessions offering insights into industry trends and best practices.
MPEDA extends a special invitation to international seafood importers to participate in the RBSM, emphasizing the opportunity to explore India's rapidly developing seafood supply chain.
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has launched a public consultation on the inclusion of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in its certification and labeling program. Comments are open until June 20.
The consultation seeks to gather information on the specific environmental and social impacts of Atlantic cod farming and assess whether additional considerations are required for its inclusion in the ASC Salmon Standard v1.4. The consultation asks about Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FFDR) metrics, the impact of fingerling suppliers, and any additional metrics that could improve the assessment of cod farming.
Source: iPac.aquaculture | Read the full article here
87% of Spaniards want the government to allocate more quotas to small-scale fishers—those who operate in coastal waters with vessels less than twelve meters long—and 78% are in favor of allocating less to industrial vessel operators, according to a new YouGov survey published this Monday by the NGO Oceana. "Citizens support this redistribution of quotas because it would support local seafood, protect jobs, and protect the ocean," the survey emphasized.
Source: La Voz de Galicia l Read the full article here
A British fishing vessel has been impounded by the French authorities, accused of illegally fishing in their waters.
It was seized in the English Channel and is being held at the port of Boulogne, unable to leave while the French authorities consider bringing a prosecution.
The vessel was stopped at sea by the French Navy on Thursday night, with its crew alleged to have been fishing in French waters without a licence.
Author: Simon Jones - Adam Durbin / BBC l Read the full article here
The results of a recently published scientific study show wild salmon populations in the Discovery Islands in British Columbia, Canada, continue to have high levels of sea lice, despite the closure of all salmon farming in the region.
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced its plan to close all salmon farming in the Discovery Islands in December 2020, giving farmers in the region just 18 months to shift production. While court orders ended up delaying that timeline, DFO announced on 17 February 2023 it was done renewing licenses for the region, which represented 24 percent of all salmon production in the province.
Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here
Austevoll Seafood, the group which owns Leroy Seafood and other fish related businesses, has recorded a strong first quarter with significant revenue growth.
Earnings totalled NOK 9.8 billion (£717m) with an EBIT of NOK 1.9 billion (£138m), marking one of the best quarters ever for the group. Austevell said the company has a robust balance sheet with total assets of 53 billion NOK (£3.9bn) and an equity ratio of 55%.
There was a significant increase in harvest volumes, particularly in the salmon segment, which saw a 45% rise in volume.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer l Read the full article here
China is poised to revolutionize its aquaculture sector with the imminent delivery of the Su Hai No 1, a groundbreaking offshore salmon-farming vessel.
GUANGZHOU – Built by Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard for approximately $83.6 million USD (600 million yuan), this nearly 250-meter (820-foot) ship represents a major leap in modernizing salmon production and a key step in China's drive for domestic seafood self-sufficiency.
Owned by Jiangsu Lianshen Marine Technology, the vessel is projected to produce up to 8,000 tonnes of salmon annually. Following successful trial voyages in late April and final adjustments, the Su Hai No 1 is slated for delivery next month. It is expected to begin operations as early as this autumn in the Yellow Sea off Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, with the first harvest anticipated next year.
This ambitious project directly addresses China's surging demand for salmon, with over 80% of current consumption reliant on imports, primarily from Norway and Chile. China imported more than 100,000 tonnes of salmon last year, a figure projected to exceed 200,000 tonnes by 2030, according to data from the North Atlantic Seafood Forum in March. The Su Hai No 1 is a strategic move to sate this growing domestic appetite and enhance China's food security in high-value seafood.
BANGLADESH
ARGENTINA
UNITED STATES
The FDA sent a Warning Letter to Yeshua Bendito, C.A., a seafood processor in San Francisco, Zulia, Venezuela, following a remote regulatory assessment conducted in June 2024. The company, which processes cooked, ready-to-eat (RTE) refrigerated and frozen crab meat in reduced oxygen packaging, was found to have HACCP plan deficiencies that could lead to botulism toxin, natural toxins, and chemical contamination risks. The FDA deemed their products adulterated under U.S. law.
VIET NAM.png)
Collaborative Effort Leads to Relocation of Unauthorized Aquaculture, Enhancing Navigation and Addressing Encroachments in Vital Vietnamese Port.
INDIA
CHENNAI – The 
NETHERLANDS
The 
SPAIN
87% of Spaniards want the government to allocate more quotas to small-scale fishers—those who operate in coastal waters with vessels less than twelve meters long—and 78% are in favor of allocating less to industrial vessel operators, according to a new YouGov survey published this Monday by the 
FRANCE
A British fishing vessel has been impounded by the French authorities, accused of illegally fishing in their waters.
CANADA
The results of a recently published scientific study show wild salmon populations in the Discovery Islands in British Columbia, Canada, continue to have high levels of sea lice, despite the closure of all salmon farming in the region.
NORWAY
CHINA
GUANGZHOU – Built by Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard for approximately $83.6 million USD (600 million yuan), this nearly 250-meter (820-foot) ship represents a major leap in modernizing salmon production and a key step in China's drive for domestic seafood self-sufficiency.
