Other Media | FishFocus: Keep the small fish plentiful to ensure ocean health – new report
UNITED STATES
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Only one in six forage fish populations in the Northeast Atlantic is both sustainably exploited and in a healthy state, according to a report published by Oceana. The marine conservation organisation is urging Northeast Atlantic countries to improve their management of these small fish, in advance of negotiations on fishing limits later this year.
Many marine species – from marine mammals and seabirds to commercially important fish – depend on forage fish such as sandeel, sprat, and herring as a primary source of food.
China has long been fishing overseas for squid, especially outside South America, and the catch has increased in 2023.
China's squid production is estimated to reach 757,000 tons in 2023. At the same time, squid imports into China increased to 350,000 tons. tons during the first nine months of 2023, compared to 334,000 tons for the same period in 2022. But squid exports from China are expected to fall 10 percent to about 500,000 tonnes in 2023.
However, domestic consumption of squid does not increase. On the contrary, it is falling, and this creates a problem for traders who are left with growing inventories. Thus, the outlook for the Chinese squid market is quite bleak.
An international commission managing fisheries in the western and central Pacific Ocean has decided to increase the annual quota for large bluefin tuna next season.
The agreement was reached at an annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. The meeting was held in the Cook Islands from last Monday through Saturday.
The commission discussed how to manage the regional stocks of high-end bluefin tuna, which is a popular sushi topping.
Japan's Fisheries Agency says the meeting unanimously agreed to special measures for next season proposed by Japan and other member nations.
The agreement called for expanding the quota for large bluefin weighing 30 kilograms or more, while decreasing that for smaller fish weighing less than 30 kilograms.
The agency says that with the agreement, it now plans to increase the quota for the government-managed off-shore bluefin catch, using round haul nets and drift nets, by more than 400 tons from this season to 4,820 tons next season.
The agency plans to formally decide on the figure as early as next week. This will be the first increase in two years.
The agency also plans to propose at the next year's meeting to regularly expand the quotas on the grounds that bluefin stocks in the region have been recovering.
The crab fishing vessel “Zaliv Shelikhov” was launched in Nakhodka. This is the fifth crab farm, which is being built based on the results of crab auctions with investment obligations, commissioned by the Antey Group of Companies
“Shelikhov Bay”, like the entire series of crab catchers, is being built according to the modern CCa5712LS design. It is designed for harvesting and transporting live crab in the Bering, Barents and Okhotsk seas. The vessel will be able to store up to 120 tons of live crab in 9 RSW tanks with a total volume of 680 cubic meters.
Photo: Antey
Characteristics of the crab fishing vessel:
Total length 57.7 meters
Width 12.6 meters
Maximum speed 12 knots
Source: Federal Agency of Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo) | Translated from original in russian
The only record landings being caught so far this year in the southwestern Nova Scotia lobster fishery are on the low end of the scale.
“The inside boats, the catches are okay. But the outside boats fishing 45, 50 fathoms, (there's) been nothing. It’s been a disaster,”said Lockeport buyer Mike Cotter of Cotter’s Ocean Products.
Fishermen in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 33, where the season opened on Nov. 26, “have been able to move their gear inside, and hopefully with the price they’re going to make a season out of it,”Cotter said.
The opening shore price of $10.50 a pound is about the only bright spot so far this season. Last year, the season opened at $7.50.
“The price is helping out a lot,”said Cotter.
In neighbouring LFA 34, where the season opened on Dec. 2 following five days of weather delays, “the catches are way, way down,"Cotter said.
"I was talking to people in Meteghan, Brier Island, Pubnico. The inside boats are catching a few but they’re still down 20 to 30 percent. Some areas are down 50 per cent,”said Cotter.
Dan Fleck project manager for the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association, said in LFA 34 fishers fishing offshore from the 25-to-50-mile line, are reporting catches are down as much as 75 per cent.[...]
Specialists indicated that it is not known why thousands of dead sardines appeared on the coast of Japan.
Residents and marine life specialists were baffled when thousands of dead sardines appeared on the coast of Japan, which caused uncertainty because it is not known why this number of fish lost their lives and ended up on the shore of the Japanese Sea.
According to the information consulted, the events occurred on the coast of Hakodate, in Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of Japan, where last Friday a huge amount of dead sardines appeared on the shore of the beach. Authorities recommended not consuming these fish.
The fact surprised fishermen and specialists because they pointed out that they had never seen such a number of dead fish in the area, although it is known that massive amounts of dead species washed up on the shores of the sea. The mystery increases after it has not been possible to specify under what circumstances these fish died.[...]
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — New England's long-shuttered shrimp business, which fell victim to warming waters, will remain in a fishing moratorium indefinitely, fishery regulators ruled last week.
The shrimping business was based mostly in Maine and produced small, pink shrimp that were a winter delicacy in New England and across the country. The industry has been in a moratorium since 2013 in large part because environmental conditions off New England are unfavorable for the cold water-loving shrimp.
That moratorium will remain in effect with no firm end date, a board of the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted Friday, Dec. 1. The board stopped short of calling the move a permanent moratorium because it included a provision to continue monitoring the shrimp population and consider reopening the fishery if the crustaceans approach a healthy level.
But it was clear board members saw little chance of a future for a fishery that once provided a beloved seafood item that appeared on restaurant menus and in seafood markets every year around Christmas.[...]
President of the Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, has disclosed plans to establish a groundbreaking Fisheries College in the Maldives.
This announcement took place during the commemoration of the 43rd Fishermen’s Day at Dharubaaruge yesterday evening.
Muizzu highlighted that the Fisheries College would be a collaborative effort with the Maldives National University (MNU). Administrative actions are already in progress as part of the Administration’s first 14 weeks roadmap to bring this plan to execution.
Emphasizing the importance of the fisheries sector’s advancement, Muizzu declared a specialized training program. The initiative aims to ensure that every fishing vessel has at least one crew member certified as a “rescue diver.” The President underscored the high priority accorded to fishermen in the Administration’s Manifesto.
In addition to this, plans were unveiled to establish a dedicated agency for advertising and promoting fish products to foreign markets under a unique Maldivian brand. President Dr. Muizzu outlined both ongoing and future initiatives geared towards enhancing the welfare and prosperity of fishermen.
During the ceremony, President recognized the achievements of individuals in the fisheries sector by presenting 19 awards as part of the Fishermen’s Day prizes.
The same source reported that Vietnamese shrimp exports in November recorded 310 million dollars, a year-on-year increase of 3.5 percent. With that sum, the income from sending this item abroad during the first 11 months amounted to 3.15 billion dollars, a figure that represented a drop of 22 percent compared to the same period in 2022.
The main receiving markets for this product from Vietnam are the United States, China, Japan, the European Union and South Korea.
Shrimp exports remain dominated by price competition amid global oversupply and low sales values.
According to VASEP assessments, demand for shrimp in Southeast Asia and the Far East is expected to improve at the end of the year thanks to Christmas and the Lunar New Year. Prices could increase during that period.
China's largest comprehensive fishery scientific survey vessel, Lanhai (Blue Ocean) 201, recently set sail for the first time to carry out fishery resource survey tasks. After quarantine inspection by Shanghai Chongming Customs, the Lanhai 201 has departed from Shanghai Hengsha Fishing Port, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
The Lanhai 201 survey vessel is the largest investment, tonnage, and most advanced facility of its kind by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. It belongs to the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and is a 3,000-ton fishery comprehensive scientific survey vessel. It was independently developed and designed by China and has global navigation capabilities (outside of polar ice regions).
Weighing 3,000 tons and measuring 84.5 meters in length and 15 meters in width, the vessel has a cruising power of 10,000 nautical miles and integrates advanced technologies, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The vessel is capable of collecting and analyzing data and samples in various missions, such as fisheries resource survey and assessment, fishery ecological environment monitoring and research and tests on fishing gears and techniques.[...]
One of Scotland’s largest family-owned manufacturers of quality seafood products is marking 20 years of partnership with Aldi.
The fifth-generation family business was established in 1947 in Boddam and has grown from strength to strength in recent years – a success owners credit to their long-standing relationship with Aldi and as a result of their innovative product offering.
Stephen Main, Commercial Director and Ryan Scatterty, CEO, with the Aldi team.
Thistle Seafoods started out supplying Scottish Aldi stores with just two products in 2003.
Today, their expanded product offering is available in every UK Aldi store with 39 different products including fresh Melt in the Middle Fishcakes, frozen Breaded and Battered Fish, and speciality lines for the festive season including Salmon Wellingtons and Luxury Fish Pies.
Headquartered in Peterhead, Thistle acquired a second site in 2022 in Uddingston as part of its strategy to develop a ‘sea-to-plate’ seafood processing business.[...]
Market situation for Norwegian cod (fresh, frozen, farmed...) Norway
Fall of fresh cod
Norway exported 2,420 tonnes of fresh cod worth NOK 141 million in November.
The value fell NOK 36 million, or 20 percent, compared to November last year.
Volume fel...
Southeast Pacific Squid Index: Giant squid (dosidicus gigas) China
In order to continuously enhance the ability to control squid resources and price influence, and conduct more accurate resource assessment and forecasting, the China Ocean Fisheries Association&n...
UNITED STATES 13_22_06.png)
Only one in six forage fish populations in the Northeast Atlantic is both sustainably exploited and in a healthy state, according to a report published by Oceana. The marine conservation organisation is urging Northeast Atlantic countries to improve their management of these small fish, in advance of negotiations on fishing limits later this year.
CHINA
China's squid production is estimated to reach 757,000 tons in 2023. At the same time, squid imports into China increased to 350,000 tons. tons during the first nine months of 2023, compared to 334,000 tons for the same period in 2022. But squid exports from China are expected to fall 10 percent to about 500,000 tonnes in 2023.
JAPAN
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
CANADA
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The shrimping business was based mostly in Maine and produced small, pink shrimp that were a winter delicacy in New England and across the country. The industry has been in a moratorium since 2013 in large part because environmental conditions off New England are unfavorable for the cold water-loving shrimp.
MALDIVES
This announcement took place during the commemoration of the 43rd Fishermen’s Day at Dharubaaruge yesterday evening.
VIET NAM.jpg)
The Lanhai 201 survey vessel is the largest investment, tonnage, and most advanced facility of its kind by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. It belongs to the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and is a 3,000-ton fishery comprehensive scientific survey vessel. It was independently developed and designed by China and has global navigation capabilities (outside of polar ice regions).
UNITED KINGDOM
