The MSC ecolabel has responded to accusations of forced labour on certain certified tuna vessels, according to research published on 3 September, which accused it of allowing cases of forced labour, particularly on certified tuna vessels. For its part, MSC rejects these accusations.

In her report published in Nature, entitled “Does tuna ecolabelling do more harm than good for fishermen?”, researcher Katrina Nakamura reveals shortcomings in the MSC’s self-declaration procedures regarding labour on some of the 3,327 tuna vessels certified by the MSC, the world’s most recognised ecolabel for sustainable seafood.

The incriminated vessels are also the subject of an investigation by the International Transport Federation (ITF) inspectorate, which has identified serious abuses ranging from lack of pay, forced labour and untreated workplace injuries. The Taiwanese purse seiner Win Far 636, for example, is the subject of an investigation following the death of an observer who had reported harassment and threats. Other vessels, the Charlotte M, the Svetlana M, the Natalia Victoria, the Dayna S and the Viki K, all registered in the United States, were reported to be in the process of being investigated.

Source: EuropaAzul

ABANCA and the Spanish Aquaculture Business Association (APROMAR) have renewed, for another year, the collaboration agreement they maintain to, through a common strategy, "consolidate their alliance to strengthen aquaculture activity, of great importance in the country and which already has a clear commitment to respect for the environment."

The agreement has been signed by the director of the ABANCA Business Center in Seville, Rafael Hernández, and the manager of APROMAR, Javier Ojeda.

APROMAR has highlighted that this agreement will allow its associates to access various financing options adapted to the needs of the sector, focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability. The agreement includes products such as a five-year credit policy without commissions, which helps to cover deficits due to biological and seasonal stoppages, as well as interest-free and commission-free loans and a naval mortgage for the construction, purchase or repair of more modern and ecological aquaculture vessels.

Source: MisPeces

A fundamental requirement for the success of programs aimed at promoting the responsible use of antibiotics in animal production is to quantify the use of antimicrobials (AMU) but in a standardized and solid way, in such a way that it allows fair comparisons between animal populations of different size and composition and between drugs of different therapeutic potency.

Under this premise, scientists from the University of O'Higgins and Sernapesca conducted a new study in which they sought to introduce the use of standardized AMU metrics and indicators to quantify the use of florfenicol and oxytetracycline in Chilean salmon farming.

Author: Francisco Soto / SalmonExpert | Read the full article here

Up to £14 million from the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) will be announced to support projects aligned with the Blue Economy Vision as one of the key priorities for the Rural Affairs and Islands Sector

In a recent statement, Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, has highlighted the Scottish Government’s focus on addressing significant financial challenges while advancing key priorities in the rural and islands sectors.

Author: Oliver McBride  / TheFishingDaily | Read the full article here

AKVA group has taken over construction of Årdal Aqua’s post-smolt facility in Årdal, Norway, following Billund Aquaculture’s bankruptcy.

When complete, the Årdal facility will consist of four post-smolt modules, each with a capacity of 1,500 metric tons. AKVA confirmed it expects to finish construction in June 2025.

AKVA said it recruited former Billund employees who had been working on the project and that it will also contribute additional resources “to ensure the successful completion of the facility.”

Author: Cliff White / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

It has been a hectic week (week 35) on the Norwegian mackerel fishing grounds with great activity northwest of Ålesund, reports Norwegian pelagic group, Norges Sildesalgslag.

A a total of 38,186 tonnes of mackerel were caught, where Sunday was the biggest day with 10,773 tonnes distributed among over 70 vessels.

In the corresponding week 35 in 2023, there was 19,205 tonnes caught. The fleet has gathered around 80 miles north-west of Ålesund and there is a lot of activity in the area.

Source: FishFocus | Read the full article here

The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Angola on the facilitation of sustainable investments has entered into force, the first EU agreement of its kind and whose objective is to encourage foreign investments necessary to achieve the sustainable development goals. According to the European Commission, the Agreement will create a more transparent, efficient and predictable business environment for investors in Angola and will promote sustainable investment in this country by EU companies.

Source: IndustriasPesqueras | Read the full article here

The Lenin Fishing Collective Farm (Kamchatka Krai) is investing about 14.5 billion rubles in the construction of two refrigerated vessels and 3.28 billion rubles in two fish processing plants as part of the "keel quotas" program. The enterprise signed a cooperation agreement with the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEDC) on the sidelines of the EEF-2024.

Following the two stages of the investment quota program, the collective farm intends to build 14 vessels of different classes, thus completely renewing the fishing fleet. One of them is the large freezer trawler Viktor Gavrilov (under construction at the Yantar Shipyard), which will be launched in November 2024 and arrive in Kamchatka in early 2026.

“The Lenin Fishing Kolkhoz is a pioneer of the investment quota program: the enterprise was the first to sign a contract for the construction of vessels under investment quotas and the first to receive a new vessel built in modern Russia. By its example, the enterprise has shown that the program works, and works effectively,” noted Ilya Shestakov during his working visit to Kamchatka.

Source: Federal Agency for Fisheries