By the end of September 2024, South Korea imported a total of 651,137 tons of seafood, a 9% decrease compared to the 714,919 tons imported during the same period in 2023. The total import value for the period reached USD 2.908 billion, a 15% decline from USD 6.411 billion in 2023.

The top 10 imported species by volume included frozen pollock, squid, mackerel, monkfish, small octopus, squid wing, poulp squid, salted jellyfish, pollock roe, and squid bodies. Among these, five species—frozen pollock, mackerel, squid wing,  poulp squid, and squid bodies—saw a decline in import volumes compared to last year,  while five others—frozen squid, monkfish, small octopus, salted jellyfish, and pollock roe—experienced an increase.

The year-on-year changes for key species are as follows:

• Frozen pollock fell by 1% to 105,136 tons, accounting for 16.2% of total imports.
• Frozen squid increased by 29% to 29,588 tons, making up 4.5% of total imports.
• Frozen mackerel dropped by 24% to 25,825 tons, representing 4% of total imports.
• Frozen monkfish rose by 11% to 22,009 tons, accounting for 3.4% of total imports.

This decline in import volumes and values reflects global shifts in marine resources and seafood market dynamics.

Source: Union Forsea Corp

Panaji: The Fisheries Department, in collaboration with coastal police and a local fishermen's representative, seized two fishing trawlers from Malpe, Karnataka, on Saturday for conducting illegal bull trawling in Goa’s territorial waters.

The enforcement operation, which began early in the morning, saw the team depart from Panaji jetty and head eight nautical miles offshore to monitor illegal fishing activity in Goan waters.

During the patrol, the team encountered four trawlers engaging in illegal bull trawling. While two of the vessels were successfully apprehended, the other two managed to evade capture by cutting their fishing nets and fleeing the scene.

The two seized trawlers, along with their 15 crew members, were escorted to the fisheries jetty in Panaji for further legal proceedings.

This operation is part of the department's ongoing efforts to combat illegal fishing and protect Goa’s marine resources.

Dutch plant-based seafood brand, Vegan Zeastar, has introduced an exciting new addition to its lineup: Plant-Based Sushi Rolls.

Unveiled at the prestigious CuliPerslunch event in De Kookfabriek, Amsterdam, the launch allowed food service professionals to sample the innovative offerings firsthand.

The sushi rolls come in three flavorful varieties: Oshi No Salmon, Spicy No Tuna, and No Salmon Asparagus. Created by Vegan Finest Foods, the company behind Vegan Zeastar, these pre-cut, frozen rolls are designed for ultimate convenience—simply defrost, top as desired, and serve. They cater to both restaurants and consumers seeking quick, easy-to-prepare, plant-based meals at home.

More details can be found on the Vegan Finest Foods website

As of October 4, 2024, South Korea has imported a cumulative total of 18,968 tons of fresh salmon, which is similar to the 18,903 tons imported during the same period last year. 

However, the import value has dropped by nearly 10%, from USD 297,650 in 2023 to USD 267,989 in 2024. 

Most of the imports came from Norway, accounting for 18,315 tons, followed by Chile with 445 tons and Canada with 90 tons. The import prices per kilogram were highest for Norway at USD 14.19, followed by Chile at USD 12.61, and Canada at USD 12.23, the lowest.

Source: Union Forsea Corp.

• Those attending the event receive recipe books and promotional gifts, thus contributing to a complete culinary experience that goes beyond simple tasting..

• With this initiative, Opmega reinforces its commitment to innovation in the sector and its goal of making a fresh, healthy and easy-to-prepare product available to all homes.

Valladolid - From October 3 to 5, the Val de Valladolid Market is the epicentre of the 'OPMEGA Gastronomic Days', where not only the quality of Galician mussels is celebrated, but also one of its main innovations: the new fresh mussel packaging, developed by the Galician Mussel Producers' Organisation (OPMEGA).

These packages, designed to improve the conservation and facilitate the consumption of mussels, are available to the public of Valladolid in the fishmongers of the market. The key to this innovation lies in the controlled atmosphere of the packaging, which allows the mussel to remain alive and perfectly clean, extending its useful life by 40%.

This represents a great advance both for consumers, who can enjoy the fresh product for longer, and for the fishing sector, which sees how the distribution chain is optimized without losing the characteristic quality of the Galician mussel.

Source: Opmega Comunicación

Conxemar closed after a week full of contacts, but uncomfortable due to the rain that fell and the difficult access to the premises. The International Fair of Seafood and Frozen Products has noted the low and high prices due to the absence of raw materials due to the closure of the Malvinas fishing ground. Among the conclusions. "We have had a large number of buyers," revealed Eloy García, president of the Fair a few hours after the doors of the exhibition closed.

The number of exhibitors was 767, because in 2023 all the available exhibition space at Ifevi had already been reserved. So this year these figures were simply consolidated.

Muchos de ellos quedaron fuera existiendo una gran lista de espera. Conxdemar lleva años defendiendo la necesidad de ampliar el recinto ferial que acoge la feria más importante de Galicia.

Source: EuropaAzul l Read the full article here

The Court of Justice of the European Union has rejected the appeals filed by the Council of the EU and the European Commission against the 2021 ruling that annulled the fisheries and agricultural agreements between the EU and Morocco, following a complaint by the Polisario Front for not having taken into account the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and, in the specific case of fisheries, for not treating the territory of Western Sahara and adjacent waters as separate and distinct from the Kingdom of Morocco.

The new ruling, with a definitive character, generates more uncertainties about the future of fisheries relations with Morocco. 

Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here

Proximar Seafood has harvested and sold the first Atlantic salmon to the Japanese market under the brand Fuji Atlantic Salmon.

Proximar has, from its salmon facility at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, over the past two years prepared for the company’s first harvest– and the first harvest ever in Japan of domestically produced Atlantic salmon. The completion of the first commercial harvest is marking an operational and commercial pivotal milestone.

Source: Fish Focus l Read the full article here