Other Media | EuropaAzul: Spain, Italy and France try to convince with bans and exclusion zones in the Mediterranean
EUROPEAN UNION
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
The Secretary General of Cepesca, Javier Garat, considers it "very complicated" to succeed in blocking the reduction of days in the Mediterranean proposed by the European Commission.
While Spanish fishermen and representatives of the fishing industry are mobilizing before the European institutions in response to the reduction of days of work proposed by the EU, the Minister, Planas, stressed that approaches such as the one made for Mediterranean fishing are what cause the European Union to be seen as a problem and not as the solution.
Despite China's blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports, Japan achieved a record high in food exports for the twelfth consecutive year in 2024, driven by increased sales to the United States and other markets, reports Nippon.com.
Japan's exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and foodstuffs rose by 3.7% year-on-year to ¥1.51 trillion (approximately $10.1 billion USD based on average 2024 exchange rates). This milestone marks the twelfth consecutive year of record-breaking export figures. China's import suspension, implemented in August 2023 in response to the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, significantly impacted exports to Chinese ports. However, Japan successfully mitigated this shortfall through robust sales to the United States and other regions. While exports continue to rise, achieving the government's 2025 target of ¥2 trillion (approximately $13.4 billion USD) appears challenging.
Fishery Export Performance
Overall fishery exports experienced a 6.3% decline due to import restrictions in China and Hong Kong. Nevertheless, successful efforts to diversify scallop markets resulted in a 0.9% increase in sales, maintaining scallops as the top exported fishery product with a value of ¥69.5 billion (approximately $465 million USD).
Most of the cetaceans are still alive and several rescue teams are trying to return them to the sea
A total of 157 whales, of which 136 are still alive, have been stranded on a remote beach in the northwest of Tasmania, an island south of Australia, where today rescue teams are trying to return them to the sea.
A team made up of veterinarians who are experts in wild animals and marine conservationists are in the area where the whales have been stranded, near the Arthur River, the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported in a statement.
Source: La Voz de Galicia l Read the full article here
The Joint Commission of the treaty ratifies the distribution of sole and Norway lobster: Spain will keep 90.4 and 30.4 tons, respectively
Spain and Portugal have expressed their commitment to continue advancing in cooperation, exchange of information and control to guarantee compliance with the technical measures, biological bans and fishing schedules established by each country, within the framework of the application of the current fishing agreement between the two Iberian states, signed in 2021, and whose balance is "very positive", as highlighted by the Secretary General of Fisheries, Isabel Artime, within the framework of the meeting of the joint commission of the agreement, held in Matosinhos, Portugal. Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, Secretary of State for Fisheries of Portugal, also participated in the meeting.
Source: Fishing Industries l Read the full article here
Growth and Increased Attendance Mark the Return of the Unified Event
Visitor numbers rose by 30% compared to the 2024 edition. With over 110 exhibitors, 20 conference sessions, and more than 150 speakers, the success of the 2025 edition was firmly established.
The 8th edition of AquaFarm concluded on a high note, marking the successful return of the unified event alongside NovelFarm and AlgaeFarm—now in their 6th and 4th editions, respectively—under one banner at the Pordenone Exhibition Centre.
SHM Solutions and Kort Propulsion announce strategic partnership.
SHM Solutions has entered into a strategic partnership with UK-based Kort Propulsion, expanding its product offerings to include thrusters and propulsion systems under the SHM brand. The collaboration aims to provide integrated equipment solutions for a wide range of vessels worldwide.
Kort Propulsion, which has over 90 years of experience in propulsion technology, sees the partnership as an opportunity to extend its market reach and enhance service capabilities.
Source: SalmonBusiness l Read the full article here
Alotta, which makes floating solar panel systems, has signed a contract with Norwegian salmon farmer Emilsen Fisk for the delivery of an Alotta Solar Hybrid 120 to its site at Båfjordstranda, Trøndelag. It will be the world’s most northerly floating solar power plant.
The project has received support from the Norwegian government’s green transition agency Enova with a grant of 45%, which the parties said has been an important incentive for realising the green energy solution.
Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
Container freight rates from Asia to both Europe and the United States continue their downward trend.
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), published by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) on February 14th, registered 1758 points, a 138-point decrease from the previous week.
Route-specific data reveals that freight rates for 40-foot containers to North America's East Coast have fallen to $4825, dropping below the $5,000 threshold for the first time since December of last year.
This $665 weekly decline represents the most significant drop observed in 2024. Simultaneously, freight rates to North America's West Coast decreased to $3544, a $400 reduction from the previous week.
Science, the fishing sector, and conservation join forces to combat ghost fishing and protect marine biodiversity.
Ghost fishing and abandoned fishing gear, a silent threat to the fishing sector, find a response in an initiative co-financed by the European Union that seeks to transform the Mediterranean into an example of sustainability and collaboration.
The Mediterranean, a vital enclave for biodiversity and maritime activity, faces a challenge: every year, a considerable number of sea turtles can become trapped in lost or abandoned fishing gear (ALFG). However, this is not the only risk factor for them. As a sea shared by multiple countries and in which various fleets operate, the protection of its ecosystem requires coordinated action and shared responsibility.
This situation not only impacts biodiversity, but also the sustainability of fisheries and maritime safety. To respond to this problem, LIFE OASIS is born, a pioneering project that combines technology, research and direct collaboration with the fishing and maritime sector at an international level.
- Patricia Ordóñez, formerly Researcher in the Acoustics Department, has been appointed as the company first Director of Science and Sustainability, a newly created position that will report to Zunibal's director and shareholder, Ibone Rodríguez de Pablo.
- The appointment reinforces the company's commitment to innovation and sustainability, promoting technological solutions and projects that optimize the efficiency of the fishing sector and contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems.
Vizcaya, - Zunibal, leading company in technological solutions for sustainable fisheries, has appointed Patricia Ordóñez as Director of Science and Sustainability. In this new position, Patricia will lead the implementation of Zunibal's sustainability strategy, integrating environmental, social and circular economy practices in the fishing sector.
Before assuming this responsibility, Patricia Ordóñez played a key role in the technological and scientific development of the company. Her relationship with Zunibal began during her doctoral studies at the Universitat Politècnica de València, when she collaborated in R+D projects that combined academic knowledge with practical solutions for the fishing sector.
A recent study by the Romir holding company, reported by TASS, reveals a notable shift in Russian consumer preferences, with fish products increasingly favored over traditional deli items like sausages and cheeses.
The study indicates a "stable trend" of consumers transitioning away from delicacies, sausages, and hard/semi-hard cheeses, opting instead for fish. Notably, "Russians increasingly prefer a breakfast sandwich with red fish over sausage," according to the findings.
Analysts attribute the growing demand for red, smoked, lightly salted, and salted fish to several factors. These include a narrowing cost differential between red fish and dry-smoked/dry-cured sausages, driven by active promotional campaigns and retailers' efforts to source affordable alternatives like pink salmon and char.
Despite this narrowing gap, the average expenditure on fish remains 61% higher than on dry-smoked/dry-cured sausages. This "indicates high demand for the fish category among consumers and confirms its importance for retail chains," the study concludes.
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