Vietnam, the world’s largest producer and exporter of pangasius, has begun concentrating its sales pitch for its top fish export on a new market – its own.

With more than USD 2.4 billion (EUR 2.2) in export sales in 2022, pangasius was Vietnam’s number-two seafood export by value behind shrimp at USD 4.3 billion (EUR 4.1 billion). Most of the country’s pangasius is farmed in the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam. Despite challenges, 

Author: Toan Dao / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here

California-based Kikka Sushi, which sells seafood products in more than 20 US states, has launched a vegan range that includes vegan salmon and tuna sushi.

The fish analogues are created with the root vegetable konjac, commonly used in the production of plant-based seafood, and the red algae, agar.

The new vegan fish options are available in select flagship branches of Whole Foods Markets.

Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here

The upcoming event will be held at the Van der Valk Hotel, Utrecht, Netherlands, between 5 and 7 September. Attendees can register at early-bird prices until 1 April.

A news release from the Global Shrimp Forum hailed the success of the 2022 event. The first forum gathered more than 400 delegates who represented over 225 companies in the sector. For 2023, the forum plans to improve its conference programme and expand its seminar offering across all three days and increase the Q&A sessions.

Source: The Fish Site l Read the full article here

UK retail giant Tesco has announced it is to start using discarded plastic collected from coastal areas in its packaging for fresh fish products.

From next week, many of the supermarket chain’s fresh salmon, haddock, cod and seabass lines will be sold for the first time in trays that contain at least 30% recycled coastal plastic collected from beaches, coastlines and coastal communities around the Mediterranean Sea.

The move into the new packaging is expected to remove around 500 tonnes of plastic from the environment each year and reduce the amount of so-called “virgin plastic” required in the packaging.

Author: Jason Holland / Worldfishing l Read the full article here

Quotes from EPP Group Fisheries Committee coordinator, Mr Gabriel Mato, in the debate on the presentation of his draft report on "The state of play in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives" that took place today in the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament:

"The future Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) needs a paradigm shift from rigid and unrealistic targets to pragmatic and achievable objectives. The objectives of the current CFP are too focused on environmental considerations. It is equally vital to ensure food security, much needed especially now in times of geopolitical crisis, and a positive social and economic return for fishermen and coastal communities. Therefore, the CFP reform must aim to achieve a rebalancing of its objectives by strengthening the socio-economic and food security dimensions.

Fisheries must gain its position as a strategic sector in producing healthy and high quality food.

We must promote the CFP as a policy model for ocean governance and defend the interests of the EU fisheries sector in international fora. It is vital to maintain the EU operators' competitiveness, by guaranteeing a level-playing field for all operators at global level. Imported seafood products must be subject to high environmental and social standards, similar to those applied in the Union.

We need to develop specific measures for fisheries and aquaculture for the outermost regions and give them the possibility to renew their artisanal fleets.

I hope that this report will set solid foundations for an ambitious and fair reform, where fishermen, aquaculture producers and all related industries will be in the centre of the policy."

The crab fishing vessel was built by order of Sever LLC following the results of crab auctions with investment obligations.

The crab fleet continues to grow. At the Eastern shipyard in Vladivostok, on January 20, the Russian flag was raised on the crab-processor F/V 'Khabarovsk'.

The laying of the crab took place on November 26, 2019. Khabarovsk is the third crab fishing vessel built at the Eastern Shipyard.

The autonomy of the navigation of the crab fishing vessel is 45 days, the crew is 21 people, the length of the vessel is 63.2 m, the width is 10.2, the speed is 14 knots.

In total, according to the results of the first stage of the distribution of crab quotas at auctions with investment obligations, 41 vessels for harvesting crabs will be built.

Source: Federal Agency for Fishery (translated from original in russian)

The Port of Vigo inaugurated yesterday its 4.0 market, a concept coined by the institution itself to refer to the incorporation of a battery system that allows energy obtained from renewable sources to be stored and used at night.

Specifically, the new rula from Vigo presents an improvement in the insulation conditions of the auction room envelope and the facilities have been modernized.

306 solar panels dedicated to self-consumption have also been arranged on the car park roof.

Source: La Voz de Galicia l Read the full article here

IFFO has presented its report on the marine ingredients market trends corresponding to the period January to November 2022, in which it points out that for the regions in which IFFO regularly monitors the production of marine ingredients, -which represent approximately 50 % of world production–, an increase in the total cumulative production of fish oil is detected with respect to the same period in 2021. European countries, India, the USA, as well as South Africa, the Ivory Coast and Mauritius were the regions that recorded a year-over-year increase.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras l Read the full article here

Another Grimsby seafood processor has hit the buffers following a steep rise in fish prices over the past year.

Cook & Lucas has closed its doors and gone into administration with the loss of around 80 jobs.

Last month Iceland Seafood International, which employs almost 200 people, announced it is to close its Grimsby operation. Two attempts to sell its factory have failed to materialise.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer l Read the full article here