Meet Ms Rhea Moss-Christian, Executive Director for Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, who discusses the crucial support provided by the Pacific Community in the tuna stock assessment during the 15th SPC's Heads of Fisheries Meeting.

The Sitka Sound Sac Roe herring fishery will go on two-hour notice on Thursday morning (3-23-23). That means at any time after that, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game can announce a fishery opening with two hours warning. 

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game on Monday conducted aerial surveys of Sitka Sound from Cape Burunof to St. Lazaria Island. According to a press release from the department, no spawn or herring schools were observed during their flights. 

Herring predators were widely dispersed, but groups of humpback whales were observed near Inner Point, north of Middle Island, and south of Galankin Island. Groups of sea lions were observed near Inner Point, Mountain Point, and Bieli Rock. Department and industry vessels surveyed from Indian River to Deep Inlet and from Inner Point to Mountain Point.

From boats, several herring schools were observed from Indian River to Deep Inlet and from Inner Point to Mountain Point, as well as southeast of Big Gavanski Island.

Source: kcaw

Fishery and community groups aiming to save Scotland’s iconic wild salmon have been urged to bid for a share of a £145,000 funding pot.

Salmon Scotland has issued a reminder to organisations and projects that they have until March 31 to apply to its ‘wild fisheries fund’.

The fund is part of a £1.5 million commitment from Scotland's salmon farmers to support the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of wild salmon populations.

Projects which receive grants will aim to stem the decades-long decline in wild fish numbers through habitat protection, protection from predators, and restocking programmes.

Habitat loss and rising river temperatures – primarily due to climate change – have impacted on wild salmon and sea trout populations throughout the UK and all over the Scottish coastline.

Source: strathspey-herald 

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) alongside UK Fishing Administrations (UKFAs) and the Isle of Man Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) are closing ICES area 6a and 7a to the queen scallop (Aequipecten Opercularis) fishery from 1 April – 30 June 2023.

The closure is designed to offer protection for queen scallops during part of their spawning season and support future growth in the population. Further information on the scientific evidence collected on queen scallops is available here: AFBI report and Bangor University report.

Source: FishFocus | Read the full article here

Mowi’s Scotland business endured a challenging year in 2022, the company has disclosed in its annual report published today.

The problems mainly centred around poor production and high mortality on stocks grown from externally sourced eggs, in addition to issues with micro-jellyfish bloom and SRS (Salmon Rickettsial Syndrome) following the warmest summer on record in Scotland.

Author: Vince McDonagh / FishFarmer | Read the full article here

Andfjord Salmon is moving forward with its plan to increase production at its onshore continuous flow system in Kvalnes, Norway, according to its Q4 2022 financial update.

Andfjord Salmon CEO Martin Rasmussen told shareholders in a fourth-quarter 2022 results presentation that the company had "successfully provided a proof of concept" with its first large salmon pool, which was restocked with smolts in June 2022.

Source: Aqua | Read the full article here

Seafood trade flows have changed dramatically in recent years, according to Rabobank International Senior Industry Analyst Gorjan Nikolik.

Speaking at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum, Nikolik said China has transitioned from being world’s biggest seafood exporter to becoming a net importer. That has elevated Norway to the top position after more than a decade in second place, but it may not hold on to the position for very long as Ecuador is firmly on course to overtake via the continued growth of its shrimp industry.

Author: Jason Holland / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been implementing a major fisheries and aquaculture development program that has shown significant potential to boost these industries in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania, Guyana, and the Marshall Islands, increasing their self-sufficiency, creating jobs, and maintaining biological stock levels.

The nations are the first five of 12 African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) states that FISH4ACP, a global aquaculture program for the development of the fish value chain, has examined. This Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) initiative is being carried out by FAO and focuses on increasing the productivity and sustainability of the value chains in fisheries and aquaculture.

Supporting women is given special attention because of their critical role in fish value chains, which are the entire process of adding value to the product.

Source: technologytimes

The Junta de Andalucía has summoned aid for forced stoppages of the fishing and shellfish fleet. The subsidies are directed to owners and crew members of the 210 boats and 900 affected fishermen. Specifically, 96 boats and 400 crew from the Mediterranean and 114 boats and 500 crew from the Gulf of Cádiz.

As explained by the Board, the aid has been agreed upon with the sector and "allows for the compensation of the fishing effort made by shipowners and crew, for which reason the processing of these and their prompt perception has been facilitated."

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

Leading representatives of Scotland's fishing industry have called on the Scottish Government to have a "radical rethink" on its plans to introduce new conservation zones at sea.

The newly-proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), which are currently under consultation, would close at least 10% of the seas around Scotland.

It means commercial and recreational fishing would be banned in those zones.

Scotland's existing network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) already covers approximately 37% of its seas.

Scottish Government ministers insist they will conserve marine ecosystems, while continuing to provide economic and social benefits.

But the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), which represents Scotland's fishermen's associations, said HPMAs will have a "catastrophic impact" on the industry.

Members said the current plans "lack ecological justification and were being introduced for purely political reasons".

SFF cheif executive Elspeth Macdonald said the Scottish Government's blue economy plans "have been hijacked by the Greens and will push the fishing industry into the red".

Author/Source: Katharine Hay/The Scotsman