Whale faeces contain large quantities of nutrients that are important to the ocean ecosystem, according to a new study.

In summer, 15,000 minke whales come to Svalbard to feed, and each one of them produces around 40 kilos of faeces per day. That makes 600 tonnes of whale poo in total.

It may sound disgusting, but for the ecosystem it is worth its weight in gold.

Important phytoplankton blooms

Source: FishFocus | read the full article here

Three new reports for 2023 look at the current state of the global seaweed industry, its future potential, and the health risks of eating it.

In its State of the Industry 2023 report, seaweed industry tracker Phyconomy found more than USD 375 million (EUR 351 million) in disclosed equity investment has been placed in seaweed projects in the past three years. Phyconomy tracks the emerging seaweed economy using publicly available data

Author: Nicki Holmyard / SeafoodSource | read the full article here

Small-scale fishing accounts for at least 40% of the world's total fish catch, 37 million tonnes out of a total of 92 million, and 492 million people depend in some way on this activity for their livelihood. These are some of the results of "Illuminating Hidden Harvest: The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development", an initiative led by FAO, Duke University and the WorldFish research center. 

Source: IndustriasPesqueras | Read the full article here

According to the latest regional Export Bulletin developed by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), corresponding to January 2023, salmon farming exports reached USD $498.4 million, achieving year-on-year growth of 7.8%, which translated in USD $35.9 million. Specifically, the value of shipments from salmon farming represented 82.7% of the total exported from the region and 88.6% of the products shipped in the food branch.

Source: Aqua | Read the full article here

• Seattle A season 1st stage
• U.S. pollock roe prices skyrocketed

According to a person involved in the first stage (S) bidding for the US new Spollock roe A season, which was held in Seattle, USA from the 7th to the 9th, the listed quantity was about 4,600 tons, and the average winning bid price (results undisclosed American Seafoods) was 1,441 yen per kg for standard (STD) frozen goods on board, and 1,169 yen for STD second.

Compared to last year's season A prices, the prices have risen by more than 100 yen each.

Land frozen products are 1263 yen for STD, 97 for STD second...

Source: Minato-Yamaguchi (translated from original in japanese)

Until the end of February, the amount of seafood imports from Taiwan increased significantly.

Taiwanese seafood exports to Korea through February were 6,678 tons, up 55% from 4,311 tons in 2022.

Due to the increase in frozen saury imports, the average unit import price fell by 17.6% from USD 3.76/kg to USD 3.10/kg.

The major imported fish species are frozen saury, frozen swordfish, frozen mackerel, and frozen oilfish in the order.

Source : Union Forsea Corp.

The company Baltimar (Heirs of Ángel Muriel Santana), integrated into the National Association of Seafood Freezer Vessel Owners (ANAMAR), which is part of the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (Cepesca), has celebrated today the act of blessing its new fishing vessel “Doce de Julio”, which will fish in the waters of Guinea Bissau and Mauritania within the framework of the sustainable fishing agreements (SFPA) that the European Union (EU) maintains with these African countries.

The event took place at the Levante Quay of the Port of Huelva and took place after the launching of the ship last February in the Asturian town of Navia, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Baltimar, created in 1965 by the couple Ángel Muriel Santana and Josefa Moreno Benitez. With this new vessel, whose name recalls the date of birth of the late Ángel Muriel Moreno, son of the founders, there are now 10 vessels in the company's fishing fleet from Huelva.

Following the adoption of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with Slovakia, the Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme for Slovakia, to implement the EU common fisheries policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal. The total financial allocation for the Slovak programme 2021-2027 is €20.4 million over the next six years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €15.2 million.

The EMFAF Programme for Slovakia will help build a stronger aquaculture and processing sector in Slovakia, support innovation in productive investments, help the decarbonisation of the sectors by improving their energy efficiency, improve the market organisation and increase profitability and sustainability of the entire market chain, enhancing the role of aquaculture farms as providers of environmental services, while also ensuring the improved traceability of fish products.

10% of the programme’ s allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries, 83% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing. The programme sets 52% of the allocation to supporting activities contributing to the EU’s climate objectives.

Source: EU Oceans and Fisheries

Oyster trade expanded strongly in the first half of 2022, mainly due to strong demand in the US market.

Some 35 000 tonnes were imported worldwide during this period, which is 5 000 tonnes more than in the same period of 2021. US imports increased by 23 percent, while Italy also reported a 24 percent expansion in imports.

France is the main exporter of oysters to the world market; these exports are mainly going to neighbouring countries such as Italy and Spain, but also to the United States of America. Oyster exports increased in the first half of 2022 to reach 7 000 tonnes, compared to 5 800 tonnes in the main period of 2021.

Oysters are generally consumed more in winter months, with a peak at Christmas. As such, prices during the summer months are not very indicative, although it is worth noting that there were price increases in Europe.

Source: FAO/Globefish

The discovery of fresh details relating to Nueva Pescanova’s plans to establish the world’s first commercial octopus farm in Gran Canaria has led to fresh calls for the project to be scrapped.

Eurogroup for Animals uncovered the plans, which had been submitted to the General Directorate of Fishing of the Government of the Canary Islands. Alongside Compassion in World Farming, they have since flagged up their concerns over “the animal cruelty and environmental consequences it would cause”.

Author: Rob Fletcher / TheFishSite | read the full article here