LAVAL - Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. announces its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended 28 February, 2013 and provides update on action plan to resume operations.

Nutraceutical Business Results

• Nutraceutical revenues increased 32 per cent to a record CAD 25,181,000, for the fiscal year ended 28 February, 2013, up from USD 19,113,000 in the corresponding period ended 29 February, 2012.
• Adjusted EBITDA was negative (CAD 965,000) for the fiscal year ended 28 February, 2013, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of CAD 2,690,000 in the prior year.
• Net loss totalled (CAD 12,779,000) for the fiscal year ended 28 February, 2013, compared to net profit of CAD 2,384,000 for the corresponding period ended 29 February, 2012.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Paul Vecsei, well known sturgeon specialist and fish illustrator, shows in this poster all extant sturgeon species and valid subspecies worldwide, using 27 scientific illustrations.

Each picture is of an individual fish and was made in the technique of pointillism with extreme accuracy. This poster in DIN-A1 format (594 x 841 mm) on 240 g/m2 paper finished with UV-gloss coating, is not only a decoration on any wall but an eye-catcher which will satisfy the viewer. The delivery includes two black poster rails made from plastic material for easy wall mounting.

The poster will be available from bookshops or directly from the publisher

Scottish fishermen have welcomed the announcementon  21 May by European Commissioner Maria Damanaki that the EU has notified the Faroe Islands that it intends to impose sanctions in response to their over-fishing of the Atlanto-Scandian herring stock.

The EU says the measures may include restrictions in the imports of herring and associated species fished by Faroese interests and restrictions on the access of Faroese vessels in EU harbours except for safety reasons. The notification from the EU is in response to the Faroese move earlier this year to withdraw from an international management plan for Atlanto-Scandian herring and set a unilateral quota at a level 145 per cent higher than their 2012 quota. This was set against a context in which all other parties to the fishery had agreed to reduce their quotas by 26 per cent for conservation reasons.

One of Fiji's main fishing companies has rejected claims by conservationists that Fiji is becoming a hub for shark finning in the Pacific region

The Hong Kong Shark Association expressed concerns that Air Pacific has been flying a substantial quantity of shark fin into Hong Kong.

We approached Air Pacific for comment on this story again, but nobody was available to speak to us.

Source: Radio Australia

REEDVILLE - Omega Protein Corporation (OME), christened two new vessels at its Reedville, Virginia facility. The two vessels, named the F/V Rappahannock and the F/V Fleeton are state of the art menhaden fishing vessels and are the first new vessels christened by the company in over 20 years. Omega Protein is a nutritional product company and a leading integrated producer of omega-3 fish oil and specialty protein products.

"The addition of the Rappahannock and the Fleeton to our Reedville fleet marks a significant investment in our operations here in Virginia," said Monty Deihl, Director of Fishing Operations at Omega Protein. Deihl added, "I'm proud that Omega is reviving the tradition of formally christening our new fishing vessels. It demonstrates our commitment to both our employees here and the community which for so many years this Reedville plant has supported."

Source: The Sacramento Bee

BEAUMONT, (TX) - Seafood Lover owner Steve Edwards is determined not to raise his shrimp prices — at least for now — despite a lag in supply this season.

Edwards has been primarily buying shrimp from three boats in the area for the past 30 years. He knows the shrimpers' costs are up and their catches down, he said.

Still, Edwards told The Beaumont Enterprise that he would not change prices on one of his best-selling items for at least the next month or two.

Source: KSAT

INDIANAPOLIS - Exploring the opportunity to bring a feed mill dedicated to producing fish feed to Indiana in hopes of building a new market for Hoosier soybean farmers is the intent of a new grant recently awarded to Indiana Soybean Alliance.

ISA, the state soybean checkoff organization, received a Value-Added Producer Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this month to conduct a feasibility study on locating a feed mill focusing on aquaculture feeds in Indiana.

Source: Inside Indiana Business

Forcing lobster fishermen out of proposed marine park areas could lead to the collapse of lobster stocks in other areas, industry figures say.

South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Council executive officer Justin Phillips said industry estimates for how much of the annual lobster catch was taken inside the proposed marine parks was about double State Government estimates.

Closing those areas to fishing could force fishermen into more marginal areas, where fishing would have a greater impact on stocks.

Source: Adelaide Now

Pelorus Sound farmer Bill Scholefield predicts a gold rush of applications to extend mussel farms in the Marlborough Sounds.

Scholefield, of Mt Zion Trust, objected 20 May to applications by Talley's Group and Clearwater Mussels to expand marine farms at Beatrix Bay, in Pelorus Sound, where he farms sheep, beef and mussels.

The applications were heard by Marlborough District Council hearings commissioner Richard Fowler.

Source: Penny Wardle / NZ Farmer