The Scottish food exporting industry was promised friction-free access to European markets after Brexit.

Its most valuable export, shellfish, goes almost entirely to France, Spain and the Netherlands.
But mistakes, poor direction and last-minute regulations have all contributed to problems, leaving shellfish rotting in their containers.

Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull reports from Glasgow, Scotland.

European aquaculture assumes significant losses due to the pandemic that are putting the viability of many companies at risk. In Spain, those harvested in 2020 are judged as "serious losses" due to hotel closures and the drop in tourism.

They also noticed low prices due to imports of fish from Turkey and Greece, or salmon from Norway. The aquaculture employer Apromar released a balance of the sector, which highlights the impact of the coronavirus and the "unstable scenario" for 2021.

Spanish fish companies maintained their activity during the confinement, as an “essential sector”, but “the operational complications and the volatility of the markets have been difficult challenges to overcome”, according to Apromar.

Source: EuropaAzul | Read the full article here

The general director of Commerce and Consumption of the Ministry of Economy, Business and Innovation of the Xunta de Galicia, Manuel Heredia, the director of the Galician Infrastructure Agency, Francisco Menéndez, and the territorial delegate of the Xunta in Vigo, Marta Fernández- Tapias, met this past Friday with representatives of Conxemar and Navalia with the aim of achieving perfect coordination between the execution of the expansion works of the Vigo Fair Institute (Ifevi) with the calendar of events of the venue.

Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here

Engaging with consumers on the topic of responsible aquaculture is becoming an increasingly important role for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), which stepped up its promotional campaign efforts in the latter months of 2020, as it celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The ASC now was more than 1.6 million metric tons (MT) of aquaculture products under certification, with Norway, Chile, and Vietnam accounting for the largest volumes. In terms of products, salmon has the largest share, with just over 1 million MT certified, shrimp is in second place with 242,000 MT, and tilapia comes third, with nearly 106,000 MT certified.

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

The increase in shrimp farming around Chilika Lake in India’s Odisha state has not only been destroying the area’s ecology but also affecting the livelihoods of several thousand fishermen.

For the past five decades, Jogi Behera has been a fisherman on Chilika Lake, the largest coastal lagoon in India and also the largest brackish water lagoon in the world.

The 60-year-old, who lives in Balipatapur, laments that his catch has been dropping with each passing year, due to illegal shrimp farming around the lake.

Author: Gurvinder Singh / The Fish Site | Read the full article here

Describing the current situation as a ‘full-blown crisis,’ Scottish Seafood Association chief executive Jimmy Buchan has told the UK and Scottish governments to get a grip, and fast, ‘before severe and lasting damage is done.’

Two weeks into 2021 and with little sign of improvement, he commented that there has been a lot of direct engagement between the industry and ministers and civil servants in recent days, and plenty of soothing words about resolving ‘teething troubles.’

‘But these are not minor impediments to trade. The industry in Scotland has basically ground to a halt and businesses that employ hundreds of people in communities around our coastline are losing money. In some cases they are close to going under,’ he said.

Author: Quentin bates / FiskerForum | Read the full article here

Sustainable fishing has helped the EU fishing fleet remain profitable in 2020 despite the challenges of the global Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report by the European Union.

The 2020 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet states that more sustainable fishing and lower fuel costs helped to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.

The European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius said that the report showed that ‘sustainability pays off’. “During times of crisis, our fishing fleets must stay on the path of sustainability. It builds resilience and accelerates economic recovery,” he said.

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that new regulations following the end of the Brexit transition period are causing problems for the UK seafood sector, and has pledged compensation for those businesses affected.
He was answering questions yesterday at the House of Commons Liaison Committee, which represents the chairs of all the Commons select committees. In response to Hilary Benn, Chair of the Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union, the PM said that he was aware of “temporary frustrations” and added: “We will compensate those fishing businesses… I don’t doubt there will be problems, but businesses must be prepared for change.”
 

Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here 

A long-term business partnership and the ability to provide a turnkey installation are the key factors in the choice of Carsoe to design, produce and install the new complete processing plant on board Ocean Prawns’ new trawler.

The highly sophisticated Skipsteknisk-designed factory trawler incorporates a great deal of new technology and new thinking, and is designed to carry around 1200 tonnes of frozen Greenland halibut or shrimp.

Carsoe will design, supply and install processing lines to handle, freeze and package both shrimp and Greenland halibut at sea. A high level of automation and ergonomic design ensures a healthy working environment that does away with the usual heavy lifting for the crew.

Author: Quentin Bates / FiskerForum | Read the full article here

Thai Union Ingredients, a subsidiary of Thai Union Group, has launched a new dietary supplement produced from tuna bones which can help promote healthy bones and teeth.

With its very fine particle size, UniQTMBONE can be incorporated in products without changing sensory attributes, delivering a range of nutrients for bone health. It can be added to a variety of food, taken as capsules or tablets or given as an additive to pet food. It is being produced at Thai Union Group’s recently-opened bone powder production facility at the Songkla Canning factory in southern Thailand.

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here