French fishermen have hit back at NGOs, providing figures to counter claims put forward by environmental groups concerning accidental cetacean catches, and dismissing some claims as being no more believable than fairy tales.

France’s National Fisheries Committee (CNPMEM) has issued a statement listing some of the misconceptions being peddled by NGOs and accusing those behind the campaign concerned with dolphin catches of making efforts to denigrate the significant efforts made by the industry, and to demonise an entire profession.

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

In the context of a pandemic that has put the EU's food system on edge, the European Commission has launched a public consultation process on the future plan to ensure food supply and security in times of crisis. This consultation is intended to gather feedback on the form, nature and scope of the plan.

Brussels invites stakeholders involved in the food supply chain, such as producers, processors, distributors or transport operators, as well as consumers, civil society and national authorities, to offer their views on this issue. The consultation, now open, will remain active for 9 weeks until May 3.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

Only six of the 30 African countries with sea cucumber resources have reported total catch their export totals over the past decade, despite an escalating trend of underreporting and illegal trade of it and other high-value marine species in the region.

According to a report by TRAFFIC, an international non-governmental organization that campaigns against illegal trade in wild animals and plants, the current illegal trade in high-value marine products between Africa and Asia –  especially of species like seahorse, sea cucumber, and fish maw – is flourishing. That illegal trade is decimating the species’ populations and denying several coastal communities means to a livelihood, the report found.

Author: Shem Oirere / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

A group led by Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) chief executive Tavish Scott has begun work to identify measures that can ease seafood export problems cause by Brexit.

Scott was appointed to lead the group at the second meeting of the Scottish Seafood Exports Task Force on Friday. The task force, which brings together UK and Scottish government ministers and officials and key Scottish seafood industry figures, was formed after repeated requests from the SSPO.

Author: Gareth Moore / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

Aucxis believes its cloud-based digital trading platform can help relieve the UK fishing industry of the significant burden of additional export paperwork now needed following Brexit.

KOSMOS eases the processing of supply, organises the sale within fish auctions and digitises the detailed administration and reporting requested by auction customers, suppliers, buyers, fish and sea products exporters, local authorities and producer organisations.

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here

A technical operation for the validation of access authorizations to British ports

The logistics between the United Kingdom and the European Union have been complicated after the 'Brexit'. Operators prefer to call at Community ports, read broadly Ireland, and from there access the continent via ferry. Neither the procedures nor the bureaucracy are clear, and the schedules are also a challenge. Now, Spain has announced that it streamlines the procedures for unloading at UK ports. The General Secretariat for Fisheries has announced that it has launched a technical operation for the validation, during weekends and holidays, of the port access authorizations of Spanish vessels that intend to access the ports of the United Kingdom.

Source: Fisheries Industries | Read the full article here

Undersecretary of Fisheries invited the delegations to develop their tasks with an eye on artisanal fishing and small-scale aquaculture, and particularly on women who work in the sector.

Chile is leading the work of the Fisheries and Oceans Group, focused on the protection of the seas, during the 2021 version of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, which is being carried out by New Zealand, as the host economy.

Funete: MundoAcuicola | Read the full article here

“Nesting behavior” has taken hold in Japan due to COVID-19, resulting in people eating out less.

It’s a trend that is only expected to intensify as Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Fukuoka prefectures extend their state of emergencies, which were due to lift on 7 February, for another month. While the declarations are in place, the government is asking restaurants and bars to close by 8 p.m.

Instead of eating out, many consumers have been turning to fast food, take-out, and more frequently, to home meal replacement for convenience in Japan, with the latter option known to feature seafood in sushi and tempura formats, among other options.

Author: Chris Loew / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Scotland’s salmon farmers have incurred losses of at least £11 million as a direct result of the changes brought about by Brexit, the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) announced today.

The publication of the figure coincides with the second meeting of the UK and Scottish government joint task force on seafood exports, which was set up at the urging of the SSPO. The information was presented to the task force this morning by SSPO chief executive Tavish Scott.

Source: fishfarmingexpert |  Read the full article here

The season will remain open until the referential evaluations of the available scientific data on both species warrant it.

Next Monday, March 1, the artisanal fishing sector in the Biobío region will be able to start catching common sardines and anchovies.

The Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) said that it adopted the provision based on scientific information - provided by the Institute for Fisheries Development (IFOP) - "which shows an adequate condition for the extraction of both resources in the area."

“Subpesca adopts management measures based on technical and scientific information.

Source: aqua.cl | Read the full article here