120,000 tonnes of salmon were exported in October worth NOK 6.5 billion.

Despite a very challenging month of Covid-19 (coronavirus) infections in many markets, Norwegian seafood exports remain at a high level. In October, seafood was exported worth NOK $ 10.4 billion (NOK $ 1 = US $ 0.11). This is a decrease in value of 5 percent, or NOK 573 million, compared to October last year. Of course, this is the third highest export value in a single month.

Source: aqua.cl | Read the full article here

Aquaculture production will decline slightly for the first time in years

The pandemic sets the pace for the world economy and fisheries and aquaculture are not marginal sectors. "Global catches are expected to decline slightly in 2020 as overall there is reduced fishing effort due to COVID-19-related restrictions on fishing vessel crews and poor market conditions," he says FAO.

But fishing is not the only sector affected. The organization points out that "fish supply, consumption and commercial income are expected to decline this year due to the impact of containment restrictions on demand, logistics, prices, labor and business planning"

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

The production of a winter delicacy, fermented mackerel sushi, has begun in a mountainous area of Fukui Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast.

A group of eight people gathered at a facility in the town of Kitadani on Sunday to prepare the preserved food for the year-end and the New Year.They stuffed 360 mackerels, each measuring about 40 centimeters long, with rice mixed with ginger, vinegar and koji mold, which helps the fermenting process. The fish was then placed in containers.

The group plans to prepare 1,800 pieces of sushi, which is 100 more than it made last year. It expects demand to rise, as people are spending more time at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The group says it will put its products on sale in mid-December, mainly at local roadside facilities.

Source: NHK

Sainsbury’s plans to close many of its fresh fish and meat counters, and will eliminate 3,000 jobs.

A large number of job cuts will be made at J Sainsbury’s Argos business, “but there also will be losses in stores with the closure of delicatessens and fresh fish and meat counters,” The Times reported.

Sainsbury’s said in a press release it is closing its meat, fish, and deli counters, “based on reduced customer demand.”

Sainsbury’s is just one of many U.K. retailers facing cutbacks and losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marks & Spencer announced its first loss in 94 years – an overall pre-tax loss of BP 87.6 million (USD 115 million, EUR 97 million) in the six months to September.

Author: Christine Blank / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Strong stock market lift after vaccine news announced.

U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German BioNTech announced on Monday that their vaccine trial was more than 90 per-cent effective against the coronavirus.

This lays the groundwork for a potential vaccine. The two companies released data Monday, from the first part of phase three interim results in large-scale trials.

Author: Aslak Berge / SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

With NEAFC due to meet this week, tensions are already rising around Norwegian tactics concerning stocks in Areas I and II, notably redfish and Greenland halibut.

‘Norway’s aims are maximising quota share for own fleet, sometimes with very generous bilateral arrangements with the Russian Federation that serve mainly to strengthen Norway’s quota claim,’ commented a spokesman for the European North Atlantic Fisheries Association (ENAFA) which represents EU-based fishing companies with long track records of operating in distant waters, including the Barents Sea.

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

The Scottish Salmon Company made an operating loss of DKK 28.4 million (£3.4m) in the third quarter of this year due costs of DKK 41m related to incident-based mortality, the company’s Faroese owner, Bakkafrost, said today.

“The farming operation in Scotland is gradually improving its key performing indicators, however - as historical performances from previous years have demonstrated - third quarters are the most challenging quarters for the Scottish farming operation. 

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

After the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Union, the distribution of the waters was almost complete between the British and their European neighbors, a situation that could take a turn if London and Brussels do not reach a Brexit agreement.

"If there is no agreement, each will have to settle for their own," says the National Committee of Marine Fishermen and Marine Cultures (CNPMEM), which represents French fishermen.

The United Kingdom has, like the rest of the countries, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which is 200 miles along its coasts, except when two States are separated by a lesser distance, such as between the United Kingdom and France in the canal. de la Mancha, where the waters are delimited by international law and various criteria depending on the area.

Source: EuropaAzul | Read the full article here

The founding family and Portobello keep 49.9% of the Basque company

Angulas Aguinaga has become the last national seafood company to attract the interest of international funds. In this case, PAI Partners, one of the main European private equity firms, which has acquired a “majority stake” in the Basque company that owns brands such as Gula del Norte, Krissia and Aguinamar. The company was owned to date by another fund, Portobello Capital, as well as its founding family.

After signing this agreement, the current shareholders will continue to have a 49.9% stake. Completion of this transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

A court in Sri Lanka has reportedly permitted officials to destroy several Indian mechanised fishing boats seized in the last 3-4 years for crossing into Sri Lankan territorial waters, PTI reports. 

The court in Jaffna gave the orders for destroying 27 out of the 94 boats of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody, officials said, quoting information received by them.

The development triggered tension in the island town of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu and fishermen association leader P Sesuraja appealed against destruction of the seized boats and said steps should be taken to return to their owners. 

Sri Lankan Navy had seized several boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen for fishing in their territorial waters in recent years. Some of the seized boats had been released in batches in the past and brought back by the fishermen, PTI reported.